The Author's POV

Moments prior to the fight.

Casually coming out of his room, Edward made his way toward the arena. Along the way, he couldn't help but think about Ren.

'I'm curious about his strength...'

In spite of the fact that it had been four years since he last met him, he remembered him as a promising talent.

In comparison to Kevin Voss, he was not exactly a high-profile talent, but an incident caused his name to spread far and wide at the time.

Something about him defeating a demon or something...

"Looks like I've just arrived in time."

A loud cheer greeted Edward as he stepped into the arena.

After arriving at his designated platform and entering the room that overlooked the entire arena, he sat down on a sofa and made himself comfortable.

[On the left side, we have a familiar opponent. This is someone who has never lost a fight, and whose Duke ranking is third...]

The Demoness's loud voice echoed out of the arena as he sat down.

Following her announcement, the gates opened and a figure slowly came out. With semi-long black hair and deep yellow pupils that glowed with a strange light, Lightning Dragon slowly approached the arena's center.

His very presence caused the arena to quiet down for a couple of seconds.

Once his feet came to a stop, the demoness extended her hand toward the other side of the arena and announced.

Our right corner contains a figure that we've been waiting for eagerly. A newcomer who has already reached such heights in such a short period of time...]

"He's finally coming out."

Shifting his body forward, Edward sat upright.

His desire was to see how much this once youth had grown since he had last seen him.

When the gates of the arena slowly rose, a figure with deep blue eyes and white hair slowly emerged.

Just like Lightning Dragon, his entire presence caused the arena to quiet down.

Tok.Tok.

While his eyes remained fixed on the figure opposite him, Lightning Dragon, his calm and rhythmical footsteps echoed out loud.

While slowly approaching the center of the arena, he displayed indifference toward the cheers from the crowd, or anyone else.

At this moment, all of his attention was focused on his opponent.

"I like that..."

There was a slight curl on Edward's lips as he noted this.

The way he carried himself.

It was impressive.

Neither arrogant nor overbearing, but calm and focused. The perfect combination that made one stand apart from the masses.

"I wonder if Amanda is just as strong as him..."

Thinking about his daughter, Edward's face flashed with sadness. The thought of leaving her alone with all of his responsibilities pained his heart beyond measure.

If not for this shitty place, he would've long sought a way to return home, but this proved much more difficult than he had expected.

The demon world was just that scary.

"Just wait a little longer..."

Edward secretly clenched his fists.

[You may begin!]

The demoness' loud voice signaled the start of the match, jolting Edward out of his thoughts.

His eyes grew sharper as he shifted his attention back to the arena.

me what you've

sheath of his blade, he quickly got into a stance as mana erupted from out of his

Click—!

happened next was so fast that no one was able to react on time. Not even Edward as he had difficulty

hearing a faint clicking sound before a bright white light

focus returned to the match, he found Ren's sword drawn from his sheat,

fact that Lightning Emperor had casually blocked

dilated as his

was able to react

up straight and

a peek at Ren, after having seen the first exchange, he

could no longer afford

he could not properly see, to Lightning Dragon's

underestimated both

***

"...What an interesting pair."

as he gazed at the arena below. Specifically toward the

Reaper use his sword, who would've known that he had hidden something

speed of

so that even Duke Anozech had a hard

That said.

paying attention. Had he been paying attention, he would've been

is Lightning Dragon.

lips curled into a sinister

"How amusing."

"Your excellency."

his servant

turning around,

"What is it?"

got a report for

"Say it."

is currently in one of

"Oh?"

attention shifted toward his servant. The smile on his

Prince has come to

"That's correct."

"Hah..."

his hand to caress his mouth,

'What a rare occasion...'

had spectated a match, it

know something that

in the direction

his eyes, he muttered

Lightning

***

"H...how is this possible?"

the fact that my attack had been blocked, I was unable to react to Lightning Dragon's

Cracka! Cracka!

convulsed severely as lightning crackled in the air and penetrated deeply

"Ughhh!"

on the ground and distanced myself from him. I

Bang—!

"haa...haaa..."

Lightning Dragon, I cursed inwardly as my

"Damn it..."

look of incredulity crossed my face as I looked at

in the world did he do it? How is it possible for

still shaken by this by what had

this wasn't exactly the first time that my attack had ever been stopped,

never happened

"Huu.."

was in the middle of a battle,

Rather, I became calmer.

this one more time. See if it's

calmly stood in the middle of the arena without a care in the world, I calmly took

movement of the [Keiki

Click—!

clicking sound rang out and my vision warped. At the same time my vision warped, I

better look and see how you managed to defend