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 even more heated and shouted

"Yes!"

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Crack! Crack!

scrutinized one another closely, cracks began to

soon disappeared from their

Booom—!

and reappeared in front of each other, an explosive sound echoed throughout the arena. Their figures soon

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

not

pointed at the claw, and several magic circles formed at the tips of each nail, stopping them in

seconds as

Crack. Crack. Crack.

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

momentum by the time this had happened, so SilverStar

exactly what he

Swooosh—!

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

at the demon. A large magic circle

an elegant tap of his staff, he

"Here."

to the magic circle transforming into a blue transparent

incoming

"Hmph."

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

was then squeezed into a fist, and the beam headed toward him was directly dispersed in the air, much to

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

could be said for SilverStar who

punch that DeathBringer threw was anything but casual, and only SilverStar could sense the strength underlying

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

Bang—!

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

Crack.

form on the outer shield. Trying to supplement the depleting mana of

Crack.

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

"Kh..."

back

his teeth, he continued

Crash—!

collapsed, causing SilverStar's

as a smile

because after the second barrier collapsed, the attack finally ceased, leaving behind one last barrier. As

SilverStar turned his head to look at the crowd, he could feel their malice-filled eyes and

was honestly

of the demon's entertainment had

the thought made him clench his teeth tightly. However, his anger disappeared as fast

head he glanced toward one of the platforms. After a

'I should start now.'

circle formed in front of him. In the

was then

body suddenly halted, and a horrified look appeared on his face as he clenched

that no one was able to notice

"Goodbye."

Deathbringer's 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

***

open. His attention quickly turned toward the arena grounds below and he paused to observe DeathBringer.

"Hmmm..."

on the bracelet that rested on Deathbringer, his eyes flashed in a certain hue

"I see..."

to gaze in a certain direction. To be more precise, toward a specific platform in

and lazy eyes

in the middle of the arena with a

that in that short moment he had turned to look away, the battle had