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

processing the information as he stepped onto one of the platforms overlooking

out how he had

the Overlord should still be a bit stronger even if

was able to somewhat

Prince, there was

have won

expected of the person who beat

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

time, the Duke

couldn't have been any fuller

was at that

sure everyone here has already heard of

appearance. The crowd instantly quieted

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

heated, and all the demons wanted to do

and city were under

to finally

demons couldn't contain their

else but to see him crush the current Overlord, White

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

squinted as he gazed at the

was at that

let us welcome the

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

point forward,

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

Azonech stepped into the

attention of

Tok. Tok.

calm echo of his footsteps resounded throughout the

of the arena. There was a calm look on his face as he gazed toward the other end

of silence was followed by

"Duke!"

"Duke Azenoch!"

"Beat him up!"

screaming for him at the top of their lungs sounded borderline fanatical. In spite of this, Duke Azenoch

a faint curl began to

top of

"The device…"

eyes opened wide as he gazed at the device that the Duke

toward his eyes, Lightning Dragon's eyes

"It's not on."

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

mana, demonic energy, or aura,

out of the Duke's suppressor,

realizing this, he came

on

planning

completely once he learned of this as

should've told him

next Overlord was that he knew from the very beginning that the matches

all-seeing eyes, this was only to be

he was too lazy to even consider the idea of

he wanted to escape, he could do it without the need to defeat the Duke,

he had heard the rules that it

of Duke would ever put their

if they would

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 current Duke! Welcome the current Overlord, White

Clank.

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

"hm?"

he appeared, Lightning Dragons' face

multiple times, a

"What?"

he raised his hand to touch his face, he felt a wet sensation. Unknowingly, his body started to tremble as he took

"...Who is he?"

That...

the White Reaper he had fought

He was someone else.