Demonic Prodigies

Klaus positioned himself in front of his two opponents.

He was completely unaware of what to expect from the fight, especially since he hadn't anticipated that his guides would be formidable fighters. Nevertheless, he knew that since the Queen had organized the battle, he had to take them seriously. After a brief pause, the bell rang, signaling the beginning of the brawl.

Klaus quickly adopted a defensive stance. Without his sight, he knew he had to rely on his other senses to emerge victorious. He had never fought under such conditions before, but something felt different this time. His senses were significantly sharper and more heightened than usual.

Klaus could feel the breeze that swayed through the battlefield, the calmness of the atmosphere around him as he centered his mind and body. He sensed the tremors in the ground beneath him and the glow of the stage lights beaming over the arena.

Finding peace and serenity in calming his mind, Klaus attempted to compensate for his lack of sight. He took a deep breath, placed his left forearm ahead of him, and suddenly, a sound echoed around the arena. Jhin had lunged forward with a deadly strike, but Klaus successfully blocked the sudden attack.

As Klaus parried Jhin's assault, his sister darted behind him, closing the gap. The twin demons swung their attacks at Klaus in a coordinated assault.

The oppressive swings from the demonic duo continued relentlessly. Klaus, however, swiftly evaded their attacks, using his hands to block some strikes. Despite his lack of vision, he managed to keep up with his adversaries, evading their attacks with remarkable agility as they continued their onslaught.

Observing from the sidelines, Lance noted that Klaus seemed to be using the battle as an opportunity to train and challenge his senses and perception without relying on his Perfect Precognition ability. Klaus's movements indicated that he had entered a flow state, seamlessly responding to his opponents with a refined grace that was captivating to watch.

The demons continued their assault, swinging in perfect tandem. Their synergy was stellar, as expected, but Klaus's evasive maneuvers were just as impressive. Seconds ticked by with Klaus remaining on the defensive, unable to find an opening to exploit.

Suddenly, as Jhin swung a devastating attack, Klaus swayed to his left, evading the strike. Seizing the moment, he swung his right foot upwards, landing a powerful kick to the demon's jaw.

The force of the kick was intense, lifting Jhin off his feet by a few inches. Klaus spun around, landing another right foot strike, this time with his heel, against Jhin's torso. The devastating blow sent Jhin flying a considerable distance, dazed by the attack.

Not giving her opponent a moment to breathe, Xhin rushed at Klaus while her brother attempted to recover. She swung relentlessly, managing to hold her own for a few seconds.

However, as she launched another strike, Klaus grabbed her right hand, pulling it downwards with immense force, causing her to flip upside down. He then used his left foot to deliver a powerful kick to her torso, sending her flying away as well.

Xhin stumbled back but quickly regained her footing. Jhin also recovered, and the duo rushed back at Klaus, determined not to give him any time to regroup.

The fight raged on, with Klaus remaining on the defensive. This time, however, it seemed he was struggling to keep up. The twins' synergy was extraordinary, and as the battle continued, they polished the rough edges of their attacks, making it increasingly difficult for Klaus to fend them off.

As the seconds ticked by, Jhin managed to close the distance and swung his claws at Klaus's head. Klaus barely evaded, moving his head back just in time to avoid a direct hit but receiving a scratch on his forehead instead.

Recognizing the oppressive power of the duo, Klaus knew his best chance was to separate them. Blindfolded and unsure of who was who, he rushed at one of the demons, presumably Jhin, and switched to an aggressive offensive.

With a flurry of rapid punches, Klaus overwhelmed his opponent, landing a barrage of blows that culminated in a powerful punch, sending Jhin flying once again. The speed and intensity of his attack gave him just enough time to react to Xhin, who had noticed her brother's plight and rushed to his defense.

Klaus and Xhin engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Xhin managed to grab Klaus's arm, stopping his attacks momentarily. Holding his right arm firmly between her forearm and chest, Klaus suddenly felt a soft sensation on his hand, realizing it was Xhin he was fighting.

