True Incubus: The Demon with No Limits

”Are you ready?”

”Let’s get this over with.”

Rhydan rubbed the back of his neck, preparing for the little altercation. It was clear he wasn’t taking Lucian seriously.

Behind them, both groups stepped back. Isolde tilted towards Naomi and—

”Ten silver on Lucian?”

She asked with a grin.

”You are going to gamble at a time like this...?”

Naomi couldn’t believe it.

”A time like this—when you are emotional—is exactly when you should gamble. The more emotional you are, the stronger your instincts, the more you win.”

The Witch nodded, sharing profound knowledge. Naomi couldn’t believe her and Sabine approached them with a smile.

”Twenty silver on Rhydan.”

She was going to participate as well.

”Oh, come on! I was going to bet on him!”

Isolde instantly lost her mind.

”The bet won’t work if we both bet on him!”

”Then why don’t you bet on Lucian? I’ll give you ten times the amount if you win~

That’s two hundred silver.”

Sabine spoke with a light smile.

”As if I would do that!”

Isolde instantly rejected that.

Two hundred silver wasn’t as pleasing to Isolde’s ears as it would be to a normal being. Not only was Isolde a Witch, who was known for being filthy rich, she was also the heir to the Blackthorn Circle. She could spend billions and it wouldn’t put a dent in her Coven’s treasury.

Yes, Isolde was loaded.

She didn’t gamble for the sake of money, she just liked to win.

And betting on Lucian would not result in a win.

”How about twenty times?”

Sabine offered.

”I’ll offer you fifty times instead.”

”No.”

Sabine shook her head.

The two continued debating. The more Naomi heard them, the angrier she felt. Lucian was fighting for her sake and hearing them dying to bet on his loss felt so disrespectful. This was no longer a joke to her.

Isolde and Sabine, however, did not know what she was thinking. They continued offering more—

”I’ll offer you two hundred times!”

”Two hundred and one times.”

”Two hundred and fifty!”

”Two hundred and fifty-one.”

”Five hundred! Five hundred times!”

Isolde raised her voice even further and suddenly—

”I’ll take it.”

Naomi spoke up.

”Lucian won’t lose, I’ll bet all my Waymarks on it.”

She glared at Isolde and Sabine.

”You are betting your Waymarks...?”

Isolde tilted her head in confusion.

”You do know you won’t have any once he loses, right?”

Sabine pointed out. Naomi glared at her and—

”You should also know how quickly I’ll find them. If you win, I’ll help you find three Waymarks.”

Sabine and Isolde looked at each other, considering the offer.

”Are you sure?”

Isolde questioned.

”I am.”

Naomi did not back down.

”And don’t you forget, five hundred times.

That’s ten thousand silver if you lose.”

”Alright then, I’ll take the bet.”

Isolde accepted it instantly.

Sabine, on the other hand—

”I’ll step back.”

She raised her hand.

”Huh?”

Isolde frowned. Sabine just shrugged.

”I don’t bet what I don’t have, no matter how sure I am of the outcome.”

”That’s... oddly wise of you.”

Isolde couldn’t believe it, but then she shrugged.

”I’ll take it all then.”

She then turned towards Naomi and—

”Remember, if Lucian loses, you help me find three Waymarks.”

”And if he doesn’t, you give me ten thousand silver.”

Naomi did not back down.

Once the deal was made, she stared at Lucian, who was looking at her with a concerned frown. He didn’t interrupt because he knew Naomi wouldn’t like being interrupted right now, but even he knew what she did was not wise.

It would reduce her chances of winning the Trial.

Naomi shook her head, not caring about the consequences. She glared at Lucian and—

”You better win.”

She threatened out loud and Lucian laughed.

”I wasn’t planning on losing anyway~”

Then, he turned back towards Rhydan and the very next instant, the amusement in his eyes faded away as he glanced at his opponent.

Rhydan’s posture hadn’t changed one bit. His arms hung loosely by his sides, there was no visible tension in his shoulders, no guarded stance, he was just... standing there. To anyone ordinary, it would look like he wasn’t even prepared for a fight.

But Lucian, who could hear his calm heartbeat and steady breathing, could see the truth.

Every muscle in this man’s body was ready and that made Lucian grin.

”Let’s start then!”

He announced the start of the duel and pushed off the ground, crossing the distance in an instant, intending to punch Rhydan’s face.

Rhydan just moved his head a little. Lucian’s fist passed beside his cheek and before he could pull it back, Rhydan caught his wrist and—

And then he threw Lucian across the corridor, sending his body flying towards his companions, who quickly moved aside, letting Lucian’s body fly all the way until it collided with the wall, then fell to the ground.

”LUCIAN!!”

Naomi screamed in worry. Isolde grabbed her hand, stopping her from rushing forward. Lucian, on the other hand, pushed himself up.

Then he looked at Rhydan and blinked.

’Just... what happened...?’

He didn’t understand.

Rhydan, on the other hand, stood exactly where he had been standing. Heck, he didn’t even charge when Lucian was down, he remained there as if he was waiting for Lucian to stand and fight properly again.

”Heh.”

Lucian grinned.

He cracked his neck before he rushed forward again. This time, however, he did not attack directly. He stepped to Rhydan’s left, shifted his weight, then suddenly changed direction and drove a kick towards his knee.

Rhydan only lifted his leg. Their shins collided and—

CRACK

A loud crack was heard.

The bone in Lucian’s leg fractured.

”Guhhh!”

He groaned in pain, but he didn’t let go of the momentum. He used it to twist his body and send his other leg towards Rhydan’s head.

Rhydan caught his ankle and slammed Lucian into the floor, shattering the ground beneath him.

”Khrrkkk!!”

Lucian groaned again. The pain he felt in his leg now spread all over his body.

As for Rhydan, he released Lucian and stepped back, once again giving him time to recover.

Lucian rolled away and stood up again, placing his weight on his uninjured leg. The fractured bone was already healing itself, but it would still need a few more seconds.

”You heal quickly.”

Rhydan observed him silently.

”So do you?”

Lucian asked curiously.

”You haven’t injured me yet.”