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 of

"Follow me."

"..."

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

I had any plans

At least not yet.

*

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

to the arena, the

the fight as soon as

my ears. Glancing in his direction,

'That's the plan.'

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

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

"We're here."

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

fight will start any minute

respond. I took a deep breath and concentrated on the

in the right corner, with an undefeated

the announcer's voice coming from the other side of the gates. It

[...Please welcome White Reaper!]

Clank—!

the doors soon

the arena with my head

"White Reaper!"

"Fuck him up!"

"Skull Crusher! Destroy him!"

the loud

paid them no

directed

"We meet again."

spread across Skull Crusher's

Crack. Crack. Crack.

"..."

him, I

me for what will happen next. We clearly gave you a way

"Sure."

he realized I wasn't taking him seriously, but I didn't

that no one could see him, his appearance did

going to

he asked in a soft tone. In the midst of the loud cheers,

nodded my

'Yes.'

two contestants

the demoness's gaze pause

"Yes."

[Skull Crusher?]

"Yes."

also gave her a

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

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

[You may fight!]

of the fight and I quickly activated one of my

'The one.'

to a halt. Neither Skull Crusher nor Demoness dared move an

time, my other self slowly moved

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

Skull Crusher and extended

was only then that I took a step

Tok.

***

'What's going on?'

Skull Crusher felt his muscles loosen as he couldn't muster any strength in them. He was paralyzed

body

head to glance at his hands, he muttered

"Is this fear?"

that he had not felt for quite

Actually, not quite.

felt this emotion not too long ago. Back

many contenders without losing a single match,

biggest mistake of

it not been for his mercy, he would've long

'I...impossible.'

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

stronger than

at him

"Ah..."

let out a strange

"What are you doing?!"