Surprised by the unexpected contact, Klaus hesitated. Seizing the opportunity, Xhin delivered a powerful palm strike to his chest, sending him stumbling back. Klaus quickly regained his footing, but the sting of her strike was sharper than he anticipated.

With a smile, Xhin rushed at him again, giving him no time to recover. Jhin, having regained his composure, joined the fray.

The three fighters clashed once more, the battle becoming more intense. This time, the demon twins managed to land several hits on Klaus. The fight was now much closer than anyone had anticipated, with Lance and Arthur watching from the sidelines in awe.

Klaus realized he needed to focus if he wanted to avoid trouble, so he locked in, ready for the next onslaught. Jhin and Xhin charged at him, their attacks synchronized. As their strikes came at him simultaneously, Klaus dropped into a crouch, narrowly evading the blows. Seizing the opportunity, he surged upward between the two demons, placing his palms on their faces.

With a firm grip—his left hand on Xhin and his right on Jhin—Klaus lifted them off their feet and hurled them in opposite directions. The force of his throw sent the demons flying until they slammed into the walls on either side of the arena.

The impact left the twins struggling to rise. Based on the sound of the impact, Klaus noted the significant damage they had sustained and allowed himself a moment of respite.

"Wow, you really are something else, Klaus," Xhin said from her fallen position, impressed by his power despite the handicap. "I can only imagine your true strength when you're not blindfolded or holding back."

"Thanks," Klaus replied as she managed to get up. "Though I doubt it would be anything special."

Just as he finished speaking, his focus shifted to Jhin, who had silently closed the distance and launched a devastating kick. Klaus was completely caught off guard, distracted by Xhin's voice. She had skillfully concealed Jhin's silent approach with her voice, exploiting Klaus's blinded state.

Dodging Jhin's high-speed attack seemed impossible. Yet, as Jhin's foot neared Klaus, it inexplicably phased through him. In his shock, Klaus had unintentionally activated his Phantasmal State ability. Jhin stared in confusion, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events. His attention was abruptly diverted by the instructor, who approached from the sidelines.

"The battle is over," the instructor announced, stepping forward. "Due to Klaus Walker's use of an ability, he is disqualified. The winners are Jhin and Xhin."

Klaus stood stunned by the turn of events but chose not to dwell on it since he did not necessarily care about the battle's outcome. Xhin smiled upon hearing the announcement, happy that her plan had all worked out.

Lance was thoroughly impressed by the performance of both Klaus and his adversaries. He was taken aback by the skillfulness of the demon twins. A fleeting thought crossed his mind, wondering if he might have preferred facing them instead of the champions. However, he remained content with observing such a spectacular fight. Shortly after, the fighters were ushered to the medical facility to recover from the strain of their battle.

Upon entering the medical facility, the demons were handed towels to clean the sweat accumulated during their brawl and the debris from the arena. Klaus, who hadn't broken a sweat or been floored throughout the battle, humbly declined the offer.

As Klaus sat by himself, Xhin turned her attention to him and engaged in a brief conversation.

"Apologies for resorting to trickery, by the way," Xhin said, catching Klaus's attention.

"Don't be," Klaus replied. "It was my fault for dropping my guard in the first place."

After a moment, Klaus continued, "Honestly, I was surprised by how well you both fought. Your synergy was remarkable."

"Thank you," Xhin responded with a large smile. "We come from a dynasty of Games of Champions winners. Growing up, we were rigorously trained to be battle-hardened. But we both gave it all up to work with Lord Nekro and Her Majesty."

This explanation resonated with Klaus, who understood the powerful influence of family bonds.

As Xhin turned her attention to Klaus, she noticed the scar on his forehead from their battle. Though the wound had almost completely healed, the dried blood remained. Quickly, Xhin walked to a cabinet, pulled out a small hand towel, and handed it to Klaus, suggesting he use it to clean the remnants of the wound.

Though not particularly bothered by it, Klaus accepted the gesture and used the towel to wipe the blood from his forehead.

"Even if it wasn't a fair fight," Xhin said with a smile, "I really enjoyed it."

"Me too," Klaus replied, giving Xhin a slight smile in return. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away, flustered.

