Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Someone get the door!" Jace shouted from the kitchen, as he juggled 2 hot burger patties in his hands.

I sighed, before getting up and heading for the double doors of the mansion. My body still ached from the stress I put it through, during the Blood moon; I had rested up well but it would take a couple more days until I was completely healthy.

At opening the door I was met with two bright red eyes staring at me. The woman in front of me had a slender figure with flowing dark hair that danced with the gentle brushes of the wind.

Her beauty captivated me for a couple seconds before I realised what her eyes resembled.

A demon? What's it doing so far from it's enclosed society?

I was about to get violent but she raised her hands in submission.

"Please. I'm only a messenger! I come in peace." She closed her eyes and lifted her arms to protect her head, in anticipation for a hit.

"Why are you here?" I asked, my voice still stern and my guard on high alert.

"Can I come inside please? It's cold out here." She pouted, rubbing her arms. To be fair I could see our breaths condensing in the air.

'I think she means no harm. I don't sense any ill intentions from her. Stay on alert just in case.' Voad warned.

"We'll talk elsewhere. Let's go for a walk and hide those eyes of yours." I said, handing her some sunglasses.

"T-Thanks." She accepted the dark glasses and wore them ecstatically, "Is this like a gift? I've never received one of those before."

She turned around and began walking and I followed behind her.

"Jace, I'll be back. Gimme a couple minutes, I need to do something." I shouted, closing the doors behind me.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Jaala, Daughter Of Tzitta and I'm here as a messenger from the Demon King Astaroth to relay you some information about the upcoming war." The light atmosphere dropped in octaves as she began speaking.

Her voice was professional and mature, it worked well to show the seriousness of the message.

"You mean the heritage wars?" I queried.

"Yes. Exactly that. The heritage wars will begin in a couple months from now; you need to make it to the Demon Kingdom by then, prepared to fight till death.

"The Demon Kingdom is extremely far and hostile towards outsiders, so I wouldn't recommend you bring any of your human friends along. Your family's faction is hated already and you're the lone descendant of Lucifer so it's better you don't drag any more hate towards you." She explained.

"Wait...why am I hated?"

"You automatically inherited all of Lucifer's followers and have become their leader. This has created an uproar from some of the followers and many demons will come for your head from the start, so I recommend you come prepared."

"When do I have to reach the Demon Kingdom?"

"3 Months. You have 3 Months to prepare for the worst; I will leave you the Portal device that will take you to the Demon Kingdom Entrance." She clicked her fingers and a black coloured, round portal device appeared into her hands.

She threw it to me and I immediately stashed it away in my dimension ring.

"That's all." She smiled, clapping her hands together, "Prepare well Zeref Amara."

And with that short message she disappeared into a puff of dark smoke.

'Well. We need to grind levels and check out the new visual prowess skill you gained. Spar with Jace.'

'Good idea.'

**

"Ow!!!" Jace fell to the ground with a thud for the 47th time.

We were training at a blind spot behind our house.

"Why are you going so hard on me today?!" he groaned, rubbing his hip.

"I told you, I need to train for the heritage war. An army would be great, when the real competition begins and I go head to head with other contestants. Have you seen the other contestants? They have organisations like umbra. I need to step up." I said, keeping light on my feet with my fists ready to swing when he got up.

"This won't do." a heavenly voice chuckled from behind us.

I lazily turned around while smiling to myself, acknowledging the person watching us. "Malia."

She gave a little mischievous wave, skipping towards us in a happy mood.

"If you really want to train, knock Jace out." she said, swinging near Jace's head as to which he barely dodged.

"Huh?" I raised my eyebrows, not understanding. She looked at me with a smirk.

"Hmmm.. I'll tell you both later. Give Jace a break. I'll take over." she said, pushing Jace to sit under the apple tree in our garden.

'What does she know? I'm curious. Just tell us now!' Voadhailis groaned, annoyed.

"Thank you!!! My sweet mochi, my love, m-my saviour!" Jace showered her in compliments, happy he could finally rest.

I chuckled, rolling my shoulders back.

"Last time I versed you, I knocked you out with one touch. Don't think I'll go easy on you this time." I smirked, adrenaline rushing through me.historical

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Don't hold back." she returned, surprisingly mirroring my stance with ease.

"Hey Zeref, if you give her even a tiny bruise, I will shave your hair at night." Jace glared, sitting forwards to watch the fight.

Malia shook her wrists before lifting her rear hand to her cheek, protecting her chin and her lead hand in front of her chin.

She was a visual learner; she managed to cop[y my fighting stance with a glance.

I inhaled and before I could exhale she disappeared from my sight. In a split second, her fist collided with my chin and I fell into the grass, bouncing like a ball a little before resting.

Groaning, I rubbed my neck and propped myself up on my elbows. I squinted up at her as Jace cackled at me.

"Now just do that 46 more times and I will feel better." Jace laughed.

I glared at him as I pushed myself up.

How did I not see that coming?

'Maybe next time, don't look at her lips.' Voadhailis advised as I angrily blocked him off. Why did he have to expose me like that?

"Zeref, demons won't give you time to space out." Malia said, rubbing my shirt.

I sighed, nodding before going back to my original spot. She looked at me, noticing my annoyance.

"Don't make the same mistake. I don't want you dying in the demon kingdom." she glared coldly while also standing back in her place.

That knock down reminded me of the famous saying: 'The strongest punch is the one you don't see coming.'

This time I sped towards her, swinging my fist at her temple but she let her head fall back, dodging me. Her leg kicked underneath me but I jumped up, roundhouse kicking her but missing her head.

I managed to kick her shoulder but it was a bad move because she jabbed into my stomach which I had accidentally left free as a target, making me stumble back as well.

We both caught our breaths, standing a few metres away from each other.

She rubbed her shoulder, nodding at me to come at her. I wasted no time, activating my lightning mana and using the same technique I used on her last time we fought.

Her eyes followed me as she flash stepped to the side, dodging my lightning shrouded body but I knew she would, so I kicked her side at a perfect timing.

She groaned as I leaped up to meet her flying body in the air. She landed on her feet surprisingly as I extended my finger towards her forehead.

My fingertip zapped making her stand still in shock for a second.

Her legs swayed as the paralysis took it's effect.

Suddenly, she stopped swaying, her eyes turning golden as she reflected my lightning off of her and onto me. I gasped, flying back like a thrown doll and landing on my side again.

"You didn't use enough voltage. I told you not to go easy on m-"

"Did you want me to burn you to a crisp?!" I interrupted, pushing myself up angrily while Jace laughed.

'You are embarrassing us.' Voadhailis reminded me as I rolled my eyes.

What am I doing wrong? I always fight like this.

'Change your technique. Malia relies on speed and agility as well as power. She rarely uses mana for fire and only uses spirit magic for special cases like your lightning attack. You literally do the same thing but you're clearly losing. So what do you think you should do?' Voadhailis said, annoyed at my stupidity.

I thought for a moment.

If I want to make it far, I'll have to constantly adapt my technique to my opponents and change my patterns.

God! So many years of slacking with these kids dulled my fighting instincts. In my old world, I made sure to analyse my opponents before making my move, constantly adapting and exploiting their mistakes.

"You're predictable." Malia interrupted my trail of thoughts as I was brought back to reality.

"Not for long.." I smirked, finally understanding what Voadhailis was trying to hint.