Reborn With the Infinite Gods System

Axel's voice dropped to a low murmur, his face devoid of emotion. "Megicula?" he repeated, his eyes narrowing as the name slipped from his lips. "So you're the one I need to kill first."

The figure before him, Megicula, grinned widely, revealing teeth that were too sharp to be human. "Before we take this battle to its climax," Megicula said, his voice smooth and filled with dark amusement, "I would like for you to enter my domain. No trees, no obstacles—just me and you."

Axel opened his mouth to respond, but in an instant, the world around him shifted. A wave of nausea briefly hit him as the entire environment morphed in the blink of an eye. Where there had been forest, there was now only desolation.

The ground beneath Axel's feet turned pitch black, littered with dying embers, the ash swirling in the wind like the remnants of an old battlefield. The air was thick with the smell of sulfur, fire, and blood. The wasteland stretched out in all directions, a landscape of jagged rocks and molten fissures. Everything here—down to the dust in the air—seemed to be an extension of Megicula himself.

The demon's grin widened, exposing more of those nightmarish teeth. "In here," Megicula said, his voice carrying across the barren land, "there are rules."

Axel's eyes narrowed. *Rules?* He clenched his fists. This wasn't some tournament—this was a fight to the death. What kind of game was this demon playing?

Megicula began counting them off, one by one, as if savoring each word. "First, no one can die in this domain unless by the rules. Second, the only way to die is if your back hits the ground three times. And lastly... no one else can interfere, nor can you use your system's potions."

Axel's eyes flashed. *Systems.* That word caught his attention, but there was no time to dwell on it. Before he could even process the information fully, Megicula's hand shot out. In his palm, a dagger materialized—a wicked weapon with an intricate design that pulsed with an eerie energy. Megicula pointed it directly at Axel, his grin unshakable.

"Are you ready?" Megicula's voice echoed, filled with menace.

Axel widened his stance, taking a deep breath to steady himself. His grip on his sword tightened, the air around him crackling with tension. "Come," he whispered, his eyes locking onto Megicula's, already bracing for the inevitable.

And then it hit.

Faster than Axel could react, his body was lifted off the ground, soaring through the air as if he were weightless. Pain shot through his abdomen, his mind reeling as he tried to make sense of it. *What just happened?* His stomach churned violently, his vision blurring momentarily as the searing pain from his gut throbbed.

*Ah, right. The knee.*

He recalled the moment just before impact—Megicula had blurred out of sight, appearing before him with impossible speed, driving a knee deep into his gut. The pain lingered, but Axel gritted his teeth and forced his body to twist mid-air, managing to land on his feet. His boots skidded across the cracked earth, sending shards of rock scattering as he caught himself.

His eyes darted around, searching for Megicula. But the demon was already gone.

Axel's instincts kicked in, his muscles reacting before his mind could catch up. He spun, his sword slashing through the air in a wide arc. Metal clanged against metal as his blade met Megicula's, inches from slicing through the demon's neck.

The shock on Megicula's face was momentary, but it was there—an instant of surprise before his grin returned. He parried Axel's strike with ease, pushing the blade away. "Impressive," Megicula admitted, his voice low. "You were able to track me. Not many can do that."

Axel breathed heavily, eyes locked on his opponent. His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, fingers trembling from the force of the parry. Megicula's speed was unnatural, faster than anything Axel had ever faced before.

But the demon wasn't done. Discover exclusive tales at m,v-l e|m'pyr

"Do you even know what your blood can do?" Megicula taunted.

Before Axel could respond, Megicula vanished once again, reappearing within striking distance. A swift, lightning-fast kick connected with Axel's jaw before he could react, sending him stumbling backward. The world spun as stars flashed across his vision.

But Megicula wasn't finished. He grabbed Axel's shoulder, yanking him closer with enough force to make the ground beneath Axel's feet crack. The demon's forehead came crashing toward him, aiming for a brutal headbutt.

Axel barely managed to jerk his head back, the attack grazing him rather than shattering his skull. In response, Axel's eyes flared with determination.

"Enough!"

[Torch of Dominance]

A wave of searing blue fire exploded from his sword, aimed directly at Megicula. But the demon was already moving, his body twisting gracefully out of the way as the beam roared past him, scorching the ground where he'd just stood.

Despite the attack, Axel's vision blurred again as a sharp, stabbing pain erupted from his gut. His hand dropped to his abdomen, his fingers brushing against something cold and metallic.

Megicula's dagger.

It had been lodged deep into his stomach, the jagged edges tearing at his insides. Axel's hand trembled as he gripped the handle, his breath ragged.

"ARRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHH!" His scream echoed through the barren landscape as he ripped the dagger free. Flesh tore and blood poured from the wound, soaking his clothes. The pain was unbearable, but Axel forced himself to stay on his feet, eyes locked on Megicula.

The demon laughed. "You're strong, but you still don't understand your true potential! You can't win!"

Axel spat blood onto the ground. "Shut up," he growled, dismissing his sword with a flick of his hand. The blade vanished into thin air, leaving him unarmed.

Megicula's grin faltered for the briefest moment. "Still defiant?" The demon lunged forward, his fist cocked back, moving at speeds Axel couldn't hope to match.

The punch connected squarely with Axel's face, the impact sending him crashing into the ground. The force of the blow drove him several feet back, his body skidding across the dirt.

"One down!" Megicula cackled, already moving toward Axel's prone form.

Axel struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from his mouth. His vision was hazy, his mind racing. *One more hit and I'm done.*

Megicula closed the distance again, his fist moving like a blur. Axel barely managed to sidestep the punch, feeling the air crackle as it passed by his cheek. But before he could counter, another fist drove into his gut with brutal force, lifting him off his feet and sending him flying once more.

Axel hit the ground hard, his back slamming into the earth with a sickening thud. Blood poured from his mouth as he gasped for breath. *Two.*

Megicula loomed over him, his face a mask of mockery. "What's wrong? We're just getting started!"

Axel's lips curled into a weak smile. "I wasn't talking to you," he muttered.

Megicula paused, confusion flashing across his face. "What?"

Axel's smile grew. "You're already dead."

The demon's eyes widened in shock. "What... what are you talking about? One more hit and you're the one who—"

Axel slowly sat up, his expression calm, almost serene. "Here's the thing. I don't play by the rules of a domain I already destroyed the moment it began."

Megicula's eyes widened as his body suddenly locked up. He couldn't move. Panic gripped him as he struggled, his limbs refusing to obey him.

"How—how did you—"

Axel let out a low sigh. "Your domain was tied to your mind. And I've been testing something—nightmares, and the decaying touch of the dead. While you were focused on the fight, I've been decaying your domain from within."

Megicula's breath hitched. "No... no, this can't be..."

Axel stood up, brushing off the dirt from his clothes. "I now control this world. And guess what? That means I also decide how you die."

The demon's face twisted in fear, his body trembling as he tried to break free from Axel's control. But it was no use.

Axel smiled darkly. "Goodbye, Megicula."

Without warning, Megicula's head exploded in a shower of blood and bone, his lifeless body crumpling to the ground.

[Leveled up]

[Leveled up]

[Leveled up]

[Leveled up]

Axel's eyes glowed with a sinister light as he felt the surge of power coursing through him. "Onto the next trial," he muttered to himself, his voice cold and unwavering.