The sun beat down on the Outcast Settlement.
Dust rose from the busy streets, but all activity stopped around the center square.
Rai and Lucian faced each other.
Grik and Ruun stood nearby, watching with anticipation.
Lucian cracked his knuckles loudly.
"So… you're the so-called F- rank demon king vessel."
"E-Rank now," Rai corrected calmly.
Lucian smirked.
"Eh? Whatever. Still… you're human. Leading demons. That's hilarious."
Grik elbowed Ruun.
"Don't tell me you're scared."
Ruun shook his head, eyes narrowing.
"No… just expecting this guy to be trouble."
Lucian stomped the ground and shouted.
"I DON'T BACK DOWN FROM ANYONE!"
The sound echoed across the settlement.
Even the outcast demons gathered around the square stopped what they were doing.
Some whispered in awe.
"Who is this human?"
"Is he… going to fight our boss?"
Rai stayed calm, hands in his pockets.
"Do you want to fight?" he asked quietly.
Lucian grinned widely.
"OF COURSE! But don't think I'll hold back!"
Grik pumped his hammer in excitement.
"Yes! Finally, some real action!"
Ruun muttered.
"This is going to be a headache…"
---
Lucian lunged first, charging directly at Rai without hesitation.
"Take this!"
He swung a massive sword he had carried over his shoulder.
Rai casually stepped aside, Shadow Step activating silently.
FLASH!
He reappeared behind Lucian.
Grik gasped.
"He's fast!"
Lucian spun around, eyes wide, but before he could react…
CRACK!
Rai's palm lightly tapped Lucian's back.
The force sent Lucian sliding across the ground, yet he rolled expertly to his feet without losing momentum.
"Not bad…." Lucian laughed, brushing dirt off.
"Your turn!"
He charged again, faster this time, swinging wildly.
Rai tilted his head, analyzing each movement.
"Reckless… predictable."
Using Combat Adaptation, Rai dodged each attack smoothly.
Lucian's swings were loud, aggressive, and chaotic — all attack, no defense.
But that was his strength: raw power and relentless pressure.
Rai smirked slightly.
"You fight differently from anyone I've faced."
Lucian shouted in excitement.
"YOU BET I DO!"
He swung again, this time feinting left, then spinning right.
Rai caught his movement mid-air.
"Shadow Step!"
FLASH!
Rai reappeared above Lucian, landing lightly.
Lucian growled.
"HEY! DON'T CHEAT!"
Grik and Ruun both chuckled.
"This is perfect!" Grik exclaimed.
"The loudest man in the room versus our calm, cold boss!"
Lucian paused for a second, wiping sweat from his brow.
"You're… different." He grinned again.
"Not human-like at all… but I like it!"
Rai nodded slightly.
"You're strong… reckless, loud, and stubborn. But you'll be an asset… if you survive."
Lucian raised his sword high.
"Then let's find out!"
He charged once more, screaming at the top of his lungs.
Rai's eyes glowed faintly ice-blue.
Shadow Step.
FLASH!
The dance of speed, strength, and raw willpower began.
And all the outcasts watching felt the air itself thrum with energy.
The settlement had never seen a duel like this.
Two humans.
One reckless and loud.
The other calm, cold, and impossibly fast.
And somewhere in the back of their minds, the demons realized…
Their leader's power wasn't just in killing monsters.
It was in commanding respect… even from the strongest of challengers.