Marlene, Subaru, and the rest of the team sat in the audience, eagerly anticipating the upcoming fight. They were there to enjoy the matches, completely unaware that Broken was about to enter the ring under his alias, Void Reaper.
His opponent emerged-a Bloodfiend, the same species of demon Broken had battled in the cave with Princess Alora. This one was level 169. Bloodfiends were notorious for their agility and speed, armed with long, deadly claws designed to tear apart their enemies. He knew he would need to counter its speed with his own raw Strength.
But there was another problem. What if Marlene and the others recognized him? His identity had to remain hidden, yet he couldn’t afford to hold back. The stakes were high, and any hesitation could cost him the match-or worse.
“I hope you’ve placed your bets! Because the fight starts now!” the host shouted.
The crowd erupted in cheers as the bell rang. The Bloodfiend, thin and hunched over with a single horn on the left side of its head, immediately took a predatory stance, ready to strike. “I’ll tear your body apart and drink your blood!” the Bloodfiend hissed.
Broken, draped in his black cloak and wearing his chain bracelets, stood calm and unshaken as always. His usual, collected posture gave nothing away to his opponent or the roaring crowd.
“Void Reaper! You can win!” The audience chanted his name.
“Void Reaper! Void Reaper!” Their voices rose in excitement.
The Bloodfiend darted forward like a predator, its speed nearly blinding. With an Agility stat of 798, this demon was not going to be easy to handle. Its rapid movements meant it could evade, attack, and reposition with terrifying swiftness. This fight was going to be a brutal contest between raw power and sheer speed.
The Bloodfiend lunged, swiping with both claws at lightning speed. Broken managed to block with his arms, deflecting the strikes. The demon attacked again, but Broken held his ground, blocking and parrying each deadly claw.
But it was clear-his own attack speed couldn’t match the Bloodfiend’s rapid strikes. If he wanted to win, he couldn’t afford to remain passive. He needed to switch to offense, to strike aggressively and overpower the demon before it overwhelmed him with speed.
Broken dashed forward, positioning himself for a punch, but the Bloodfiend spun mid-air, narrowly dodging the strike. It twisted its body repeatedly before landing in a crouched position, poised to strike again.
The issue was, Broken found himself in a tough spot. He was holding back, avoiding showcasing his Muay Thai techniques too blatantly, while still trying to find an opening to counterattack. However, the delay in his response left him vulnerable. The Bloodfiend’s claws raked across his arm, tearing through his cloak and exposing his left arm.
“What’s going on with Void Reaper?”
“He seems off today.”
“Is he losing?”
“Damn it! He’s toying with us-he’s throwing the fight to cash in on bets!” “This bastard!”
“No way, he’s not as strong as we thought! He’s going to lose to that Bloodfiend, hahaha!”
The crowd’s mood shifted, with some panicking over their bets while others laughed, enjoying the sight of Void Reaper appearing cornered. Broken could feel the pressure mounting as the demon’s relentless speed kept him on the defensive, and he knew he had to act soon or risk losing control of the fight entirely.
What’s the worst problem he would face if Shadow Wolves realized he was a player? Or what if they found out it was him?
He pondered the weight of the situation. He was on Princess Alora’s side, standing opposed to the Shadow Wolves, and there were so many secrets he had carefully concealed. Exposing his level would risk unraveling everything-especially his true identity as a Divine Champion. That was something he had kept hidden for good reason.
Was it really a problem if they discovered he was a Divine Champion? He asked himself again, feeling the doubt creep in. Would it change things?
Some Divine Champions had already revealed their identities to the public, openly embracing their status. So why hadn’t he done the same?
Broken simply wanted to avoid the disadvantages that came with too many people knowing he was the Sloth Champion-at least for now.
He needed to build his power base first: alliances, perhaps even a guild, until he felt confident enough to handle the consequences of his identity being exposed.
Revealing his status would draw the attention of not just the Shadow Wolves, but also countless other factions and powerful individuals. The Divine Champion title held immense weight in the world. People might see him as a threat, or worse, as a tool to be controlled. The last thing he needed was to be caught in a political and power struggle that could pull him away from his own path.
Besides, being underestimated had its own advantages. When others looked down on him, they became careless, believing they had the upper hand. Broken could exploit that arrogance, turning it against them when they least expected it. In the end, arrogance was a blade that often cut both ways, and Broken was more than willing to let it work in his favor.
Broken continued to fend off the Bloodfiend’s relentless attacks, carefully avoiding the use of too much of his Muay Thai techniques, still searching for a way to win the fight without revealing too much of his combat style.
Unbeknownst to him, Marlene and the others were watching the fight with intense focus.
“Is this the fighter you said was on the rise, Subaru? This guy doesn’t match the hype at all.” Subaru replied. “Oh really…? I heard he’s been undefeated since he started on the 1st floor. I mean, that’s what people are saying. Ha ha ha.”
“But he looks like crap. He’s just dodging and looks foolish getting hit by that stupid
Bloodfiend.”
“Still, why do his movements seem so familiar to me…? Like… something I’ve seen before,” another member commented, narrowing their eyes.
“What do you mean? Like Muay Thai moves?” someone else asked.
“Could he be a player? Maybe that’s why he’s hiding his identity?”
Hearing this question, everyone began to discuss it more seriously.
“This asshole only started participating in this tower about a week ago, right? And he’s been winning big, even with such a low level.”
“Yeah, he must be a professional fighter. Probably in the real world. That’s the most logical explanation for how he’s winning against these dumb demons despite his low level,” another
agreed.
“Wait,” someone else interjected, “could he be the one who infiltrated our expedition?”
“But no way, a level 130 player? Wouldn’t it be an insult to us if someone that low-level really infiltrated without us noticing?”
“Still, damn, he’s clearly holding back. I’m starting to think it’s because he’s noticed we’re here,” someone else mused.
Subaru chuckled. “Hahaha, come on, guys. Aren’t you being a bit dramatic? I doubt the assassin we’ve been talking about would be so careless as to expose his identity in public like
this.”
“If it’s true, though,” another muttered, “then this guy is the one who stole Infernak from us.
He owes us big.”
“What do you think, Marlene?” one of them asked, turning to her.
Marlene simply smiled as she watched the fight. “Let’s see,” she said. “Will he lose, or will he reveal who he really is?”