The arena shook from the impact of the clash.
The Abyssal Serpent and the Hell Dragon tore through the battlefield like disasters given flesh.
The Hell Dragon lunged first, molten flames exploding from his arms as he swung downward with overwhelming force. The serpent twisted unnaturally, the flames grazing her scales and burning chunks from her body.
But she smiled.
A disturbing, predatory smile.
The spectators erupted.
"Kill!!"
"Kill!!"
"KILL!!"
The Colosseum fed on violence.
The Hell Dragon roared and transformed partially, draconic wings bursting from his back as lava poured from his jaws. He slammed both fists downward—
BOOOOM!!
The arena floor shattered.
Stone exploded upward.
The Abyssal Serpent was blown through several pillars, blood spilling from her mouth.
But instead of weakening—
Her aura deepened.
The shadows beneath the Hell Dragon suddenly moved.
His eyes widened.
Too late.
The serpent vanished.
Then reappeared from within his own shadow.
Her lower body wrapped around him instantly.
Tighter.
Tighter.
CRACK.
His spine broke first.
Then—
SNAP.
His neck twisted unnaturally backward.
The Hell Dragon spasmed violently.
The serpent squeezed harder until bones pierced through flesh.
Then—
She opened her jaws wide.
And devoured him whole.
The arena exploded with excitement.
Millions screamed in ecstasy.
"DEATH!!"
"BLOOD!!"
"AGAIN!!"
The announcer laughed loudly.
"THE FIRST ROUND GOES TO THE ABYSSAL SERPENT!"
The serpent hissed proudly toward the crowd before slithering back toward the waiting area, blood dripping from her mouth.
"And now…"
The announcer grinned wider.
"The next match!"
"Number 7…"
"…and Number 20!"
Inside the waiting room, Damian slowly stood up.
The room briefly quieted.
Not from respect.
From instinct.
Even monsters could feel something wrong about him.
Damian began walking toward the gate.
Then—
A massive bald-headed man with black horns stepped directly in front of him.
The demon towered over Damian, muscles swollen unnaturally large.
He looked down and sneered.
"Huh?"
"What's this?"
"A human in Hell?"
Several contestants nearby laughed.
The horned man placed his giant hand on Damian's head mockingly.
Inside Damian's subconsciousness, Sophie sighed.
"…I wanted to avoid things like this."
"But it's Hell."
She looked downward quietly.
"Right now Damian doesn't have much humanity left."
"He can think logically."
"Strategically."
"With intellect."
"But the only thing he's moving on now is instinct…"
"…and reviving Isabell."
A pause.
Then Sophie closed her eyes slightly.
"…I'm sorry for what that bald-headed guy is about to experience."
Back in reality—
CRACK.
Damian grabbed the demon's arm and broke it instantly.
The room went silent.
Before the demon could even scream—
Damian kicked his right leg.
SNAP.
The knee bent sideways grotesquely.
The demon collapsed halfway—
Then Damian punched him directly in the windpipe.
The sound stopped.
No scream.
No roar.
Just choking.
Then Damian moved behind him.
One arm grabbed the demon's head.
His foot planted against the demon's back.
And—
RIIIP.
He tore the entire head off.
Blood sprayed across the waiting room walls.
The body collapsed twitching.
Silence.
Then—
The other contestants burst out laughing.
One demon pointed at the corpse.
"I told you!"
"He'd die someday because of his shitty ways!"
Another one laughed harder.
"You should've seen his eyes!"
"He felt fear!"
Blood dripped from Damian's hand.
He didn't react.
Didn't care.
He simply continued walking toward the arena exit.
Still holding the head.
The arena gates opened slowly.
Damian stepped out.
The severed head hanging from his right hand.
Blood covering his clothes and face.
The entire Colosseum went silent for a brief moment.
Millions of eyes locked onto him.
Then—
The stadium erupted.
The roar shook the heavens of the Underworld.
"A HUMAN?!"
"HE KILLED A CONTESTANT!"
"LOOK AT HIS EYES!"
"MONSTER!!"
Damian ignored all of it.
From the opposite side of the arena—
The second gate opened.
Heavy footsteps echoed.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
A gigantic Minotaur emerged.
Massive muscles.
Black fur.
Towering horns.
A monstrous creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull.
Steam blew from its nostrils as it stared directly at Damian.
Damian casually dropped the severed head.
It rolled across the arena floor.
Stopped at the Minotaur's feet.
The Minotaur slowly looked down.
Then crushed it beneath its hoof.
SPLAT.
The announcer raised his arms.
"MATCH BEGIN!"