Alice wrapped both arms around her chest, squeezing herself as if suffering immense pain while her teeth sank deep into her bottom lip, oozing with blood. Yet her red eyes seemed to transform, becoming more vibrant as the transformation was completed.

    "Urk!"

    With a loud shout, her arms flung out before a massive aura rushed from her body; the powerful winds of Baku swirled around her body like a maelstrom, along with the gentle aura of silver from the moonlight gorilla.

    ''She''s already changed...''

    Asmodeus stood in silence, his eyes opening to their limits as if to take Alice''s changes and everything to the limit. To avoid missing anything related to her transformation and the steps she took to become stronger.

    His eyes flickered before he reached out towards her, his hand hanging as her body crackled with white lightning. The electricity arced from her limbs as her energetic eyes turned to face him.

    "Asmodeus..." A deeper and more raspy voice than normal... yet the reverberations carried her current power and changes.

    "You look amazingly beautiful right now, Alice."

    The moment Asmodeus spoke, his eyes flickered, information that he usually didn''t bother checking rushing into his eyes, and his lips curled into a wide grin. A sensation and desire for battle grew from the moment he noticed what had just happened.

    ''Baku and that ape... they transferred over 200 levels each to this girl.''

    [Name: Alice Lithia De Grigoran]

    [Race: Spirit Beast]

    [Age: 28]

    [Title]

    ∟ Duchess of Lithia

    ∟ Spirit Guardian

    ∟ Battle Junkie, Obsessive, Hidden Love

    [Class]

    ∟ Spirit Guardian - Level 621

    [Attributes]

    ∟ Strength: 1050

    ∟ Agility: 1765

    ∟ Stamina: 645

    ∟ Grit: 1600

    ∟ Intellect: 1100

    "Really, if I defeat you now, I will have you call me My Dear Duchess~ haha."

    Asmodeus felt an excitement larger than when he fought Pope Johan or fought Baku for the first time, thanks to his time spent helping Alice grow stronger.

    Not to mention that since Baku gave her his power, increasing her speed, and the ape granted her his grit and strength, Alice overcame her weaknesses and areas that she lacked.

    "Then, if I win, I will make you my empress consort."

    "Eh?"

    Alice''s eyes widened, her lips parted as she gasped, a complete look of shock on her face, before her cheeks turned red, before biting her teeth together. "You... teased me again, even when I approached you so fiercely you rejected me!"

    Crackle—!

    Asmodeus upset the duchess with his words, causing her to become enraged.

    "Go on girl, kick that fools behind!" Baku and Ullak sat together; although weaker, their auras surpassed every monster in the forest right now.

    "What?!"

    Asmodeus was shocked.

    Alice moved like an experienced fighter, even though they were training in just one style: martial arts, the combat style his mother had taught him since he could walk.

    Your journey continues with empire

    Alice took the initiative. Her hands blurred into a flurry of rapid strikes directed straight toward Asmodeus''s chest. He felt the surge of pain and heat rushing through him before he flew back several steps, creating a deep gash on the ground due to the overwhelming power.

    Splat...

    Asmodeus felt warm liquid splatter over his clothes.

    He looked down, only for his eyes to widen and felt a chill run down his spine. Alice''s hands were trembling, and white lightning was surging out from her fingertips. The lightning created a layer of protection around her knuckles and spread up to her upper arms and shoulders.

    "I know it would take more to hurt you..." Alice looked in pain, yet her lips curled into a distorted smile; she gazed at Asmodeus with vibrant eyes full of life and excitement.

    "You should replace those broken gauntlets..."

    Because of her power, the gauntlets shattered during their constant barrage of attacks, yet she shook her head.

    Thud—!

    A series of low bangs echoed, and Alice removed the heavy gauntlets and greaves. She started to bounce on the spot, her entire body coated in moonlight aura and the flickering arcs of lightning. "If we''re gonna get serious... then we need to even things out!"

    The surroundings exploded as Alice blasted forward at such speed that cracks began forming behind her feet. Her right fist pulled back as the lightning intensified, causing sparks to shoot off like beams in random directions.

    Shling—!

    Asmodeus lifted his hand in front of her face, blocking the intense punch, and a blast wave expanded out in a circle around them. The grass flattened, trees toppled, and chunks of dirt were sent flying everywhere—the force carried Asmodeus along with him.

    "!!!" His gaze landed on her bloodied knuckles, which were split open and dripping blood... however, they healed instantly due to her regeneration ability.

    ''Alice...''

    Before he could adjust, stepping back, her body followed him—like a fairy dancing on through the air. She vanished from sight only to reappear next to him with a mighty fist slamming against his gut.

    BANG—!

    "Kuh—!" The second strike connected, and the sound of another powerful blow landing was pursued by something akin to thunder.

    "Argh....Urk...!"

    One fist connected with Alice''s face, a devastating left hook from Asmodeus, while her fist burrowed into his abdomen, but Alice ignored the injury and threw another jab to his cheek.

    "Ah!?" The surprise attack sent him skidding across the grass as a shockwave followed the movement of his feet, carving trenches into the ground before he came to a halt.

    "Hrrrk... Peh!" Alice spat out a large amount of blood, her cheek slightly swollen and red from the blow as she staggered.

    With each clash, Alice grew more adjusted to her new strength and something stirred inside her body and mind. Through the chaotic clashes of their duel, her mastery and control of each muscle, limb and reaction increased.

    Each strike, parry, feint, and counter had a unique rhythm and flow.

    Alice lacked this flow of battle in the past—she was too focused on strength itself.

    Thanks to Asmodeus, Alice gained a deeper understanding of combat and battling other sentient creatures. Yet she couldn''t stop the feeling of her chest pounding, nothing to do with her exhaustion, pain or current situation.

    Her gaze locked on the handsome demon, watching, waiting and always supporting her.

    Never treated like a damsel, never told she couldn''t do something...

    Asmodeus and his comforting sapphire eyes watched her under the moonlight as a pleasant ache filled her body.

    "Haa.... haa..... Nng....!"

    "Shall we continue the fight, Alice?"