The Author's POV

My eyes were glued to Edward's body, which was lying on the ground. In my ears, the noise from the crowd was drowned out.

During that moment, I had all my attention focused on Edward.

It wasn't until I saw his chest move that I finally relaxed.

He was still alive.

As he lay on the ground with his eyes wide open, staring at the red sky of the arena, his body was anything but fine.

Taking a deep breath and inwardly praying, I put the device back in my dimensional space and closed my eyes.

'I hope Amanda does not find out about this…'

If she found out I beat up her father...

Shivers ran down my spine.

'...Yeah, let's hope that does not happen.'

What Demon King?

She would probably finish me before that happened.

Well, I didn't think she would go that far, but I still didn't care to find out what would happen.

Keeping this secret under the grave was a sacred duty.

"Haa..."

I exhaled, and slowly opened my eyes.

As I opened my eyes again, I felt everyone's gaze pause on me. A pin-drop silence filled the arena grounds as none of the spectators spoke.

I then glanced toward the right. Nevertheless, I was surprised to find that the demoness had not appeared yet.

She was usually punctual.

'Where is she?'

I wondered to myself as I glanced around the place. It didn't take long for her to appear, as her figure appeared next to me shortly thereafter.

'Ah, there she is.'

Her eyes alternated between Edward and me as she hung open-mouthed. Eventually, she began to announce the match's result. The look on her face never changed as she spoke.

It was still filled with shock.

[…and the winner of the match is White Reaper, officially dethroning the Blood Prince from his Overlord position, and thereby becoming the new Overlord!]

It wasn't long before her words deeply echoed throughout the whole arena.

During a brief pause, the crowd and spectators digested the information before erupting into cheers.

The stadium started shaking as the cheers grew louder.

It was that loud.

My attention briefly focused on Edward's direction before I turned around and moved toward the metallic gates in the distance.

'My job is done, I should get prepared for the big event that is coming soon...'

It was about time I returned home.

***

"Not bad…"

Duke Azenoch's face was tinged with a faint curl as he watched White Reaper's figure slowly exit the arena.

The more he looked at him, the more pleased he became as he mumbled softly.

"He did not make the same mistake as the other one."

Recalling what had happened with SilverStar, the Duke shook his head with evident disappointment.

He was a good seedling. An obedient one.

was unfortunate that he

only he hadn't been

isn't

Duke Azonech's lips opened enough

first glance, he looks

was merely

had asked, Duke Azonech had already come to the conclusion

to challenge

face deepened as he slowly

"...A pity."

muttered under

you willingly choose to kill yourself like

he really believe that he could escape after seeing what he had

a few more years, he became greedy and decided to

mistake

pity that I

he

him to reap

***

time don't you

first thing that

didn't answer. It wasn't that I didn't

one of my movements was being closely monitored, and given that I couldn't speak to him inside of my mind, I

of my circumstances, he

the other matches that you've experienced. You should be

sight, I subtly nodded

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

me with the intent of

I was fully aware of the fact that he wasn't going to be honest with his

fight. As if the Duke would ever let

the biggest humiliation

more than enough to fight against the Duke had he been suppressed. With everything that I've taught you over the past

paused mid-sentence, and

didn't need him to finish his sentence to

then that

you stand no chance at beating him. Your only

his direction,

my thoughts were

don't

of four months,

wasn't doing it for the

as I took

He also knew this.

was

was still unclear about his real

it just to kill the demon king and get rid of his curse?

that time would repeatedly loop for him, or was it something

I wasn't sure.

tried asking him, he would always keep his

His silence seemed forced.

as though someone or something was stopping him from

the weird chains? This

all of these unanswered questions aside, I still didn't feel comfortable with the idea

like when you

those words, I cocked my head forward and

didn't know you were the one controlling

understand my

dungeon. What difference does it make now?... Are you really that confident in defeating a Duke-ranked demon that could potentially use his power at any second without warning and kill

my eyes, he paused for a

you something. Regardless of how many times you want to die, or how many times

ice-cold eyes looked down at

your body. But, it is within my best interest that you

he pointed his

best

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

pulled inside a small cell, creating a

"Ukhh.."

his groggy state, Edward glanced toward the other side of the cell and saw a figure standing there. Blinking a couple of times to get a better look at the figure hiding beneath