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!]

her words, the crowd became

"Yes!"

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Crack! Crack!

the two figures scrutinized one another closely, cracks began to appear beneath

figures soon disappeared from

Booom—!

the arena. Their figures soon reappeared in the middle of the arena, and everyone was able to catch

arm in a clawed movement, directly aiming for his

then, SilverStar was not

several magic circles formed at the tips of each nail, stopping

seconds as cracks soon started to form

Crack. Crack. Crack.

power was not sufficient to stop the claw from reaching SilverStar's head, as they broke apart and continued to head for

this had happened, so SilverStar only had to tilt his head to

that was exactly

Swooosh—!

his body back as a breeze blew and his hair scattered. With a simple wave

aimed it at the demon. A

of

"Here."

magic circle transforming into a blue transparent energy beam that

the incoming attack, DeathBringer

"Hmph."

wing, a majestic black hue began to form out his body. The entire

the beam headed toward

his own attack. Raising his hand that was clenched into a fist,

that was at least how it looked to the crowd. The opposite could be said for SilverStar

but casual, and only SilverStar

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

Bang—!

shield started to ripple as

Crack.

the outer shield. Trying to supplement the depleting mana of the shield with his

Crack.

continued to form on the shield. It wasn't long before a glass-shattering sound echoed out, and

"Kh..."

took a step back and blood started to seep

his teeth, he continued

Crash—!

causing SilverStar's face

was enough as a smile soon formed on

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

his head to look at the crowd, he could feel their malice-filled eyes and words wishing him

was honestly sick of

where he had to fight other people for the sake of the demon's entertainment had become too much for him to stomach. It took all

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

glanced toward one of the platforms. After a

'I should start now.'

formed in front of him. In the meantime, DeathBringer had already rushed in his direction and was only

then that

and a horrified look appeared on

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

"Goodbye."

the demons in the stand stopped moving and looked at one another as a

***

released the spell, Lightning Dragon snapped his eyes open. His attention quickly turned toward the arena grounds below

"Hmmm..."

his eyes flashed in a certain hue

"I see..."

muttered as he turned his head to gaze in a certain direction. To be more precise, toward a specific platform in

lazy eyes sharpened for a

saw SilverStar standing in the middle of the arena with a cold look. On the ground opposite him was a simple bracelet,

short moment he had turned to look