Hearing Damon's arrogant words was not at all reassuring for Luna or Iris, who were watching the broadcast.

Iris had been quiet the whole time, acting as if she wasn't there, but seeing Damon surrounded made the girl uneasy. Her fingers gripped the hem of her clothes tightly as her lips trembled.

"Don't… don't die...."

This was her fear as well. Damon was the closest thing she had to family in this world. He was the one who forced himself into her life when her father was gone. In her darkest hour, he had made her believe she could still pay back those who had ruined her. That was why seeing him surrounded by demons made her face pale.

Luna, on the other hand, clenched her fist, her eyes cold as ice. She spoke the first thing that came to her heart, her voice low but filled with killing intent.

"Kill them all, Damon… kill them."

The crowd didn't seem to be in favor of Damon even surviving, much less winning. Murmurs and whispers spread among the onlookers like wildfire.

"It's looking bad for the kid... the games just began and he's already running into those monsters."

A woman with a scar running down her cheek narrowed her eyes as she spoke, her tone grim.

"Those are demon heirs, a rank above him to boot. He's dead...."

It was a shame really. He was a young talent favored by the Grand Duke.

"I even heard the reason the Grand Duke left Lumos after all these years is because he saw the boy had talent."

"Potential is wasted if you're dead."

Everyone said their piece, and no one really thought Damon would win.

"Too bad the prince will die with him. Damn demons... this was a ploy to kill our geniuses before they could grow."

"Five on two. Those demons have no honor."

Seras chuckled as she looked at the broadcast showing Damon. She tore into a piece of jerky she had hurriedly bought, wanting to taste Damon's flesh as he died. Her lips curled in cruel delight.

"Show me what you got, boy...."

Paimon wore a small smile as she glanced at the emperor.

"A shame, your majesty. It seems your son will be among the first casualties. And sadly, after getting killed by demons, his soul will belong... to the Unknown God."

The emperor Kronos kept his expression calm, but deep inside he was aware his son would die today. That boy never really accomplished anything in life, but he was still his son. He still wished he would live.

Damon stood back to back with Waton as a full party of demon heirs surrounded them.

"Hey, Wagon... can you hold your own against one of them?"

Waton bit his lips, already used to being called Wagon by Damon. He gulped, but the world and his father were watching.

He had to show the dignity of a prince. Yet his eyes watered, trembling with fear, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

More than anything, he wanted to ask those who had fought in real battles—how did they learn bravery, or where did they buy it?

"I... I can take anyone...." He could not.

"This is nothing." It was everything.

"I can kill them in a second...." He would die in a second.

"Don't worry about me. Save yourself...." Worry about me.

Damon sighed. This guy's pride would get them killed. His eyes never left the demons, but he understood Waton and his pride. Spineless as he seemed, he still had the dignity of a prince. He was not as pathetic as Damon had thought.

'I can't use mana or my soul backlash would get worse... or rather, I have to use it and any abilities in moderation.'

'Fine. I have a plan. It's crazy, but I can pull it off.'

"No need, Wagon. You seem to be a support class, right? Fine. I'll act as the sword. Support me with your magic."

Waton bit his lips as a staff materialized in his hands. His knuckles turned pale as he held onto it tightly.

"My magic is hard to adapt to. I may end up confusing you, I th—"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Fight at your own rhythm, and leave the rest to me. I promise... you will not die today. Maybe tomorrow, but not today."

"And who are you to decide that?" the demon heir of Rot asked, his eyes burning with malice.

Damon ignored him, reaching into his shadow storage.

The demons were cruel. They weren't attacking because they wanted to mentally break their prey, to build upon their despair, to let them realize the hopelessness of their situation and eventually crumble without a fight.

"Which of you clowns is the strongest again?"

The brown-haired demon, the child of the Lord of Rot, stepped forward with a cold smile.

"That would be me. Manata Astaroth. Of our current group, I am the most powerful."

Damon chuckled, a disdainful expression twisting his face.

"So there's someone stronger than you... You're weak."

Manata didn't waste time. With a loud boom, he crossed the distance between them.

Damon didn't shy away from a direct physical clash. He didn't reinforce his body with magic, but he was still a monster with insane physical stats.

[5x]

He poured the fivefold boost into his physical strength.

[Strength: 80,620] [5x]

Manata almost laughed, seeing a human challenge a demon in a physical clash. He could already see Damon's bones breaking within the first strike, even before his magic attribute shredded the foolish human's body.

Kashi and the other demons wouldn't even need to jump in before Damon died.

With the sound of thunder clapping, the wind roared through the trees, earth shattering as their fists collided.

Then a figure was sent flying through the forest, shattering branches and bringing the tall trees crashing down with groaning sounds.

Cough, cough... Damon coughed slightly, still standing in place with his fist outstretched, a few scratches on his gauntlet.

He hadn't used magic, but his body was still not in good condition. However, the one who was sent flying... was the demon.

Damon had set the bar a little too high. Why did he expect this demon to be that strong? Why did he think he was as strong as Ashcroft?

Ashcroft was an anomaly.

"Ahhh, you disappoint me. They just don't make demons like they used to...."

The others were frozen in shock. Even Waton stood wide-eyed at the sight before him. A human had just sent a demon flying in a feat of pure strength—a demon a whole rank higher.

The confusion wasn't only with them. Outside, everyone watching was shocked.

Manata stood up with a cold smile, his voice trembling with rage.

"Kill them... kill them now!"

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