One year has passed since the day of Paragon’s creation.

  Since then, the balance of the universe has begun to change slowly. The process that once moved inevitably toward Heat Death no longer continues without resistance. Energy that once dispersed without control now has a center of command.

  Omni-Core.

  Paragon becomes the link between that core and reality.

  He does not rule galaxies. He does not build empires. His task is far quieter than that. He moves through vast stretches of space, correcting imbalances in cosmic energy that ordinary beings cannot perceive.

  Sometimes he halts the collapse of a star that is dying too quickly.

  Sometimes he stabilizes space around a black hole that has begun devouring nearby star systems too aggressively.

  Sometimes he simply observes.

  Most of his time is spent in silence.

  Absolute Infinity is unimaginably vast. Even for a being capable of crossing space in an instant, the region still feels like a boundless ocean.

  Paragon grows accustomed to it.

  He is created in silence.

  He carries out his duty in silence.

  One year after his creation, Paragon completes a major cycle of cosmic energy stabilization. He plans to return to the Grand Hall to report the results to the gods.

  His journey carries him across many cosmic regions.

  Vast nebulae.

  Fragments of distant galaxies.

  Small dimensions inhabited by beings who do not even realize that the universe possesses a greater structure beyond their world.

  During this journey, he encounters something different.

  A planet.

  The planet exists within a stable region of space. Its atmosphere is saturated with unusual energy. From orbit, Paragon can see vast cities glowing across its surface.

  Yet one structure stands above all others.

  A colosseum, set within Absolute Infinity.

  The structure is so massive that it is clearly visible from space. Its walls form a gigantic circular ring of metal surrounding the central arena.

  From within the structure, a thunderous roar rises high enough to reach the upper atmosphere.

  “ROAAAAAARRR!”

  Hundreds of thousands of beings shout at once.

  The wave of sound surges upward like a storm.

  Paragon stops in the air, silently observing.

  He can sense the dense emotional energy concentrated within that place.

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  Excitement.

  Anger.

  Adrenaline.

  Pride.

  He has never witnessed anything like it before.

  For the past year, he has seen nothing but empty space and silent cosmic phenomena.

  Yet on this planet, life feels intensely concentrated.

  The colosseum stands at the center of it all.

  Today is the annual festival.

  Every year, the greatest fighters from across the planet gather there. They fight one against another, life or death.

  The victor receives honor, wealth, and power.

  But the most important prize is the title.

  The strongest.

  Above the colosseum stands a massive throne overlooking the arena.

  That is where the ruler of this place sits.

  Lucifer.

  To the inhabitants of this planet, he is the owner of the colosseum. A ruler who has never lost a battle.

  No one knows his true identity.

  No one knows that he is, in truth, the sovereign of darkness and sorcery.

  Today he sits comfortably upon his black metal throne. One arm rests against the armrest as his eyes watch the arena with a bored expression.

  Below him, two fighters clash.

  “CLANG!”

  A sword slams against a shield.

  “CRACK!”

  An elbow strikes a jaw.

  One of the fighters collapses to the ground.

  The crowd erupts in cheers.

  Lucifer exhales slowly.

  “A boring fight,” he mutters quietly.

  No one is strong enough to interest him.

  It has been like this for years.

  Strong fighters appear from time to time, yet none of them can truly challenge him.

  High above the colosseum, Paragon still floats.

  He observes everything.

  The silence he is accustomed to does not exist here.

  Instead, there is noise, motion, and living energy constantly in motion.

  After a moment, he slowly descends.

  His body begins to change.

  The light that usually surrounds him fades. His appearance transforms into that of an ordinary human.

  A disguise.

  He lands outside the colosseum.

  A crowd of fighters gathers around the registration area.

  Voices echo everywhere.

  “Hey, where are you from?”

  “New fighter?”

  “Hope you don’t die in the first round.”

  Paragon walks closer.

  He notices a large board displaying the match list.

  A guard sits behind a registration desk.

  “Name?” the guard asks without looking up.

  Paragon pauses briefly.

  He cannot use his real name.

  “Arden,” he answers calmly.

  The guard writes the name onto the list.

  “Fine. Wait for your call.”

  Paragon nods and walks toward the waiting area.

  Meanwhile, inside the arena, the battles continue.

  “BOOM!”

  One fighter slams into the ground.

  Dust rises into the air.

  The crowd roars with excitement.

  After some time, a guard enters the waiting room.

  “Arden! Get ready!”

  Paragon walks toward the arena entrance.

  The massive metal gate opens.

  “GRRRRRRKKK!”

  Heavy metal scrapes as the door slides aside.

  When he steps inside, the arena lights glare brightly.

  Hundreds of thousands of spectators fill the stands.

  Their voices echo like a raging storm.

  Across the arena, his opponent is already waiting.

  A massive fighter with a body full of muscle and a gigantic axe in his hands.

  The man grins viciously.

  “New fighter, huh?”

  The referee raises his hand.

  “Begin!”

  The large fighter charges immediately.

  “RAAAAH!”

  His axe swings forward.

  Paragon does not move.

  The axe nearly reaches him.

  In a simple motion, Paragon raises his hand.

  One punch.

  “THUD!”

  His fist strikes the opponent’s chest.

  The impact is immediate.

  The giant fighter lifts off the ground.

  “BOOOOM!”

  He crashes violently against the arena wall and collapses without moving.

  Everything happens in a single second.

  The arena falls silent.

  Completely silent.

  Hundreds of thousands of spectators stare in stunned quiet.

  Then—

  “ROAAAAAAARRRRR!”

  The cheers explode.

  The audience rises from their seats.

  Some scream wildly.

  Others laugh in disbelief.

  Above the arena, Lucifer, who had been leaning lazily against his throne, now sits upright.

  His eyes narrow.

  He watches the new fighter in the arena.

  “Interesting,” he murmurs.

  The next match begins.

  Second opponent.

  “CRACK!”

  One punch.

  The opponent falls.

  Third opponent.

  “THUD!”

  One strike.

  The match ends instantly.

  The crowd grows louder with each round.

  The name Arden begins echoing throughout the entire colosseum.

  Lucifer continues watching.

  His expression slowly changes.

  He is no longer bored.

  Now he is curious.

  Fight after fight passes.

  No opponent survives more than a single strike.

  Eventually, the match list reaches the highest class.

  A class with only one fighter.

  Lucifer himself.

  The audience begins shouting.

  “King’s battle!”

  “Come down!”

  Lucifer rises from his throne.

  His black cloak moves slowly behind him.

  He descends the great staircase toward the arena floor.

  With each step he takes, the arena grows quieter.

  The crowd understands what this means.

  The king’s battle.