The demon looked confused, as if never expecting Leonhardt to say something like that. He tilted his head before looking back at the other two demons. "What?" He asked a question the moment it dawned on him.

"I said, let's fight if you're so superior."

Leonhardt's desire to bow to demons vanished when he fought the previous idiot who tried to kill his goblins. Zafira was different. Special. He wanted to crush this demon as if to prove to himself. I am worthy of her.

"So let's take it down there!"

Leonhardt placed both hands on the two minotaurs when he spoke and felt a suction growing in his abdomen. They struggled for a few seconds. Unable to understand that his core was devouring their mana and lifeforce.

[Wow... you're such an evil man]

(Hehe~ look at that he's devouring two living creatures now!)

Ifrit's cute giggle revealed her amusement, while Dravanna didn't hide her love for chaos as a black dragon. However, Leonhardt was quite surprised because he was only trying it out, as these minotaurs were magical beings.

Pseudo Chimaera likes him.

Ba-Dump...!

His heartbeat increased, and the familiar tingle of his muscles and core swelling ever so slightly. This method might not give much power, but Leonhardt needed all he could get to match his growing enemies.

"Do you have a death wish, little chimaera?"

"I don't think I will lose, especially against you alone."

'I want to devour more... to crush this bastard.'

[...careful Leonhardt]

(Oh, this is a little dangerous.)

They didn't elaborate, but the world eater's core wasn't some cheap core; the danger they spoke of was the high that came from devouring another's power. Once the wielder became aware of the sensation, it became difficult to stop them.

"A mere dungeon master dares to act superior, FINE! Let me teach you a vital lesson!"

The demon began to tap the screen several times, entering what looked like strange runic symbols.

Until his language skills activated, he realised it was a bet.

The demon was setting up the next arena match for him to fight the three demons, maybe he didn't know that Leonhardt could read it and would accept this condition like a fool.

'This is good... let's make a bet, Ifrit how do I do it!?'

[Haa... be careful that demon is stronger than you in most attributes]

He knew she cared about him, so he didn't complain; instead, he tapped the screen as a new panel appeared.

[Arena Fight]

Leonhardt Van Arlet (Rank D - Dungeon Master) Vs Azriel

Victory: 100 - 1 Odds

There were plenty of other bets, but Leonhardt wasn't a betting man and just put all his currency on victory. This change caused a stir in the crowd when the betting odds fluctuated momentarily before returning to Azriel's favour.

'I'm gonna be rich.'

Leonhardt had already forgotten the danger and stepped towards the small elevated stage in the room. The other demons glared at him but didn't attack him even when he turned his back on them and stood on the black footmarks.

'Maybe there's a rule in this place...'

"Chimaera, you better be prepared!" The demon growled, aggressive and angry.

"Whatever, let's go to the Arena."

***

Meanwhile, as the ground began to descend like an elevator with a low hydraulic hiss, Nyxara and Rock shifted into the crowd, finding seats in the front row near the western seating.

She limped while gripping her abdomen and stomach with a dark look on her face before collapsing on her seat with a low sigh.

"Damn it, why is he causing trouble... after making me so sore?!"

"Lady Nyx, the boss seems to be in danger. What should we do to help him?"

Rock genuinely showed concern, his voice quivering like his fluffy tail, but the dark elf scoffed.

"Him in trouble? I worry for those foolish demons. Leonhardt doesn't fight when he cannot win. He's dirty like that." Memories of when she first fought him reminded Nyxara of the past and what happened.

The two focused on the arena as the announcer entered, starting the hype for the matchup.

"Welcome, everyone! As you can see, we're about to witness a spectacle! Arena master Azriel will face the new up-and-coming star in the Dungeon world!"

"WOOOAH! LORD AZRIEL!"

"He's killed every enemy so far. This guy is stupid!"

"But the opponent is the Dungeon Master who skipped two ranks!"

"Azriel is a demon, you fool!"

The demon flicked his daggers in the air, looking smug with the shouts from various women and monsters from the crowd.

Leonhardt was already on the stage but had nothing to flaunt to the crowd, so he stood calmly. He wondered about the best way to fight, what to hide, and what to show off. If he gave away his strengths now, then in the future, the demons and other monsters might use them against him.

