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.

he turned around and walked deeper into the tunnel, one of the demons

"Follow me."

"..."

other demons, they followed me

that I had any plans to do

At least not yet.

*

were the first thing I heard as I neared the

closer I grew to the arena,

the fight

reached my ears. Glancing in his direction, I lowered

'That's the plan.'

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

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

"We're here."

gate made out of

will start

lowered my head, I did not respond. I took a

right corner,

the other side of the gates. It was the same voice I had been hearing over and over again for the past week

[...Please welcome White Reaper!]

Clank—!

rumble, the doors soon started

I entered the

"White Reaper!"

"Fuck him up!"

"Skull Crusher! Destroy him!"

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

paid them

directed toward the towering figure

"We meet again."

spread across Skull Crusher's face as he cracked his

Crack. Crack. Crack.

"..."

at him, I didn't

happen next. We clearly gave you a way out. I hope you last long

"Sure."

look on Skull Crusher's face changed when he realized I wasn't taking him seriously, but I didn't notice as I had my eyes on

fact that no one could see him,

to proceed

the midst of the loud cheers, I could clearly hear his

slowly nodded my head

'Yes.'

two contestants

gaze pause on me. I glanced back at her and replied

"Yes."

[Skull Crusher?]

"Yes."

also gave her

arena ceased. A slight smile hung

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

[You may fight!]

the fight and I quickly

'The one.'

to a halt. Neither Skull Crusher nor Demoness

the same time, my other self slowly moved behind

remained standing. From the corner of my

he positioned himself behind Skull

that I

Tok.

***

'What's going on?'

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

his body started

his hands, he muttered in

"Is this fear?"

that he had not felt for quite

Actually, not quite.

ago. Back

a single match, he had grown ignorant and

biggest

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

'I...impossible.'

the one coming from the small

even stronger than the

gazes stared back at him once more as he raised

"Ah..."

let out a

"What are you doing?!"