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.

and walked deeper into the tunnel,

"Follow me."

"..."

anything, I followed him from behind. As for the other demons, they followed me from behind, trapping me completely. This was so

had any plans to

At least not yet.

*

the crowd inside the arena were the first thing

to the arena, the

suggest you end the

familiar voice reached my ears. Glancing in his direction, I

'That's the plan.'

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

to end them quickly to save my energy for when I fought the

"We're here."

enormous gate made out of metal, the demon turned

will start any minute

a deep breath

in the right corner, with an

the gates. It was the same voice

[...Please welcome White Reaper!]

Clank—!

low rumble, the doors

forward, I 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

paid them

was directed toward the towering

"We meet again."

large smile spread across Skull Crusher's face as he cracked his

Crack. Crack. Crack.

"..."

at him,

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

"Sure."

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

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

to proceed

my gaze, he asked in a soft tone. In the midst of

nodded my head in his

'Yes.'

the two

gaze pause on me.

"Yes."

[Skull Crusher?]

"Yes."

gave her a

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

hand in the air. At the exact

[You may fight!]

she announced the start of the fight and I quickly activated

'The one.'

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

same time, my other self slowly moved behind

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

Skull

was only then that

Tok.

***

'What's going on?'

eyes, Skull Crusher felt his muscles loosen as

his body started

his hands, he muttered in a trembling

"Is this fear?"

that he had

Actually, not quite.

too long ago. Back

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

was the biggest mistake of

it not been for his

'I...impossible.'

of dread he felt from the current emperor, the one coming from the small figure standing opposite him was even more

even stronger

gazes stared back at him once more as he raised his

"Ah..."

out a strange

"What are you doing?!"