The Author's POV

"This will be a short fight."

Overlooking the arena from above, SilverMoon's eyes narrowed. All of the top Duke bracket competitors were standing beside her.

"That's good for Skull Crusher."

"Yeah."

"It was a given considering his strength. Although he's nothing much himself."

None seemed to be interested in the upcoming fight. There was an air of certainty about the fight, despite the fact that it hadn't even begun yet.

Who was going to win was already clear to them.

"Why do you even bother with that human, anyway?"

A lazy-looking figure languidly asked. His shoulder-length black hair spread across the sofa as he leaned back against the sofa and stared up at the ceiling with his yellow-colored eyes.

From his mouth, he took out a popsicle and looked at SilverMoon.

"I admit that he is strong, but Skull Crusher should be able to handle him."

"I know."

SilverMoon replied. Glancing back at the figure, she asked.

"You're also a human, what did you think of him?"

"Him?"

The figure leaned back once again on the sofa and crossed his arms behind his head as he gazed at the ceiling of the room.

"Huaaam."

He let out a yawn.

"He aight. Nothing special apart from his hair."

That was the last thing he said before he closed his eyes

"I see..."

SilverMoon nodded her head and once again turned to look at the arena below. However, this was merely a pretense. Her attention was secretly drawn to the human from earlier.

'Rank 3, Lightning Dragon.'

He was the individual that SilverMoon feared the most out of all the bracket contenders. His strength was quite unknown as he always ended an opponent within a couple of moves, but SilverMoon always felt this unsettling feeling whenever she saw him.

She couldn't explain it clearly, but there were times that she would fear him above the current Emperor.

Perhaps it was because her instincts had been honed over a long period of time, but she knew that the human sitting on the sofa was bad news.

Had it not been for his lazy personality, who knows...

He could've even been the current Emperor.

'What am I thinking?'

After shaking her head to clear her mind, SilverMoon returned her attention to the arena.

With the demoness already present and preparing to announce something, SilverMoon's eyes narrowed even further.

"The match is about to start."

Her words drew the attention of everyone in the room as they all gazed at the arena.

"Should we bet on how long the human will last against Skull Crusher?"

"Sounds fun."

"I want in."

***

In a calm manner, I got up from the bed and walked toward the cell door.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

Nodding, I pressed my hand against the cell door and opened the door.

Clank—!

My ears were pricked up by the sound of several demons waiting on the other side of the door.

I didn't pay much attention to them since I was used to such scenes.

around and walked deeper into the tunnel, one of

"Follow me."

"..."

the other demons, they followed me from behind, trapping me

I had any plans

At least not yet.

*

cheers from the crowd inside the arena were

closer I grew to the

the fight

reached my ears. Glancing in his direction, I lowered my head and didn't

'That's the plan.'

my bracket, there was no need for me to keep

quickly to save my energy for when I fought the Emperor. Someone who was most likely going

"We're here."

gate made out of metal, the demon turned

ready. Your fight will

not respond. I took a deep breath and concentrated on the noise coming

the right corner, with an

coming from the other side of the gates. It was the same voice I had been hearing over and over again for the past

[...Please welcome White Reaper!]

Clank—!

the doors

entered the arena with my head

"White Reaper!"

"Fuck him up!"

"Skull Crusher! Destroy him!"

the arena, I could hear the loud cheers of the spectators. They were filled

them no

because my current focus was directed toward the towering figure standing opposite of

"We meet again."

smile spread across Skull Crusher's face as

Crack. Crack. Crack.

"..."

back at him,

will happen next. We clearly gave you a way out. I hope you last

"Sure."

face changed when he realized I wasn't taking him seriously, but I

right behind Skull Crusher was my other-self. Due to the fact that no one could see him, his appearance

to proceed as

my gaze, he asked in a soft tone. In the midst of the loud cheers, I could clearly

my head

'Yes.'

the two contestants

I felt the demoness's gaze pause on me. I glanced

"Yes."

[Skull Crusher?]

"Yes."

her a

the noise in the arena ceased. A slight smile hung on the demoness's

arena grounds became tense as she held her hand in the air. At the exact moment the tension reached its climax, she finally lowered her

[You may fight!]

hand, she announced the start of the fight and I quickly activated one of

'The one.'

one,' everything came to a halt.

other self slowly

From the corner

positioned himself behind Skull Crusher and

was only then that I took a step

Tok.

***

'What's going on?'

gray eyes, Skull Crusher felt his muscles loosen as he couldn't muster any strength in them. He was paralyzed on the

body

head to glance at his hands, he

"Is this fear?"

emotion that he had not felt for quite a long

Actually, not quite.

Back when

many contenders without losing a single match, he had

was the biggest mistake

been for his mercy, he would've long

'I...impossible.'

compared to the sense of dread he felt from the current emperor, the one coming from the small figure standing opposite him was even more fiercesome. He

stronger than the emperor!?

at him once

"Ah..."

let out a

"What are you doing?!"