Kind Demon King

Poyraz gestured to his sword.

“To be able to wield Sacred Sword of Selection, one needs to prove themselves to its previous users. Valeria’s Trial was to fight her. Her body was special. Her skin, muscles, and bone were much more denser and stronger than normal.”

The Queen raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Poyraz's revelation.

“You fought Ancestor’s spirit? That must have been quite an experience. What was it like?”

Poyraz’s helmet melted down into shadows, revealing his face.

“Very, very intense. And loud. And wild.”

The Queen’s interest piqued further as Poyraz recounted his experience. “That sounds exhilarating. I can only imagine what it would be like to face the spirit of my great ancestor. Every Amazon grew up with her stories. Did you feel her presence, her strength, during the battle?”

Poyraz sighed, recalling the brutal beating he’d endured and how casual she had been about it. While Quipax revered her as a legendary figure, he still heard her laughter ringing in his ears as she sent him flying several meters away.

“The best way I could describe her is a giant, untameable lioness. A being that won’t change her decision or ideals regardless of what happens. Honestly, I am glad you inherited her physique and not mentality.”

The Queen chuckled at Poyraz’s description, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

“A giant, untameable lioness? I like that imagery. It fits Valeria’s legacy well. But aren’t you afraid that your words offend me? I am directly descended from her after all.”

Poyraz met the Queen’s gaze, his eyes turning serious.

“No. Valiera’s mentality is fit for a warrior and perhaps for a conqueror. Her mind and heart burned with the power of a thousand suns. A ruler must have a cold mind and a warm heart.”

Penthesilea closed her eyes, contemplating his words. After a moment of silence, she opened her eyes and regarded Poyraz with a newfound depth of understanding. “You’re right—both in your assessment of my physique and your views on leadership. Those descended from Queen Valeria have inherited her physique, but over the centuries, her blood has diluted. Individuals like me are rare, and even those who share her physique are not on my level.”

Poyraz lifted his sword higher.

“Okay, the break is over.”

His helmet closed on his head as purple mana covered his blade. Queen tightened her stance as she got ready to clash against massive amounts of mana Poyraz radiated. The mana, wild and powerful moved like a barely contained river on his blade.

But that didn’t last long.

The Sword of Selection absorbed all the mana coating like a desert drinking rain. The raging river was imprisoned in it, not leaving proof that it existed just a second ago.

Despite her being out of his reach, Poyraz swung his sword. Suddenly, the purple mana escaped the very shackles it was bound, now stronger and fiercer, baring its fangs to Queen. The beautiful arc looked like it contained a stellar stream, housing hundreds of stars each one brighter than the other.

The moment the sword swung, the air crackled with energy, and the light from the purple mana illuminated the training grounds. The Queen's eyes widened as she felt the immense power behind the strike, the raw force of Poyraz’s mana weaving through the air like a celestial storm.

“Watch out!” Thalia shouted, her instincts kicking in as she stepped forward, ready to intervene if necessary. But the Queen raised a hand to signal her to hold back.

Penthesilea’s expression shifted, a mix of determination and excitement. She could sense the power contained within that strike, and it was a challenge she couldn’t resist. She planted her feet firmly, focusing her energy as she prepared to counter.

Blood red mana, the very color of life, warmth, and anger roared alive and enveloped her spear. It crackled with raw power, responding to her determination as she steadied herself against the incoming onslaught.

“Let’s see if you can keep up, Champion!” she called her voice a mix of challenge and exhilaration.

She released her mana using the same skill Poyraz used: Mana Erupt. The moment the two forces collided, the air exploded with energy. The clash of purple and red mana sent shockwaves rippling through the courtyard, shaking the very ground beneath them.

The Queen's spear met Poyraz's sword with a resonating clang, the force of their combined energies creating a shockwave that pushed back Thalia, Artemeni, and Aurora. Dust and debris swirled around them, the impact echoing like thunder.

But even as the trio struggled to keep their footings after the first wave, both Poyraz and Queen’s weapons were clad in their respective mana, ready to fire again.

“Boom!”

The training grounds were now a tempest of swirling mana, dust, and debris. Poyraz and Penthesilea stood at the eye of the storm, their weapons glowing with intense energy. The two warriors were locked in a silent battle of wills, their auras flaring as they measured each other’s resolve.

“Their mana output is simply insane.”

Aurora gasped.

“Yes. But they are evenly matched.”

Thalia said as she erected a golden shield to protect herself from the shockwaves.

“No. They are…”

Artemeni couldn’t finish her sentence before a third clash rang out. This one broke the stalemate as the red mana overpowered the purple one and hit Poyraz, albeit weakened. Poyraz staggered back as the Queen's red mana crashed into him, the impact resonating through his body like a hammer strike. It threatened to send him flying back but he managed to hold his ground, planting his sword firmly into the earth to steady himself. His armor absorbed most of the blow, but he could feel the raw power behind Penthesilea's attack.

The Queen, on the other hand, remained poised, her eyes locked onto Poyraz as she gauged his reaction. Despite the intensity of their clash, there was a hint of satisfaction in her gaze. His power was fit for the title of Champion of Aliera. And on a more personal and selfish note, she was happy she had someone this powerful to spar against.

