She wasn't wearing her usual formal attire.

Instead, she had on what could only be described as combat clothes—dark fitted pants that moved like shadow, a sleeveless top that showed surprising muscle definition, her snow-white hair pulled back in practical braid that kept it out of her face.

The outfit hugged her figure in ways that Liam's mostly-human brain immediately noticed and tried very hard to ignore.

"Testing upgrades," he said, forcing his attention back to the training dummies. "Learned some new abilities. Need to practice before actual combat."

"New abilities?" Lilith moved closer, her steps silent despite the gravel training ground. "What did you improve?"

"Fire, teleportation, psychic terror, essence regeneration." He demonstrated [Phase Shift] again, blinking across the training ground. "More range, more power, better sustainability."

"Impressive." She studied the destroyed dummy. "Hell's flame evolution is particularly dramatic. What did you call it?"

"Infernal Conflagration. Makes flames harder to extinguish and more destructive overall."

"Seems appropriate for demon god." Her golden eyes held amusement. "Though I notice you're training alone. No sparring partner to test combat applications."

"Didn't think anyone would be awake this early."

"I'm always awake early." She moved to the weapons rack, selected what looked like a practice sword. "How about a spar? Test your upgrades against moving opponent rather than stationary targets."

Liam hesitated. "You sure that's a good idea? I just improved abilities that make things explode."

"I lived through a decade of political assassination attempts and military disasters. I can handle sparring." Her smile was sharp. "Unless the Primordial Demon is afraid of fighting a queen?"

The challenge was obvious.

Probably intentional. And Liam's pride—what remained of his human ego—couldn't quite let it pass.

"Fine. But don't blame me if the upgraded fire is harder to dodge than you expect."

"I'll take my chances."

They moved to the center of the training ground, facing each other at comfortable distance.

Lilith settled into a combat stance that looked casual but probably wasn't.

Liam activated [Abyssal Plate], shadow armor coalescing around him.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Ready."

She moved.

One moment Lilith was standing casually with practice sword.

The next she was behind him, blade pressed against his neck with pressure that suggested she could have decapitated him if she'd wanted to.

Liam froze. "How did you—"

"You telegraphed your defensive posture. Left your back exposed. And you're relying too much on the shadow armor instead of actual movement." She stepped back, returning to starting position.

"Again."

This time Liam was ready.

When she moved, he used [Phase Shift] to teleport left, creating distance.

Lilith adjusted mid-stride, changed direction impossibly fast, and was on him before he'd fully materialized from the teleport.

The practice sword struck his armored shoulder hard enough to make the shadow plating crack.

"Better. But predictable. You teleported to your dominant side. Most right-handed fighters shift there. Means I knew where you'd appear before you did."

"You're fast." Liam rubbed his shoulder. The armor had absorbed most of the impact, but he'd still felt it.

"I'm the Demon Queen. I didn't survive this long by being slow." Her smile was almost predatory. "Again."

Third attempt.

Liam used [Infernal Conflagration], throwing fire between them to create barrier while he repositioned.

Lilith walked through the flames like they didn't exist.

Her clothes didn't burn. Her skin didn't blister.

She just moved through infernal fire that had consumed a training dummy and emerged completely unharmed.

"Elemental resistance is basic skill for any demon of noble blood," she explained, her practice sword now wreathed in what looked like golden energy. "Fire won't stop me. Try something else."

Liam tried [Abyssal Scream], projecting psychic terror at her.

Lilith blinked once, her advance stuttering for maybe half a second.

Then she was moving again, unaffected.

"Mental fortitude is also basic skill. Even my share of political pressure is enough to build tolerance for psychic attacks." She struck, and Liam barely blocked with his blade. The impact sent him sliding backward.

"You're thinking like you're fighting Paladins. I'm not human. I don't have their weaknesses."

"Then how am I supposed to land a hit?"

"That's the question, isn't it?" Her golden eyes gleamed with something between amusement and challenge. "The Primordial Demon who killed Orin, secured Ashard, and restructured the empire can't touch a queen in sparring match. Disappointing."

The taunt was effective.

Liam's competitive nature—buried under layers of divine performance—surfaced with vengeance.

He attacked seriously this time.

[Phase Shift] to close distance, [Infernal Conflagration] to force her attention, his sword striking for her center mass while she was supposedly distracted.

Lilith caught his blade with her bare hand.

The blade that should have cut through flesh just... stopped.

Held by golden energy that radiated from her skin like armor.

"Better combination. But still predictable." She twisted, using leverage he didn't know existed, and suddenly Liam was airborne.

He hit the ground hard enough to dent the [Abyssal Plate], air exploding from his lungs.

"Ow."

"You're relying on upgraded abilities instead of understanding fundamental combat principles." Lilith offered her hand, pulled him up with surprising gentleness. "Power is useful. But technique matters more. Especially against opponents who have both."

"You're significantly stronger than me."

"Yes."

"Like, laughably stronger. I've been worrying about fighting heroes and Paladins, but you could probably destroy me without trying hard."

"Yes."

"That's concerning."

"Why? I'm on your side." Lilith's smile was genuine. "But you're right that there's power gap. You're three-star Greater Fiend. I'm..." She paused, considering. "Let's just say I'm several evolutionary stages beyond that. Plus years of experience and training you haven't had time to accumulate."

"So how did I kill Orin when I can't touch you?"

"Because you relied on an Overseer from the abyss. Although being able to open that abyss in itself is impressive, something I'm unable to do." Lilith moved back to starting position. "Also, if if fought Orin...he'd die in seconds."

"Well, I'll be damned."

Her voice was matter-of-fact rather than boastful. "You're powerful for three weeks of development. But you're not invincible. Important to remember that."

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