Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Nox slowly opened his eyes. The room around him was a blur as his vision adjusted. Where am I?
"Wake up, 112. It's time for martial arts training."
Right... The facility.
Shaking off his drowsiness, Nox quickly got dressed in his training attire. At the door stood a tall man with jet-black hair, his sharp eyes filled with unwavering determination. Without hesitation, Nox stepped forward. "I'm ready, sir."
The two walked through the sterile corridors, arriving at a large training room lined with mats. Other children filed in behind him—some glaring, some avoiding his gaze entirely. No one dared to speak to him.
A commanding voice rang across the room. "Positions, everyone!"
A large digital board lit up, listing the matchups. 112 vs. Instructor.
Unsurprised, Nox stared at the board with a faint smirk. Nothing's changed. He turned to face his opponent.
His instructor took a stance, one that seemed looser than a traditional martial stance but exuded confidence. The countdown began. 3…2…1… Begin!
Nox launched forward, every muscle relaxed yet poised. He studied his teacher's movements, reading his stance—his shoulders and feet hinted at an incoming strike to the abdomen. Anticipating the attack, Nox deflected it, stepping in to counter. His punch came swift, but the instructor dodged, quickly resetting his form.
Nox pressed on, throwing a powerful kick. It connected slightly, forcing his instructor to stumble back. Sensing an opportunity, he maintained relentless pressure—strike after strike. Some attacks landed, but most were skillfully blocked.
Then, his instructor smirked. "112, you've improved. I don't even have room to counter." With a satisfied nod, he added, "Let's call this your win. Reset."
"Yes, sir."
Training continued for another hour, but the matches became less intense. Nox moved on autopilot, refining technique rather than pushing himself to exhaustion.
Later, Nox found himself seated in a classroom, filling out a test under the watchful gaze of a stern woman who ensured absolute silence. The stillness was suffocating, a stark contrast to the rigorous combat earlier. Time blurred as he worked through the exam.
When the test was done, Nox was led to another room filled with machines and weights. Instructors monitored the students with tablets in hand, taking notes as each child underwent a series of physical tests.
One by one, the children were taken for examination. When it was Nox's turn, he stepped forward—then froze.
A sharp pain spread across his chest. His vision swam. His heartbeat pounded in his ears.
What… is happening…?
A dull, distant voice echoed in his mind.
I think he's finally waking up…
The Demon Realm – Present Day
Nox gasped, his eyes snapping open. A rush of sensations overwhelmed him—his body felt light but slightly numb, the air carried a strange energy, and the floor beneath him was softer than he expected. Two figures loomed over him—a girl with flowing silver hair and striking red eyes, and another with deep blue hair, watching him with a mixture of curiosity and distrust.
His mind spun. How am I alive? He should have died from the poison… unless…
"What happened?" he rasped.
The silver-haired girl crossed her arms. "Your body was breaking down from the air around us, so I've been keeping you alive by circulating Life Mana into you. You'd better be grateful."
Understanding dawned on him. He slowly sat up, wincing at the stiffness in his limbs, and bowed deeply. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you for saving my life."
The girl—Lilith—grinned. "For four hours."
Nox's mind raced. Four hours? My mana is fully replenished. My body… it feels stronger. He flexed his fingers, noting the subtle resistance in his muscles. The strain was still there, but it was fading.
He looked up at his saviors. "That long, huh? Again, thank you. May I ask the names of the ones who saved me?"
Lilith's smirk widened as she stood, her silver hair flowing behind her like liquid moonlight. "I'm Lilith Vorn—" she hesitated for a fraction of a second "—Vornet."
The blue-haired woman gave him a cold, assessing look. "Seraphis Nyx. And, as per Lilith's request, we'll be taking you with us."
Taking me with them? Nox considered his options. He knew little about this world, and his strength here was negligible. Staying alone was suicide.
It was a gamble—but one worth taking.
He met Lilith's gaze. "Thank you, Lilith."
Lilith simply grinned, but something flickered in her crimson eyes—something unreadable.
Seraphis Well rest here for the night then we will leave here.
As twilight descended upon the forest, the air grew colder, and the eerie stillness of the woods enveloped them. Lilith and Seraphis led Nox deeper into the wilderness, looking for a safe place to rest for the night. The journey had been long, and the need to set up camp was growing urgent.
Lilith moved with quick, fluid motions, gathering twigs, branches, and anything that could help them build a small fort-like structure. Seraphis, however, was already distant, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows as she did a perimeter check. Nox could feel the tension in the air—there was something about the way Seraphis moved that made it clear she was always prepared for an ambush.
As Nox gathered what he could, his curiosity bubbled up. Despite his recent ordeal, the questions in his mind grew with each step they took. When Seraphis returned from her patrol, Nox turned to Lilith.
Nox:"Lilith… why did you save me?"
Lilith glanced up from where she was finishing up the shelter. For a moment, she didn't speak, her expression unreadable. The firelight flickered across her silver hair, and her crimson eyes locked onto Nox's with an intensity that made him feel exposed.
Finally, she spoke, her voice low but steady.
Lilith:
"I saved you because I saw potential in you. You're human, and that makes you different from most of the things around here. I'm not the type to leave someone to die when they might be useful. You've got a fire inside you, even if you don't know it yet. And… I think you might be able to help me in ways you don't understand."
Nox absorbed her words. Her reasoning was blunt, but it made sense. Still, there was something about her tone—something guarded—that left him with more questions than answers.
Nox:
"Help you with what?"
Lilith smirked, though it was softer this time, like she was contemplating how much to reveal. She leaned back, her eyes still locked on his.
Lilith:
"That's not something you need to know yet. First, you'll need to survive. Then we'll talk about the rest. But, if you want to keep breathing, you'll have to trust us... trust me."
Her gaze softened briefly before her playful smirk returned, but this time, it seemed more like a mask.
Nox wanted to ask more, but the question felt too heavy. Instead, he nodded slowly and let the matter rest—for now.
The crackling of the fire filled the silence, and Seraphis, having completed her perimeter check, came back to join them. She didn't ask questions—she simply handed Nox a chunk of roasted wolf meat.
Seraphis:
"Eat. We'll be moving again in the morning."
Nox took the meat, chewing thoughtfully. There was a lot about this world—and these two—that he didn't understand yet, but the more he learned, the clearer it became that survival here meant much more than just combat.
As the fire crackled louder, and the wind whispered through the trees, Nox couldn't shake the feeling that whatever came next, it was bigger than anything he had experienced before.
Feel free to leave a comment so I know what you guys think and what direction you want the story to go. =)