"How far are we going?" Hades asked as he followed the large man deeper into the Death Well.

Vulcan led him toward the areas his mother had strictly forbidden him to enter—for good reason. The deeper they went, the stronger and more dangerous the beasts became.

"We're looking for an opponent strong enough to challenge your inner beast," Vulcan said.

Hades frowned. "What do you mean?"

Vulcan glanced back. "Have you ever felt the heat of a dragon? When we don't hunt or mate for a long time, that heat builds up. It burns inside us."

Hades suddenly remembered the day his draconic side had first awakened—the wild hunger, the madness for blood.

"Yes," he muttered. "I've felt that before."

Vulcan nodded. "That same heat can be triggered by anger or frustration too. And when it happens, you show your true strength—raw and unrestrained."

Hades looked uneasy. "Isn't that dangerous? That side of me… I can't control it."

Vulcan scoffed. "You're not leaving this forest until I see what you can really do when you stop holding back. And don't worry about losing control—if things get out of hand, I'll handle you myself."

Hades couldn't help but smile wryly. Vulcan's words were as blunt as his fists.

Soon, Vulcan came to a stop and lifted his left hand, signaling Hades to halt.

He silently pointed to the left. Hades followed his gaze—and saw it.

A sabertooth lion crouched over its prey, blood still dripping from its fangs. Yet its glowing eyes were fixed on them—sharp, unblinking, and full of challenge.

The beast was nearly five meters long, its body radiating raw menace. It didn't flinch, didn't move an inch. It didn't need to. Its steady gaze alone said it all—*if it moved, it would be to hunt them.*

Vulcan grinned. "That's the one. Defeat it. It may not look like much, but for you, this will be a real test."

Hades frowned. "Its presence feels close to that of a young Duke-ranked beast."

Vulcan folded his arms, grin still carved across his face. "That's not what you should be thinking about. This forest belongs to it—you're the intruder here. This is a battle between predators."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying a weight of pride. "So don't disappoint our kind."

The air turned heavy as the sabertooth lion rose from its kill. Blood dripped from its fangs, steaming as it hit the cold earth. The beast's muscles rippled beneath its golden fur, its claws tearing the ground as it let out a low growl that shook the leaves around them.

Hades' wings of crimson energy flared open behind him—broad, featherless, and humming with power. The earth cracked beneath his feet as his aura rose.

Then the lion charged.

It moved faster than Hades expected—a blur of fur and fury. The ground split under its weight as it pounced.

Hades barely had time to rise into the air, its claws grazing the space where he stood a heartbeat ago. The shockwave from the beast's leap sent dust and leaves flying.

Hades hovered in the air, his eyes locked on the lion as his crimson wings flared brighter, casting a red glow over the battlefield. He extended a sharp claw of condensed energy and slashed downward.

The strike landed cleanly on the lion's shoulder, tearing flesh and spilling blood—but it felt almost intentional, as if the beast had allowed the hit. In the next instant, the lion spun with violent force, its massive body twisting mid-air as its tail whipped out.

*DHAK!*

Hades crashed against a nearby tree, the trunk cracking under the impact. Before he could even recover, a shadow loomed over him—the lion's fangs, inches from his face.

"Tch!" Hades hissed, raising his arm just in time. A red claw of energy burst from his palm and stabbed into the beast's open maw, piercing through the upper jaw.

The lion's golden eyes burned with fury, its breath hot and heavy against his face. Yet despite the wound, it didn't flinch. Not even a growl of pain escaped its throat.

Then—something cold. A sharp, biting chill spread from within the lion's mouth, crawling down Hades' arm. His eyes widened in alarm.

He tried to pull his hand free, retracting the crimson energy, but it was too late.

A freezing burst erupted from the lion's throat, coating his arm in solid ice in an instant—trapping his hand inside the beast's jaws.

The lion leapt back, landing with a heavy thud as it snarled, its breath steaming in the cold air.

