The Villain Professor's Second Chance

"Strange..." I muttered under my breath, dodging the demon's retaliatory swipe with ease. The shimmering effect of its scales triggered a memory, something I had encountered once before. Lizard, maybe? No, not quite... something more significant. My mind worked rapidly, connecting the details.

I shifted, striking again, this time aiming for a weaker point beneath the neck. My blade sliced through the air with deadly precision, but the scales there shimmered the same, deflecting part of the blow. The demon recoiled, growling in frustration, but it was clear—this wasn't just any demon.

Before I could delve deeper into my thoughts, the platinum-blonde princess beside me clicked her tongue in irritation. "It's no ordinary demon," she muttered, her voice laced with annoyance. I glanced at her, noticing the hard look in her eyes as she sized up the creature.

Her body moved with practiced grace, not the awkwardness of a sheltered royal but the fluidity of someone who had seen combat before. Your next chapter awaits on empire

I parried another attack, my movements quick, efficient. "You sound like you know something," I said flatly, my eyes flicking back to the demon as it circled us. Its eyes gleamed with malevolent intelligence, as if aware that it held some advantage.

The princess nodded, not bothering to hide her displeasure. "Those scales are from a dragon bloodline," she bit out, slashing at the demon with a flick of her hand, her own magic flaring briefly. "Whoever summoned these things wasn't just messing with dark magic. They've tampered with dragon essence."

Dragons. Of course. That explained the resilience. My mind shifted gears, recalculating the best approach. I wasn't dealing with a mere demon; this thing had a trace of draconic power. That changed everything.

But there wasn't time to question her further.

From the shadows, more figures emerged. The air grew thick with the stench of sulfur and dark magic as more demons appeared, their scales glowing faintly with the same draconic energy. They crawled from every dark corner, their bodies twisting unnaturally, scales rippling under the dim light. My eyes flicked from one to the other, quickly counting at least five, maybe more hiding in the shadows.

The princess cursed under her breath, her annoyance evident as she tightened her grip on her weapon. "Whoever summoned them must have known we'd be here. They're drawn to us."

I didn't bother replying. My mind was already running through possible outcomes, strategies to deal with the increasing number of enemies. These things weren't just going to be tough—they were going to be relentless.

I swung my sword, cutting down another demon that lunged at us, but even as I did, more crawled from the darkness. Their numbers were growing, and the room felt like it was closing in. I could feel the heat rising, the scent of burning filling the air, as if the walls themselves were suffocating under the pressure of the magic swirling around us.

Just when the situation seemed to be tipping, the air shifted again. A surge of heat washed over me, and before I could react, a burst of golden flames erupted from the far end of the room, consuming one of the demons in an instant. The creature let out a shriek as it was incinerated, the sound echoing off the stone walls.

I didn't have to turn to know who it was.

"Dravis," a voice called out through the flickering flames. There she was, stepping through the fire with all the grace of someone who knew the world bent to her whims—Aurelia. Her platinum hair gleamed in the firelight, her red eyes flashing with a mixture of irritation and relief. "Took your damn time," she muttered, though there was a small, crooked smile on her lips.

I inclined my head slightly, acknowledging her presence without revealing anything more. She knew me as Dravis here—a convenient alias, one that allowed me to keep my true identity hidden. Aurelia was sharp, and she would piece things together eventually, but for now, the disguise held.

But she wasn't alone.

Beside her stood a figure that immediately drew my suspicion. He was tall, his posture relaxed yet alert, his eyes smoldering with a kind of dark intensity that put me on edge. Horns curled from his head, adding to the already dangerous aura he exuded. His tail flicked behind him, and he wielded a sword that pulsed with demonic energy.

The moment I saw him, my instincts flared with warning. Something about the way he moved, the way he carried himself—it all screamed danger. He was too poised, too deliberate in his movements, cutting down the dragon-scaled demons as if they were nothing more than nuisances. His blade sliced through their thick scales like butter, the sheer power he wielded undeniable.

The princess beside me tensed, and I caught her muttering a name under her breath, her voice tight with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "Lyan..." she said, just loud enough for me to hear. Her eyes were locked on him, and I didn't miss the tension in her stance.

Whoever this Lyan was, he was more than just a passing ally.

Even in the midst of the chaos, my thoughts remained cold, calculated. My gaze flicked between Aurelia and Lyan, noting the way she seemed comfortable in his presence, almost... trusting. But something was off. That kind of power didn't come without a price, and I doubted Aurelia realized just how steep that price could be.

I tightened my grip on my sword, my eyes never leaving the demons that swarmed around us. I couldn't afford to let my guard down, not with so many unknowns in play. And not with Aurelia in danger.

As the battle raged on, more demons poured into the room, their snarls echoing in the dark chamber. My blade danced through the air, each strike swift and deadly, but the sheer number of enemies made it impossible to stay focused on just one thing.

In the chaos, I noticed a demon lunging toward the princess, its claws aimed for her chest. Without thinking, I surged forward, positioning myself between her and the attack. My blade met the demon's strike with a clash of metal, deflecting the blow just in time.

"Stay sharp," I muttered to the princess as I cut the demon down, its body dissolving into shadow at my feet.

Her response was a terse nod, but I could see the frustration flickering in her eyes. She didn't like being protected, that much was clear, but this was no time to let pride get in the way.

On the other side of the room, I caught a glimpse of Aurelia fighting alongside Lyan. They moved with an almost frightening efficiency—her golden flames flaring to life, incinerating demons while he cut through them with his demonic blade. The air around them seemed to pulse with energy, dark and light clashing in a strange, violent harmony.

I didn't trust him. Not for a second.

As the last of the demons fell, their bodies dissolving into shadows, I found myself standing in the center of the room, my sword still raised, my eyes fixed on Lyan. The battle might have been over, but the tension hadn't left me.

My instincts were screaming.

I watched as Lyan stepped closer to Aurelia, his posture relaxed, almost casual, as if this whole ordeal had been nothing more than a warm-up for him. Aurelia shot him a half-smile, clearly impressed by his skill, but my gaze stayed locked on his every movement.

I didn't like it. He was too comfortable, too smooth, too dangerous.

Without warning, I moved.

My blade flashed through the air, aimed directly at him. There was no hesitation in my movements—I had already calculated the strike. But just as my sword came down, Lyan's blade met mine, the force of our clash sending a shockwave through the room.

His eyes narrowed, dark and sharp, as he parried my attack with a speed that rivaled my own. He didn't speak, didn't flinch, just countered with deadly precision. Our swords collided again, sparks flying as we exchanged blows, each strike testing the other's strength.

He was good. Too good.

I followed up with a powerful kick, aiming for his side, but he blocked it effortlessly, his tail flicking out to counterbalance his movement. He retaliated with a swift slash, and I barely dodged in time, the air whistling past where my head had been moments before.

We moved in a deadly dance, neither of us giving an inch, neither willing to back down. It was a test, a contest of skill and will, and I wasn't about to lose.

I spun, driving him back with a flurry of strikes, but he met each one with calm efficiency, his eyes never leaving mine. There was a quiet, dangerous intensity in his gaze, as if he was trying to gauge me as much as I was him.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, I leapt back, putting distance between us. My body tensed, my sword raised in a guarding stance, but my eyes flicked briefly to Aurelia. She stood behind me, her expression unreadable as she watched the two of us.

I turned my attention back to Lyan, my voice cold, unwavering.

"Stay away from her," I said, my sword still raised, ready to strike again.