Chapter 162: demon tournament.
The dual class—this was something rarely seen outside the overlords of the demon hierarchy.
This dual-class ability gave him mastery over both magic and physical combat.
He was neither solely reliant on brute force nor entirely dependent on magic, making him far more versatile than a normal demon.
His combat style was unpredictable, adaptable—a dangerous combination in a battle where strength alone wouldn't guarantee survival.
His mind sorted through the spells available to him, selecting those that would allow him to maximize his potential while concealing his true nature.
He needed to ensure that his abilities aligned with what would be expected from a high-tier Zhurak demon.
Any slip-up could expose him, and that was a risk he couldn't afford.
Just as he finalized his choices, a sudden blast of sound tore through the stadium, causing a ripple of anticipation to spread across the crowd.
A loud trumpet echoed through the massive coliseum, its commanding tone signaling an arrival of great importance.
Jack's gaze shifted upward toward the massive projection screens scattered throughout the arena.
The flashing images displayed a single figure, their presence alone enough to cause a hushed silence to fall over the spectators.
'Just who I was waiting for,' Jack thought, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
A regal figure stood at the entrance of the VIP seating area, her silhouette framed against the backdrop of flickering torchlight.
The moment she appeared, the air itself seemed to grow heavier, thick with an invisible pressure that sent a shiver down the spines of even the strongest demons present.
Queen Naya.
The Demon Queen.
Her presence alone demanded absolute attention.
A woman of terrifying power and unrivaled authority, draped in flowing black robes that shimmered with an eerie glow, her very existence exuded dominance.
Her piercing golden-yellow eyes scanned the stadium as if she were a predator surveying her prey.
Whispers spread among the crowd like wildfire.
"She's really here...!"
"The queen herself is watching the tournament this year?"
"The last time she attended in person was decades ago... This must be special."
Jack remained composed, but his interest was piqued.
The fact that she had chosen to attend in person meant there was something she was looking for—perhaps a new warrior to add to her ranks, or maybe something more elusive. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire
He observed her closely.
The way she carried herself, the way the demons around her bowed in reverence without hesitation—she was more than just a ruler.
She was an embodiment of power.
Her five horns stuck out from her head, forming a round crown, with their tips kissing each other.
Jack's focus, however, wasn't just on her presence.
He needed to confirm something.
'Does she have it?'
The object he was searching for, the reason he had entered this tournament, might very well be in her possession.
If it was, then his path forward had just become far more complicated.
His fingers twitched slightly, his body still relaxed, but his mind was already planning his next move.
The tournament hadn't even begun, and yet, the true battle was already unfolding.
'It's there, I can sense divine energy.'
Erebus's voice added even more tension to the air.
'Now to find it and get it...' Jack said, his eyes narrowing with determination.
'Oh shit.'
Jack quickly turned his back, heading over to the weapon rack.
He could feel her intense gaze fixed on him, as though trying to rip a hole through his back.
Jack broke a sweat.
'Damn, her perception is another level,' his breath hitched.
Her gaze was intense, as though she was looking right through his very soul.
However, it didn't linger for much longer, as she shifted her gaze away from him.
Jack slowly turned his head to look back.
'Don't look at her too much. Naya is a very cautious and intelligent person... She's in fact the smartest of all those idiots,' Erebus warned, witnessing the scene himself.
Jack gave a slight nod, shifting his gaze to the other figures that accompanied the queen.
They were all four-horned demons as well!
Their power, although it paled in comparison to that of the queen herself, wasn't to be neglected.
Jack could feel it... It was like a natural instinct. All these people were beings that stood at the top of the hierarchy in the first planes of the demon realm.
'Four demon generals... She came with four demon generals.'
Jack had a strong sense of unease.
The queen coming herself was a big deal on its own. Coming with all the demon generals... Then it wasn't simple at all.
Jack could feel it in his gut—there was more to this tournament than just a show of strength.
'Just what are they planning?'
He couldn't shrug off the feeling.
Even Zamazo, when he had attacked, didn't bring the demon generals along with him.
Demon generals were all powerful beings directly under the overlords. They were left to handle a town on their own.
And they also trained warriors who would then be brought as an army for the overlords.
Every decade, all the planes would enter into war.
And after all the casualties, the cycle would continue for another decade—fattening soldiers and training them for battle.
Whichever part of the planes won would be named the strongest race.
That was simply how it all happened.
Seeing all the demon generals and Naya, the queen herself, in such a gathering together... It couldn't be for a simple reason.
But Jack couldn't place a finger on it.
'We can only wait and see what they've planned,' Erebus said with a soft sigh. Even he couldn't tell what they had come for, but just like Jack, he could tell that something was definitely off.
Naya walked gracefully into the suspended skybox.
It was clear it was specifically placed there for them.
There were five seats in the skybox.
The one in the center was crafted from pure gold, showing dominance, and the tiger-head armrests added to the domineering aura it emitted.
Right after she sat, the next demon who sat quickly caught Jack's attention.
She had long gray hair that gave a low sheen under the blue sun of the planes.
And surprisingly, she had glasses on her eyes—something that was terribly rare among demons.
She wore a black leotard with a very deep V-line, exposing her cleavage even more. Coupled with that, a belt and thigh-length boots with stiletto heels.
Right after the five were seated, it was as though an immense pressure had been lifted.
Some could finally draw their long-held breath.
The announcers, who had been quiet, could finally speak.
With a loud voice, they announced:
"We welcome the Queen of the Planes! And the four generals!!"
The entire stadium boomed with the loud voice.
Following it was the low chant that filled the entire planes, along with the demons giving a low bow.
~Long live the queen.
It was said in the demonic tongue, but Jack had no problem understanding what they had said.
After that, the announcer paused, waiting for the queen to make any move.
Naya casually waved her hand, gesturing for him to continue as planned.
The announcer cleared his throat, his voice booming as he said:
"Today we have all gathered to witness another grand event... A special event, where one of our brave participants might have the chance to unlock their bloodline and enter into the next level."
He flayed his hands around, making gestures to show his enthusiasm.
"Many of our kind from all over the planes have gathered for this event, and we are all hoping to see a spectacular battle!" He flashed his eyes toward the participants.
"As it has always been... This tournament has no rules. You can do whatever you wish. I believe you should've known this from the start."
It was clear this was the major reason why most of the weaker demons stayed away from the tournament.
The chances of dying were very high.
Stronger demons were always brutal in how they treated the weaker demons.
Death was inevitable, so long as it was a fight between demons.
Although they lived among themselves, their bloodlust was almost insatiable.
"We have a total of 150 participants... And they have all been paired. After we've gotten our winners from each battle, they'll be reshuffled and repaired..."
The announcer briefly explained, then scanned his crazed, enthusiastic eyes at the crowd of participants, a wicked smile appearing on his face.
"Now then... Can we begin?"
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