No! I don't want to be a Super Necromancer!

Damien met her gaze calmly, offering a faint, modest smile. "I'm just warming up."

She chuckled lightly, shaking her head slightly in wonder. "If this is your warm-up, then JerAxle's inheritance site might truly be ours to claim."

Around them, the arena rumbled again ominously, and yet another gate began to open, signaling the next trial. Damien stood ready, anticipation dancing through his veins, eager and resolute.

"Let's keep going." he said confidently, stepping forward toward whatever challenge awaited next.

As the sixth round began, Damien watched calmly as the five new warriors emerged from the darkened gateway, their movements fluid and synchronized. Unlike the previous combatants, these warriors radiated a cool, shimmering aura, their eyes glowing softly like rippling pools.

They wielded long, fluid whips that trailed droplets of water, casting delicate rainbows under the flickering torchlight.

Lyrisa looked at Damien, giving a little shrug of exaggerated fatigue. "You know, I've been thinking, Damien," she said cheerfully, strolling over to lean casually against a stone pillar.

"You're handling these so easily, maybe I should just sit back and watch?"

Damien glanced over, raising an amused eyebrow. "Seriously?"

She grinned, her expression utterly unrepentant, and produced a small pouch from her belt, fishing out dried snacks that she popped leisurely into her mouth.

"I'm positively exhausted," she teased, chewing thoughtfully. "You carry on."

Damien rolled his eyes as the water warriors advanced swiftly, their whips snapping forward in unison. He dodged fluidly, feeling the icy spray brush past his cheek, tiny droplets cold and sharp against his skin.

He pivoted sharply, weaving through the liquid strikes, landing precise, rapid punches that caused the watery whips to collapse into harmless droplets.

"Careful, Monkey King!" Lyrisa called brightly from her comfortable vantage point. "Don't let them soak your nice robes! It would ruin the whole mystique!"

Damien grimaced slightly, ducking another rapid lash. "Really helpful commentary, thanks," he replied dryly, sidestepping another jet of water before dispatching the final warrior with a decisive strike to the neck.

The opponent slumped soundlessly, water pooling gently at Damien's feet.

As the seventh round commenced, the next set of warriors burst forth, their bodies engulfed in roaring flames. Heat radiated from them, intense and oppressive, distorting the air around their blazing forms.

Damien's eyes twinkled slightly. Flames.

He is completely immune to flames!

But Lyrisa didn't need to know that.

Lyrisa, still leisurely enjoying her snacks, called out again cheerfully, "Remember, fire is hot! Don't touch it unless you want to look like a roasted marshmallow!"

Damien flashed her an exasperated look, stepping agilely between bursts of flame, feeling searing heat wash dangerously close. He struck precisely, his fists a blur, the flames around the warriors flickering and dying as they collapsed unconscious around him.

Round eight brought warriors clad entirely in heavy armor, bodies gleaming metallic silver, wielding enormous swords forged of pure iron. The ground shook beneath their ponderous steps, the clang of metal echoing sharply around the arena.

"Ah, finally, something substantial," Lyrisa said approvingly, munching contentedly. "Iron warriors always put up a good fight. Mind the swords, Damien, they look sharp enough to ruin that pretty face!"

Damien shook his head, deftly avoiding the massive blades that swung through the air with heavy, rhythmic whooshes. He could feel the rush of air as each strike passed close by, the metallic scent filling his senses as sparks sprayed from blade scraping stone.

He moved swiftly, precise strikes hitting vulnerable joints, hearing the satisfying metallic clangs as the iron warriors collapsed heavily to the floor.

The ninth round summoned warriors wrapped in winding vines and living bark, their limbs and bodies flexing with unnatural, woody toughness.

Damien inhaled the earthy aroma deeply, bracing himself for Lyrisa's snarky comment that he knew would come.

"Careful, those splinters will be a nightmare," Lyrisa called helpfully, popping another snack in her mouth. "You'll never get them out of your robes!"

Her words actually elicited a dry laugh from Damien as he ducked and weaved effortlessly through the grasping branches and sharp thorns, his blows sharp and efficient. Each strike cracked loudly like splitting wood, and soon the warriors lay scattered, splintered fragments strewn across the sandy floor.

Round ten brought warriors who seemed born from the earth itself, their massive bodies composed of hardened rock and clay. Their steps were thunderous, shaking the ground beneath Damien's feet. Dust filled the air, gritty and choking, each breath heavy and rough.

Lyrisa coughed dramatically, waving her snack pouch. "Could you hurry this one up? All this dust is ruining my snack-time atmosphere!"

Damien ignored her pointedly, stepping calmly into the fray, his punches powerful and precise. His knuckles ached slightly from striking stone, but the warriors crumbled beneath his blows, debris scattering noisily across the arena.

The eleventh round intensified further, the gate revealing five warriors, each wielding one of the five basic elements.

Damien's senses heightened, anticipating their coordinated assault. Fire roared, water surged, iron blades whistled sharply, wooden tendrils writhed, and earth warriors charged like unstoppable boulders.

"Keep up your footwork, Monkey King!" Lyrisa called cheerfully, thoroughly entertained. "I didn't bring enough snacks for a funeral!"

Damien moved gracefully, evading flames, streams of water, and metallic strikes, each movement perfectly balanced.

Sweat dripped steadily from his brow, muscles tingling pleasantly with exertion. His final punch sent the earth warrior sprawling heavily, silence returning to the arena as the dust settled.

As the twelfth round began with ten warriors, two per element, Damien took a deep, steady breath, preparing himself. The complexity of the battle increased sharply, elemental attacks overlapping dangerously.

"Don't get distracted!" Lyrisa called out helpfully, waving her hand enthusiastically. "Two of each! Keep track or you'll end up scorched, soaked, sliced, or worse!"

Damien groaned lightly but smiled nonetheless, moving flawlessly between enemies.

"Are you a Drow author or something? You have a way with words… An irritating way."

"Hehehe. I have a way with everything, not just words. Let me demonstrate… tonight." Lyrisa chuckled in a sultry voice.