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

"Follow me."

"..."

other demons, they followed me from behind, trapping me completely. This was so

had any plans to do

At least not yet.

*

the crowd inside the arena were the first

I grew to the arena, the louder their

suggest you end the fight as

reached my ears. Glancing in his direction, I lowered

'That's the plan.'

had already antagonized the top ten rankers in my

fought the Emperor. Someone who was most likely going to be

"We're here."

gate made out of metal, the demon turned to look at

fight will start

my head, I did not respond. I took a deep breath and concentrated on the noise

the right corner, with an

faint, I could 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

[...Please welcome White Reaper!]

Clank—!

a low rumble, the doors soon started

the arena

"White Reaper!"

"Fuck him up!"

"Skull Crusher! Destroy him!"

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

paid them no

current focus was directed toward the

"We meet again."

large smile spread across Skull Crusher's face

Crack. Crack. Crack.

"..."

back at him, I didn't

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

"Sure."

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

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

to proceed as we

tone. In the midst of

slowly nodded my head in his

'Yes.'

the two

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

"Yes."

[Skull Crusher?]

"Yes."

her a

the arena ceased. A slight smile hung

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

[You may fight!]

the fight and I quickly activated one of

'The one.'

soon as I activated 'The one,' everything came to a halt.

other self slowly

eyes still locked on Skull Crusher, I remained standing. From the

himself behind Skull Crusher

then that I took a

Tok.

***

'What's going on?'

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

his body

his hands, he muttered in

"Is this fear?"

that he had not

Actually, not quite.

Back when he

many contenders without losing a single match, he had grown ignorant and had challenged the current

was the biggest mistake of his

for his mercy, he

'I...impossible.'

the one coming from the small figure standing

even stronger than

gazes stared back at him

"Ah..."

out a strange

"What are you doing?!"