Gloria decided not to think about such matters for the time being and focused on the match first.
After getting to his feet, Trom spat out a mouthful of blood. His face seemed to have been steamed bright red by the flames in his chest.
"Demon fire." Trom had lived in the Abyss before and was far too familiar with the power of demons. He looked across at Azaz with scrutiny in his eyes. "Why can you use demon fire?"
Azaz said softly, "I merely borrowed some of his power."
"Him? Who is this 'him' you speak of? A demon of the Abyss?"
Faced with Trom's pressing questions, Azaz did not answer. He merely lowered his head with a hint of apology. "I have a prior agreement with him. Forgive me, but I cannot tell you."
Since Azaz was unwilling to say, Trom did not press further. Besides, this was not the time for questioning.
Trom lowered his head to examine the wound on his chest. The intense pain had begun to make him convulse. He forcibly endured the discomfort and slowly exhaled. "I originally planned to use its power when I challenged him. But now, it seems I have no choice but to get serious."
"...The power of a demon is worthy of my seriousness as well."
As soon as he finished speaking, Trom's limbs underwent strange changes. His hands turned into furry deer hooves, his thighs thickened, and while his calves narrowed, they became firmer and more powerful. His feet, too, became gleaming hooves.
Once the transformation of his limbs was complete, an icy frost mist began to spread inexplicably around Trom, curling like clouds around his hands and feet.
At the same time, the frigid aura slowly froze the burn on his chest. Since it could not