Family system

Nyx looked at me, her golden eyes holding little interest as if she was already bored of my presence. With a lazy swipe of her paw, the air before she cracked like glass, and two doors materialized out of the shimmering void. The sound echoed through the space, a sharp reminder of the surreal environment I found myself in.

I frowned. Hadn't this realm been created for me to advance my dream divinity? Instead, it seemed like Nyx was trying to get rid of me already. She turned her gaze back to me, her expression cold and unreadable.

"There are two doors, as usual," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. "One is a nightmare door, and the other is a deathmatch door. Choose one, kill the being inside, and bring me your offering. That will serve as payment for your first lesson." Stay connected with empire

Her words hung heavy in the air. I hesitated a bit, unsure which door would give the best results. What kind of beast would be stronger? What offering would Nyx deem more to her liking? I glanced back at her, deciding that guessing wouldn't help.

"Which payment do you prefer?" I asked.

A flicker of amusement danced across Nyx's face for the first time, her expression softening just enough to unsettle me. "The stronger the offering, the more… motivated I'll be to teach you," she said, her lips curving into a sly grin. She raised a paw and pointed lazily toward the door labeled Deathmatch. "That one."

I expected her answer, but that didn't make it easier to hear. My chest tightened as the reality sank in. There was no easy way forward, not here. I hesitated, my eyes lingering on the Nightmare door. It would likely be less dangerous, but it wouldn't win me favor with Nyx.

Taking a deep breath, I turned and walked toward the Deathmatch door. I couldn't take shortcuts if I truly wanted Nyx to invest in me. Difficult choices led to greater rewards—or so I hoped. It was like that in my games, so I hoped it counted here.

The door slowly creaked open. I stepped inside, my vision adjusting as the familiar sensation of space shifting around me took hold. When the world settled, I found myself standing on another floating island. The air was thin and cold.

At the center of the island, a single figure sat motionless. The monster was meditating, its skeletal frame cloaked in silvery-white armor with dark undertones. Purple energy streaks pulsed through its form, glowing faintly like veins beneath the skin. Golden highlights adorned the edges of its armor, giving it a regal yet corrupted look. Black, feathered wings extended from its back, their tips frayed as though they'd burned in some forgotten battle. A long spear rested in its hand, its blade radiating an ominous purple light.

The aura around the monster was suffocating, pressing against me like a wall. One look was enough to tell me this being wouldn't fall with a single strike—or even a dozen. It exuded the same overwhelming presence I'd felt when I first bought Supreme Swordsmanship from the system.

I summoned my sword into my hand, its weight grounding me. My grip tightened as I stepped closer. The monster stirred, its wings shifting slightly as it reached its full height. It cracked its neck, a hollow sound that sent a shiver down my spine, then fixed its glowing eyes on me. I saw only one thing in that gaze: a pure, unrestrained thirst for battle.

I moved cautiously, closing the distance, but the monster didn't wait. It vanished. One moment, it was there; the next, it was gone, its presence a faint whisper behind me. My instincts screamed, and I whirled around just in time to meet its spear with my blade. The impact sent a shockwave up my arm, and I groaned under the weight of the strike.

Its strength was immense, but I held firm, my sword locking against the spear. For a brief moment, our eyes met again—his glowing with the joy of combat. I pushed back, forcing the monster to retreat, and jumped away to create some distance.

My hand trembled from the clash, but I didn't hesitate. I cleaved the air with my sword, sending a slash of compressed space hurtling toward the monster. The attack tore through the island, cleaving a small mountain in two, but the monster had already vanished again.

I froze, my senses on high alert, waiting for it to reappear. This time, it materialized directly in front of me, its spear a blur as it shot toward my chest. The attack was impossibly fast, aimed straight at my heart. My blade moved instinctively, deflecting the spear just enough to avoid a fatal blow. The tip grazed my arm, leaving a shallow cut that barely stung.

But something was wrong.

A faint purple glow lingered around the wound, spreading through my skin like a creeping frost. My nerves dulled, and my left arm grew sluggish, responding slower than normal. I frowned, my mind racing. 'Poison? No, it didn't feel like poison. If it were, my body would have detected and neutralized it already. This was something else.'

