The Author's POV

"Useless, useless, uselss..."

While browsing SilverStar's belongings, I found myself saddened by the fact that I was unable to locate any of the things that I was looking for.

I found the room to be fairly large, about as big as a tennis court, and it was quite beautifully decorated with all kinds of furniture. Plants, flowers, and other nature-related things dominated most of them.

But this was expected given his elven nature.

"Still nothing."

I muttered after moving one of the sofas to the side, and still not finding anything. I was honestly starting to get quite frustrated.

"He's a lot more cautious than I originally let him out to be."

In all fairness, I should've expected this from the very beginning. After all, given the current environment, who wouldn't?

"Guess I can only go for the second option."

Sitting down on one of the couches, I stopped searching and just relaxed. There was another and simpler way to get the resources.

...and it should present itself any minute now.

"What are you doing here?"

It was then that a familiar voice echoed inside the room as a silver-haired figure entered. There was a seething rage hidden within that voice as the man in the air rippled slightly.

Glancing in the direction of the silver figure, I gave her a simple nod.

"You're here."

"...You're here?"

SilverMoon's body froze for a split second as she cocked her head to the side. Clearly confused about my intentions.

"You were waiting for me?"

She asked.

To which I nodded.

"Yes, I was."

Well, sort of.

Musing for a moment, she asked.

"Have you reconsidered my previous offer?"

"No."

I shook my head.

Standing up from the sofa, I calmly walked in her direction.

"My intentions in coming here are simple."

Stopping in front of her, I extended my hand in her direction.

"Tell me where SilverStar's resources are."

Immediately after those words left my mouth, SilverMoon's eyes turned bloodshot. The mana in the air rippled, and her hair fluttered widely. Seeing how the situation was getting out of hand, I immediately cut her in the middle of her words.

"How dare y—"

"I can help you get rid of the Overlord."

For a moment, the mana coming from her body stopped and her eyes paused on me. Before she could do anything else, I took advantage of the moment and continued speaking.

"You've already seen what happened when SilverStar fought against the current Overlord. A total defeat."

SilverMoon's face twisted when I said those words. Regardless, I kept pushing.

"You know yourself that you are weaker than SilverStar, meaning that you have no chance of ever exacting revenge against the current Overlord."

The more I spoke, the more SilverMoon's face twisted.

Even then, she never once interrupted me. It was clear that she couldn't dispute any of the words that I was saying.

After glancing at her for a moment, I asked.

"You've probably already heard about what happened between the current Overlord, haven't you?"

"...Yes."

She nodded her head.

was coming out of her body had already receded back, and I was able to get a better look at

haggard as her hair was a mess, and her eyes had

a far cry from the

a shell of

was understandable. With SilverStar now dead, what was the point of

to regain freedom and escape with her husband, but now that he was dead, such an option was

state was anything but

hair back, SilverMoon opened

but I heard that you were kicked out

"Indeed..."

teeth, I pretended to

body, forcing SilverMoon to take a

closer to her, I spat through my gnashed

were from the same race, but guess what? Not only was

Crack. Crack.

I cracked my knuckles.

"Nice acting."

from the side. Trying my best to keep my composure

that was coming

show her that I truly held a

show her

her that I

runs as deeply as yours, and I want

the reason why you came to

Even then, her

to see a trace of her former

you think

a brief moment of time, I scoffed

really have

"What do you mean?"

SilverMoon's eyes narrowed.

slightly

you yourself are not confident in beating him,

when I said those words. After a while, she clenched her

couldn't argue back with what

I kept pushing.

against us will become the next Emperor since you

I continued to gauge SilverMoon's reaction. And the more

I kept pushing, I couldn't

'What a vile strategy...'

were at their lowest point, and

what I was doing at the

but in reality, this whole scenario had been

between SilverMoon and me as a result of telling

him winning and killing SilverStar, and given SilverMoon's relationship with SilverStar, it was only natural for such a scenario

where she was desperate

her limits, and so she could only despair at the

was where I came in and used that connection to manipulate

her hope, I was essentially

was honestly quite a vile strategy,

were they as they had

the resources and I will prove to you that you've made the

lowered my voice

the resources and I will avenge your

***

loud cheers of the crowd reverberated throughout the arena grounds as I stood in the middle of the

"Huuuu..."

deep breath, I felt the mana inside of my

god I managed to

but in the end, I was able to break through thanks

would've actually been helpful for when I broke through to rank, but given the time constraint, I had no choice

the exact moment, I opened my eyes, I was met with a pair

I felt a cold chill run down

'He's strong.'

to understand that I was not

a long time, I finally felt a sense of dread coming out of my opponent. It felt as though I was facing

though it was a teddy bear, Lightning Dragon spared me a single

forehead creased when I saw this, but I didn't put

as calm as it had

the two contestants

echoed throughout the entire arena,

for a brief moment of

"Yes."

"...Yes."