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

was still having a hard time processing the information as he stepped onto one of the platforms overlooking

out how he had

what I've seen, the Overlord should

to somewhat

the Blood Prince, there was still a bit of a gap

to have

expected of the person who beat

many surprises up his sleeve. Particularly with regards to his upcoming battle with the Duke,

a very long time, the Duke was finally going to

have been any fuller as it was

was at that

everyone here has already heard

appearance. The

the demons eagerly gazed at the arena below, the only sound heard was

atmosphere was heated, and all the demons wanted to do at the moment was catch a glimpse of the

whom the arena and city were under

to finally

demons couldn't

to see him crush

he was the Duke. Of course,

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

at that

let us

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

forward, everyone stopped

lustrous set of black hair, two large horns that protruded from the side of his forehead, and a presence that instantly

Azonech stepped into

movement attracted the attention of all spectators and

Tok. Tok.

footsteps resounded throughout the whole

arena. There was a calm look on his face as

followed by loud cheers,

"Duke!"

"Duke Azenoch!"

"Beat him up!"

fanatical. In spite of this, Duke Azenoch appeared to be enjoying

began to spread

the top of

"The device…"

wide as he gazed

toward his eyes, Lightning Dragon's

"It's not on."

were 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

energy, or aura, he could see through it

to not detect any energy coming out of the Duke's suppressor,

this, he came

on

was planning on killing

face changed completely once he learned of this as he pressed both hands

I should've

Lightning Dragon never once chose to become the next Overlord

his all-seeing eyes, this was only

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

it without the need to defeat

moment that he had heard the rules that it was practically impossible to

put their

would ever

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

Clank.

other side of the arena slowly opened up revealing

"hm?"

moment he appeared, Lightning

multiple times, a cold chill swept his

"What?"

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

"...Who is he?"

That...

White Reaper he had fought

He was someone else.