It had been three minutes since the previous lessons by Vorlith, approximately three months in the human world.
My pulse thundered in my chest as I stepped into the arena, the roar of unseen demons echoing like a storm.
Hundreds of spectators, Nephilims, demons, and the high council, watched in silence, the tension suffocating and I felt a shiver in my spine.
Rows of Nephilim girls and boys stood before their designated areas.
Today's trial was not brute strength or raw power.
It was the seduction contest, a test of control, allure, and the ability to manipulate without violence.
Each trainee would be paired with a partner, tasked with drawing influence over them, testing subtle cues, microexpressions and learned under Vorlith's rigorous tutelage.
My stomach churned as she surveyed the arena. The air shimmered with anticipation.
Who would pick who?
There was a shard of glass at the centre of the large hall, which would be used in choosing partners.
A demon at the edge of the platform signaled the start, a silent gesture that sent a ripple through the participants.
"Pairings," a booming voice announced. My eyes immediately sought the dreaded face I had hoped to avoid.
A long queue of Nephilims approached a demoness at the end with a shard of glass. Palms were severed and black blood, because nephilim blood was black were dripped into a wide container which had the name of a pair etched in the surface.
When it got to my turn, I stood bravely, and let out a palm, I felt the cut, a sharp pierce that was deep and long. With a wince, I felt the demoness press the viscous fluid into the container and a name was etched on it.
"Ghormon"
Of course. The female nephilim who had helped her out had been paired with. Ghormon had a smile on her face and a soft sparkle to her dark eyes.
We were dressed in the right attires, a stripping tie, basically an under wear that left your pussy exposed behind a transparent linen and a brassiere that cupped your breasts up and remained transparent at the nipples.
I looked at myself I hated how I looked and how exposed and objectified I felt, but I had to do it to pass the test.
I drew a steadying breath, recalling her advice: Observe first, dominate second.
Their instructor, a lithe demoness with black feathered wings, approached. "You will attempt to seduce and influence your partner. The one who gains more compliance and sway over the other wins." Her voice was soft, almost teasing. "Use everything you've learned: posture, eye contact, gestures, tone, and subtle magical influence. Begin."
My heart pounded too, but she maintained my posture, letting my calm radiate outward. Ghormon was dressed lewdly too, exposing her busty nature.
We looked at each other for a minute or two. Unable to decide who would move first.
Finally, after what felt like ages and the push from a demon, I took the first move.
I mirrored Vorlith, letting my eyes meet her with measured warmth, subtly altering my tone and a soft stretched bite on my plump lower lips. I wove gestures into a dance of dominance and allure, testing her reactions.
But Ghormon was stagnant, there was a sparkle in her eyes which I feared. It hinted at something, longing maybe. She swallowed hard and moved a limb.
I blinked softly, every microexpression was noted, every hesitation seized upon. Allowing my hands caress my hips at the side and then moving them up slowly till they were just at 6'oclock from my tits.
The Ghormon leaned in, speaking low and mocking. "You think you can manipulate me? Such a pretty little thing trying to play games…"
I smiled softly, amused because I was actually defeating one of the best student nephilims at the abyss and scared because I didn't want to go too far but her eyes had deepened with something more. She looked dazed.
My lips curved faintly. "And yet, here you are, already reacting."
For a heartbeat, the Ghormon's smirk faltered. She caught himself, but I had caught the flicker of attention. My pulse steadied. Small victories, I reminded myself. Observe, then control.
I catwalked to her, realizing that she was doing nothing but staring at me like I was strip dancing. She looked like she was drooling.
The session continued, the pair moving in a tense ballet of influence. Around them, other trainees whispered, gasped, and occasionally cried out as the subtle powers of seduction, hypnotic voice, and magical suggestion rippled through the arena.
I felt a shiver of exhilaration. Each successful nudge of influence reinforced my confidence. I wasn't just surviving. I was learning how to bend even a formidable partner to my will, without a single strike thrown.
I was worried, for I knew there was punishment for the failing students and my heart faltered for Ghormon for she did nothing to move but stared and lowered her eyes like she was enjoying the sight of my nudes.
Finally, the session ended with the demoness judging each pair, tallying the subtle cues of dominance and influence.
I exhaled slowly, muscles tense, eyes still locked on my partner until the last second.
She had underestimated me, but the score would tell if I had enough sway to survive the next round.
The arena emptied, leaving a lingering hum of tension. My mind raced with strategies, but another thought gnawed at me: my daughter, Lura, in the human realm.
How was she faring under Layra's harsh punishment? The thought spurred a mix of anger and longing, a reminder of why I had to endure, why I had to grow stronger.
Meanwhile, far above in the Abyss, in the quiet recesses of the training chambers, Naretha tended to a minor injury. A faint gash on her forearm pulsed, but she worked with practiced precision, her movements calm and deliberate.
The room around her was dark except for the faint luminescence of runes etched into the walls. Her wings folded neatly behind her, and she allowed herself a small, wistful sigh. The thought of Shaoline, now in the coliseum, testing her abilities, weighed heavily on her mind.
Naretha's fingers traced the spine of an echre its cover etched with sigils and infused with magic. This book, a repository of histories and secrets, could reveal anything about Shaoline, past, present, and potential futures. She opened it slightly, letting the faint shimmer of the pages illuminate her face.
Not now, she murmured. There was another mission waiting, another set of instructions from the demon lords. The book would have to wait, but only for a little while. She closed it carefully, tucking it beside her, the weight of knowledge and foresight pressing on her shoulders.
Back in the coliseum, I wiped the sweat from my brow. My heart still raced from the seduction exercise. Despite the Ghormon's silent stares and the rest, she had performed well enough to avoid demotion, though not enough to earn praise. Ghormon's earlier advice echoed in her mind: Every lesson is a step toward control. Observe, anticipate, manipulate.
The whispers of the spectators faded into the background as I centered myself.
Around her, the other Nephilim were retreating to recovery zones, some nursing minor injuries, others muttering complaints at their lack of progress. I allowed myself a small smile. I had endured enough to know I would not break.