Poyraz flicked his wrist, sending three daggers flying towards the Queen. She raised her shield to block them but just like before, they dissolved back into shadows. A distraction. One that’s so obvious and predictable.

Even before she could sense him, Queen spun around on her heel and smashed her shield into Poyraz’s face who exited out of her shadow. She activated the option of her shield, releasing all the kinetic energy stored in the shield to her strike. The kinetic energy unleashed from the Queen's shield strike sent Poyraz reeling back, a crack forming in his helmet as he skidded across the ground as blood poured out his nose and forehead. The sheer force of the impact which held the power of all the strikes blocked by it during this duel was powerful enough to explode a bull’s head like a watermelon but Poyraz's experience and tenacity kicked in almost immediately letting himself fly back to disperse some of the damage.

The Queen didn't waste a second. She surged forward, her blood-red mana flaring as she swung her spear in a deadly arc aimed at Poyraz's midsection. But despite her speed, Poyraz's reflexes were honed by countless battles. He brought his sword up just in time, deflecting the spear with a powerful parry that sent sparks flying.

The air around them cooled down. She noted it instantly as the cold air hit her warm, sweaty body. She wasn’t really surprised, at least by the skill itself. What surprised her was how late Poyraz used it. Then again, maybe he wanted to avoid using a skill Queen already knew. Poyraz's breath came out in visible puffs of steam as he held his sword steady, his eyes locked onto the Queen's. The ground beneath his feet began to freeze, creating a thin layer of ice that spread outward in all directions. The cold was intense, biting through the Queen's armor and sending a shiver down her spine.

Recognizing he wanted to limit his mobility by binding her feet, she brought her feet down using her skill to counter his. The ground shook with a cone-shaped shockwave, the ice covering it scattering everywhere. Poyraz moved through the ice shards hitting his body, getting closer to Queen.

Three more daggers flashed through the air, cutting through the dust and ice clouds to reach the Queen. Once again she raised her shield to swat them to the side. But this time, they didn’t dissolve into the shadows. Instead, they bounced off her shield.

“Ah, come on now. I was sure you would not react to them.”

Poyraz sounded almost frustrated. Penthesilea smirked, her eyes narrowing as she studied Poyraz.

“I never let my guard down.”

Poyraz was ready to throw the towel. This wasn’t a life or death battle and he had nothing to lose. But he wanted to at least make Penthesilea bleed, to land a clean hit on her as a payback. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to do that with flashy moves. He had to rely on his swordsmanship. Poyraz tightened his grip on the Sacred Sword of Selection, the weapon humming with anticipation as if it too desired a decisive strike. He could feel the weight of the battle pressing on him, but his resolve was unshaken. If he was going to land a clean hit on Penthesilea, he would need to rely on more than just raw power or flashy maneuvers—he needed to outthink her.

Penthesilea was not just powerful; she was incredibly disciplined and perceptive, the product of generations of warriors. She had seen through his feints and distractions with ease, which meant that he would need to employ a different approach. So, he slowly inched towards her with his sword on his chest level.

Poyraz took a deep breath, centering himself. His movements became more calculated, his stance tightening as his heartbeat and breathing slowed down. He let the silence between them hang, the only sound the distant crackling of residual mana and the slow, rhythmic breathing of two warriors sizing each other up.

Penthesilea watched him carefully, her muscles coiled and ready to spring into action. She knew he was up to something, but she couldn’t quite pin down what it was. He was constantly trying to create an opening until now and this sudden shift made her lose momentum. And that’s what Poyraz was looking for. Poyraz’s eyes caught that moment—her slight shift in weight, the minute relaxation of her grip on her spear. It was enough.

He surged forward with a burst of speed, closing the gap between them in an instant. Penthesilea reacted, bringing her spear up to block, but Poyraz didn’t aim for her weapon. Instead, he twisted his body, dropping low to the ground as he slid past her, letting his sword go as he grabbed her knee. Despite her armored form weighing over 100 kilos and the solid center of gravity, Poyraz was able to perform a takedown, taking her to the ground. He ended up on top of her, the chain connecting his sword to his forearm rattling as he summoned it to his hand.

Both warriors stopped their weapons just hair away from their opponent’s throat.

“Looks like we have a stalemate.”

Poyraz huffed as his blood dripped down Queen’s face.

“Hmm. I don’t think so.”

Poyraz’s helmet disappeared from his head, revealing his confused face.

“Why is that? If we move even a little our weapons would cut into each other’s throats. I say this is a draw.”

Queen smirked.

“Try to push your sword a little.”

Poyraz looked hesitant for a second but seeing Queen’s confident face, he pushed it ever so slightly. To his surprise, an invisible barrier stopped his sword from cutting her throat. Poyraz traced the mana source and found out that the tiara she wore was the source.

“Fuck.”

He pushed himself to the side and lay down. Penthesilea chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through the air as she rolled onto her side to face Poyraz, who was still lying on the ground beside her. The tension that had hung between them dissipated, replaced by a camaraderie forged in the heat of battle.

“You fought well, Champion,” the Queen said, her voice softer now, almost playful. “But I must admit, I had this little trick up my sleeve from the start.”

“Should have figured it out when you didn’t wear a helmet.”

With that, their spar ended, and both of them were satisfied with each other.