Lucifer finally stands in the center of the arena.

  He looks at the fighter known as Arden.

  Several seconds pass in heavy silence.

  Then Lucifer slowly walks forward.

  His steps are calm, yet his aura begins to grow heavier.

  He stops a few meters in front of Paragon.

  His eyes study the man’s face carefully.

  His brow furrows slightly.

  Something feels strangely familiar.

  Something he cannot explain.

  Lucifer speaks in a low voice.

  “Who are you?”

  He steps closer.

  His gaze sharpens.

  “I do not feel unfamiliar with you.”

  BOOOM!—Both of them charge at the same time.

  The arena floor cracks as they dash forward.

  Lucifer attacks first.

  His body spins quickly.

  “WHAM!”

  The first kick launches toward Paragon’s head.

  Paragon blocks it with his arm.

  “THUD!”

  The heavy impact echoes.

  Lucifer does not stop.

  His leg immediately spins again.

  “WHACK!”

  The second kick sweeps from the side.

  Paragon steps back half a step.

  Lucifer continues pressing.

  “WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!”

  A series of kicks strike in rapid succession.

  One toward the head.

  One toward the ribs.

  Another toward the shoulder.

  Paragon deflects most of the attacks, but Lucifer’s pressure forces him to retreat several steps across the arena floor.

  The audience immediately erupts.

  “ROAAAAAARRR!”

  Lucifer smiles faintly.

  He increases his rhythm.

  His attacks turn into a rain of kicks.

  “WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!”

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  The air around them trembles from the speed of the movements.

  Each kick is delivered with precision.

  Paragon continues to endure.

  Yet he is still pushed backward.

  Dust begins rising from the arena floor.

  Lucifer lands a powerful spinning kick.

  “BAM!”

  Paragon’s body is pushed several meters away.

  The crowd cheers even louder.

  In the upper stands, hundreds of thousands of spectators rise from their seats.

  Lucifer gives no time.

  He dashes forward again.

  This time his attacks change.

  Kicks followed by punches.

  “WHACK!”

  His foot slams into Paragon’s stomach.

  “THUD!”

  A fist follows toward the face.

  “CRACK!”

  Another punch targets the ribs.

  Lucifer attacks like a storm.

  Kick.

  Punch.

  Kick again.

  Punch again.

  His movements are extremely fast.

  “THUD! WHAM! CRACK! BAM!”

  Every impact echoes throughout the entire arena.

  Paragon continues to endure.

  This time he stops retreating.

  He begins to stand more firmly.

  Lucifer notices it.

  He swings a full-power spinning kick.

  “WHOOOOOM!”

  Paragon blocks with his arm.

  “BOOM!”

  The collision creates a small shockwave.

  For the first time since the beginning of the fight, Paragon does not move backward.

  Lucifer frowns slightly.

  Paragon finally moves.

  He swings his fist.

  “THUD!”

  The punch strikes Lucifer’s stomach.

  Lucifer steps back once.

  Only one step.

  That is enough to change the rhythm of the battle.

  Paragon steps forward.

  “BAM!”

  The second punch strikes Lucifer’s shoulder.

  Lucifer attempts to retaliate with a kick.

  Paragon is already faster.

  “CRACK!”

  The third punch hits his ribs.

  Lucifer retreats again.

  The audience begins to realize something.

  Their cheers change.

  Now they are not merely cheering.

  They shout louder.

  Paragon continues pressing.

  “THUD!”

  A punch to the stomach.

  “BAM!”

  A strike to the jaw.

  “CRACK!”

  An elbow slams into the chest.

  Lucifer tries to counterattack.

  A kick launches.

  Paragon blocks it.

  “WHAM!”

  Lucifer attempts a punch.

  Paragon dodges.

  “BAM!”

  Paragon’s counter lands first.

  Lucifer begins to retreat.

  Step by step.

  Paragon gives no space.

  Every time Lucifer tries to raise his hand to attack, Paragon strikes first.

  “THUD!”

  “CRACK!”

  “BAM!”

  Paragon’s attacks are far simpler.

  Each movement hits its target.

  Lucifer can now only defend.

  He blocks.

  He dodges.

  He shields his body with his arms.

  The attacks keep coming.

  “THUD!”

  A punch strikes his stomach.

  “CRACK!”

  Another blow hits his jaw.

  “BAM!”

  Another strikes his shoulder.

  Blood begins to flow from the corner of Lucifer’s lips.

  The crowd grows even wilder.

  “ROOOOOOAAAARRRR!”

  The arena trembles from their screams.

  Paragon steps forward again.

  Lucifer tries to jump backward.

  Paragon immediately pursues.

  “THUD!”

  A punch strikes his chest.

  Lucifer staggers.

  Paragon does not stop.

  “CRACK!”

  An elbow slams into Lucifer’s face.

  Blood splashes onto the arena floor.

  Lucifer stumbles backward several steps.

  He is still standing.

  Paragon steps forward once more.

  The next attack comes harder.

  “BAM!”

  A punch strikes Lucifer’s stomach.

  Lucifer bends forward.

  Paragon raises his hand for the final blow.

  The audience realizes the moment.

  The entire colosseum roars.

  “EXECUTION!”

  “EXECUTION!”

  “EXECUTION!”

  “EXECUTION!”

  Hundreds of thousands of voices shout the same word.

  Paragon pulls his fist back.

  But just before the punch is released—

  He stops.

  Lucifer stands in front of him.

  His face is covered in blood.

  Yet his lips are smiling.

  A wide smile.

  His eyes shine with something sharp.

  He laughs softly.

  Paragon looks at him.

  Lucifer takes a deep breath.

  He murmurs in a low voice.

  “I know who you are now.”

  He lifts his head slightly.

  This time his voice is louder.

  “PARAGON!”

  His shout echoes across the entire colosseum.

  The arena instantly falls into chaos.

  “Paragon?!”

  “That being?!”

  “Why is he here?!”

  The spectators begin to panic.

  The atmosphere suddenly grows quiet.

  Lucifer stares sharply at Paragon.

  Blood still flows from his mouth.

  He speaks softly, but his voice is clear.

  “Is your presence here meant to humiliate me?”

  He laughs quietly.

  “You are not enough to disturb my life.”

  Lucifer narrows his eyes.

  “Is the gift you received still not sufficient that you come to me here?”

  He steps slightly closer.

  His eyes never leave Paragon.

  “You will know the price.”

  Lucifer grins.

  “There will be a cosmic war that you will bear someday—by me.”

  A faint smile forms on Paragon’s face.

  “Do it,” he mutters.

  “Because all of you are very weak,” he says.

  Paragon’s body lifts from the ground.

  He begins to rise into the air.

  The spectators in the colosseum look upward in disbelief.

  Within seconds, Paragon shoots away from the arena.

  Lucifer remains standing in the center of the colosseum.

  The smile on his face slowly fades as he watches Paragon leave without looking back.

  A few seconds later—

  “Cuih.”

  Lucifer spits blood onto the ground.

  He wipes the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.

  “So arrogant,” he mutters quietly.