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.

unfortunate that he had failed his

only he hadn't been that

this one isn't

White Reaper from above, Duke Azonech's lips opened

glance, he looks

course, that was merely on the

Duke Azonech had already come to the conclusion that he wasn't one that could

to challenge

his face deepened

"...A pity."

under his

makes you willingly choose to kill yourself

escape after seeing what he

spite of the fact that he could have lived a few more years, he became greedy

mistake on his

true pity that I have to

hand, he proceeded to head out

him to reap his

***

time don't you

first thing

I didn't answer. It wasn't that I didn't want to, but

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

aware of my circumstances,

all the other matches that you've

of sight,

'I know.'

Of course, I knew.

my next opponent was just as skilled as Edward, he was actually coming at me with the intent of killing me, unlike

be honest with his rank

the fight. As if the Duke would ever

be the biggest humiliation

than enough to fight against the Duke had he been suppressed. With everything that

paused mid-sentence, and silence

his sentence to understand what he was trying

then that he

wearing a suppressor and if that's the case, you stand no chance at beating

his direction, I

my thoughts were quite

don't

helping me over the course of four

it for the sake of doing

understood this point as I took advantage

He also knew this.

was only

was still unclear

rid of his curse? But what exactly was this curse he

repeatedly

I wasn't sure.

tried asking him, he

His silence seemed forced.

or something was stopping him from

the weird chains? This was most likely

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

be just like when you

he said those words, I cocked

didn't know you were

able to understand my thoughts, he

your body not too long ago, when we were in that 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

deeply into my eyes, he paused for a brief moment

of how many times you want to die,

closer to me, his ice-cold eyes looked down at

your body. But, it is within my best interest

hand, he pointed his finger

is within your best interest if you

***

Clank. Clank. Clank.

inside a small cell, creating

"Ukhh.."

awakening from 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