Chapter 5: The First Fight

Before him stood the Demon King, towering aloft, his laughter echoing everywhere. A cold sweat went down Alex's back.

Its size was overwhelming; Alex felt tiny, no more than an ant ready to clash with a mountain. The hardness of the fact kissed him: this wasn't some game or story which he could close when things got too intense; this was real, and he was terrified.

The Demon King looked down at Alex with a glint in his eyes-amusement and malice mixed into one. A twisted grin spread across his face, bigger with each second that seemed to pass by. The voice was deep, and authority brimmed from every word as he said, "It's time, hero! Time for our first fight. I must just admit, I'm disappointed."

Alex's heart was pounding in his chest, and he had no idea whatsoever how to respond. What was he supposed to do? He had no powers, no weapons, or some plan. The only thing he had was desperate hope that somehow this was all just a bad dream.

"Don't worry, hero," the Demon King said in a jeering tone of voice. "I'm not going to kill you just yet. No, I have something really much more entertaining in mind.

The Demon King had raised his hand and a stream of dark energy had burst forth to catch Alex and send him flying across the chamber. Hitting the cold, hard floor drove all the air from his lungs. An intense wave of pain swept through his body, and for several seconds he couldn't move.

"Get up," the Demon King ordered as his voice echoed around the chamber.

Alex grunted, forcing himself to his feet. Everything in his body protested it, yet he knew he couldn't lie around. He had to keep pushing on no matter how little to no chance he had.

"Pathetic," the Demon King sneered. "I expected more from a man that obsessed with the fantasy realm."

Alex racked his brains, but nothing came forth to help him with this situation. He knew he was outmatched-and knew it a bit too well.

The Demon King did not afford him more time to think. His wrist flicked, and another wave of dark energy came at Alex. This time, Alex jumped out of the way in time, but with that effort, he was left gasping. He was already tired, and the fight had barely started.

"Is that all you got?" The Demon King sneered, deliberately moving slow towards Alex. "You're hardly worth my time."

Alex's chest constricted in fear as he knew he had to do something, but what? The only thing that his mind could think to do in a blur of panic was to attempt to run. But no sooner had he turned to do so than the Demon King was before him, in his way.

"Leaving so soon?" he asked, all smiles in cruelty. "I'm not done with you yet."

In a flash, the hand of the Demon King darted out and grasped Alex by his collar, hoisting him into the air as if he had weighed absolutely nothing in this world.

Alex kicked his legs and struggled, trying to free his collar from the demon's hand, but it was like attempting to set a boulder free. Impossible to break the Demon King's grip.

"Let's make this interesting," the Demon King growled in a really very low and dangerous tone of voice. "How about a little test of your strength?"

With that, he slammed Alex into the ground-the impact that rendered him dazed and in pain. He could hardly even move, but he knew he needed to get back up; he needed to keep fighting, hopeless as it was.

"You're weak," the Demon King said, his voice heavy with disdain. "But I suppose it's to be expected, really. You are just a lowly human."

Alex's heart had sunk at the words, knowing he was weak, powerless, utterly out of his league. Still, he had never taken kindly to insults.

"I won't let you win," Alex growled low, his teeth clenched tight, struggling to his feet. His body shrieked protests, but he forced himself to straighten.

The Demon King laughed-the edge of his voice betrayed his humour at Alex's defiance. "Brave words for someone who can barely stand," he said to Alex. "But bravery won't save you."

The Demon King kicked out suddenly, catching Alex off guard. For the second time, he went flying across the chamber, striking the hard stone floor in a roll, coming to stop at the foot of a jagged rock. Pain flared across his body while he fought for breath.

This time, the Demon King wasn't waiting for Alex to rise himself. He waved a hand, and tendrils of dark energy wrapped around Alex's body, hauling him into the air and drawing him toward the Demon King.