Following the blond man's lead, Duanmu Huai and Honoka boarded a subway train. Soon, the train started up and sped down the tracks.
"Next, we'll be heading to the venue."
The blond man sat across from Duanmu Huai, smiling as he inspected him.
"Since this is your first time participating in the tournament, I need to explain the procedures."
"Oh?"
"First, you'll undergo inspection upon arrival—especially your partner. We must confirm that she is pure and untouched before she's qualified to participate. Also, during the tournament, you are forbidden from contacting the outside world. All communication devices will be jammed inside the venue."
"Why?"
Duanmu Huai raised a brow, and the blond man chuckled.
"It's simple. Nobody wants a prize that's… secondhand, right?"
"Uh… fine, I guess you have a point."
Duanmu Huai shrugged. He could understand it—if the rule didn't exist, contestants could just pay random women to pretend to be partners. But…
"In that case, what if someone doesn't have a partner? They can't participate?"
"Of course they can. We provide suitable candidates for any contestant who cannot find one. Rest assured, the women we offer are top-grade and pure."
"I see."
Hearing this, Duanmu Huai and Honoka exchanged a glance. It now seemed very likely Mary Rose had been deceived by these people and brought here.
"Then what exactly is this Battle God Power?"
Duanmu Huai stored the man's words in his mind and asked again. At that, a flash of excitement passed through the blond man's eyes.
"That is the power to rule this world. With the Battle God Power, one can reign over the entire Duel City, becoming a king among millions!"
"That's strange."
Duanmu Huai narrowed his eyes.
"If it's that good, why doesn't the Duel Tournament distribute it? Why only display it in some underground competition? Wouldn't giving it out in the Duel Tournament be more logical?"
"Hmph. Because they fear such power."
The blond man scoffed.
"Those stiff-brained old men are terrified of a force strong enough to dominate all of Duel City, so they sealed it away. But their fear is nothing but weakness and cowardice. True warriors should never shy away from such choices and challenges!"
"Well then I'm curious about something."
Duanmu Huai eyed the blond man.
"If this power is so strong, why don't you keep it? Why bother hosting a Battle God Championship? Wouldn't it be better to keep it for yourselves?"
"If we could, we would. But the Battle God Power has its own will and chooses its recipient. We have no choice. The tournament itself—choosing a victor—this is the Battle God Power's requirement."
"…Fine, got it."
Duanmu Huai curled his lip. Judging by what I've heard, I can already guess what this so-called Battle God Power is—definitely nothing good.
"What about the match schedule?"
"Each participant will fight three matches—one match every three days. The tournament begins and ends at the same time as the Duel Tournament."
As he spoke, the blond man's smile twisted into something cold and sinister.
"When those idiots above us cheer for their 'champions,' they'll have no idea the true ruler of this city will be born right beneath their noses!"
A full-blown villain speech. Duanmu Huai didn't even bother commenting.
As for the tournament itself, the Battle God Championship had almost no rules. Contestants could use any weapons or methods. You either died in the arena, or died outside afterward.
Once you stepped onto the stage, the only two outcomes were survival—or death.
——————
The subway rolled to a stop, the doors sliding open. The blond man stood.
"All right, let's go. As a special contestant, I assume you'll attract a lot of attention."
"The more the better."
Duanmu Huai wasn't intimidated in the slightest.
Exiting the train, the scenery changed completely. Unlike the abandoned station earlier, this platform was clean and bright. Ahead stretched a bustling underground street with shops and stalls. According to the blond man, this area used to be an underground mall beneath the Duel Tournament arena. They later purchased and remodeled it into the current underground fighting venue.
And the passage they were walking through was the contestants' "exclusive corridor."
"What's going on here?"
At the corridor entrance stood a heavily scarred man. When he saw the blond man leading Duanmu Huai and Honoka over, he scowled viciously.
"I already told you—he's the last contestant."
"Registration period is over!"
"I know. But… that decision isn't mine to make."
"What?"
Before the scarred man could react, Duanmu Huai's huge hand reached out, grabbed him by the head—
BANG!!
—slamming it into the wall. The heavy thud echoed as Duanmu Huai leaned in, his eyes narrowing at the warped face.
"I said I'm entering. You got a problem with that? Hm?!"
"K-ka… ka…"
Duanmu Huai's grip tightened, bones crackling beneath his fingers. The man's eyes bulged like they were about to pop out, his mouth opening and closing like a suffocating goldfish.
