"Try defending one of my attacks first."
A demonic human with a crazed expression said as he rushed towards the boy in front of him.
He brandished his sword in one smooth motion before performing an upwards diagonal slash.
Clank—
To his surprise the white-haired boy was able to block his attack.
However, he also saw that the boy's footing was unsteady.
"Haha! You were able to block my first in a fluke, but you won't be able to do it a second time!"
The demonic human rushed at the boy again.
This time, he jumped slightly and slashed downwards with all his strength.
Clink—
However, it was blocked by the boy again.
His foot became even more unsteady, looking as if he blocked the attack luckily once again.
A nerve seemed to popped at the side of his head before he followed up with another strike right after.
Clang—
Nevertheless, it was blocked again.
"What the fuck is happening!?" The demonic human roared in anger.
'Although I'm not using my aura, I'm still a full-fledged swordsman!'
He was someone who pursued the path of aura using his swordsmanship.
Therefore, he couldn't see just how the brat in front of him was able to block not only one, but three of his attacks.
Even though they were forbidden from using energy, his years of experience in swordsmanship wasn't something that could be looked down on.
'So how could this brat…!!'
His pride was damaged, and so he felt the need to redeem himself.
Plop—
However, just as he was about to utilize his aura, the brat with snow white hair suddenly fell to the ground.
"Hey kid, you okay?" He asked as he walked towards the boy.
'Thankfully, I didn't do anything that might get me killed. After all, these children will serve an important role…'
"Yes, Sir." The boy, Regis, answered as he breathed heavily.
He wasn't breathing heavily because of exhaustion.
No, as someone with a star of a higher level of energy, such weak attacks from a swordsman couldn't possibly tire him.
He was breathing heavily because of another reason; Excitement.
'I could see— No, I could feel it…'
At first, Regis could barely block the sword strike from the demonic human.
This was because of the difference in skill.
Of course, if Regis were to use the power of his demonic star, then he would be able to win single handedly.
After all, absolute power tramples upon any sort of skill.
Still, doing so would be wasting the opportunity that was presented to him.
'I have no background in combat and much less swordsmanship, so the reason why I could feel his attacks could only have one reason…'
He adapted to it.
As simple as that.
'I have adapted to poison… to the pressure of a higher being… and now, to the techniques of a swordsman.'
Regis felt surreal.
After all, feeling the mana in his heart which was co-existing with his demonic power, along with his second gift…
'How could something like this be impossible…'
His gift of Perfect Adaption never ceases to amaze him.
It took all his strength to prevent himself from grinning.
"Hey brat, if you're okay then let's continue."
The demonic human spoke after making sure that the boy didn't suffer any serious injuries.
Regis's expression remained blank, but his blood red eyes shone in excitement.
***
'Everything is going according to plan…'
The demonic human leader smiled as he observed the countless sparrings that were happening in the camp.
'It seems like only a minority of the children are resisting the temptation of demonic power… Though I doubt that that would be the case before long…'
Initially, he had delayed the combat training of the suicide soldiers.
This was to prevent the emergence of certain problematic occurrences.
'Fortunately, it doesn't seem as if any of those minorities plan to rebel…'
One example of said problematic occurrence was the case of rebellion.
The suicide soldiers he was nurturing could be described as a double-edged sword.
They were children who possess pure demonic power, aside from having the features of a human, they were essentially demons.
In fact, the demonic human leader even felt a little jealous because of this ability of theirs.
However, the consequences that accompanied it were not worth the risk.
"Hey." He called to one of the demonic humans around him.
"Yes, Leader."
"Starting from today, don't give them Calming Soups…"
"But isn't this too early…"
"Do as I say."
"Yes, Leader!"
The demonic human leader turned his head back to the field.
A few children had caught his attention.
The first one was of course, the girl who awakened a Platinum-grade gift.
However, there were also few other children who succumbed to the temptation of demonic power much earlier than the others.
He had kept an eye on them because this meant that they would be easier to control.
After walking around for a while, something caught his sight.
A boy with snow-white hair and blood-red eyes.
'Oh, that child again…'
Although the boy caught his attention on a few occasions, those were really just that.
He did not stand out in any way nor did he exhibit any speciality.
Even now, the way he blocks the sword of his opponent seems to be only done through flukes and luck.
'I thought he was special… but I guess I was wrong…'
The demonic human leader shook his head as he watched Regis who dodged as if he was drunk.
'Anyways, I need to ensure that there would be no mishaps.'
His act of not giving the children Calming Soups was the first part of his plan.
The second would be the daily raids that they would be going through.
'The humans really are hypocritical… They preach about how demons were bad, yet they don't care about the villages in the outskirts…'
Hatred flashed in the demonic human leader's eyes for a moment.
'Well, this benefits me… I'll make sure to turn those children to full-fledged suicide soldiers in half a year…'
The demonic human leader grinned as he left.