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

time processing the information as

hard time figuring out how he had been able to beat the

what I've seen, the Overlord should still

Dragon was able to

the Blood Prince, there was still

to have won that

expected of the person

regards to his upcoming battle with the

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

arena couldn't have been any fuller as it

at

already heard of the event that's currently

demoness finally made his appearance. The crowd

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

demons wanted to do at the moment was catch a glimpse of the

supreme being whom the arena and city were under the

to finally make

demons couldn't contain their

to see him

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

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

was at

let us welcome

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

forward, everyone

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

Azonech stepped into

attention of all spectators and demons

Tok. Tok.

footsteps resounded throughout

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

followed by loud cheers, which

"Duke!"

"Duke Azenoch!"

"Beat him up!"

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

a faint curl began to spread across

the top of

"The device…"

gazed at the

mana toward his

"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

or aura, he

energy coming out of the Duke's suppressor, he

he came up with

on

was planning on killing White

as he pressed both hands on the window

should've told him

Lightning Dragon never once chose to become the next Overlord

all-seeing eyes, this was only to be

the fact that he was too lazy to even

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

had heard the rules

ever put their reputation on the line in front of

if they would

on the other side of the arena, 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 current Duke! Welcome the current Overlord,

Clank.

gates on the other side of the arena

"hm?"

moment he appeared, Lightning Dragons'

his mouth multiple times, a cold chill swept his

"What?"

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

"...Who is he?"

That...

Reaper he had fought

He was someone else.