"N-no, no…"
"Hmph."
Duanmu Huai tossed him aside like garbage. The blond man watched silently, then smirked.
"Let's go."
After entering the underground mall, they first followed the blond man to a medical room, where a female doctor performed a full-body examination on Honoka. When she came out, her face was as red as a baboon's backside—but she passed.
Next, they were assigned a private room and given a tournament communication device, which would notify them of match schedules and opponents.
"Of course, since your participation is… unique, I imagine the schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Well then… do your best."
Leaving those words behind, the blond man exited, closing the door.
"This place feels awful…"
Honoka sat nervously on the sofa. No surprise—on the way here she'd seen all kinds of disturbing sights: women displayed like merchandise in glass boxes, swarms of thugs leering at them, and female staff dressed in scanty bikinis or bunny suits. Honoka felt like she was sitting on needles the whole way.
If not for Mary, she would never come to a place crawling with demons like this.
"Why would Mary enter a competition like this…?"
"Probably tricked. Happens all the time."
Duanmu Huai shrugged. Mary Rose might be a martial artist, but her strength was nothing special. And the people running a tournament on the scale of the Battle God Championship—people who openly oppose the Duel Tournament and scheme to control Duel City—were definitely not people Mary could handle. They might've even threatened Honoka to force Mary to obey.
The underworld always used the same tricks.
With organizations like this, talking reason did nothing.
The only solution was violence.
"Ding-dong… ding-dong…"
At that moment, a speaker sounded in the room. A woman's voice echoed out.
"Attention, all participants and guests. The Battle God Championship opening ceremony is about to begin. Please follow your designated guide to the arena."
Knock knock knock.
Almost immediately, someone knocked on the door. Duanmu Huai opened it to find a seductive woman in a bunny suit. She flinched upon seeing him, but quickly put on a professional smile.
"Hello, I'm your designated guide. Please follow me to the arena."
"Oh."
Duanmu Huai nodded, signaling Honoka. She took a deep breath and followed.
Even though she was mentally prepared, Honoka still gasped when they reached the arena.
It looked exactly like an ancient Roman Colosseum. Rows upon rows of seats packed with spectators—shouting, screaming, bellowing—echoing endlessly in the enclosed underground dome.
"Miss Honoka, please wait here."
As Honoka tried to follow Duanmu Huai toward the stage, another bunny girl stopped her. Not sure why, Honoka obediently stayed put. Only then did she realize—
Despite being the "opening ceremony," there were no other contestants on the stage besides Duanmu Huai.
What was going on?
Despite the strange atmosphere, Duanmu Huai stepped into the arena calmly.
Moments later, the announcer's voice boomed from the speakers.
"Sorry for the wait, ladies and gentlemen—
The Battle God Championship… is about to begin!"
"OOOOOOOOHHHH!!"
The audience roared. But the announcer continued:
"But before the main event begins, we have a special exhibition!"
Exhibition?
Honoka felt a chill in her heart.
Duanmu Huai didn't even blink.
"Before you stands an arrogant trespasser! He ignored the rules of the Battle God Championship and demanded entry even after missing the registration deadline! Tell me—can we permit such reckless behavior?!"
"NO! NO! NO!!"
The shouting intensified.
Honoka's face went pale.
Had they walked right into the blond man's trap…?
Just as panic rose in her chest, the announcer shouted again—
"No! We CAN—!!"
"…Huh??"
The audience instantly fell into chaos, shocked by the twist.
They'd expected the organizers to punish Duanmu Huai publicly… not this.
The announcer continued:
"The Battle God Championship seeks the strongest warrior! Only the strongest may claim the Battle God Power! Before a true powerhouse, rules are meaningless! But first—he must prove to us that he IS strong! Only then may he ignore the rules and become a contestant!"
BOOM!!
Steel gates slammed down around the arena, sealing all exits.
The walls slid open, and packs of wolves emerged—eyes glowing green, fangs dripping.
"Now then! This is the challenger's trial! If he cannot overcome it, he will become food for the beasts!
And his partner will become the prize for everyone present!!"
"OOOOOOOOHHHH!!"
The crowd erupted.
Duanmu Huai simply folded his arms.
Honestly… this is so standard it's boring.
"Begin the trial!!!"
The cages flew open—
And dozens of wolves burst out, howling, lunging straight at Duanmu Huai!
(End of Chapter)