Embarrassed, Xhin volunteered to drop the used towels into the designated laundry bin in another room, seizing the opportunity to leave before she could further embarrass herself, leaving Klaus alone with Jhin.

Klaus and Jhin sat opposite each other in silence. It was clear that Jhin did not care for humans, and since Klaus was half the criteria, the hostility was palpable. Klaus was also not one for caring about engaging in conversation, so he didn't even consider trying to humor Jhin at all.

"She trusts you, you know?" 

Klaus lifted his head at the unexpected statement from Jhin.

"That's my issue with her. Growing up, we were taught to be critical thinkers and tough-minded, yet she trusts and cares for people too easily," Jhin explained. "That's why she gets her heart broken all the time."

A few seconds of silence followed Jhin's words. Klaus didn't know what to say, but he understood that Jhin, despite his stern demeanor, cared deeply for his sister.

"And what about you?" Klaus asked the demon eventually.

Jhin looked at Klaus briefly before averting his gaze. "I even find the thought of trusting anyone with human genetics to be impossible."

A few more seconds of silence hung in the air before Jhin continued to elaborate.

"'The perfect imperfections,' they are called, yet they wage wars against each other, slaughter the innocent, and commit assaults in cold blood. Humanity is too primitive to be considered the superior race."

Klaus couldn't argue with Jhin; the demon was speaking the truth.

"At least we can finally agree on something," Klaus said, confirming that he shared some of Jhin's sentiments.

"However," Klaus continued, "generalizing that all humans are the same and deserve the same fate makes you even more ignorant of precious life than they are."

Jhin turned his attention back to Klaus, who went on to explain his perspective.

"Different people have different views, and while demons may not possess murderous intent, you can't convince me that every single soul in Under World harbors positive intentions."

Jhin stared at Klaus, unable to counter the demigod's statement. He knew Klaus was speaking the truth.

"I suppose this would be the second thing we can agree on," Jhin replied, acknowledging the validity of Klaus' point.

Jhin then stood and walked up to Klaus, who sat a few feet away.

"The thought of ever trusting a human seems inconceivable to me," Jhin began, "but I must admit that meeting you demigods has slightly changed my perspective."

He extended his hand to Klaus, who stood and reciprocated the gesture, recognizing that Jhin's path to understanding another species needed time.

"Well," Jhin suddenly added, "except for the masked one."

This made sense to Klaus, especially considering what X had done to the demon earlier.

"Fair enough... I guess," Klaus replied, finding the statement somewhat hilarious.

At that moment, Xhin was standing by the door, smiling at the idea of her brother warming up to the demigods. She eventually walked in and suggested they regroup with the others.

As they returned to the main section of the arena, Lance and Arthur greeted them, engaging in light conversation about the success of the enjoyable battle. The instructor then called for everyone's attention, announcing that the event had concluded and they would soon be ushered back to the facility.

She added that the Queen regretted not being able to see them off personally but hoped their paths would cross again in the future, echoing Nekro's sentiments during their encounter as well.

Shortly after the announcement, the demigods were guided back to the Facility to prepare for their return to Higher World.

As the group arrived, they found X seated on a bench at the entrance, his head bowed.

"Thank the Gods," Xhin exclaimed. "I was wondering how I was going to be able to recall you."

X remained silent, not raising his head or acknowledging their presence. The group decided to move on, knowing the assassin would follow in his own time. However, as they continued, Lance stopped and turned back to X.

"Before I forget," Lance began, addressing X. "I want to thank you, for everything."

X remained motionless as Lance continued.

"During our battle in the Divine tournament, I was so obsessed with victory that I abandoned my morals in hopes of achieving it. Your words before we were transported here made me realize I was wrong and rightfully did not deserve to win. So for that, I thank you."

For the first time, X lifted his head as Lance extended his hand in gratitude. X glanced at Lance briefly before rising silently and walking into the Facility without acknowledging the gesture.

Lance smiled, understanding this outcome was the most he could expect, and lowered his arm.

After a moment, Lance followed X into the building, ready to regroup with the others.