However, weakening himself too much, the demons would crush him.

"Oh... there's Nyxara." He mused while waiting for the match to start.

"This is the dungeon master of that upstart dungeon! We'll see how cocky he is after Azriel defeats him!"

'Upstart dungeon? Call it an Upstart Kingdom!'

"Place your bets now, because the fight begins in sixty seconds!"

A countdown started with a timer above both fighters. They needed to be inside their designated zones, or the penalty was immediate defeat.

'Hmm, this might be good.'

"Do your best, don't lose!"

A single voice echoed in the crowd, Leonhardt's long ears fluttering when he heard her calling for him in her husky, low voice.

'That girl...'

Nyxara stood with an unstable footing and chanted his name.

When their eyes met, she blushed and quickly sat down with a pained face.

Not wanting her to be upset, he mouthed the words. I'll win for you.

The exceptional sight of elves couldn't miss the movements, and her brown cheeks became a darker red as she covered her face.

That's when a voice disturbed Leonhardt.

"Heh, imagine accepting inferior mistakes like those dark skinned whores. Desperate for strength, and any seed will do. The bitch is worth less than a dog."

The words weren't that offensive... yet the moment he heard the words, Leonhardt's core throbbed, it pulsed as if growing twice the size before shrinking again, causing a dull ache replaced by a fire that burned his body.

Leonhardt felt something deep inside him snap into place. Bloodlust filled his entire body, almost burning him from within, yet his lips remained curled into a cold smile, his atmosphere calm and icy... as if he lacked all emotions.

'Is it because she is my monster, or because we shared our bodies and fluids? I don't understand these feelings entirely, but I want to kill that demon. To rip the flesh from his bones and tear his muscles apart. Is this how one feels towards their family? No. Not quite... but is it something close to it?'

His mind drifted through his body.

He found the core and connected it.

The sensation of the world eater's core filled his mind like a deep well of mana flooding his body with power, and the means to complete all goals and desires.

"Now! Let the Battle Begin!"

The announcer's voice rang out as the two fighters stood facing one another, each waiting for the other to make their first move.

The moment that he heard those words, Leonhardt moved.

His body darted forward, tapping the ground with light steps, measured and practised through dozens of hours of practice with Zafira, a level 101 demon princess.

The demon followed suit, his eyes pitch black with a slit blue pupil focused on Leonhardt.

Leonhardt reached for the blade on his hip and drew it with a flourish, ready to strike, while Azriel raised his spear.

A magical blade met a simple sword in an explosive clash, sparks flying from the impact.

Clang!

He didn't use his greatsword but a simple iron longsword, which Hanz created for the goblins. It was a standard weapon built well.

Thier bodies flung back, the strength of both men close to even, but the demon slid back an extra metre compared to the chimaera, who let out a long breath before gripping his sword tighter.

"I... Lost to an inferior!?" Azriel's body exploded with a fierce aura of magic, heavy and filled with pure killing intent.

'How many people has this guy killed?'

Leonhardt had fought plenty of battles but never felt something as powerful as the demon's killing intent, akin to staring into the face of death itself. The only similar sensation he felt was while fighting Zafira.

'No... her killing intent actually made me bleed.'

But Zafira was always playful, never serious, or she would be worried about killing him.

"You are inferior, just admit it."

His arrogant tone remained, as his body crackled with a flicker of lightning, all his muscles tightening and his mana core swirling faster using his Tyrant Blitz.

"You little mutant!" The demon bellowed, charging forward again with his spear leading the attack.

It aimed straight at Leonhardt's chest, a direct attack that would have been deadly for any lesser creature.

However, the strike was slow.

'NO!'

That technique was deceptive; Leonhardt's Arachne vision opened with a blue flash.

"!!!"

The tip of Azriel's spear passed Leonhardt's cheek, slicing open his flesh, as the rapid piercing blow was far faster than his normal eyes could see.

His sparkling arachne eyes could barely keep up, though Leonhardt had to use one arm to redirect the spear tip away from his face.

The sensation of being pierced by a fast attack sent shivers down his spine.

'I better go all out...'

His eyes shimmered with an electrical jolt as he used a second Tyrant Blitz.