As she emerged from the fog, she found them waiting for her, their faces a mix of relief and worry.
“Told you I’d be right behind you,” she said, her tone light.
Damon grinned. “We never doubted you.”
“Well, maybe a little,” Anaya admitted, earning a glare from Daveon.
Leana chuckled, motioning for them to follow her. “Come on. We’ve still got work to do.”
The group set off once more, their confidence renewed by Leana’s display of strength.
But in the back of their minds, they couldn’t shake the image of the Grade Four demon.
‘If that was what the Fog Realm held, what other horrors awaited us deeper in the First Layer of Hell?’ Anaya found herself asking a question no one had an answer to.
Well… Their guardian probably had answers to it.
“Alright. We’re going in again. That was unexpected. Hopefully, it won’t be like that this time.” Miss Leana urged the three wards to begin their second journey into the fog.
Damon, Daveon, and Anaya took deep breaths as they prepared to enter the fog again under the guidance of their guardian.
The intense battle they’d just witnessed had left them in awe of Miss Leana’s abilities. Her strength had given them a renewed sense of confidence, even in the face of such overwhelming odds.
Graaaaaa!!
But just as they were about to take their first steps into the fog, a powerful roar erupted from within, stopping them in their tracks.
Swoooosh…
A demon shot forward at an incredible speed, tearing through the fog like a bolt of darkness.
Its hulking figure emerged, larger and more menacing than the one before. It was another Grade Four demon, and its aura was no less terrifying than the first.
“Stay back!” Leana barked, her voice sharp and commanding.
Before any of them could argue or react, she raised her hand, casting a spell. A powerful gust of wind erupted from her palm, pushing her wards further away from the approaching demon. They stumbled back, landing safely out of range of the immediate fight.
Miss Leana turned to face the demon, her eyes narrowing. There was something different about this one.
The demon stood tall, its glowing crimson eyes locked onto Leana. It exuded a dark, oppressive energy that made the air around it feel heavy. Its sharp claws gleamed in the dim light, and its muscles rippled with unnatural strength.
Leana’s instincts flared. ‘Twice in a row? This isn’t a normal Grade Four demon.’
She could sense that its magic essence was consistent with a Grade Four, but its power level far surpassed any demon of that rank she’d ever encountered.
“What’s going on?” she muttered under her breath, her grip tightening on her sword.
In the next second, the demon lunged at her with terrifying speed, its claws slashing through the air with enough force to split the ground. Leana dodged with ease, her movements minimal and her reflex on point.
Leana smirked. “If you’re going to come at me like that, you’d better do better.”
She decided to put on a show for her wards. While she could end the fight quickly if she went all out, she wanted them to see what true combat prowess looked like.
With a burst of speed, she closed the distance between herself and the demon.
Swiiiish!!
Her sword danced through the air, slashing at the demon with such precision that it barely had time to react.
The demon roared in frustration, swinging its claws wildly in an attempt to retaliate, but Leana was always one step ahead. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire
She weaved through its attacks as though anticipating them, landing blow after blow on its massive frame.
“You’re strong,” she admitted, her voice calm. “But not strong enough.”
The fight was completely one-sided. Leana’s ferocity left the demon with no room to counter or even defend itself. Her attacks were relentless, each strike cutting deeper into its flesh.
Within minutes, the demon was covered in wounds. One of its arms hung limply at its side, barely attached after a particularly brutal slash from Leana’s blade.
The demon roared again, its cries filled with pain and desperation. It tried one final, reckless charge, but Leana was ready.
Slaash!!
With a swift, clean motion, she severed its remaining arm. The demon stumbled back, its once-menacing form now reduced to a pitiful state.
“Let me put you out of your misery,” Leana said coldly.
She raised her sword and, in one decisive strike, beheaded the demon. Its body collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, the oppressive aura it had carried dissipating into the air.
Leana turned to her wards, wiping the blood from her sword with a cloth she kept at her side. Her expression softened into a grin as she addressed them.
“Well?” she asked, her tone playful. “How was my performance?”
The three of them stared at her in stunned silence for a moment before responding in unison:
“It was beautiful!”
Leana chuckled at their enthusiastic response. “Beautiful, huh? I’ll take it. Now, tell me what you really thought.”
Damon spoke first. “Honestly, it was hard to follow most of it. You were too fast. But from what I could see, your technique was flawless. You didn’t give it a chance to fight back.”
Anaya nodded in agreement. “You didn’t just overpower it—you outmaneuvered it. Every move you made felt calculated like Daveon does.”
Daveon, still staring at the demon’s lifeless body, added, “It was terrifying, to be honest. If that’s what a real fight looks like, we’ve got a long way to go. And I still have a long way to go before I can control the battle flow like you did.”
Leana smiled, pleased with their observations. “Good. You’re paying attention. Remember, it’s not just about strength. Strategy and precision are just as important. And yes, I mimicked Daveon on purpose.”
She sheathed her sword and gestured for them to follow her. “Now, let’s get out of here before another one shows up. We don’t want to push our luck and run into a Grade Three.”
The group began their retreat, moving quickly but cautiously. The oppressive heat of the First Layer of Hell seemed to intensify with every step, but none of them complained.
As they left the Fog Realm behind, Damon couldn’t help but glance back over his shoulder. The image of the two Grade Four demons they’d encountered was burned into his memory.
“Do you think there are more like that?” he asked, his voice low.
Leana glanced at him, her expression serious. “Without a doubt. And stronger ones too. I don’t know how rare they are these days but there are definitely a few Grade Three demons in this place.”
Damon nodded, his resolve hardening. He knew they still had a long way to go before they were ready to face the true horrors of this place.
For now, though, they had survived another day in the First Layer of Hell. And with each battle, they grew stronger, more prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.
Leana’s voice snapped them out of their thoughts.
“Let’s move,” she said firmly. “We’ve got a lot more training to do before you’re ready for what’s out there and we’ve only got two weeks left before we leave. Let’s make hay while the sun still shines.”