In the dark cave, the walls are covered with blade scars. The ground is uneven, marked with dry patches of blood. The air is thick with the stench of sweat and iron, as if a brutal battle had taken place moments ago.
Clank!
Hades's spear clashes with his clone's spear. Another clone suddenly feints from behind, but Hades sidesteps with ease, creating distance.
One clone charges at him with relentless aggression. Hades meets him head-on, only for another clone to whip a chain around his ankle and yank hard.
Thud!
Hades slams to the ground. The clone seizes the chance, jumps high to gain advantage and hurls its spear straight at Hades's head with incredible force.
Swish!
The spear cuts through the air. Hades jerks his head aside just in time, though the blade grazes his chin, black blood dripping down.
He retaliates instantly, throwing his own spear toward the defenceless midair attacker. The weapon strikes true piercing the clone, which collapses into a pool of black liquid.
But the assault doesn't end. The chain-bound Hades is swung in a brutal circular arc, smashing into the cave walls. Stone chips scatter as each impact cracks the rock. He grits his teeth, strains against the chain, and finally snaps it apart.
The force still sends him careening into a wall, the collision cracking bones in various places and forcing blood from his mouth. Wiping it away, Hades wraps the broken chain around his arm and drops into a boxing stance.
The clone discards the broken chain, gripping its spear once more. It lunges. Hades blocks with his chain-wrapped forearm, then drives a heavy punch into the clone's face.
The battle narrows to quick slashes and sudden counters. Hades either dodges or redirects each strike, stepping back toward the wall.
When the spear thrust comes, he catches the shaft in his chained arm and slams a punch into the clone's neck. As it chokes for breath, he smashes its head with a final blow. The body dissolves into black liquid, then vaporises.
Exhausted, Hades drops to the ground.
Until now, he had been training with a single clone that matched his skill as it grew alongside him. But victory against one was no longer enough. Then he began to fight with two at once, forcing himself into harsher, longer duels. Each clash sharpens his strength, durability, and weapon mastery.
He exhales deeply.
"I should train more in balance and killing intent sense. But like this… my progress is too slow."
He began to think about a new type of training method that would accelerate his progress.
His eyes fall on a broken spearhead. Inspiration strikes.
He touches the ground, and sharp, pointy spikes of equal length erupt across it. Stepping onto them, he feels the sharp points pierce his feet, and blood trickles. He endures the pain, ties a blindfold over his eyes, and summons more clones.
The training continues.
---
Meanwhile…
In the central lands, rumours spread about the demons. About the duke's generous offer of food and clothes for all, no conditions. Many, greedy for comfort, flock toward the dukes' territories, singing their praises and mocking the king's policies.
But some remain, they are either clever enough to suspect the trap behind the bait or familiar with the duke's cruelty.
Amazel walks into the temple's office, knocking on the door.
"Come in."
Inside, Hectate sits at a desk, glasses perched on her nose, reading reports on duke movements and the geography of the underworld.
"Sit, Amazel."
Amazel takes a seat.
"What brings you here?"
"The dukes are offering food and clothes to everyone with no conditions, no rules."
"So?"
"People are leaving and travelling to Duke territory."
"So?"
"So?!" Amazel's brows furrow. "This is a trap. They're walking into the jaws of wolves and they don't even know it."
"Then let them walk." Hectate turns a page.
Amazel stiffens. "If we let them go, our forces will weaken."
Hectate exhales slowly, sets her glasses down, takes a sip of tea and looks her in the eye. "Let me clear this out. Tell me, Amazel… what is the core strength of our side?"
Amazel hesitates, then answers, "You, Lord Hades… Druvak… and… me."
"Correct. Do we need an army to crush the Duke?"
"…No. Even now, if you want, you could do it yourself right now."
"Exactly. Then why waste resources holding on to dead weight?"
Amazel's lips press into a line. "They're still our people. Shouldn't we warn them? Protect them?"
Hectate's gaze sharpens. "If I warn them, they'll think I'm lying to keep them here. They'll call me a tyrant. And when a ruler must explain herself to the masses, she has already lost their trust."
Her tone drops lower, colder. "Loyalty bought with fear is fragile. Loyalty forged in truth they see with their own eyes is unbreakable. Let the Duke pamper them. Feed them. Clothe them. Then, when the trap closes and they beg for mercy, they will remember who never lied to them."
Amazel's voice falters. "And if the Duke turns them against us?"
Hectate's lips curl faintly. "Then they will break against us like waves against stone. I am not afraid of numbers. I am afraid of rot within the walls."
She leans back, steepling her fingers. "The ones who stay now. These are the seeds worth watering. Give them more food, more freedom, more challenges. Let them grow sharper than the sheep who left. When the exiles return and see the difference, they will curse their own stupidity and kneel without being asked."
Her eyes narrow with a glint that makes Amazel's spine tingle. "That is how you build a foundation that will outlast centuries, not seasons."
Amazel swallows. "Lord Hades thinks the same way?"
"Yes. That's why he trains instead of wasting time chasing fools. And you, Druvak, and the others' growth is part of this plan. You are all pieces on the board. Never forget that."
Hectate's expression softens, and he leans forward enough to pinch Amazel's ear. "But instead of studying strategy and work, you spend your time reading romance novels."
"Oww! Big sis! Not so hard, these ears are delicate!"
"Delicate ears, huh" Hectate says with a thin smile, "won't hear the sound of daggers until it's too late. Read something useful, or next time, I'll train you again like those days."
Amazel broke in cold sweats, "I promise, I will study knowledgeable books and help you with work. Please don't start those hellish classes, please big sis."