"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 I 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."

–––

Liam processed this humbling assessment.

"So the spar is to teach me I'm not as strong as I think I am?"

"The spar is to teach you that power without technique is incomplete. You've been winning through clever use of limited abilities, political maneuvering, and divine performance that makes enemies hesitate."

Lilith's expression was serious. "But when we attack Sanctum Lux, you'll face enemies who won't hesitate. Who have techniques you haven't encountered. Who are powerful AND skilled."

She gestured to the training ground.

"So we spar. You learn to fight against opponent who's superior in almost every way. And hopefully you develop instincts that keep you alive when the apocalyptic war you committed us to actually begins."

"When you put it that way, it sounds almost caring."

"I invested a great ammount of time and my empire's future in you. Of course I care if you survive." She smiled. "Though mostly I care in pragmatic sense. Hard to lead offensive if supreme military commander dies in first engagement."

"Pragmatic caring. What a downer."

"Survival is priority." She raised her practice sword again. "Now. Again. This time try not to telegraph every movement."

They sparred for hours.

Liam tried every combination of skills, every tactical approach his training and instincts suggested.

[Phase Shift] into unexpected angles. [Infernal Conflagration] as distraction rather than direct attack. [Abyssal Scream] timed to disrupt her concentration.

Nothing worked.

Lilith was faster, stronger, more experienced, and apparently immune to most of what made Liam dangerous.

She moved through his attacks like water, countered his techniques with casual efficiency, and consistently demonstrated that the power gap between them was substantial.

By the time they stopped, Liam was bruised, exhausted, and significantly humbler than when they'd started.

"You held back," he accused, breathing hard.

"Of course I held back. I'm trying to train you, not kill you." Lilith wasn't even breathing hard. "If I'd fought seriously, you'd be.... This was educational sparring, not actual combat."

"Educational humiliation."

"Same thing sometimes." She offered him water, which he accepted gratefully. "But you improved. By the end, you were starting to think tactically instead of just throwing 'upgraded abilities' at problem. That's progress."

"I didn't land a single hit."

"You got close twice. Once with the feint-then-teleport combination. Once with the fire-while-repositioning pattern." Her golden eyes held approval. "Against less experienced opponent, those techniques would work. You just happened to be fighting someone who's too skilled for that."

Liam drank deeply, his pride wounded but his understanding expanded.

"How often do we do this?"

"Daily if you can manage it. Your evolution is rapid, but technique requires repetition. Practice against superior opponent builds instincts that save your life in actual combat."

"And you're volunteering to be that superior opponent."

"I'm volunteering to ensure my empire's supreme military commander doesn't die embarrassingly in first major engagement." Her voice was dry. "Though I admit there's some entertainment value in repeatedly defeating the Primordial Demon in sparring."

"Glad my humiliation amuses you."

"It does." She smiled genuinely. "But honestly, you're progressing faster than I expected. Not long ago you were human with no magic or combat experience. Now you're legitimately dangerous combatant who just needs refinement. That's impressive development."

"Still couldn't touch you."

"Give it time. Keep evolving. Keep training. Eventually you might actually land a hit." Her tone suggested she doubted it but was willing to be surprised.

"Though I'll probably always have experience advantage. Hard to overcome that."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, recovering from training that had been more educational beating than mutual sparring.

"Thank you," Liam said finally. "For the training. For the honesty about power gaps. For not letting me believe my own propaganda."

"Someone needs to keep you grounded. All those worshippers telling you you're god might go to your head." Lilith's voice was warm despite the teasing. "Better you understand your limitations now than discover them when Grand Commander's sword is through your chest."

"Encouraging."

"Realistic." She stood, offered her hand again. "Same time tomorrow?"

"Same time tomorrow," Liam agreed, letting her pull him to his feet. "Though I reserve right to complain about the humiliation."

"Complaint noted and ignored." She started toward the exit, then paused. "Oh, and Liam? The way you kept getting distracted by my training clothes? Very human. Very obvious. Work on that too. Can't have the Primordial Demon losing focus because his sparring partner is attractive."

She left before he could formulate response.

Liam stood alone in the training ground, bruised and embarrassed and significantly more aware of both his capabilities and his limitations.

[Training Session: Complete]

[Skills Tested: All upgraded abilities]

Liam walked back to his quarters, physically exhausted, emotionally humbled, and tactically educated.

He'd spent evolution points. Upgraded abilities. Tested new powers.

And discovered that being powerful wasn't the same as being skilled.

That divine authority didn't translate to combat superiority.

That the queen he'd been working with could probably kill him without significant effort.

Which was both terrifying and oddly comforting.

Because if Lilith was that strong and still needed him, it suggested the challenges ahead required more than just raw power.

Required performance. Strategy. The specific capabilities he'd developed.

Required being exactly what he was—synthesis of human cleverness and demon strength and divine authority.

Even if he couldn't beat the queen in sparring.

Tomorrow he'd try again.

And keep trying until either he improved or she got tired of repeatedly demonstrating superiority.

[Infernal Sovereign Protocol – Online]

Host: Liam Cross

Essence: 23,000

Evolution Points: 2

Stage: 4-Star Greater Fiend (3000 TE required for 4-Star Ascension)

True Essence: 1800

Dominion: 5%

Infamy: Dreaded Tier

Status: Supreme Commander (Ascending)

Belief Network: Very Stable

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