Did I?

Suddenly! 

The air started to distort in the far corner of the cave. 

A figure clad in plain dark robes appeared in view.

It bowed towards the hulking figure and Sethel.

"I have come here by your order, Captain Lark" the newly emerged figure said as they started to walk towards the trio.

"This is one of the members of Enforcement Hall, an Intermediate Apprentice Mage. The most average and plain I could find among others" Captain Lark stated as his blatant insults didn't make the newcomer upset even a bit as he was too used to it.

"The conditions are very simple, defeat this guy using your physical strength alone" Captain Lark stated.

Meanwhile, Sethel who stood beside Andrew was utterly dumbfounded.

'Did this freak go nuts?' he wondered why would Captain Lark even say such a stupid thing in the first place.

It was a well know fact that gaps between evolutionary phases were massive. Regardless of how low one started as a mage.

The difference in power between the Initial Apprentice Mage and the Intermediate Apprentice Mage was no joke.

Even if Andrew had 5 times average the strength of the Initial Apprentice Mage, it would still be far insufficient in a physical brawl against someone a phase higher.

Moreover, even the most average Intermediate Apprentice Mage by the standards of Demonic Abode was at least ten times stronger than the Initial phase.

'Maybe, he has his own reason' Sethel thought.

Guardian Sethel didn't dare to question the decision of Captain Lark even though this battle will be nothing more than bullying of the weak.

Andrew looked at Captain Lark as if looking at the man who had a couple of his screws gone loose. It was a goddamn fact that he wouldn't be able to defeat someone an entire phase higher, especially in a brawl.

As if sensing the ridiculing gazes of others, Captain Lark added "He will be restricted to use only 50% of his power". As soon as he said those words the newcomer felt an oppressive aura all over his being. 

Yet, the feeling lasted only for a moment as it then vanished.

'"Sabu, if you are unable to beat this kid, you will take a trip into the deepest part of the dungeon" Captain Lark said to the newcomer as he didn't even bother asking for his consent over this battle.

Andrew was satisfied with the fact that Sabu was only allowed to use 50% of his physical power as it would give him a minor chance to defeat him.

Sabu still had the power of Intermediate Apprentice Mage, but it was halved nevertheless.

The tension slowly built up as the gazes of the two men met.

"Alright, now that we are done with explanations, let's begin the trial" Captain Lark said as with a clap of his hands the earth started to rumble as terrain not too far away from them started to undergo visible changes.

The rocky ground started to rise as it had perfectly cut corners. It was smooth and polished.

The ground rose for 2 meters and an arena was formed.

It was nothing more than a square block of smoothened stone.

Captain Lark was dissatisfied as he decided to add beautiful patterns since he wanted some novelty.

Depictions of demons and all kinds of creatures appeared on the sides of the arena. It mainly depicted demons slaughtering countless living beings in order to achieve greater power. It truly embodies the essence of the demonic culture.

Feeling satisfied, Captain Lark gestured for the two men to get on the fighting stage.

With a hop, the two men were now facing each other and less than a dozen meters separated them.

"Begin" Captain Lark announced and Sabu's figure turned into a blur in Andrew's view.

The next moment, a kick struck right into his head, but Andrew managed to block it in time. 

The sheer force that the kick carried made his arms go numb as he jumped away from Sabu's figure.

Sabu coldly watched Andrew's figure in slow motion. Although, Andrew's movements were slow compared to his, his instincts that were honed over the years helped him to react and defend in time.

With a step, Sabu disappeared once again as a whooshing sound resounded in Andrew's ears.

He ducked the moment his physical senses picked up disturbance near his ear so he managed to avoid a deadly kick.

Sabu didn't lose his cool as his leg went barreling towards still ducking Andrew. Noticing it, Andrew twisted his body and from laying position his legs went right into Sabu's groin...

A sole landed right into Andrew's toned abs as the kick's sheer power forcefully expelled all the air from his lungs.

Yet, he choose a smart sacrifice as his opponent got a way worse degree of pain from getting his testicles smashed against his bones.

"Ghhghhh" Sabu held himself from screaming out, but it didn't change the fact that his reaction time was affected and an uppercut landed on his jaw.

The impact lifted up his body as it made him fly backwards for a couple of meters. 

Andrew immediately jumped on him as his fists went storming down the most vital places of the head.

Sabu timely put a block as he started to mercilessly slam Andrew's back with his knees.

Sabu tried to tackle Andrew and reposition himself on top, but all of his attempts came to failure as Andrew firmly locked Sabu in a place with a merciless storm of punches.

Seeing no way out, Sabu went to the extreme He tightly hugged Andrew despite Andrew's fists being ceaselessly smashed into Sabu's sides

He endured the onslaught as he finally managed to lock himself to execute a proper movement.

Just when he was about to take away the place on the top, 2 sharp rows of teeth sank into his neck. 

Sabu went wide-eyed as he completely didn't expect such a move.

Blood crazily started to gush out of Sabu's wounded neck.

His eyes were wide and bloodshot as he tried to figure out the best way out of this situation, yet Andrew's teeth didn't leave him thinking for too long.

Andrew didn't hesitate to bite off chunks of Sabu's neck as he tore apart major blood vessels with each bite.

The arena became extremely gorry as blood started to paint the scriptures on the sides of the ring red. The pictures came to life as soon as blood touched them. It was a nice little addition from Captain Lark.

Andrew dived deeper into Sabu's neck as he bit off anything important looking with extra passion!

Captain Lark nodded with satisfaction. Admiring the ferocity that Andrew displayed.

'A true demon is willing to go to any lengths' he recited in his mind as saw himself in Andrew, a true demon.

By this point, Sabu also slashed and sliced Andrew's muscles and blood vessels using his nails as despair took over him as he felt his end was near...

Andrew kept turning Sabu's neck into a mess as he eventually reach the spine.

With his freed hand from Sabu's crazy grip, he directly went for the neck spine as his hand tightly gripped it.

The demon's resilience was phenomenal, especially of the demonic mages since Sabu was still alive and kicking after half of his neck was virtually eaten alive...

Andrew looked at Sabu's pitiful expression, pleading for mercy, but Andrew couldn't give more fucks as his grip tightened and...

*Snap*

The sound of something being broken resounded in the cave as Sabu's body finally went limp.

Andrew cut off all the major blood vessels just to be extra sure.

Not feeling quite content with his work he directly gripped the head and the body as he ripped apart Sabu's neck the connection between the body and head.

Andrew stoop up with a maimed head in his hand as he limped towards the spectators since his ankles were badly damaged.

He lifted up the head as if gloriously presenting his trophy.

Those two spectators: Captain Lark and Guardian Sethel were quite indifferent, with only the former showing signs of contentment and praise.

Andrew looked dead right into their eyes as he asked a single question...

"Did I prove myself?"