The arena groaned.
Platforms ground together like tectonic plates, shrinking the distance between survivors. Chains rattled, tightening, forcing proximity.
Kael counted quickly.
Nine remained.
All demons.
All watching him.
The voice descended again, heavier than before.
"THIRD JUDGMENT: DEVOUR."
"ONLY FIVE MAY ADVANCE."
The moment the words faded—
Chaos erupted.
Two demons lunged at a third instantly, tearing into him with savage coordination. Another pair clashed midair, blood and black flames scattering into the void.
No rules.
No honor.
Kael felt it then.
Hunger.
Not his own—but the Abyss's.
[Trial Effect: Abyssal Predation Active.]
[Killing accelerates authority growth.]
His Abyss core pulsed greedily.
At the same time, his human Qi reacted violently, resisting the pull.
[Dual Cultivation Conflict.]
[Stability: 48% → 41%]
Kael grimaced. "Not now."
A shadow crossed his platform.
Too late.
A blade of condensed demonic essence slashed toward his neck.
Kael twisted—
Too slow.
Pain exploded across his shoulder as blood sprayed.
He staggered back, teeth grinding.
A tall demon with four horns grinned at him. "You bleed like a human."
Kael's vision darkened at the edges.
Something inside him cracked.
[Warning.]
[Stability Critical: 35%]
[Suggestion: Commit fully to one path.]
Kael laughed hoarsely.
"No."
He planted his feet.
Human Qi surged first—calm, ordered, anchoring his mind.
Then the Abyss roared.
Not to dominate—
But to answer.
Black and gold energy intertwined around his arm, unstable yet terrifying.
The demon's grin faltered. "What—"
Kael struck.
The impact erased sound.
The demon's torso collapsed inward as if crushed by invisible hands, then split apart by piercing force.
He disintegrated.
[Predation Successful.]
[Stability: 35% → 39%]
[Insight: Dual Flow Synchronization (Minor)]
Kael breathed hard.
Around him, the others froze.
"That wasn't pure Abyss…"
"That wasn't Heaven either…"
Two demons backed away instinctively.
A third smiled—sharp and calculating.
"Alliance?" she offered smoothly. "Until five remain."
Kael met her gaze.
Then looked past her.
Behind her, another demon was already moving.
Kael spoke calmly.
"You're already dead."
The demoness turned—
Too late.
Kael released his authority.
[Blood Tyranny — Activated.]
Her blood rebelled.
She screamed as her own power turned against her, body rupturing from within.
The ambusher froze in horror.
Kael looked at him.
"Leave," Kael said.
The demon didn't argue.
He fled.
Silence fell again.
[Survivors Remaining: Five.]
The chains loosened.
The voice returned, carrying something new.
Approval.
"THIRD JUDGMENT COMPLETE."
Kael dropped to one knee, coughing blood.
[Stability: 32%]
[Warning: Dual Cultivation Backlash Imminent.]
His vision blurred.
The Abyss pulled.
Heaven resisted.
His body began to tear itself apart.
Then—
A presence.
Cold. Vast. Watching.
The pain halted.
Not gone.
Paused.
A whisper echoed—not from the system.
Interesting little contradiction.
Kael's head snapped up.
High above the arena, a massive shadow coiled around an unseen throne.
A Demon Lord.
Watching him.
And for the first time since the Trial began—
Kael smiled.