Noah rose with the dawn, just like he had for the past ten days, muscles aching but alive with the burn of progress. His morning training had become a ritual, a battle between his body and the limits he'd imposed on it. Every day, he pushed himself further, and every day the results became more tangible.
Standing before the mirror, his eyes traced the reflection staring back at him—a reflection that, even after just ten days, had changed drastically. His body, always lean and athletic, was now sculpted like a warrior's.
His arms, thick with muscle, and his back, a tapestry of finely tuned muscle fibers, had grown in ways that surprised even him.
I'm getting stronger, he thought, flexing his hands and feeling the newfound power surge through his veins.
But this is only the beginning.
Noah could feel it: the rapid rise in his stats, the new abilities his body could barely keep up with. It had caused a gap between his raw power and his control over it. But he had spent these last days narrowing that gap, learning to wield his strength like a weapon instead of letting it control him.
It was like going from driving an old car to a high-performance sports car. More speed, more power—but only if he could handle it.
And now, he could.
"Finally," Noah muttered, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "I've mastered it. Now I'm ready."
He reached for his gear, the familiar weight of his weapons grounding him. His fingers brushed against the hilt of Lady of Death, the scythe that had become synonymous with him. Its dark steel gleamed ominously in the morning light, but he let it stay in its sheath.
Not today. Today, he would rely on his own skill.
He turned, taking a final glance at himself in the mirror, and nodded. With that, he set off toward Columbia University.
______
John reached the entrance of the campus, the dry branches of the trees outlining the gate, and the two statues representing Literature and Science seemed to greet him with cold indifference. The quiet of the scene, broken only by the occasional gust of wind, felt like the calm before a storm.
This is it.
He thought as he looked at the familiar campus. The reason he had come to Columbia was simple: his parents had lectures here almost every day. If they hadn't made it to De Witt Park, this was the most likely place where he could find them.
He pushed through the gates and was immediately greeted by a sight that made his stomach drop. Piles of bodies lined the pedestrian walkway, lifeless forms scattered and stacked like discarded garbage. The stench of death and decay filled the air, assaulting his senses with each breath.
John's gut churned. He had to resist the urge to vomit.
What… happened here?
"Guuuarghhh!!"
A sudden, guttural roar shook him out of his daze. It was followed by the unmistakable sound of clashing metal, echoing through the silent campus.
John's heart pounded in his chest as he ran toward the source of the noise. Someone was fighting.
And whoever it was—by the sound of it—they were up against something monstrous.
He skidded to a halt as he reached the square, his eyes widening in disbelief. In the center of the courtyard stood a massive figure. The creature towered over everything, its skin blood-red and gleaming like armor, rippling with raw muscle.
Two enormous horns curled from either side of its head, framing a monstrous face filled with rage. It gripped a warhammer that looked like it could crush a car with a single swing.
But the real shock was the person standing opposite it.
Standing before the towering beast, a young man looked impossibly small, a stark contrast to the Minotaur's hulking frame. His pale skin seemed almost ethereal under the sunlight, casting a ghostly hue that highlighted the dark circles under his deep, voidless black eyes.
Despite the grim circumstances, his attractive features remained unruffled, accentuated by his fit, athletic physique that spoke of countless hours spent training.
His black hair hung in messy waves around his face, framing his intense gaze as he faced the colossal demon.
"Noah?"
John whispered, almost disbelieving. His friend stood, calm and composed, staring down the demon like it was just another opponent in the gym. He didn't flinch, didn't blink.
*Boooom!*
Without warning, the demon swung its hammer down, the sheer force of the blow making the air itself tremble. The earth cracked under its weight.
*Swish*
But Noah wasn't there anymore.
In a flash, he had sidestepped the strike with a grace that left John speechless. The hammer crashed into the ground, sending dirt and debris flying, but Noah was already a step ahead, moving like liquid through the chaos.
John's jaw dropped.
Noah's movements weren't just fast—they were beyond human. Every dodge, every sidestep, was perfectly timed, like he was in complete harmony with the fight. It was as though he knew the demon's every move before it even made them.
"How…?"
John whispered, unable to tear his eyes away from the spectacle.
The Minotaur roared in frustration, swinging its hammer with even more fury. Each strike was a death sentence, but Noah moved with impossible speed, dodging every attack effortlessly. His body twisted and turned, flowing around the Minotaur's assaults like a shadow, untouchable.
_________
Noah stood before the Minotaur, muscles coiled and ready, as the massive demon lifted its warhammer high above its head. The sound of metal creaking filled the air, and a rush of adrenaline surged through Noah's veins.
He knew he had to move—and he had to do it fast.
With a roar, the Minotaur swung down its colossal hammer, aiming directly for Noah.
Not today, he thought, bending his knees slightly. Now!
With a powerful push from his legs, Noah launched himself into the air, soaring above the crushing blow of the hammer.
Time seemed to slow as he ascended, the ground below disappearing, leaving only the massive demon beneath him, mouth open in a silent roar of fury.
In that fleeting moment, Noah executed a flawless somersault, his body twisting gracefully over the Minotaur. The sheer height of his leap allowed him to survey the battlefield below, the grotesque form of the beast framed by the bright sky.
