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

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

a hard time figuring out how he

strong yes, but from what I've seen, the Overlord should

eyes, Lightning Dragon was able to somewhat gauge how strong

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

have

the

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

first time in a very long time, the Duke was finally

any fuller

was at that

heard of the

demoness finally made his appearance. The crowd instantly

gazed at the arena below, the only sound heard was

wanted to do at the moment

supreme being whom the arena and city were

finally make

demons couldn't contain their

else but to see him crush the

was the

Dragon's eyes squinted as he gazed at the

at that

let us welcome the

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

forward, everyone stopped

horns that protruded from the side of his forehead, and a presence

stepped into

attracted the attention of all spectators and

Tok. Tok.

calm echo of his footsteps resounded throughout the

the middle of the arena. There was a calm look

moment of silence was followed by loud

"Duke!"

"Duke Azenoch!"

"Beat him up!"

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

curl began to spread across

top of one of the

"The device…"

he gazed at the device that the Duke

his eyes, Lightning Dragon's

"It's not on."

Dragons' eyes 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, or aura, he could see through it

any energy coming out of the Duke's suppressor, he knew that it wasn't

came up with

planning on killing

planning on

Dragon's face changed completely once he learned of this as he pressed

I should've

once chose to become the next Overlord was that he knew from the

this

the fact that he was too lazy to even consider the

need to defeat the Duke, hence

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

Duke would ever put their reputation on the line

would

short of a miracle. Within a span of a single month, he managed to accomplish something that the contestants had never been

Clank.

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

"hm?"

moment he appeared, Lightning Dragons' face

and closing his mouth multiple times,

"What?"

to touch his face, he felt a wet sensation. Unknowingly, his body started to tremble as he took a step back and

"...Who is he?"

That...

wasn't the White Reaper he had fought

He was someone else.