Hades gritted his teeth, clenching his fist. The ice around his arm shattered into glittering shards, scattering across the ground and leaving his hand red and raw beneath.

'Fuck, it burns…'

For a brief moment, the two predators locked eyes—silent, unmoving, each measuring the other. Then Hades drew his dagger, his crimson aura flaring out like a wave of heat. The challenge was clear.

The lion's growl deepened as it stepped forward, muscles tensing. But before it could lunge, Hades' eyes glowed faintly red. Shadows stretched beneath the lion's feet—<Shadow Bind>.

It was a technique he received from Marilyn, one strong enough to capture even Xelrath's general.

But this beast was different. Its instincts screamed danger. It paused, wary, its gaze flickering.

"Huh—?" Hades' eyes widened as the spell broke apart before fully forming, the lion's will shattering it like glass.

Then it moved.

In a blur of gold and muscle, the lion charged and slammed into him head-on.

*DHAK!*

"Gha!" Hades grunted as the impact drove the air from his lungs. He was thrown backward, skidding across the dirt, his boots carving deep lines into the ground before his back hit a tree with a heavy crack.

"Hoh~," Vulcan grinned, his sharp eyes glinting as he spotted it—a dagger handle jutting out from the lion's back.

So that was it. At first glance, it had seemed like Hades had been completely overpowered by the beast's tackle, but the truth was far different. He'd struck back in the chaos, driving his blade deep into the lion's flesh.

*GRRRR*

A low, furious growl rumbled through the forest. The lion twisted its massive body, muscles tightening as blood trickled down its golden fur. Its piercing eyes locked onto Hades, burning with pure rage.

The redhead wiped the blood from his mouth and pushed himself up, meeting the lion's glare with one of his own.

The two locked eyes for a heartbeat—then both lunged forward.

The lion reared up, its massive front paws crashing down as Hades met it head-on, catching them in his hands. The sheer weight of the beast pressed against him, its claws sinking into his shoulders, drawing deep lines of blood. The earth trembled beneath their struggle.

The lion's shadow engulfed him completely, its fangs bared, hot breath washing over his face. Yet Hades didn't bow. He refused to.

Gritting his teeth, he pushed back with every ounce of strength in his body, his muscles burning as red mana coiled around his arms like tightening chains.

Then—his wings flared open.

With a guttural cry that echoed through the forest, Hades drove his crimson wings forward, their sharp edges slicing deep into the lion's exposed gut.

SQUELCH

The lion roared, a deep, earth-shaking sound that split the air. Its claws tore at the ground as it staggered back, blood steaming against the cold earth.

Hades didn't retreat. He ripped his wings free and lunged again, his movements wild yet precise. Every strike was instinct, raw and merciless.

The lion swiped with desperate strength, but Hades slipped under it, driving his shoulder into the beast's chest and forcing it back.

The impact cracked the ground beneath their feet. The lion growled, slashing out again, but Hades caught its paw mid-swing.

Muscles tensed, mana pulsing through his veins as he twisted hard—forcing the massive beast off balance.

A guttural snarl left his throat as he slammed his elbow into its jaw. The lion crashed to the side, kicking up dirt and leaves, but before it could rise, Hades was already upon it.

His crimson claws extended, energy surging like fire as he struck down again and again, each blow shaking the ground.

The lion tried to retaliate, its strength fierce and unyielding—but Hades' eyes had changed. There was no restraint left in them, only that deep, burning instinct of a predator reclaiming his throne.

The air itself trembled with the heat of his mana. The red aura flared around him, fierce and untamed, bending the shadows at his feet.

The lion, once dominant, now staggered back with each strike. Its roars turned from fury to warning—then to silence.

Hades, breathing a little roughly, turned towards Vulcan

Wiping the blood off his face, he asked, "So? What's next?"

The dragon crossed his arms and said, "I might have underestimated you a little."

This…was certainly not enough to rattle him up.

°°°°°°°°

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