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.

Duke against White

information as he stepped onto one of

time figuring out how he

the Overlord should

to his eyes, Lightning Dragon was able to somewhat

Reaper to the Blood Prince, there was

to have

expected of the person who beat

up his sleeve. Particularly with regards to his upcoming battle with the Duke, which took the

time, the Duke was finally going to make

have been any fuller as

was at

everyone here has already heard of the

appearance. The crowd instantly quieted

eagerly gazed at the arena below, the

and all the demons wanted to do at the

and city were under the watchful eye

to finally

couldn't contain their

else but to see him

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

Dragon's eyes squinted as he gazed at the audience. Their thoughts were

was at that

us welcome the

gates at the far end of the arena slowly opened, the demoness's crisp and pleasant

that point forward, everyone stopped

black hair, two large horns that protruded from the

stepped

every movement attracted the attention of

Tok. Tok.

of his footsteps

There was a calm look

by loud cheers, which shook the

"Duke!"

"Duke Azenoch!"

"Beat him up!"

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

a faint curl began to

the top of one of the

"The device…"

he gazed at the device

toward his eyes, Lightning Dragon's

"It's not on."

special. Not only could they allow him to detect the general flow of mana in the air, but they could also allow him to track down the general flow of energy in

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

not detect any energy coming out of the Duke's suppressor, he knew that

realizing this, he came up with one

planning on

Duke was planning on killing

face changed completely once he learned of this as

should've told

to become the next Overlord was that he knew from the

all-seeing eyes, this was

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

need

already knew from the very moment that he had heard the rules that it was practically impossible to escape from the

mean, what kind of Duke would ever put their reputation

if they would

we have his opponent. Someone whose rise could be described as nothing short of a miracle. Within a span 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

Clank.

side of the arena slowly opened up revealing a familiar figure that everyone had seen in the

"hm?"

moment he appeared, Lightning Dragons' face

mouth multiple times, a cold

"What?"

his hand to touch his face, he felt a wet sensation. Unknowingly, his body started to

"...Who is he?"

That...

wasn't the White Reaper he had fought in the

He was someone else.