∼ Mastery ∼

Chapter - 046

Dodging a kick that nearly sent Nyx sprawling, the demon scowled at the stupid human's accursed long reach with those accursedly long limbs. But curse all he might, the smirk on the human's stupid face would not vanish unless he taught him a lesson!

Jumping up and down with enthusiasm, giggling and cheering on Nyx, was the thrasher. She beat her chest and thumped ground, sending small reverberations through the earth, her small body barely able to contain her near bottomless zest. The demon familiar was clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Nyx tried to ignore his minion's antics the best he could, focusing on using the advantage of his smaller frame to outmaneuver Eric's swift attacks. A sidestep that sent Nyx out of the way of another sweeping kick, Nyx quickly capitalized on Eric's unguarded stance by leaping for the human.

You have taken 1 point of damage

Yet... all Nyx got for his troubles was an elbow to his side as Eric turned his body around much faster than the demon had ever expected him able to. A croaking yelp escaped Nyx as his breath was stolen from his lungs, straining to pick himself off the ground.

"Careful now!" Aria called from the side, sitting beside the thrasher. Whereas the demon familiar was having the time of her life, she looked like the concerned mother watching both her children fight.

"He's fine, I didn't hit him too hard," Eric assured Aria.

Bouncing on his feet, Eric faced the demon, only a bit winded. Although the demon couldn't possibly match him in a simple fistfight, he was surprised at just how much he had to work to keep the little bugger off him. He was fast, and his small frame did little to help Eric land his punches. And he honestly had to give it to the demon; it was persistent.

Nyx simply didn't want to give up, getting up every single time he was knocked down. Eric was even working up a sweat at this rate. Spitting on the cave floor, Nyx grumbled to himself, glaring daggers at the damnable human. He would not surrender to this puny human! He was not weak. He would show them all just what he was made of!

Though Nyx would not admit it, it had hurt his pride that his minion was the one to save them back during the furball attack. Sure, the thrasher was now a part of his power, yet the idea of something lesser than him taking the limelight had put a damper on his mood. Even with the level up he had gained.

Nyx came to realize that he loathed the feeling of having to rely on others because of one's own weakness. Not to mention, the dull ache in the back of his mind from the mana lesions was a constant source of irritation. That was all how it came down to Nyx having challenged Eric to a good old-fashioned fistfight.

Being flung back after yet another failed attempt outmatching Eric's swift reactions, Nyx had to take a moment to make the world stop spinning, laying flat on the ground. When everything came into focus, he realized that the thrasher was hovering over him with a curious gaze. Startled, Nyx did not have the time to react before she lathered his face with one long lick.

"Gyah!" He yelped, getting back to his feet in record time. "S-Stop that!"

From the side, Aria giggled, a handheld to her mouth rather indiscreetly. "Oh - It looks like she has taken to you quite well, Nyx," Aria called out amusedly. "After all, thrashers do admire foolhardiness and the stubbornness to never yield more than they do strength."

Wide-eyed, Nyx stared with horror back and forth between Aria who was giggling, and the thrasher who just gazed back at him with an all too smiling expression that sent chills down his spine.

"We can give you some, ahem - privacy if you need a minute," Eric taunted, barely holding back his own laughter.

If Nyx was blushing, it was hard to see with his red coat. But flustered, he obviously was.

"This damn human," Nyx gnashed his teeth. "I'll wipe off that stupid grin,"

As the mark across Nyx's eye began flaring with infernal power, mana slowly began gathering in the center of his core, preparing for a [Wither] spell to teach the human a lesson.

"No Nyx!" Aria suddenly interrupted, breaking Nyx's concentration and the power of his [Mark of Pride]. "I already told you. You have to refrain from using mana over the next couple of days. A week preferably."

"But I don't want to waits! The stupid human mocks me!" Nyx protested.

"Hey, you got off lucky." Aria quipped, surprisingly stern. "If you had not been a demon, the damage the demonic mana storms would have done would be beyond any mortal repair. Any other mind would have been twisted to the point of total unrecognition."

The demon looked to be going into another fit of protest, but Aria's unyielding gaze made him pause. Finally, Nyx just set himself to grumble unintelligibly but did not refuse her instruction any further after that.

Setting back into their fight, Eric and Nyx went right back at it - Nyx now fighting with a bit more fervor that managed to put Eric on the backfoot for a moment.

"Gah!" Eric suddenly exclaimed, a fist finally making it through Eric's otherwise impenetrable defense.

He rubbed his chest. "Seriously, he hits way too hard for a guy that little."

Close by, Nyx flaunted his victory, being showered in the rambunctious praise of his minion and Aria's display of awe as she cheered on. As the thrasher laughed, jumping up and down in a fit of mirth and happiness, Nyx couldn't help but feel a sense of pride well up inside him.

It felt good being so vehemently recognized for your might, even if it's just your minion and your personal food magician.

Even so, it wasn't only that he had managed to overcome the obstacle that was the stupid human that had him so elated. For the Codex itself had recognized his efforts.

[Congratulations, through your hard work and dedication, you've moved further down the path of mastery.]

Gained Mastery - Hand-to-Hand Combat (Proficiency - Inferior)

"Wait, he learned [Hand-to-Hand Combat] already?!" Eric blurted out after Nyx had bragged about it. "It took me an entire year back when I had just started getting into fistfights as a boy to learn a mastery, not to mention [Hand-to-Hand Combat]."

"It is because of his high intelligence," Aria added in to explain. "and probably also from the fact that he is an imp. They are incredibly fast learners after all, especially when they are determined. And since Nyx has the [Mark of Pride], it would make sense that he would go to such lengths simply to disprove you."

Eric could only shake his head with a sigh. He saw some definite reason in what she had said. Eric had after all discouraged Nyx from going the route of the warrior as he believed the demon much more fit for the role of a mage. But to Nyx, all that had sounded like an insult more than friendly advice.

Nyx clearly remembered this indignation being the spark that had ignited his demand for Eric to fight him.

How dared this stupid human call him inept! He would show him!

Nyx was... quite angered, all things considered. And so started their little sparring matches.

It was no surprise that Nyx stood no chance against Eric without his magic, especially now with his new class. But even during their brief bouts over the course of a little more than a day or two, Nyx was already seeing considerable progress. Progress the belied what was reasonable as Nyx's peculiarities culminated in a rapidly growing menace. A menace Aria was all too happy to cultivate.

Eric still wasn't sure where she was going with this demon, as there was no shred of doubt in his mind that he would become very powerful and dangerous if his foolhardiness and pride didn't get him killed first.

Other than Aria's kind-hearted and usually timid outer shell, Eric had a sense there was something bubbling underneath. As much as he liked the girl, she had gone through some terrible experiences and trauma just as he had, and like she had explained, seemed to be steeped in this demonic energy as she calls it. The very same energy that had driven her father mad and cruel, and given her such sway over demons.

What were to happen if Aria suddenly lost her healing magic? The only thing keeping back the creeping tendrils of said demonic energy?

Eric shuddered involuntarily as Aria suddenly looked at him, a bit of worry on her face.

"Are you okay, Eric?"

"Fine- I'm fine," He chuckled, shaking the wandering thoughts from his head.

He did hope that would never happen.