Demons Desire for Power

As the next days arrives and the tournament continues with the quarter finals beginning. Across the arena, a different clash was brewing. Uriko, the princess, stood poised, her spear glinting in the arena's light. 

 Her armor, a polished steel that seemed to absorb the light, reflected the anticipation in the crowd. Facing her was Liam, a man whose features were sharp, almost predatory, his eyes cold and calculating. He moved with an unnatural grace, a deceptive calm that concealed the demonic power simmering beneath. 

I was curious and asked Enuma, "Do you think she will win?" 

Enuma was pondering and did not answer. "Hmm?..."

I repeated, "Enuma, what is wrong? Just who is this opponent?"

Uriko wasn't afraid. She was a warrior, a princess, a daughter of the Emperor Solja. She carried the weight of expectations, but she also carried the strength of many battles within her. This wasn't just a tournament; it was her chance to prove her worth, to demonstrate that she wasn't just a princess, but a warrior worthy of respect, worthy of her father's legacy, and worthy of Terran's admiration.

Enuma finally spoke up, "We finally can show you the truth of the demon race. Few are like Aka, boy. This shall be good watch." 

The opponent was a basic looking man, with an ax and shield. He wore sturdy armor and was announce as the warrior Liam. He definitely did not look glamours nor overpowering and yet he arrived this far at the tournament. He had a small crowd hopeful for him as the underdog facing the well-armed Spear master.  

Liam, with a chilling smile, advanced. He moved with a deceptive fluidity, like a predator stalking its prey. He spoke in a voice that was smooth and honeyed yet laced with insidious threats. 

Liam spoke, "A pretty girl trying to play soldier. That will make this fun! I cannot wait to make you unpretty."

He played on Uriko's emotions, trying to sow doubt, to make her falter. But Uriko remained resolute. She had worked extremely hard to gain Terran's recognition to be swayed by an opponent's tricks. She knew the strength of her spear, the power of her training, the unwavering resolve of her heart.

The battle began. Liam's attacks were swift and precise, each movement a calculated dance of deceit. I was confused at what Enuma said, but said, "The princess will win, she still is very capable to give me a threat." 

Liam called out, "Pretty girl, what are you doing? Battles are not fought on even field. Real fights are by any means necessary for victory."

 He used shadows and illusions to confuse Uriko, to make her doubt her own judgment. But Uriko countered with the precision of a trained knight. 

Uriko called out her magic attacks. "Kilo flame!!" As the battle arena was illuminated by the magic. 

Uriko tried to destroy the shadows and force Liam to position where it benefited her. Her spear, a blur of motion, deflected his blows, parried his attacks, and struck with deadly accuracy. She fought not just with strength, but with intelligence, with a fierce determination that mirrored her father's battle-hardened spirit.

As the fight raged, Liam kept disappearing from view like magic. The crowd began to wonder why he remained so elusive. Which Liam said, "I like to play with pretend soldiers like you." 

He managed to blend into the vacant scenery and get in behind Uriko. He quickly cut into the exposed weak points in her armor. Uriko then screamed, "Kyaahhh!!" 

As the marks grew more various on Uriko, she also was able to inflict damage by illuminating areas with magic. Liam was fored to engage in combat a few times when he was not ready. 

Liam still was using the battle to feel up the princess. Not just landing cuts but unnecessary grabbing. Finally, I notice it from the stands. I started to get angry, but before a second thought. 

Enuma interrupted my thoughts. "Calm down, this is tournament. That girl is trying to prove herself and you getting involved will only make her look weak."  

Liam's disguise began to crack. A flicker of the demonic light that he had concealed would momentarily flash through his eyes, a tremor in his movements, an involuntary shudder that betrayed the true nature of his heart. 

 Uriko saw this. She saw the demon trying to hide, and she saw the fear in his eyes. She recognized the weakness, the cracks in his facade. It was a weakness that she exploited.

Demon Liam decided to no longer hold back. He spoke with a wretched whine in his voice, "You dare! Humans like you are all the same, better off as a pet."

The crowds starting to notice the changes in the warrior, and yet Uriko kept her calm. The referee and judges were still hesitant, as they watch the new unveiled demon power up with a different style of magic. 

Enuma commented to me in the stands, "See like most demons, they think of them as ants." 

I replied, "Wait, I thought it was just you. They are all so strong to think like that?"

Enuma shock his head and explained, "It is more of they are strong to bully the weak. Most of them are selfish and fight among each other. The demons sooner team up to eliminate a stronger demon or completely submit to the stronger one. It is that I was so strong that any that did challenge me were destroyed so badly that eventually none challenged my authority as Demon King."

Terran was baffled. He asked, "So the demons respect only the strongest?"

Enuma chuckled, "I never took on an apprentice before. Cause I knew any demon that did would eventually try to kill me. This is something I am no longer worried about, killing or being killed by my disciple."

I was stunned, "How can the demons' make a livilhood living in such fear? It feels so bad to constantly be so cautious, even among your own kin."

Enuma explained it, "Think of it as a quest for power. Humans are not too different in that aspect. This is more basic desire for power to make others bend the knee to the stronger. Plenty of demons have slaughtered the weak, but even some of the stronger with great ideals were taken down by weak demons grouping up to defeat the strong."

However, as the fight in the arena continued, 

Liam started to make ground on Uriko. His change in style and magic had thrown off the princess. She is now trying to adapt to the new circumstances. 

So, the demon Liam started to continue to mock her. He said, "You damn monkey, you will know your place. I will force you to be subservient. We can turn you into a nice pet, like many humans I tamed. You all are lessor beings no better than animals."

Uriko gathered her resolve, channeled her magic into a Lightning Kilo into the blade of her spear.  With a powerful thrust, Uriko drove her spear into Liam's chest. The demonic light flared, and a roar echoed through the arena, but it was a roar of defeat. 

Liam crumpled to the ground, his disguise dissolving into dust. The demon was vanquished. Uriko stood victorious. The crowd roared, their cheers echoing the victory of the princess, the warrior, the daughter of the Emperor. 

 She had proven her worth. She had advanced.