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."

"..."

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

any

At least not yet.

*

inside the arena were the first thing

to the arena, the louder

you end the fight

in his direction, I lowered my

'That's the plan.'

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

had to end them quickly to save my energy for when I fought the Emperor. Someone who was most likely

"We're here."

enormous gate made out of

Your fight will start any

respond. I took a

right corner, with an

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—!

low rumble, the doors soon

forward, I entered the arena

"White Reaper!"

"Fuck him up!"

"Skull Crusher! Destroy him!"

hear the loud cheers of the spectators. They were filled with energy and

paid them

directed toward the towering

"We meet again."

Crusher's face as he cracked

Crack. Crack. Crack.

"..."

at him, I didn't

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

"Sure."

I wasn't taking

Crusher was my other-self. Due to the fact that no one could see him, his appearance did not attract

going to proceed as

the midst of the loud cheers, I

nodded my

'Yes.'

two contestants

the demoness's gaze pause on

"Yes."

[Skull Crusher?]

"Yes."

gave her

simple nod, she raised her hand and the noise in the arena ceased. A

held her hand in the air. At the exact moment the tension reached its

[You may fight!]

her hand, she announced the start of the fight and I

'The one.'

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

time, my other self

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

he positioned himself behind Skull Crusher and

was only then that I took a

Tok.

***

'What's going on?'

those dull gray eyes, Skull Crusher felt his muscles loosen as he couldn't muster

his body

his head to glance at his hands, he muttered in a

"Is this fear?"

was an emotion that he had not

Actually, not quite.

had recently felt this emotion not too long ago. Back when he met the current

beaten so many contenders without losing a single match, he had grown ignorant

was the biggest mistake

not been for his mercy, he would've long

'I...impossible.'

from the current emperor, the one coming from the small figure standing opposite him was even more fiercesome. He

stronger than the emperor!?

dull-grey gazes stared back at him once more as he raised his

"Ah..."

out a

"What are you doing?!"