Generally speaking, when fighters leave the stage without clashing, the crowd usually rains down boos and curses. But this time—this time was different. Applause, whistles, and cheers thundered across the Colosseum like a storm. Some praised Masayuki for his "humility." Others lauded Gozer for "recognizing a man of honor." What should've been mockery turned into waves of admiration and unity that echoed through the arena.
I didn't get it. I honestly didn't get it.
No matter how I looked at it, Masayuki was bluffing—his so-called "honor" was just fear dressed in fine words. Yet the people… they swallowed every word he said as if it were truth itself. That charm of his—it wasn't just luck. It was power, subtle and manipulative.
I leaned back in my seat, arms crossed, watching him through narrowed eyes. So that's how it is… You're hiding your true strength from me, aren't you, Masayuki?
He must have sensed my gaze. He dared not look my way, but I could feel the tension in his movements. He was pretending to be composed, but his soul trembled. I could sense it clearly through my link with Solarys, the Sovereign of Wisdom.
"His confidence is artificial," Solarys murmured within my mind, her tone analytical and cold.
"Indeed," I replied silently. "But he's clever. I'll give him that. To manipulate an entire crowd with words alone… that's not something just anyone can do."
Since Masayuki had advanced to the final, the next match was set—Gobta versus Karion, still masked as Lion-Mask. No one doubted who would win.
I glanced toward the stage, my crimson eyes gleaming beneath the afternoon sun. "Let's see how far this little goblin can push himself," I muttered. "Even a fool can shine once in his lifetime."
Despite my words, I found myself oddly entertained. Karion was no ordinary warrior. A former Demon Lord, his raw strength was undeniable. Gobta, on the other hand… well, Gobta was Gobta. Reckless, lazy, and unpredictable. Yet there was something endearing about his idiocy—something that made me want to root for him, if only to see what madness he'd bring next.
Of course, I hadn't promised him that fishing rod out of generosity. That rod was mine—one of my finer creations, enhanced with divine energy to improve the flow of mana and precision of motion. If he wanted it, he'd have to earn it.
No way was I giving that up easily.
As Gobta took the stage, he summoned Ranga immediately, riding him like a knight charging into battle.
I raised an eyebrow. "He's bringing Ranga out from the start? Interesting move," I said aloud.
"Perhaps desperation," murmured Diablo beside me, smirking.
"Or perhaps strategy," I countered calmly. My voice carried authority that silenced even the chatter near us.
Gobta was serious this time. His eyes were focused, his posture sharp. Ranga's fur shimmered with energy, his aura roaring like a storm.
Karion, on the other hand, stood there, relaxed, smirking beneath his lion mask. "Kid," he called out, voice like rolling thunder, "I'm telling you this for your own good. Forfeit now before I have to get serious."
Gobta grinned nervously. "Sorry, but I can't do that!" he shouted, pointing forward. "Ranga! Let's do this!"
"As you command, master!" Ranga's voice boomed as he lunged.
Karion clicked his tongue. "Tch. Don't say I didn't warn you. Eagle Talon—Tiger Foot!"
The air cracked. A golden blur flashed, claws slashing out with lightning speed. The impact split the ground, tearing the wind apart with visible shockwaves.
Gobta screamed and went flying.
"AHHH!"
He tumbled off Ranga and rolled toward the edge of the ring, barely clinging to consciousness. His limbs shook, and blood dripped from his arm—but he was still breathing. Still trying to crawl away.
The audience laughed, mistaking his retreat for cowardice. But I knew better. Just standing in front of Karion was an act of courage.
Karion didn't chase him. His eyes locked onto Ranga instead, who now moved with the precision of a trained predator. The wolf growled low, fangs gleaming as he lunged and bit down on Karion's left arm.
"Grrrhhhhh!"
Karion's eyes widened slightly. "Hmph." With brute force, he twisted and slammed Ranga into the ground. The earth cracked under the impact—but Ranga used the momentum to slip away, agile and cunning.
"Oh, oh oh… that wolf sure was something," a spectator gasped.
"Isn't a direwolf supposed to be a C-Rank monster?" another asked.
"That's no ordinary wolf," someone whispered.
I smiled faintly. Indeed… Ranga is no mere beast.
"Stampede of Chaos!" Karion roared, launching himself high into the air before diving down with a storm of blows. The strikes blurred together like streaks of light.
Ranga hesitated for only a moment before dashing out of the ring entirely.
The crowd gasped.
"What?" Karion exclaimed, stunned. "You're running away?"
Then, a dark shadow rippled near Gobta's feet. From that shadow, Ranga emerged—unscathed, fierce, and very much inside the ring.
Karion froze. "You—weren't you—"
"Summoning him again doesn't violate any rule," Diablo interrupted smoothly, smiling with malicious satisfaction.
Karion's expression tightened beneath his mask. He had fallen for the trap.
Gobta, of all people, had planned this. His retreat near the boundary line, his desperate act—it was all part of a strategy.
"Now, Ranga!" Gobta shouted.
Ranga leapt from the shadow, his fangs flashing. Karion barely dodged, but even then—crack!
A faint sound echoed as part of Karion's mask shattered, fragments falling like golden dust.
The arena went silent.
Karion straightened slowly, his aura flaring like wildfire. Beneath that cracked mask, I saw the glint of his golden eyes—the eyes of a true king.
Even now, he didn't lose his composure. He smiled, proud and unbothered, brushing the fragments aside.
He could've dodged fully, but he hadn't. He'd taken the blow on purpose—turning a disadvantage into composure, a defense into an act of pride. That was Karion for you. Calm, confident, regal even in chaos.
