Chapter 30 Demonstration (1)

Ethan's POVShe released me from her embrace after a few minutes, but I remained frozen in place, a mixture of astonishment and reluctance etched on my face.

She noticed my expression, and her dark golden pupils which had returned to normal glinted mischievously as a sly smile tugged at her lips.

"Oh? You didn't want to leave my bosom, did you?" she teased, her tone playful and taunting.

I immediately waved my hand in denial, my face heating up a little.

"No, no! You misunderstand. It's just… your gesture reminded me of my mother for a moment," I said, my voice softening as I purposefully adopted a sad expression.

In truth, the warmth of her embrace really had stirred those dormant feelings of comfort and safety that I hadn't felt in so long, though I wouldn't dare admit it out loud.

Her amused laughter rang out, clear and melodious, filling the cave.

"Oh my, such a pitiful little devil you are," she commented, still grinning.

"Fine. That will be the only time I reward you with my embrace, but if you want more, you'll have to meet several of my requirements."

I smiled bitterly at her narcissistic attitude. Still, I couldn't deny the truth as it was an otherworldly experience.

The warmth of those big soft breasts and her soothing, almost intoxicating scent were unlike anything I had ever felt.

For a fleeting moment a bold thought crossed my mind but I shelved it to the back of my mind for now.

Her expression turned serious as she straightened, her gaze sharp once again.

"Now, let's discuss something important. You said you possess a body-tempering technique but can't practice it due to a lack of suitable icy conditions. Is that right?"

I nodded firmly in response as I knew that she wouldn't covet something that only humans could cultivate.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she shifted gears, suddenly asking a question that caught me off guard.

"Then let me ask you how are your close combat abilities? You humans aren't exactly known for your strength in close quarters or your sturdy bodies."

I met her gaze without hesitation and replied confidently,

"My close combat abilities are up to par. The magic techniques and spells I've developed are built around a mix of close-range and long-range combat."

To my surprise, my answer seemed to intrigue her.

Her brow arched slightly, and a glimmer of disbelief flickered across her face. "Hmm… Did I hear that right? You developed your own magic techniques?"

I gave her a simple nod to confirm. From her reaction, I wondered if creating one's own magic techniques was considered an extraordinary feat.

Considering all the information I had read, I concluded that only the creation of various ascension techniques was untraceable and it was too rare for a person to create new ones but not much information about the creation of magic spells were known.

The mages just learned what was available to them or if they unearthed some ancient ones from any ancient ruins.

Her golden eyes gleamed with curiosity as she studied me carefully. "Hoh… that's quite interesting. I'll need to see this for myself," she said, her tone layered with both amusement and challenge.

"Let's test the extent of your abilities, then."

Without warning, she waved her hand, and the oppressive dark energy that had been lingering in the depths of the cave began to stir.

The shadows slithered across the ground like living creatures before converging in a single spot. Slowly, the energy condensed, taking on a humanoid form before my very eyes.

I watched in astonishment as the coalescing shadows solidified into the figure of a young woman in black dragon armour.

She looked similar to the dragoness herself, though noticeably younger in appearance. Her features were elegant and sharp, her frame slender yet brimming with an undeniable strength.

It was as though she were the dragoness's mirror reflection, albeit a version that radiated an icy detachment instead of playfulness.

"She will be your opponent," the dragoness declared, a devilish smile spreading across her face. "And remember that she won't show you any mercy."

Just as her voice faded, the young woman vanished before my eyes. My instincts screamed in warning, and without a moment's hesitation, my body reacted.

My waist bent backward in a sharp motion, my upper body lowering in an almost impossible arc.

At that exact moment, a dark claw slashed through the space where my head had been a fraction of a second earlier.

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead as I realized how close I had come to severe injury or something worse.

But there was no time to dwell on it. Using my hands as support, I pushed off the ground, backpedalling rapidly with my Shadow Spectre Movement Technique.

In one fluid motion, I twisted mid-air and delivered a sharp kick toward the woman's stomach from below.

She moved with inhuman speed, dodging my strike effortlessly, but my attack had served its purpose.

It bought me just enough time to regain my footing and get my bearings.

Without hesitation, I called upon my power. Dark, sinister chains erupted from my hands, crackling with faint energy as they shot outward.

The chains seamlessly connected to the three crystal knives that sprang outside from my spatial ring turning them into extensions of my will.

The knives sprang to life, dancing in a deadly, synchronized pattern around me, guarding my flanks against any sudden ambushes.

I took a steady breath, my senses flaring to their maximum capacity. My soul sense extended outward like ripples in a pond, scanning the surroundings, while my dark vision pierced through the shadows of the cave.

Yet despite my efforts, the woman's presence seemed to have completely vanished, as though she had melded with the very darkness that surrounded us.

I clenched my fists tightly, my mind racing. This woman was unlike any opponent I had faced before.

Her movements were swift, precise, and unpredictable and her ability to vanish so completely into the shadows was a skill that I couldn't yet match.

But I didn't let my guard down as I knew she was waiting for such an opportunity as her ambush had failed but I seemed to wait for her appearance too.