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.

walked deeper into the tunnel, one

"Follow me."

"..."

him from behind. As for the other demons, they followed me from behind, trapping me completely.

that I had any plans to

At least not yet.

*

loud cheers from the crowd inside the arena were the first thing I heard

I grew to the arena, the

suggest you end the fight as

familiar voice reached my ears. Glancing in his

'That's the plan.'

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

for when I fought the Emperor. Someone who was most likely going to be extremely hard

"We're here."

made out of metal, the demon turned to

Your fight will start any

respond. I took a deep breath and concentrated on the noise coming

in the right corner, with an

side of the gates. It was the same voice I had been hearing over and over

[...Please welcome White Reaper!]

Clank—!

a low rumble, the

I entered the arena with my head

"White Reaper!"

"Fuck him up!"

"Skull Crusher! Destroy him!"

could hear the loud cheers of the spectators.

paid them

directed toward the towering figure standing opposite

"We meet again."

across Skull Crusher's face as he

Crack. Crack. Crack.

"..."

him, I

you a way out. I hope you last long enough for me to enjoy

"Sure."

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

the fact that no one could see him, his appearance did not attract any

you going to proceed as we

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

nodded my head in

'Yes.'

the two

pause on me. I

"Yes."

[Skull Crusher?]

"Yes."

also gave her

the noise in the arena ceased. A slight smile hung on the

the air. At the exact moment the tension reached its climax, she finally lowered

[You may fight!]

she announced the start of the

'The one.'

a halt. Neither Skull Crusher nor

the same time, my other self slowly moved behind

I remained standing. From the corner

himself behind Skull Crusher and

only then that I took a step

Tok.

***

'What's going on?'

Skull Crusher felt his muscles loosen as he couldn't

body

glance at his hands, he muttered

"Is this fear?"

an emotion that he had not

Actually, not quite.

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

contenders without losing a single match,

was the biggest mistake of his

been for his mercy, he would've long

'I...impossible.'

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

he even stronger

back at him once more as

"Ah..."

out a

"What are you doing?!"