With each rotation, the thrill of flight surged within him, filling him with an exhilarating sense of freedom. He could feel the rush of air against his skin, the world blurring around him as he spun.
As he descended, Noah tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, positioning it perfectly to strike. He aimed for the beast's shoulder, ready to land a blow as he completed his maneuver.
With a smooth landing, he brought his blade crashing down, trying to cutting deep into the Minotaur's flesh.
However, it wasn't enough. The demon roared, staggering back.
He's fast… but not fast enough.
Noah thought, his eyes narrowing as he assessed his opponent.
________
Name: Barbas
Race: Low Ranking Demon
________
The Minotaur was strong—overwhelmingly so—but strength without speed meant nothing to him now. He had outgrown that kind of power a long time ago.
The beast bellowed, its warhammer slamming into the ground once more, sending shockwaves through the earth. But Noah was already on the other side of the square, untouched.
"Is that the best you've got?"
Noah's voice carried a taunt, calm and collected. He wasn't even breathing hard.
"I thought demons were supposed to be dangerous."
The Minotaur growled, its eyes glowing with fury. "You mock me, human? You'll regret it!"
Noah smirked. "Regret? I don't think so."
The demon charged again, hammer swinging with reckless abandon. Noah didn't move to dodge immediately. He let the hammer come closer, his muscles coiled like springs, waiting for the right moment.
As the hammer descended, Noah's body exploded into motion, a blur of speed as he ducked and weaved under the Minotaur's legs. His sword flashed in the sunlight as he slashed at the creature's thigh, sparks flying as his blade met its tough, hide-like skin.
Noah clicked his tongue.
Tougher than I expected. Guess I'll have to work a little harder.
The Minotaur howled in pain, stumbling back as blood began to seep from the wound.
"You… filthy human! I'll tear you apart!"
Noah rolled his shoulders, his grip tightening on his sword.
"You can try."
He leaped back as the Minotaur swung its hammer sideways, the beast growing more furious with each passing second. Noah was in his element now, completely focused. He could feel the rhythm of the fight, the way the Minotaur moved, the patterns in its attacks. Every motion was a calculation, every step part of a larger plan.
Good…
Noah thought.
The angrier it gets, the sloppier its attacks become.
__________
John, still watching from the edge of the square, could barely keep up with what was happening. Noah wasn't just dodging—he was toying with the Minotaur. Every movement was precise, every dodge perfectly timed. He wasn't just fast; he was untouchable.
"How is he doing that…?" John muttered.
Noah's strength was on a completely different level now.
Noah ducked another wild swing, then, with a smirk, threw a glance at the beast.
"Slower than I expected. Guess I'll have to speed this up."
The Minotaur bared its teeth.
"You arrogant wretch! I'll grind your bones to dust!"
It lunged forward, hammer raised high, ready to crush Noah with all its might.
But Noah didn't move. He raised his arm, meeting the hammer head-on with nothing but his forearm.
John's heart stopped.
"What are you fucking doing?!"
The hammer hit Noah's arm with a sickening crack, sending sparks in all directions. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the ground, but Noah stood firm.
He didn't flinch, didn't back down. His feet were planted in the earth, unmoving.
"Mhm," Noah muttered, his voice cold. "Is that really all you've got?"
The Minotaur's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What… how?"
Noah smirked, his arm holding the hammer in place with an ease that shouldn't have been possible. "You should've tried harder."
With a flick of his wrist, Noah shoved the hammer aside, sending the Minotaur stumbling back. It roared in frustration, but Noah was already moving again, his sword slicing through the air as he slashed across the demon's leg.
The Minotaur let out a pained roar as blood sprayed across the courtyard, staining the ground red. It clutched at its wounded leg, snarling at Noah.
"You… you'll pay for that!" it growled.
"Please," Noah scoffed, wiping the blood from his blade. "You're not even a challenge."
John couldn't believe what he was seeing. This wasn't the Noah he remembered. This was someone else—someone far stronger, faster, and more confident. Someone who seemed untouchable.
"How did he… how did he become like this?"
John muttered, his mind spinning. In the last days he thought he had somehow grown stronger. He was sure that he had become somewhat capable.
But I still haven't reached him… No, he has grown again.
The Minotaur, its breath ragged, glared at Noah with pure hatred. It was bleeding, weakening, but far from defeated. And Noah—he hadn't even broken a sweat.
"You think you can defeat me, human?" the Minotaur growled. "I'll crush you!"
Noah sighed, his hand briefly searching for the hilt of Lady of Death. Even though the urge to draw it was strong, he resisted.
Not yet.
"If you're not going to take this seriously," Noah muttered, stepping forward, "then I'll just have to end it."
The Minotaur snarled, swinging its hammer again with all its might, but Noah was already gone, moving like a shadow, dodging effortlessly. His body twisted and turned, avoiding the beast's attacks with fluid grace, each movement more choreographed than the last.
John watched in awe as Noah danced around the Minotaur, his speed and precision unmatched. It was like watching an artist at work, every step, every strike perfectly timed.
This is Noah now…
John thought, stunned.
But… how far has he really come?
The fight was far from over, and Noah wasn't planning on backing down. Not yet.