Chapter 37: Endless Execution

Doom Master sighed, sinking into his throne. The ceiling of his chamber was transparent, allowing him to gaze upon a sky full of shining stars. These endless duels were becoming tiresome, their monotony wearing him down. He longed for a moment of rest.

Old habits resurfaced as he closed his eyes, preparing to retreat into his inner world.

Then, for a fleeting second, he heard a sound—sharp, rhythmic, like the typing of a keyboard.

His eyes snapped open.

"What… was that?" His gaze shifted to the sky. An unsettling feeling crept into his chest. "I don't know why, but I don't like that sound." A rare flicker of unease crossed his eyes.

"I… I am sorry, my lord," Hanz spoke, falling to his knees. His voice remained calm, yet there was an underlying tension. "But I did not hear the sound you speak of."

Doom Master's expression darkened as he looked down at Hanz. "Are you saying I'm lying?"

At once, Hanz felt it—that suffocating bloodthirst, the same oppressive aura he had experienced before. No, this was worse. It was not merely an overwhelming force but an icy, piercing sensation, like countless needles stabbing into his skin.

Cold sweat formed on his back. With a trembling voice, he answered, "My lord… how could I ever insult you?" His eyes remained fixed on Doom Master's feet. "If I did not hear it, it only means that your power exceeds all limits."

A grin stretched across Doom Master's lips. "Good. You know your place." His aura settled, and he leaned forward. "Now, let's continue."

Hanz stood and bowed. "As you command, Master."

With a tap of his trident, they vanished, reappearing in the coliseum.

Stepping forward, Hanz raised his voice. "Let the duels continue!"

The crowd erupted in a roar.

Hanz continued, "Introducing our first team—The Demon Steady and the Were-Hornet, Gojo!"

Two figures materialized in the center of the arena. Gojo raised a chunk of earth beneath them, using his gravity control to elevate their position. Smirking, he spread his arms wide.

"Greetings, insects!" he called out to the spectators. "We will dominate this tournament! And with our victory, you will all become our slaves!" He threw back his head in laughter.

The coliseum erupted with outrage.

"Fuck off!"

"Die, you piece of shit!"

"You'll be the one in chains!"

Hanz waited for the noise to settle before introducing the second team. "Now, let's welcome a familiar face! Once a demon, once a hero, now returned from the Otherworld—Shinobi Kb-Mgm! And his new partner, the alien, Chipmunk!"

The crowd roared again, this time with encouragement.

"Crush them, Kb!"

"Destroy those bastards!"

"Don't you dare lose!"

Kb-Mgm raised a hand, silencing the crowd. His gaze locked onto Gojo. "You. Get down here."

Without hesitation, he pointed a finger at the floating platform, and the chunk of earth shattered beneath them.

Steady teleported behind Kb, his movements swift and precise. With a flick of his wrist, his lightsaber ignited—and in the next instant, Kb's head was severed from his body.

Steady exhaled and deactivated his weapon. "It's over."

Or so he thought.

Kb's body bent down, picked up its own head, and reattached it. He grinned, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You really thought that would kill me?"

Steady took a step back, stunned.

Hanz turned to Doom Master. "Master, what should we do?"

Doom Master grinned. "Let them continue. This is getting entertaining."

"As you wish, my lord," Hanz said, bowing before addressing the crowd. "Doom Master has granted his permission! Be grateful!"

The spectators roared in approval, but the combatants were too focused to notice.

Steady's eyes narrowed. "How are you still alive?"

Kb smirked. "I don't know. Why don't you figure it out?"

Before Steady could react, a laser pierced through Kb's skull. His head snapped back—but his grin remained. "As I said, I'm basically immortal."

Gojo scowled and enclosed Kb within a dense sphere of compressed earth. "If your body is completely destroyed, let's see you regenerate then!"

From within the sphere, a voice echoed. "You're not the only one who can control gravity!"

In an instant, chunks of earth flew outward, slamming into Gojo with devastating force. His body was obliterated.

Steady wiped blood from his cheek. "Tch. Useless fool."

Chipmunk, who had remained on the sidelines, finally spoke up. "Hey, I should participate too, right?" He focused his abilities, attempting to take control of Steady's mind.

Steady winced, gripping his head. "Get… out of my mind!" He raised a finger and fired a laser, piercing Chipmunk's skull.

"What a worthless bastard," Kb muttered, spitting out blood. He turned to Steady, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, no one can interrupt us now, right?"

Steady smirked. "Right. But I will win."

With a flick of his wrist, countless portals formed around Kb.

"Let's play!"

A storm of needle-thin lasers rained down on Kb, tearing through his body. But he remained standing, laughing through the pain.

"You can't kill me!" he shouted, using gravity control to pull Steady toward him. "One touch, and you're dead!"

"Only if you can touch me."

In a flash, Kb's hands were severed. Steady teleported away before he could counter.

"Impressive," Kb admitted as his hands regenerated. "Shall we continue?"

Steady didn't answer. Instead, a powerful laser obliterated Kb's entire body—leaving behind only his feet.

Steady exhaled. "That should do it."

But then—

"Nah, that won't kill me. But it was painful."

From the remains of his feet, Kb regenerated fully.

Now completely naked.

"Shit. I really liked those clothes."

Steady sighed and tossed him a cloak. "Put this on. I don't want to see you naked."

"Oh, thanks. I wouldn't want to traumatize you with—"

Mid-sentence, Steady created a tiny portal inside Kb's brain and fired a laser through it.

Kb's head exploded. Blood and brain matter splattered across the arena.

And then…

His head regenerated.

"That was so rude," Kb muttered, shaking off the blood.

Steady's frustration peaked. He unleashed a barrage of lasers, piercing Kb over and over. But the demon refused to fall. He kept walking forward, his body healing as fast as it was destroyed.

"Playtime is over," Kb declared.

A suffocating aura filled the coliseum. Steady's knees buckled. His unstable mind couldn't withstand the overwhelming pressure.

"People like you," Kb sneered, "always kneel before me!"

With a powerful gravity pulse, he slammed Steady into the ground, pinning him with such force that he couldn't even blink.

"Who's in control now?" Kb grinned before stomping on Steady's face repeatedly, his laughter growing more maniacal with each hit. The beating continued until Steady coughed up blood, his face a mangled mess.

Kb slicked back his hair. "That was satisfying."

Then, with one final gravity surge, he crushed Steady's head into oblivion.

The coliseum erupted in applause.

Hanz stepped forward. "Let's meet our champion! But first—let's revive our second-place fighter."

With a snap of his fingers, Chipmunk was revived.

"Huh? I thought I died!" Chipmunk exclaimed.

Kb grinned. "Because you have the best partner." Then, without warning, he punched Chipmunk in the face. "You useless piece of shit."

Hanz cleared his throat. "Now, let's congratulate our winner! After a short break, we'll continue!"

He turned to Doom Master, and bowed before him "Did this duel satisfy you, my lord?"

Doom Master leaned back. "It was long. Almost boring. But the ending… that was Hanz bowed in front of Doom Master. "Did this duel bring you satisfaction, my lord?"

Doom Master leaned back in his throne, exhaling slowly. "It dragged on for too long… but the ending had its merits." His fingers tapped against the armrest. "Let the semifinals begin. This time, I expect true entertainment."

Hanz straightened, his voice carrying through the coliseum. "With this, we are one step away from the semifinals! Prepare yourselves—for what comes next will shake the very foundations of this arena!"

The crowd roared, anticipation thick in the air. But above it all, Doom Master simply watched, his gaze cold and unreadable, as if already looking past this battle… toward something far more interesting.