Leon crashed into the wall, unable to withstand the attack. Bricks shattered as fresh blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Dammit!" he growled, forcing himself up. His eyes darted around, searching for his attacker.
From behind the dust emerged a tall demon with long white hair and glowing blue eyes brimming with excitement.
"Hahaha! So you're the young demon everyone's been talking about!"
He gripped his hammer with one hand, tiny lightning sparks crackling around his fingers. "I've heard so many stories about you."
"Got me real curious about a strong guy like you!"
Leon wiped the blood from his lips. "Who are you? And why the hell did you attack me out of nowhere?!"
"You'll know my name soon enough," the demon replied, twirling his hammer.
"My reason's simple—I love strong fighters! And you… you're definitely something special!"
Leon exhaled sharply. "Idiot."
He turned away, ignoring the figure, and headed toward the training grounds.
"Oho, refusing a duel? First time someone's dared to do that!"
In a flash, the figure reappeared in front of Leon, his speed like lightning. "Then… I'll just force you!"
BAM!
A lightning-clad fist slammed into Leon's chest, sending him flying into a weapon rack.
The impact only fueled Leon's rage. He grabbed the nearest spear and thrust it straight at the demon's stomach.
CRACK!
The spear shattered into pieces upon impact, leaving not even a scratch.
"This your best weapon?" the demon taunted, brushing off the spot where the spear had struck.
"Disappointing!"
Leon gritted his teeth. Without hesitation, he swung his right fist.
BOOM!
The punch sent the demon flying three meters back, leaving a scorched mark on his chest.
"Now we're talking!" The demon's laughter echoed.
He tossed his hammer aside. "If you wanna fight bare-handed, I'll play along!"
Crimson lightning coiled around his arms as he charged. His first strike came fast, but Leon blocked it with his left hand.
Leon countered with a punch aimed at the demon's face—but before it could land, a crushing blow to his stomach sent him reeling.
"Ghk—!" Blood sprayed from Leon's mouth.
On the verge of blacking out, memories of his childhood resurfaced—of being kicked and beaten daily by mid-tier demons, powerless to fight back.
"No… more…"
Leon's eyes snapped open, pitch-black darkness swirling within them.
"You wanna see my real power? HERE IT IS!"
A shockwave of dark energy erupted from his fist, blasting both of them through the palace walls and into the royal kitchen. Servants screamed in terror.
"NOW THIS IS A FIGHT!" the demon roared in delight.
He tore off his tattered shirt, revealing scars covering his entire body. "Let's keep going!"
Simultaneous kicks collided, the shockwave shattering windows.
Leon, who had never felt this exhilaration before, felt his blood boiling. A wild grin spread across his face.
"HAHAHA! This… this is fun!"
He ripped off his already-tattered shirt.
For twenty intense minutes, they exchanged blows—fists and kicks met with equal force, their manic grins mirroring each other as the palace trembled beneath their battle.
Until finally…
Leon, completely drained, staggered to a stop, gasping for air. "I… lose."
But another powerful punch greeted him. "Lose? Hell no. You're incredible!"
The demon gazed at Leon with pride. "It's been ages since I met someone as strong as you!"
"BROTHER RAIDEN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Sylvaine stood in the doorway, her face pale. Behind her, Zephyr stared in disbelief at the destruction.
"B-Brother Raiden?" Leon blinked in shock.
The demon—Raiden Belphegor—laughed heartily. "Surprise! I'm the eldest brother of this family!"
The revelation stunned Leon. The man he had just fought was the firstborn son of the former Demon King Belphegor—a legendary figure who had left the kingdom fifty years ago, possessing strength nearly rivaling the current Lucifer family's king.
"So… I just fought His Majesty Zephyr's older brother?" Leon slumped weakly.
Raiden shrugged. "Relax! I'd rather be called a sparring partner."
Zephyr approached with a sigh. "Brother… you haven't changed at all."
"Forgive my disrespect, Your Majesty Raiden," Leon tried to bow, but Raiden stopped him.
"Enough of that! If anything, I should thank you—finally, someone who can keep up!"
Sylvaine joined them, shaking her head. "Brother Raiden's always been like this. He once wrecked the throne room fighting Father."
In the distance, a shadowy figure watched everything unfold…
=== BAB 8 END ===