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 tunnel, one of

"Follow me."

"..."

I followed him from behind. As for the other demons, they

any plans to

At least not yet.

*

arena were the first thing I heard as I

I grew to the arena, the louder their

you end the fight as soon as

voice reached my ears. Glancing in his direction, I lowered my head

'That's the plan.'

I had already antagonized the top ten rankers in my bracket, there

to end them quickly to save my energy for when I fought the Emperor. Someone who was most likely going to be extremely hard to

"We're here."

of an enormous gate made out of metal, the demon turned to

will start any

I did not respond. I took a deep breath

right corner, with an

also hear the announcer's voice coming from the other side of the gates. It was the same voice I had been hearing over and over again for

[...Please welcome White Reaper!]

Clank—!

low rumble, the doors soon started

I entered the arena with

"White Reaper!"

"Fuck him up!"

"Skull Crusher! Destroy him!"

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

them

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

"We meet again."

Crusher's face as he cracked his

Crack. Crack. Crack.

"..."

at him, I

clearly gave you a

"Sure."

on Skull Crusher's face changed when he realized I wasn't taking him seriously, but I didn't notice as I had

the fact that no one could see him,

you going to

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

nodded my

'Yes.'

two contestants

gaze pause on me. I glanced back at her and replied

"Yes."

[Skull Crusher?]

"Yes."

gave her a short

a simple nod, she raised her hand and the noise in the arena ceased. A slight smile hung on the demoness's face as

tense as she held her hand in the air. At the exact moment the

[You may fight!]

the fight and

'The one.'

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

other self slowly moved behind Skull

I remained standing. From

Skull Crusher and extended

only then that I took a

Tok.

***

'What's going on?'

loosen as he couldn't muster any strength

his body started

his hands, he muttered in a trembling

"Is this fear?"

an emotion that he had not felt for quite

Actually, not quite.

emotion not too long ago. Back when

contenders without losing a single match, he had grown ignorant

biggest

for his mercy, he

'I...impossible.'

compared to the sense of dread he felt from the current emperor, the one coming from the small figure

he even stronger than

gazes stared back at him once more as he raised

"Ah..."

out

"What are you doing?!"