Because he had inexplicably slept for two whole days, Duanmu Huai didn't even know who his opponent was until he reached the arena.
So the moment he saw the one standing on the stage—
He immediately felt something was wrong.
"Next! This match will be Pink—Little Bunny versus God-Slayer!!"
Fuck——————!!
Staring at the red-haired woman(?) holding a longsword, Duanmu Huai felt his whole soul hurt.
Why the hell did he have to run into him?
Yes—
Him, not her.
Honestly, if a woman's body contains a man's soul… is that a man or a woman?
And then that woman's body can even transform into a man.
So what the hell is it—male or female?
Forget it, none of that matters.
What matters is—
Let's begin.
Duanmu Huai clenched his fists and stared at his opponent.
The latter silently raised the longsword and returned his gaze.
But then—
The instant Duanmu Huai met those eyes—
A wave of terrifying instinctive fear tore through his mind.
It felt like a predator's fangs had locked onto him—
A death-threat unlike anything he'd faced!
How was that possible!?
"ROUND ONE! READY—GO!!"
Before Duanmu Huai could even sort out what he was feeling, the match began.
The moment the call sounded, Celica swung his blade, lunging straight toward him.
Under normal circumstances, Duanmu Huai would ignore an attack of this level—just rush in and counter.
But this time—
The instant he saw the flash of Celica's blade—
Every hair on his body stood upright.
It felt exactly like a venomous snake opening its jaws, fangs glistening inches from his face.
Without hesitation, Duanmu Huai jumped back, widening the distance between them.
The entire audience gasped in shock.
"What are we seeing!? The undefeated Pink Little Bunny has actually retreated in front of the God-Slayer! What's going on!? Is he afraid!?"
"Duanmu-san??"
Honoka stared anxiously, completely unsettled.
Duanmu Huai had never fought like this before.
Even he himself frowned deeply, staring at Celica.
What the hell is happening?
Celica's attack wasn't fast.
It didn't even look threatening.
Yet Duanmu Huai's instincts screamed at him—
As if a blizzard had swallowed him whole,
As if a blade hovered over the back of his neck,
As if he was facing something far more terrifying than even a Chaos God.
Wait—fuck! Hold on!
A spark flashed in Duanmu Huai's mind.
Right—
This guy was the God-Slayer.
The one who killed an ancient goddess, took her body, and became so fearsome that even gods feared him—
A warrior who slaughters deities.
Hold on… is that why?
Because I'm the God of Destruction… and he's the one who slays gods… my instinct is reacting to its "natural enemy"!
Does that mean—
He can actually kill me!?
No—no, that made no fucking sense—
Or so he wanted to say.
But instinct didn't lie.
His body was reacting with primal fear.
The thing standing in front of him wasn't merely a warrior—
It was a natural predator of gods.
"Haah!!"
Celica did not give him time to think.
Lightning erupted from the sword, swirling into a roaring gale rushing toward Duanmu Huai.
Can't drag this out!
Duanmu Huai made up his mind.
This opponent was dangerous—dangerous beyond reason.
But backing off would only let Celica take control of the tempo.
The more he hesitated, the more doomed he'd be.
If that was the case—
Then he would fight the way he always fought:
Break through from the front!
With a roar, Duanmu Huai charged straight into the storm of lightning and punched toward Celica.
Crackling lightning surged all around him—
And the moment he stepped inside, Duanmu Huai knew something was wrong.
If it were physical damage, he could've simply tanked it.
But this lightning—
It didn't just hit his body.
It stabbed directly into his soul.
Pain like thousands of needles stabbed every corner of his spirit.
Of course… it's the God-Slayer. Not normal at all.
Even the demonized Mishima's laser had only felt a bit hot.
But Celica's magic—
This hurt.
Probably… attribute advantage… fucking divine debuffs…
"HAAAAAAA!!"
With a bellow, Duanmu Huai blasted out of the lightning and rushed Celica.
Seeing him force his way through, Celica raised his sword again, stabbing toward his chest—
Clearly intending to force him back.
But—
That was exactly what Duanmu Huai wanted.
Don't retreat! Absolutely don't fucking retreat!
Instead of dodging, he leaned forward—
And let the blade pierce straight through his abdomen, sliding out his back.
"OOOOOOOH!!"
The crowd erupted.
It was the first time they had ever seen Duanmu Huai wounded.
"That idiot—!!"
In the spectator seats, Marie Rose widened her eyes.
"What the hell is he doing!?"
"Duanmu-san!"
Honoka gasped, covering her mouth in horror.
But on the battlefield—
Celica looked shocked.
And Duanmu Huai grinned savagely as he closed the distance.
Yes—this was his fighting style.
He would eat an attack to secure the clinch.
Because if he backed up, he'd get kited to death by sword arts and magic.
There was no way in hell he'd give his opponent that opportunity.
"ORA!!!"
Duanmu Huai's fist slammed into Celica.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA——!!!"
Once the battle became close-quarters—
It became Duanmu Huai's domain.
Punches rained down like a storm.
