Blood poured from his wounds, soaking into his armor as the enchantments tried desperately to absorb it.

Pain radiated through his entire body, and his vision swam for a moment before clearing.

{THAT'S ENOUGH! Jack, we need to forfeit! Another hit like that and you're dead!}

But before Jack could respond, Pho's transformation ended.

The black color faded from his skin, returning to pale blue.

The black ice throughout the throne room shifted back to its normal translucent state.

The axe in Pho's hand resumed its original appearance.

The Deathfrost Demon stood over Jack, his blank white eyes studying the wounded demon at his feet. There was no malice in his expression, no satisfaction from inflicting injury.

Just a calm assessment.

"That's enough," Pho said simply.

He dismissed his frost axe, the weapon dissolving back into ambient magic, and offered his hand to Jack.

It wasn't pity or condescension, it was the gesture of one warrior to another after an honest test of skill.

Jack stared at the offered hand for a moment, his mind racing through everything that had just happened.

The entire fight, from start to finish, had been Pho evaluating him. Testing his speed, his technique, his power and his decision-making under pressure.

And that final exchange? That hadn't been about defeating Jack.

It had been about showing him the difference in their power, making absolutely clear what Jack would be facing if he ever truly challenged Pho.

{Take the hand. We survived. That's a victory by itself.}

Jack gripped Pho's hand and let the demon lord pull him to his feet. His legs shook from the damage he'd taken, but he refused to let that show in his posture. He stood straight, Oscar held in his free hand, meeting Pho's blank white eyes without flinching.

[Name: Pho]

[Rank: Disaster-class]

[Level 86]

[Strength: 424]

[Stamina: 372]

[Agility: 250]

[Vitality: 454]

[Endurance: 327]

[Magic: 311]

[Mana: 12,324]

[HP: 227,000/227,000]

'Did that Black Ice Soul heal him too? Talk about overpowered. His stats are ridiculous too.'

His mana was nearly depleted, his health was sitting at ten percent, his armor was damaged, and he'd just been shown definitively that Pho could kill him whenever he wanted.

But he'd survived.

And more importantly, he'd impressed the demon who controls everything around here.

Pho's smile returned, genuine and almost friendly. "You'll do nicely as Kragoth's replacement. The pits need someone strong enough to maintain order, someone the slaves will fear but the soldiers will respect. You've demonstrated both qualities today."

He released Jack's hand and turned back toward his throne, walking with the casual confidence of someone who'd never doubted the outcome of their fight.

"Report to the Slave pits in a couple days when you heal. You'll meet with the current overseers and begin your transition into the role. The slaves are difficult to manage, so you'll want to establish dominance immediately."

Pho climbed the steps to his elevated platform, settling back onto his throne with the air of a king returning to his rightful place.

"And Jakar?" He fixed Jack with that penetrating blank stare. "Thank you. That was the most interesting fight I've had in years. You genuinely reminded me of my brother. Same recklessness, refusal to back down, and willingness to risk everything for an opening."

{Don't say it. Don't mention that you're wearing his brother's bones. Just nod and leave.}

"I'll take that as a compliment," Jack said, his flat voice hiding the irony of Pho's words.

"As it was meant." Pho waved one hand dismissively. "You're dismissed. Get your wounds treated and rest."

Jack nodded once, turned, and walked toward the throne room's exit.

Every step sent pain through his damaged shoulder and chest, but he kept his pace steady, his posture straight.

He wouldn't show weakness, wouldn't limp or stumble, not while Pho was still watching.

'Such a shame he cannot use magic. He would have been so much more fun if he could have.' Pho thought as he stared at Jack.

The massive doors ground open as he approached, and he passed through into the corridor beyond.

Only when they closed behind him, cutting off Pho's line of sight, did Jack allow himself to lean against the wall.

{That was insane. Absolutely insane. We fought a Disaster-rank demon and SURVIVED. Do you know the statistical probability of that? It's basically zero! We should be dead right now!}

'But we're not.'

{Because he LET us survive! That Black Ice Soul transformation? He could have kept that going and killed us in seconds! He ended it deliberately, showed you the power gap, then stopped!}

'I know. But it doesn't matter. I was holding back and he still showed me his hand.'

{Holding back? What do you mean you were holding back?}

'I didn't even use magic for that fight. Nor did I use my transformation, or show my trump card.'

{WAIT, YOU CAN USE MAGIC??? Why didn't you??!!}

'It would have given me away. Don't worry. This will all be over within a week.'

Jack pushed off the wall and started moving again, heading back toward the cave.

His mind was already working through everything he'd learned from the fight.

Pho's fighting style, his reliance on environmental control, the way his ice magic could be used both defensively and offensively.

And that final transformation. Black Ice Soul.

Forty-five percent true damage per strike, completely bypassing his HP pool.

If Pho used that from the start of a real fight, Jack would be dead before he could mount any meaningful offense.

{So what's the plan? Because I'm pretty sure "challenge him to a fair fight" is off the table now.}

'It was never on the table. The plan hasn't changed. Gather information and exploit weaknesses when they appear.'

{And hope that by the time we actually have to kill him, we're strong enough to survive more than two hits from Black Ice Soul?}

'Something like that.'

{We're going to die, aren't we?}

'Nah, we'll win.'

{At least you're honest about it. Though even with Magic im not sure how.}

The encounter with Pho had changed his plans for the day. Not the overall plan, but his understanding of what he was actually facing became clearer.

He'd known Pho was powerful. Now he knew exactly how powerful. And more importantly, he knew that Pho saw him as valuable enough to keep alive, but not threatening enough to eliminate preemptively.

That was the narrow path he'd have to walk until he was ready to make his real move. Strong enough to respect but not strong enough to fear.

{You know what the worst part is?} Oscar asked as they finally left the inner part of the castle.

'What?'

{He called that a spar. A friendly test of abilities. That wasn't even him trying to kill us, and we barely survived. What's he like when he's actually trying?}

Jack didn't answer, because he didn't have a good answer. His damaged armor slowly absorbing what blood it could, his wounds aching with every breath, one thing was absolutely certain.

Jack was genuinely worried about if he took any more damage, his human skin would be exposed.

BANG!!!!

"Are you okay?"

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