"If you can defeat me, then you will have proven your worth," she snarled, her tail swishing angrily. I tried doing this the easy way, but it seems you prefer the hard way."
Adrian took a step back. He barely had time to react before Seraphina attacked.
Wings sprouted from her back, and her eyes glowed with a fierce, otherworldly light as she moved with blinding speed towards him, her claws slashing at him.
Adrian dodged out of the way, barely escaping her attack.
His instincts kicked in, and he drew out his sword in a fluid motion.
"Fool," she snarled, her lips curling into a vicious grin. "You can't hope to beat me with that toy."
Seraphina charged him, her movements a blur.
She was so fast that he could barely track her.
Quickly, he summoned his fiery chains from his back, like an octopus' tentacles, and swung them at the demoness, the burning chains flying through the air.
She was able to dodge and weave between the chains with ease.
Seraphina's strength was formidable, and he knew he couldn't afford to underestimate her.
She lunged at him again, her wings creating gusts of wind that threw him off balance. Adrian stumbled, barely managing to deflect her next blow.
He needed to find a way to turn the tide of the battle, to use her own power against her.
A plan began to form in his mind, and he thought of how to put it into action.
"What's the matter, Adrian?" Seraphina taunted, her voice a seductive whisper even in the heat of combat. "Are you afraid you can't defeat me?"
Adrian gritted his teeth, summoning the chains to his side. "I will defeat you, Seraphina."
He had a plan, but he needed to time it perfectly and accurately.
He waited until she lunged at him again before swinging the chains around her legs. The fiery chains wrapped around her legs, holding her in place.
Sensing she was going to be trapped by that, Seraphina unleashed a torrent of dark energy, the force of it knocking Adrian off his feet. He hit the ground hard, the pain searing through his body.
The chains around Seraphina loosened, falling to the floor.
"That was a mistake, Adrian," Seraphina growled, her eyes gleaming with rage. "I'm going to make you pay for that."
Adrian's vision blurred as he struggled to get back up. Seraphina loomed over him, her expression twisted with rage.
"You could have had everything," she snarled, raising her clawed hand to strike the final blow. "But now, you will die."
Just as she was about to bring her hand down, Adrian retracted one of the chains from behind Seraphina with a great speed and force.
Before the succubus could register what was happening, the spear head of the chain drove into her chest, impaling her.
Seraphina's eyes widened in shock as another spear headed chain drove into her shoulder.
"No, it can't be," she muttered in disbelief.
And then another, and another.
Seraphina let out an anguished scream as the chains pierced her, the pain overwhelming her.
Adrian watched as the life faded from her eyes, the demoness dying before his very eyes.
"You've passed the test," she gasped, her bloodied lips curving into a small, sad smile. "You are truly worthy."
Adrian stared in shock as the succubus' body dissipated into nothingness, the chains retracting into his back.
He had done it. He had defeated the demoness. He had passed the second trial.
Raising his eyes, he found himself back in the chamber with the pedestal and the crystal.
The crystal pulsed with a bright light, beckoning to him like a beacon. Slowly he approached it, his heart pounding with anticipation.
He reached out his hand, the light enveloping him as his fingertips brushed against the surface.
As if directed by some force, Adrian turned and saw a sarcophagus behind the pedestal, one that he did not notice before.
The sarcophagus was wrapped with chains that appeared ancient.
"Only you can break the seal, Adrian," a familiar voice spoke, echoing within the chamber. "Free me."
Adrian recognized Lilith's voice. Taking a deep breath, he drew his sword and struck the chain, breaking it with one blow.
The other chains shattered, the sound of metal on metal echoing in the chamber.
The stone lid cracked, revealing the form within.
Lilith laid within the sarcophagus, completely naked, her skin pale and her lips tinted blue.
Adrian's breath caught in his throat as he looked upon the goddess. She was even more beautiful than he remembered.
Her raven black hair fell across her face, all her assets open for his eyes to behold. She looked like an angel, a fallen angel.
She appeared dead, her eyes closed and her body unmoving.
Looking at the crystal in his hand, Adrian knew what he was supposed to do.
He leaned over Lilith's still body, gently placing the crystal on her chest, above her breasts.
As soon as the crystal touched her skin, it melted and became liquid, flowing over her skin.
The room glowed brightly as the magic of the crystal took effect. Lilith's eyes fluttered open, and her body began to glow with a golden light.
Adrian stepped back as Lilith rose from the sarcophagus, her naked body radiating.
She turned her gaze to him, and he felt as if the world stopped.
"Adrian," she whispered, her voice as soft and alluring as he remembered. "You have freed me."
She smiled, her lips curving into a small, shy smile. She extended her hand to him.
"Come, my champion. It is time for us to begin our journey."
Adrian took her hand, and the moment their skin touched, a surge of energy ran through him, sending sparks flying.
"Are you ready?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Adrian nodded, unable to form words.
Lilith pulled him closer, her body pressed against his, before crashing her lips on his.