Celica could no longer dodge and was overwhelmed immediately, his defense collapsing.
Then—
"BAM!!"
The final punch sent Celica flying like a severed kite.
He slammed heavily into the ground, unmoving.
Duanmu Huai pulled the sword out of his abdomen, threw it aside, and raised both arms.
"KO!!!"
Because Celica "was a woman" (according to the organizers), Duanmu Huai didn't kill him.
Celica was taken to a rest room—cleaned completely, restrained with cuffs, and hung on the wall waiting for the victor to "claim the reward."
So when Duanmu Huai walked in—
He saw a beautiful, alluring woman cuffed to the wall—
…if you didn't know he was actually a man.
But unfortunately for him—
Duanmu Huai did know.
"You can leave."
He simply unlocked the cuffs and gestured for Celica to go.
The goddess's body really was something else—
Even after being beaten senseless, not a bruise on him.
White, smooth skin, flawless—
…No. Stop. There's a man in there. That's worse.
"Thank you."
Celica dressed silently, then nodded toward him.
But just as he was about to leave—
A voice echoed:
"Wait, kid. I want to have a chat with him."
"Hm? Who said that?"
Duanmu Huai looked around—
Is this room haunted?
Then he saw a blue-haired woman manifest behind Celica.
"Well well… didn't expect to see one of my own kind here. Interesting."
"Who are you?"
Duanmu Huai frowned.
The woman snickered.
"I am Haishela—Demon God Haishela.
Greetings, fellow demon god from another world."
"…So that's how it is."
Now he understood why she stopped him.
Though frankly, she didn't feel like the same "type" of demon god as him…
"So, what do you want?"
"Just curiosity."
Haishela smiled faintly.
"I find it amusing—
A demon god with the power of a god, yet without the will of a god."
"…What are you talking about?"
"Exactly what I said.
Fear, confusion—these are things gods should not possess.
What troubles you so deeply, that even a being as powerful as you hesitates?"
"Are you saying gods don't feel fear or confusion?
In the face of death and destruction?
Anyone would."
Duanmu Huai shook his head.
Haishela chuckled.
"That is wrong.
Gods are beyond the mortal realm.
Only those with absolute power and highest lineage can attain miracles.
If an eagle soaring above the sky behaved like a timid sparrow—wouldn't that be laughable?"
"That's only because the eagle thinks the sky is the whole world, unaware there are realms even broader."
He understood what she meant.
Many native gods act like this—thinking they rule the cosmos, when really they only rule a puddle in an ocean.
But—
"What does that matter?"
Haishela's expression sharpened.
"No matter how vast the sky is, an eagle never abandons its pride.
What is more ridiculous than a god lowering itself like a frightened mortal?
You worry—so what?
Will worrying solve anything?
You possess the body of a god, yet tremble like a child.
Then what value does your godhood have?"
Duanmu Huai flinched.
"Remember—
A god does not gain pride because of power.
A god gains power because of pride.
To bow before something just because it is strong—
What meaning is there in calling such a thing a god?"
"...…"
Silence.
But through her words—
Duanmu Huai realized—
He had been making a fundamental mistake.
He always thought like a player.
How to farm power.
How to grind resources.
How to maneuver strategically.
But he forgot—
Players are still human.
Humans can run from anything too strong.
They can avoid fights, level up later, retreat if necessary.
But gods—
Cannot.
Duanmu Huai had been treating Chaos Gods as an unbeatable enemy.
Why?
He could list countless reasons:
Their power, their influence, their corruption, their reach across galaxies…
But just because of that—
Should he submit?
Of course not.
Then what?
Should he avoid them?
Only fight when prepared?
Hide to survive?
That was the behavior of a human.
But Duanmu Huai—
Was not human anymore.
He was a god.
Maybe not as strong as Chaos Gods—
But he stood on the same plane.
Mortals can only fight, submit, or be twisted.
But gods?
Why the hell should one god fear another?
Their divinity is divinity.
So is mine.
They're strong?
So I'll steal their domain.
The God of Brutality is strong—
But the God of Destruction isn't some pushover.
We're all in the same business—
Why the hell should I be scared?
A sudden clarity burst within him.
Yes.
That was it.
He wasn't some mortal being toyed with by Chaos.
He was a god—
With his own sphere, his own domain, his own power.
Why should he fear them?
If they stood in his way—
He'd take their domains for himself.
Fear my ass.
Opening his eyes again, Duanmu Huai felt the entire world had changed.
The invisible pressure strangling his heart—
Gone.
"Thank you for your guidance, Haishela."
"You're welcome."
Haishela nodded.
"I just didn't want to see you beating this kid to death, so I offered some advice."
"Regardless… I appreciate it. If you ever need anything, you can find me."
"Heh. If something comes up—well then, kid, let's go."
With a soft laugh, Haishela vanished.
Celica nodded to Duanmu Huai, then left the room.
"Hah…"
Duanmu Huai stretched his arms and looked up.
"All right…
That settles that."
He muttered to himself.
(End of Chapter)