The wind screamed across the northern plateau as Eren Thorne stood facing the horned demon once again. The dark sky above the mountains had grown heavy with clouds, and the cold air cut through the rocky landscape like a blade. Cassian Voss stood several steps behind Eren with his sword drawn, unaware that this exact moment had already happened more than a hundred times.
But this time something was different.
Eren was no longer the same fighter who had first stepped onto this mountain.
He had died too many times.
Learned too much.
Adapted too far.
The demon tilted its head slightly as it studied him. Its crimson eyes narrowed, glowing faintly in the dim mountain light.
"You seem different," the creature said slowly.
Eren smiled faintly.
"Experience."
The demon chuckled.
"Humans usually don't gain that much experience in a single day."
Eren shrugged.
"Guess I'm special."
Cassian glanced between them in confusion.
"Are you two planning to talk all day?" he asked.
The demon's smile faded instantly.
"No."
In the next second it moved.
The speed was just as terrifying as before.
But this time Eren moved with it.
The demon's blade slashed downward toward his shoulder. Instead of panicking, Eren stepped sideways with perfect timing. The sword crashed into the stone behind him, sending shards of rock exploding into the air.
Eren countered immediately.
His blade flashed toward the demon's ribs.
The demon twisted its body and blocked the strike, but the force pushed it half a step backward.
The creature's eyes widened slightly.
"Interesting."
Cassian attacked at the same time, swinging his sword toward the demon's neck. The demon spun quickly, blocking Cassian's strike with one hand while kicking him away with terrifying strength.
Cassian slid across the rocky ground before regaining his balance.
"Still strong," he muttered.
The demon's gaze returned to Eren.
"You're the dangerous one," it said.
Eren raised an eyebrow.
"Thanks."
The demon attacked again.
This time its blade came from the side.
Eren ducked beneath the strike and slashed upward toward the demon's arm. The blade cut across the creature's grey skin, leaving a thin line of dark blood.
For the first time…
The demon had been injured.
The creature stared at the wound with visible surprise.
"You wounded me."
Eren grinned.
"Get used to it."
The demon's smile returned.
"I think I like you."
Then it attacked again.
The next several seconds became a blur of movement and steel. The demon's blade crashed against Eren's sword again and again as both fighters moved across the plateau with incredible speed. Sparks flew from every collision while the sound of metal striking metal echoed through the mountains.
Cassian tried to join the fight several times, but the demon's strength kept forcing him back.
"You two are ridiculous," Cassian muttered after barely dodging another attack.
The demon laughed.
"I've fought many humans," it said between strikes. "But none who improve this quickly."
Eren's sword flashed toward the creature's neck.
The demon blocked the attack and countered instantly.
The blade sliced across Eren's arm.
Pain burned through his muscles, but he didn't slow down.
"Thanks," he replied. "I've had a lot of practice."
The demon's eyes narrowed again.
"You keep saying that."
Eren smiled slightly.
"You'd be surprised."
The demon suddenly jumped backward, creating several meters of distance between them. It studied Eren carefully for a moment before speaking again.
"You're learning during the fight."
Eren rolled his shoulder slowly.
"That's the idea."
The demon chuckled again.
"Most humans learn through training."
Eren shrugged.
"I prefer practical experience."
Cassian wiped blood from the corner of his mouth and stepped closer.
"Whatever you're doing," he said quietly, "it's working."
Eren didn't take his eyes off the demon.
"Not yet."
The demon lifted its massive sword again.
"You interest me, human."
Eren tilted his head.
"That's good or bad?"
The demon smiled.
"Both."
Then it attacked again.
The next strike came faster than anything before.
Eren barely managed to block it.
The impact sent shockwaves through his arms and forced him backward across the stone.
"Still stronger," he muttered.
The demon pressed forward relentlessly. Its sword moved like lightning, striking again and again with overwhelming power.
Eren blocked.
Dodged.
Countered.
But eventually one strike slipped through his defense.
The blade pierced straight through his side.
Pain exploded through his body.
Eren staggered backward, blood spilling across the stone.
The demon stepped closer slowly.
"You almost had it," the creature said.
Eren coughed.
"…almost doesn't count."
The demon raised its sword again.
"You're the most entertaining human I've fought in centuries."
Eren laughed weakly.
"Glad I could help."
The blade fell.
Darkness followed.
Eren opened his eyes.
The mountain path stretched ahead once again.
Cassian walked behind him like always.
The sun hung in the same position in the sky.
Eren exhaled slowly.
"Almost."
Cassian frowned slightly.
"What?"
Eren shook his head.
"Nothing."
They continued walking.
The plateau appeared again.
The demon stepped from the shadows again.
"So… more humans have come."
Eren smiled.
"Yes."
The demon frowned slightly.
"You seem confident."
Eren drew his sword slowly.
"I've had more practice."
The demon charged.
The blade flashed downward.
Eren moved.
Perfectly.
He dodged the strike.
Slashed across the demon's arm.
Blocked the counterattack.
And stepped into the opening he had discovered during his last death.
His sword plunged forward.
Straight into the demon's chest.
The creature froze.
Its crimson eyes widened.
"…impossible."
Eren leaned closer.
"Not really."
The demon tried to swing its blade again.
But its strength was already fading.
Eren twisted his sword deeper.
Dark blood poured from the wound.
The demon collapsed slowly onto its knees.
For several seconds it stared at Eren with a strange expression.
Then it began to laugh weakly.
"…so that's how."
Eren frowned.
"What?"
The demon looked up at him.
"You die… and return."
Eren froze.
"How did you—"
The demon smiled faintly.
"I've seen this curse before."
Those words sent a chill down Eren's spine.
"What curse?"
The demon's eyes slowly dimmed.
"The curse of endless retries."
Its voice grew weaker.
"Be careful, human…"
Eren leaned closer.
"Why?"
The demon's final words were barely a whisper.
"Because something else… is watching you."
The light faded from its eyes.
The massive body collapsed onto the stone.
Silence filled the mountain plateau.
Eren slowly pulled his sword free.
Cassian stared at the corpse in disbelief.
"…you actually killed it."
Eren nodded slowly.
But his mind wasn't focused on the victory.
It was focused on the demon's final words.
Something else is watching you.
And for the first time since discovering his power…
Eren felt a small flicker of fear.