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.

turned around and walked deeper into the

"Follow me."

"..."

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

I had any

At least not yet.

*

the crowd inside the arena were the

I grew to the arena, the louder their

suggest you end the fight

reached my ears. Glancing in his

'That's the plan.'

top ten rankers in my bracket, there was no need for

quickly to save my energy for when I fought the Emperor.

"We're here."

front of an enormous gate made out of metal, the

Your fight will

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

corner, with

from the other side of the gates. It was the same

[...Please welcome White Reaper!]

Clank—!

rumble, the doors soon

the arena with my head

"White Reaper!"

"Fuck him up!"

"Skull Crusher! Destroy him!"

hear the loud cheers of the spectators. They

paid them no

focus was directed toward the towering figure

"We meet again."

Crusher's face

Crack. Crack. Crack.

"..."

back at him, I

blame me for what will happen next. We clearly gave you a way out. I hope you last long enough for me to

"Sure."

lazily replied. The look on Skull Crusher's face changed when he realized I wasn't taking him seriously, but I didn't

to the fact that no one

you going to proceed

soft tone. In the midst of the loud cheers, I could clearly

nodded my head

'Yes.'

the two

nodded, I felt the demoness's gaze pause on me. I glanced back at

"Yes."

[Skull Crusher?]

"Yes."

her a

noise in the arena ceased.

hand in the air. At

[You may fight!]

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

'The one.'

activated 'The one,' everything came to a halt. Neither Skull Crusher nor Demoness dared move

other self slowly moved behind

on Skull Crusher, I remained standing. From the corner of my eyes, I kept my focus

he positioned himself behind Skull Crusher and extended

was only then that

Tok.

***

'What's going on?'

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

body started

his head to glance at his

"Is this fear?"

was an emotion that he had

Actually, not quite.

this emotion not too long ago. Back when he met the current Emperor of

match, he had grown ignorant and had challenged the current

biggest mistake

not been for his mercy,

'I...impossible.'

the one coming from the small figure standing opposite him was even more fiercesome. He

even stronger than

back at him once

"Ah..."

out a strange

"What are you doing?!"