The Author's POV

"Huu...huuu..."

My body rose and fell as I breathed in and out. With sweat trickling down my body, I slowly closed my eyes and continued doing the same motion. Alongside it, I made sure to carefully move the mana around my body.

"Are you ready?"

It was then that a voice echoed inside the room.

I promptly ignored the voice.

Lowering my body once more, I flexed my muscles and only stopped once my chest and nose touched the floor before moving.

My movement was very slow.

Slow to the point that my muscles started to sting with each movement.

"Haa..."

It was only after I completed the movement that I finally stood up. Taking a clean towel I cleaned my body.

'Warm's up done.'

Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank.

Detaching four large bracelets from my arms, I put them away.

Knock. Knock.

It was exactly at this moment that I heard a knocking sound coming from the other side of the room.

"Overlord, get ready. Your match is about to begin."

"Okay."

Massaging my shoulders, I leaned and stretched my neck.

"What's your choice?"

The same voice from before spoke. As I glanced in his direction, my eyes paused.

Eventually, I nodded my head and mumbled.

"Okay..."

"Good choice."

A smile began to spread on my other self's face.

'I'm starting to think that this was part of his plans...'

I was honestly still strongly opposed to the idea of having him take over my body, but after taking everything into consideration, and realizing that the Duke could use his true strength at any moment and kill me, I realized that I had no choice but to accept his offer.

'It sucks, but I'm still too inexperienced to face a Duke-ranked demon.'

Clank.

Jolting me out of my thoughts, the door to the room opened up revealing several figures standing behind.

As soon as the door fully opened, one of the demons asked.

"Are you ready?"

"...Yes."

Nodding my head, I took a step forward. Walking shoulder to shoulder with me was my other self.

With the same emotionless expression, he muttered.

"Be sure to pay close attention to everything I do. I will show you the true depth of your strength."

Without saying anything, I opened my mouth and softly mumbled.

"Monarch's indifference."

***

In spite of the fact that he had only been defeated a week ago, Lightning Dragon could not believe what he was seeing.

against White

the information as he

already had a hard time figuring out how he had been able to

but from what I've seen, the Overlord should still be a bit stronger even if

to his eyes, Lightning Dragon was able to somewhat gauge how strong an opponent

Prince, there was still a bit of a gap

him to have won that

expected of the person

sure had many surprises up his sleeve. Particularly with regards to his upcoming battle with the Duke, which took the whole arena and

time, the Duke was finally going to

fuller as it was packed

at

already heard of the event

demoness finally made his appearance. The

the arena below,

and all the demons wanted to do at the moment was catch a glimpse

and city were under

finally

demons couldn't contain their

else but to see him

against him…but he was the Duke. Of course, they

squinted as he gazed at the

was at that

let us

of the arena slowly opened, the demoness's crisp and pleasant voice echoed throughout the entire

forward, everyone stopped

that protruded from the

Azonech stepped

movement attracted the attention of

Tok. Tok.

of his footsteps resounded throughout

long before he stopped in the middle of the arena. There was a calm look on his

of silence was followed by loud cheers, which shook the

"Duke!"

"Duke Azenoch!"

"Beat him up!"

their lungs sounded borderline fanatical. In spite of this, Duke Azenoch appeared to be enjoying the cheers as

faint curl began to spread across the

top of one of the

"The device…"

Dragon's eyes opened wide as he gazed at the device

mana toward his eyes,

"It's not on."

mana in the air, but they could also allow him to track down the

mana, demonic energy, or aura, he could see through it

any energy coming out of the Duke's

he came up

on killing

planning on

changed completely once he learned of this as he pressed both

should've

why Lightning Dragon never once chose to become the next Overlord was that he knew from the

all-seeing eyes, this was only to be

and the fact that he was too lazy to even consider the idea of fighting over one

the need to defeat the Duke, hence why

from the very moment that he had heard

what kind of Duke would ever put their

they would

of a single month, he managed to accomplish something that the contestants had never been able to accomplish in the past, and that is to fight against the current Duke! Welcome the current Overlord,

Clank.

her words faded, the gates on the other side of the arena slowly opened up revealing a familiar figure

"hm?"

moment he appeared, Lightning Dragons'

closing his mouth multiple times, a cold

"What?"

felt a wet sensation. Unknowingly, his body started to tremble as he took a

"...Who is he?"

That...

the White Reaper he had fought in

He was someone else.