Mind Demon's Path of Domination

Mark faced the Boss Demon and clenched his jaws calmly. The Boss stared back at him, a small giant the size of 11.7 meters. They were both Pinnacle Middle Demons, both ferocious creatures. But having shrunk his size, Mark felt tiny against it.

As if he stood no chance.

"Size is indeed quite an intimidating factor," he said, taking a stance.

Yuri and Dona both watched from the side, eyes intent and curious. Because Dona didn't have any decent clothes, she was currently in Yuri's lab coat whereas Yuri herself was in a black t-shirt and pants which she used to wear underneath her coat.

Yuri realized she should ask Mark to make them some good clothing with Alchemic Shapeshifting.

Mark breathed out, his masculine body standing like a sharp spear. He had no clothes, but that never made him appear boorish after he transformed into his current looks. He had a certain barbaric poise. Coolness. But he also needed clothes, she thought.

"Come at me as if you want to kill me. Come at me full force!" Mark commanded and the Boss flinched. It listened to all of Mark's commands as if it were god's decree, and this command was no different.

A breeze pushed the verdant grass of the exchange onto the ground. There was no night in the Exchange—it was always morning. Always the peaceful grassy plains. But now, the atmosphere seemed charged with brutality.

"Mark!" Dona yelped out of nowhere as Mark and the Boss vanished simultaneously, both running so fast at each other they were merely a blur.

Both Yuri's and Dona's pupils enlarged, their vision grew several times sharper. Yuri briefly glanced at Dona's eyes. As a demon, Dona had much better senses—even Soul Sense.

Dona could see the fight better than Yuri, even though her body was weaker than Yuri's for now. She had just become a Middle Demon after all.

"Isn't Mark a bit slower than the Boss?" Yuri asked.

Dona stared unblinkingly at the battle. The boss's dark, gigantic hand headed towards Mark's face, breaking the sound barrier as it whooshed closer. He dodged the punch like an eel, jumping and kicking at the very hand that punched at him to reach near the Boss' face.

A resounding bang echoed as a powerful kick across the jaws sent the Boss flying.

"Mark is slower," Dona said, scratching her cheek. "But he is more…" she struggled to find the words.

"More agile?" Yuri asked, squinting.

Dona nodded and looked at her mate again.

"He is also slightly stronger physically," Yuri said with a smile.

Mark landed on the ground with savage grace and cracked his knuckles. "If you are this clumsy, you can't be a good training partner, Boss," he said, golden eyes glinting. "Should I help you reduce your useless size?"

Dona clenched her legs tight. Yuri could understand.

The Boss stood up and growled softly, looking at Mark warily.

Yuri asked, "You became a Middle Demon yourself, what are your chances against the Boss?"

"That black creature will kill me once it destroys my Defensive Magic Aura." Dona sulked. "It is way faster than me and much stronger, but the rest would be up to our demonic tricks. And Ultimate Demonic Art…"

Yuri looked at Dona's lean, feminine, yet elegant physique with some jealousy. The demoness had Defensive Magic Aura, multiple demonic tricks, and now an Ultimate Demonic Art. And she had infinite potential.

And she has grown smarter after her evolution.

The Boss took measured steps towards Mark and he waited in his position. The women stopped their conversation short as Mark and the boss once again reached arm's length from each other.

"They are going to use demonic tricks," Yuri said.

Mark took a deep breath. Everything else other than the boss vanished from his sight, everything else became pure white. His heart stilled into calm battle instincts. His mind became calculating. His body thrummed with power.

Reol'ran's voice echoed in his mind: "Do not use Alchemic Shapeshifting or Clown's Circus but find a way to defeat the Boss regardless."

The Boss screamed at him. It used its Tricks.

Tier 2 Pinnacle Demonic Trick—Phantom Speed!

Before he knew it, the creature was behind him and its fist headed straight for his head.

So fast!

The punch slammed against the back of Mark's head and his whole body slammed into the ground below him with a sudden, powerful thud.

The ground of the Exchange was undisturbed.

Tier 2 Pinnacle Demonic Trick—Phantom Ball of Dizziness.

A small bubble appeared before the Boss and floated slowly towards Mark. Just before it could connect, Mark rolled to the side and kicked the Boss's leg. Its balance was broken and the creature fell face-first against its own attack.

Tier 2 Pinnacle Demonic Tricks—Dream Wings.

Mark's wings flapped open and he flew into the air, looking down at the Boss with contemplation. His Defensive Magic Aura hadn't been broken yet, so he was safe. But neither was the Boss' Aura broken.

"It's a pity that we have a Resistance to our own Tricks," Mark said. "But well, it wouldn't be any good if we don't have that either."

The Boss looked up at him and growled, murderous hatred simmering in its gaze. They both didn't attack and just stared at each other.

Yuri frowned. "This would head nowhere unless one of them breaks the other's Defensive Magic Aura, but that doesn't seem like it would happen unless they go all out and use their Ultimate Demonic Arts."

"Why?" Dona asked.

"Mark's Dream Shock and Heart Input don't work against demons of the same level as him. So, the only attack-type Trick that remains is Alchemic Shapeshifting. Yes, it is overpowered but it doesn't work against his enemies unless the enemy's Defensive Magic Aura is already broken.

"And the Boss is also the same, its only offensive Trick is the one it used earlier, Ball of Dizziness. But Mark is too fast to be hit by something as slow as that."

Dona nodded, scratching her cheeks while steam came out of her head. Yuri stared in slight disbelief—was her head really steaming?

"Basically, both Mark and the Boss don't have Tricks in hand that could break the enemy's Defensive Magic Aura, so the only thing they can rely on is their Ultimate Demonic Arts. But using that comes at a cost, it is incredibly energy consuming."

She didn't know that Mark had inexhaustible amounts of Mindpower.