I sat forward slightly, my gaze piercing the battlefield. "Show me your will, Karion," I murmured under my breath, the words carrying a faint divine pressure. "And Gobta… prove that your courage is more than foolish luck."
The air thickened as the two prepared their next moves—Ranga growling low, Karion's fists glowing with golden light.
The crowd leaned in.
The tension was palpable.
And the fight… was far from over.
The arena of Eterna was loud enough to shake the heavens. The crowd's cheers and laughter rippled through the air as the match between Karion and Gobta reached its peak. Even from my seat upon the throne, I—Atem, King of Eterna—could feel the chaos of the moment pulsing like a heartbeat beneath the sands of the arena floor.
Ranga's shadowed form blurred into existence, his fangs flashing as he lunged. Yet his strike was not for Karion's body—it was aimed at the mask that concealed his face.
Karion, relying on sharp instinct rather than conscious thought, twisted away just in time. The claw barely grazed him, but the mask split open with a clean tear, fragments scattering like falling petals.
Gobta's grin spread like wildfire.
"All right, all right, all right! All according to plan!" he shouted, brandishing his kodachi with dramatic flair.
He raised his weapon high, summoning icy energy that spiraled into a massive icicle lance above his head.
"Here I come!"
Karion clicked his tongue, muscles tensing.
"Tch… smartass!"
It was then that the truth of Gobta's strategy became clear—his goal was never victory through strength. It was humiliation. He aimed to expose Karion, not defeat him.
Realizing this, Karion clutched the shattered remains of his mask, using both hands to hide his face. His pride wouldn't allow his unmasked visage to be seen by the crowd. But that act of self-preservation chained him—allowing Ranga to pounce and strike freely.
"S-such a dirty tactic…" someone from the stands muttered.
"This is a despicable way to fight!" another cried.
"Fight seriously now!" a third shouted.
The audience erupted in protest, yet Gobta didn't flinch.
"Shut up already! In this world, the winner is the one who stands tall in the end! His Majesty Atem always says so!" he declared, puffing his chest proudly.
I sighed from my throne, fingers resting on my chin.
"Please don't drag my name into your trickery, Gobta…" I muttered under my breath.
The crowd's voices swelled, their opinions sharp as daggers.
"Tch, typical of one who dreams of being among the 'Four Heavenly Guardians' under Atem's rule. He's shamelessly cunning."
"That's right. And he actually seems proud of it!"
"Despite looking like a fool, he's annoyingly clever. This must've been planned."
"No way Gobta thought of that himself—it's clearly His Majesty Atem's strategy!"
"Scary! The King of Eterna must be a terrifying ruler if he manipulates his soldiers like chess pieces—"
My eye twitched slightly.
"Why am I being judged for this? I didn't tell him to do any of that," I muttered again, suppressing a sigh.
Still, I couldn't deny the effectiveness. The match's balance had flipped entirely. Ranga and Gobta were now in control.
In the end, Karion made the only choice left to him—he stepped out of bounds. Voluntarily.
"Damn it… I only lost because of your schemes," he muttered bitterly.
Despite his words, Karion's pride held firm. It was better to accept defeat on his own terms than suffer further embarrassment. A wise move, I admitted silently. His pride as a former Demon Lord still burned brightly, but pride could not always withstand humiliation.
Souka's voice rang clear across the arena:
"What a surprising ending—truly surprising!"
The spectators erupted—half in outrage, half in laughter. Some booed, others clapped and cheered. Yet amid all the chaos, there was no denying it—everyone was entertained.
"That masked guy was too dramatic about hiding his face. What was the big deal?"
"Still, Gobta's tricks were funny as hell!"
"Yeah, he's sneaky but weirdly likeable."
The verdict was clear. Gobta might be called the villain of the day, but his antics had captured the crowd's hearts.
In a world like ours—one forged by battles and divine might—laughter was rare. This chaotic, unpredictable tournament had become something greater than mere competition. It was spectacle, a gift of entertainment to the people of Eterna.
After the match ended, Gobta and Ranga approached me.
Ranga's tail wagged furiously, his glowing eyes full of expectation. I could already sense his eagerness for praise.
Before he could speak, I raised my hand.
"You participated in the battle without my permission," I said, my tone cool and commanding. "As punishment, you will not return to my shadow for the time being."
Ranga froze mid-tail wag, his ears drooping. The joy drained from his expression, replaced by shock and guilt.
He whimpered softly, and I exhaled through my nose, the faintest smile tugging at my lips. "I should be the one asking why you thought I'd praise you for this. But…" I leaned forward, my crimson eyes glinting. "…your punishment can be reconsidered—depending on the result of tomorrow's final match."
His ears perked up instantly.
"Truly, my King?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "Work hard. You were summoned as a divine beast, Ranga. You must obey Gobta's commands and restrain your power. Do not overstep."
"I understand!" he barked, tail wagging again.
"Good," I replied. "You are a reflection of my authority, not my chaos. Remember that."
Turning my gaze to Gobta, I added with solemn gravity, "Gobta, you and Ranga will fight together tomorrow. Show me the results of your training. Prove to Eterna that cunning can triumph over raw strength."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Gobta saluted proudly, his goofy grin returning.
I leaned back in my throne, golden light flickering behind me like the remnants of divine fire. My cape rustled softly as I looked toward the horizon of the arena.
Tomorrow's final match would decide much more than the winner of a tournament—it would determine whether Gobta's cleverness could match the mysterious might of Masayuki.
If they failed… I might be forced to intervene personally. And that was something I intended to avoid.
The fate of tomorrow would decide the tone of the kingdom's future battles. And though I hid it well behind a calm, regal expression—
—I was curious to see which destiny awaited us next.