I quickly summoned the system. "Gabriel, analyze this energy. Do we have anything to counter it?"

Gabriel's voice came through, calm and focused. [Analyzing… please hold.]

I hated relying on the system, but this wasn't the time to let pride get in the way of survival. While Gabriel worked, I focused on holding my ground. My body was growing weaker, but my mind sharpened. I studied every move the monster made, every subtle shift in its stance.

Normally, I relied on raw skill and instinct to win my battles, but now I had no choice. I had to anticipate every strike and feint if I wanted to survive. The monster moved like a real monster. While I could feel that he was really strong and experienced, I also felt the mistakes he made due to excitement. I punished him for those mistakes but couldn't capitalize too much on them.

I only struck back when I saw an opening, countering just enough to keep it from overwhelming me. My energy was draining, and my movements slowed, but I refused to give up. While I knew that even if I died, Eleanor would bring me back, I didn't want this to stop now.

Just as my body neared its breaking point, a potion suddenly appeared in my hand. Gabriel's voice rang in my ears, sharp and urgent.

[The monster before you wields a unique blood magic, corrupted magic at its core. This potion will neutralize the magic and heal your body. Drink it now!]

I didn't hesitate. Tearing the stopper from the potion, I drank it in one swift motion. The effects were immediate. Strength flooded back into my limbs, the numbness in my left arm vanishing as if it had never existed. The fog clouding my mind cleared, and I felt my strength coursing through my body.

The monster noticed the change. He grinned, baring jagged teeth, and raised his spear, anticipating my attack. For the first time since the fight began, I attacked, my blade clashing against his spear with enough force to send sparks flying. His excitement for the battle was infectious; before I realized it, a grin had also spread across my face.

I wasn't typically one to revel in combat—my time was far better spent with my beautiful wives. But the sheer joy radiating from my opponent, the thrill of matching strength and skill, stirred something within me. Blow after blow, we exchanged strikes.

With my strength fully returned, I could keep up with his relentless pace. Moreover, my earlier weakness had forced me to study his movements intently. Every subtle shift in his stance, every twitch of his wings—I had memorized them all. Blocking and deflecting his attacks became easier with each passing moment, and his once-overpowering power became manageable.

Though the fight was exciting, I couldn't prolong it. I needed to conserve as much energy as possible for the lessons. With that in mind, I decided to end it. Raising my sword, I murmured, "Red Cross."

In an instant, two glowing red crosses materialized around the monster, their energy humming with palpable power. Slowly, they began to close in on him. The monster reacted immediately, thrusting his spear at the crosses to shatter them. His strikes were precise and forceful, but the energy surrounding the crosses deflected every attack effortlessly.

He didn't relent. Strike after strike, he threw his full strength at the glowing constructs, but the crosses held firm each time. As they drew closer, his frustration grew, his movements becoming more erratic. The weight of inevitability hung in the air, heavy and oppressive.

With a final, desperate thrust of his spear, he aimed to break through, but the deflecting energy surged back with such force that the spear was wrenched from his grip. It clattered to the ground, leaving him defenseless. The crosses closed in, slicing through him swiftly and decently. His body fell apart, the pieces crumbling lifelessly to the ground.

I stood still, my breathing heavy as I stared at the remains of my opponent. I waited, sword still in hand, watching for any movement. For a full minute, the battlefield was silent, the tension lingering like a ghost. When I was sure he wouldn't rise again, I allowed myself to relax.

My legs gave out, and I sank to the ground, utterly exhausted. A smile crept across my face as I lay there, the thrill of victory. The fight had been grueling, but I couldn't deny how much I had enjoyed it.

After a few minutes of rest, I bought an energy potion from the system and downed it, feeling its restorative effects wash over me. Rising to my feet, I walked toward the monster's remains, my steps slow and deliberate. Standing over his body, I gave a respectful salute.

"You were a worthy opponent," I said quietly, my voice carrying genuine admiration.

I encased his remains in a coffin and stored it in my space ring. With my offering secured, I turned to the only door on the island and stepped through, ready to meet Nyx again and begin my first lesson.