"Very well."


    Demon nced at Wilbur and the old man. "Two human cultivators in exchange for a feast. Quite the bargain, this is."


    The old man said, "Sir Hagin, is the ninth checkpoint to defeat Demon?"


    "Precisely."


    Hagin smiled. "But only one of you can fight, and the other must not do anything or the challenge will be considered a failure."


    Demon smirked. "There''s no point. You''re not going to be a match for me. But since you came all this way to die, I guess you aren''t leaving."


    He turned to Hagin. "I''m getting bored, Sir Hagin. Unchain my left hand. I want to kill them now."


    Hagin nced at Wilbur and the old man. "Demon, these are no regr human beings here. They''re both extremely powerful, which is why Emperor Ramos gave me special permission to unchain both your wrists. Remember to not hold back."


    "Ha! As if I would have to go all out with these idiots! It sure seems like there aren''t any other elites in the underwater city aside from Emperor Ramos."


    Hagin undid the chains bound to Demon''s wrists and turned to leave the cell. "Remember you only have ten minutes. If you can''t defeat Demon by the end of that, you will fail the challenge."


    "I''lle back in ten minutes. I hope you won''t let me down."


    Hagin left the cell, mming the door shut. Wilbur and the old man turned to look at Demon, who was flexing his wrists as he stared at them. "So, who''s going to die first here?"


    Wilbur took a step forward. "I''m your opponent. However, I do see that your ankles are chained. If you want, I can undo them for you so we can have a good fight. How''s that?"


    "You want to unchain me?"


    Demon barked out augh. "You''re trying to get on my good side and gain my sympathy, so I won''t go all out against you and help you pass this checkpoint, aren''t you?"


    "No, I''m not trying to do any of that. This is just a gesture of goodwill, considering the fact that we''re both human cultivators. I''d feel embarrassed to defeat you with your ankles chained down."


    "Well, you''re free to do so, but I won''t be swayed in the slightest! Besides, you might not be able to defeat me even if you use all your powers."


    As he spoke, Demon straightened up as a murderous aura rushed out in Wilbur''s direction. Wilbur crossed his hand in front of him defensively at the veryst second but was still knocked backward into the wall from the tremendous force.


    Wilbur slid down the wall,nding on one knee as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. The old man took a few steps back, turning to him. "Are you alright, buddy?"