The Author's POV

While everyone focused on the empty grounds below, the crowd cheered raucously throughout the arena.

Everyone's attention was focused on a certain demoness as she stood in the middle of the arena with a bright smile on her face.

Opening her mouth, she emitted a sweet, seductive voice that filled the arena.

[For today's match on our left side we have DeathBringer, the current Emperor of the King bracket.]

As she spoke, the gate on the left side opened, and a demon appeared from the other side of the arena.

Seeing bat wings splayed across his back and a frame so enormous that it even put some orcs to shame, the crowd became even more enthralled.

"Kill!"

"Destroy that elf!"

"You better make me something you traitor!"

As he stopped in the middle of the arena, he did not bother to look at the crowd. Despite being a demon, he had no sense of attachment toward them. Rather, he despised them with all his being.

As he lowered his head to examine his right hand, his eyes lingered on a small black bracelet.

'Suppressor.'

It was an artifact created by demons that suppressed the wearer's rank. He had no choice but to wear it since the fight was between two Emperor ranks of different brackets.

The more he stared at the bracelet, the bigger the scowl on his face became.

"How fucking dare they..."

Flap—

He flapped his wings once, casting a huge shadow on the ground. An evident display of might by him.

In response to his readiness, the demoness reached across the arena with her right hand. There was an air of excitement in the crowd as her sweet voice swept through the air.

[And on our right side we have SilverStar, the current Emperor of the Duke bracket, and the challenger!.]

Slowly, the gates on the right began to rise. Unlike DeathBringer, SilverStar was met with a lot of hostility.

"Die you eleven scum!"

"I can't wait for you to die!"

"You better die, I bet a lot of money on you."

This was to be expected. Given their pride, the demons would still rather support someone from their own race over someone from another race, regardless of whether that person was a prisoner of war or had committed a hideous crime like ingesting another demon's core.

As SilverStar walked slowly toward the center of the arena, he ignored the noise from the crowd. At this moment, the only thing that was in his mind was his opponent.

DeathBringer.

As soon as he was a few meters away from DeathBringer, his feet stopped. As he stood at the opposite end of DeathBringer, everyone could see their differences in size.

It felt as though an ant was fighting up against a large monster. Their difference was incomparable.

While those who bet on SilverStar regretted their decision, those who bet on DeathBringer secretly rejoiced. The difference in size was enough for most people to feel more secure about their choices.

[Are you two ready?]

In that moment, the voice of the demoness was heard. The arena grounds instantly became intense as everyone stopped speaking for a moment.

"Yes."

"…Yes."

The two contestants answered at the same time. A satisfied smile spread across the demoness' face as she raised her hand and lowered it.

[You may begin!]

of her words, the crowd became even more heated and shouted

"Yes!"

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Crack! Crack!

another closely, cracks began to appear beneath their

disappeared from

Booom—!

figures disappeared and reappeared in front of each other, an explosive sound echoed throughout the arena. Their figures soon reappeared in the middle of the arena, and everyone was able to catch a

demon extended his arm in a clawed movement, directly aiming for his head. His attack was fast and

then, SilverStar was not an Emperor for

at the claw, and several magic circles

for a couple of seconds as cracks soon started to form on the magic

Crack. Crack. Crack.

stop the claw from reaching SilverStar's head, as they

however, had lost most of the momentum by the time this had happened, so SilverStar only had to tilt his

exactly what

Swooosh—!

hair scattered. With a

wand, he aimed it at the demon. A large magic

tap of his staff, he

"Here."

magic circle transforming into a blue transparent energy

the incoming attack,

"Hmph."

his wing, a majestic black hue began to form out

the beam headed toward him

up with his own attack. Raising his hand that was clenched into a fist, he squeezed his

The opposite could be said for

but casual, and only SilverStar could sense the strength

him, forming a large shield around him. The punch soon came into contact with

Bang—!

explosive sound, the shield started to ripple as SilverStar's gaze

Crack.

the depleting mana of the shield with his own mana,

Crack.

the shield. It wasn't long before

"Kh..."

a weak groan, SilverStar took a step back and

he

Crash—!

collapsed, causing SilverStar's face to pale

as a smile soon formed on

ceased, leaving behind one last barrier. As SilverStar glanced at DeathBringer, he could

SilverStar turned his head to look at the crowd, he could feel their malice-filled eyes and words wishing him nothing

was honestly

the sake of the demon's entertainment had become too much for him to stomach. It

his teeth tightly. However, his anger disappeared as fast as it appeared.

of the platforms. After a while,

'I should start now.'

the meantime, DeathBringer

then that

and a horrified look appeared on his

no one was able to notice it. But it was enough time for

"Goodbye."

figure was enveloped by his spell. All the demons in the stand stopped moving and looked at one another as a bright wave of energy shot

***

moment after SilverStar released the spell, Lightning Dragon snapped his eyes open. His attention quickly turned toward the

"Hmmm..."

rested on Deathbringer, his eyes flashed in

"I see..."

a certain direction. To

and lazy eyes sharpened for

Dragon saw SilverStar standing in the middle of the arena with a cold look. On the ground opposite him

in that short moment he had turned to look