The Author's POV

Clank—!

"Follow me."

Coming out of my cell, I followed a demon out.

Everything happened out of nowhere. I was just quietly relaxing in my cell, and before I knew it, a demon came to my room and called out for me.

I was quite clueless about where I was going, but I decided not to say anything and just followed along.

There was no point in asking questions that I would not get an answer to.

That, and...

The fact that I already had an idea of what was going on.

'This might actually be a good chance for me...'

Glancing toward my left and right, as I followed the guard, I realized that the security was fairly lax.

There didn't seem to be many demons patrolling the area, and to make matters even stranger was the fact that my mane wasn't sealed.

It had to be noted that the demon in front of me was ranked lower than me. If I wanted to, I could kill him with a simple slap.

Not that I had any plans on doing that since I had a goal in mind.

Finding Amanda's dad.

Furthermore, I was sure that the security-only looked lax. In reality, it was probably extremely tight. Had this not been the case, many of the prisoners would've long escaped.

Tok. Tok.

The steady and calm of our footsteps echoed throughout the corridors. The corridors were pretty badly maintained as I could see cracks everywhere. Not only that, but they were also quite narrow, forcing me to move sideways sometimes.

To make matters worse, lingering in the air was an old and stuffy smell.

"We're here."

Walking for who knows long, we soon stopped in front of a large metallic door. Standing beside the door were a couple of demons.

With a simple nod, the demon walked toward the door.

To Tok—!

He then proceeded to knock on the door.

For the first couple of seconds, he was met with no response. However, this did not last for long as the door soon started to open.

Clank—!

Once the door was half-opened, I was finally able to catch a glimpse of what was behind it.

A luxuriously decorated room that far contrasted the shabby room I was previously staying in. A nice red carpet blanked the floor, and all sorts of decorations appeared in the room. From sofas to paintings and other things that would make one drool at the sight.

'So this is how the top rankers live...'

Gazing at the room for a bit, my line of sight paused on a few individuals inside the room. After a quick look, I was able to assess that they were the top rankers of the Duke bracket.

It was hard not to notice them. The pressure that their bodies emitted was quite frightening. It was at a level where I needed to take them seriously if I wanted to win.

Not that I showed it outwardly as I kept a straight face and stepped into the room.

The moment I stepped into the room, I felt everyone's gazes pause on me, carefully scrutinizing every part of my body. Not bothered by them, I calmly walked toward where the sofas were and leisurely sat down.

Crossing my legs and leaning back, I opened my mouth.

"So..."

I looked at everyone in the room.

"What did you guys want to talk about?"

"..."

Silence.

No one in the room said a word as they continued to stare in my direction.

It was then that someone finally spoke up.

to be quite

about four feet in height with a long ginger beard was a dwarf. Raising his brow he took a step

"Herr...Herr...not bad."

his hand, he presented

SteamPunk, Rank five

thirty

shook his hand back. As I did, I suddenly smelt a foul order coming from the

'His breath stinks.'

tried my best to not

"White Reaper."

a soft voice called out for me. Turning my head, I found an elven lady staring in my direction. She had a rather long scar tracing down her face, and I could feel hints of insanity in her eyes. Her hair was a mixture of gold and silver, and if not for her scar, she

stared straight

"You are?"

"Rank two, Silvermoon."

replied in a

you know why we've called

"Somewhat."

her head. The other people in the room became even more

know why we've called you, then what

I smiled.

'Group, huh?'

self about what this group was all about. It was essentially

top ten spots, and support the current Emperor rank. In

a chance to respond, she took a step

potential, don't let it rot in this place. Only if you join a group like ours can you have the

Had I not been warned beforehand, I might've even been tempted

"Oh..."

her a

changed when she noticed the tone of my reply, and the

this. Do you by chance happen to know that once you

"I do."

I nodded.

Of course, I did.

very first day that I was here.

in mind, the games would be a lot

then why do you look so disinterested. Are you perhaps not keen on the idea of freedom,

squinted and a powerful pressure sprung out from her body

just not interested in joining

were sudden, I was caught off-guard a bit. Even then, I retained a passive and

at me with bloodthirsty looks, I leaned back on the sofa and calmly

want

coming out from SilverMoon instantly disappeared. A

"Much better."

her hands together, she

"Lose your next game."

"Hm?"

leaned my head forward

"Lose my next game?"

"That's correct."

far from where I was. Turning my head,

'He's big...'

had entered the room, but now that I took a closer

contrast to the others in the room, the bloodthirsty aura coming out of his body was far

"Skull Crusher."

only have to be a fool to not have been able to recognize

quite pressurizing. It felt as though I was back

words,

looks like you've

she patted him on

ten, Skull Crusher. Your next opponent, and someone who you will lose to in

"I don't need this."

the elven lady's hand off, Skull Crusher glared in my

in our next match.

be right, but

look in my

for your own good. If you're interested in

scrutinize me carefully, her brows knit for a couple of seconds. She

any one of us in the room is enough to crush you. It is in your best interest

hand in my direction. Her face was

do you say, will you join

at her extended branch, I

"Tempting..."