Prince Eligos grinded his teeth together in rage before lashing out, or rather, attempting to do so as he lunged towards his younger sibling before being countered with a swift uppercut to his already split chin.
It was launched with a step forward that moved the horned halfling several meters instantaneously, leaving the sand around rippling before the cannon-like counter sounded off like a riveting explosion.
"Gyuh!"
Prince Eligos spit out blood as he was lifted high into the air by the force of the shock wave-inducing blow, being left concussed as his brain bounced around the interior of his skull.
What was that? Why is he so strong? So fast…? Prince Eligos thought with a slurred brain.
"WHAT IS THIS–?! ONCE AGAIN, THE EXILED PRINCE REVEALS TO US THAT HE ISN'T A CHILD OF THE DEMON LORD FOR NOTHING, FOLKS!!!" The announcer called out as the crowd roared.
After spinning in the air for a good few moments, Prince Eligos crashed back down, left dizzied from the blow as he coughed up blood.
He walked over, standing over his platinum-haired opponent with an unforgiving look in his amethyst eyes.
"What was that about humans being weak? I must've had sand in my ears or something…" Merlin tilted his head to the side, patting it a few times as if trying to clear any grains of sand from his ear, "...because I don't see how you could get that notion from me."
The crowd chattered at the unexpected strength of the half-human exile from Grandzania–even the two close companions of Merlin were surprised at the strength he displayed.
"He's a total savant when it comes to magecraft, but this kind of strength…I've never seen it from him," Marlow muttered.
"Me neither," Klaus added.
But, the black-haired prince knew best when looking down at his less-than-welcoming half-brother:
He's not done yet, he thought.
He witnessed the split chin of Prince Erigos heal swiftly as the platinum-haired royalty jumped to his feet with a swirl of crimson essence gathering around his position.
"...Kekeke…I didn't want to humiliate you too badly, little brother…but you just had to go and make this difficult for yourself; I'll snuff your light out right here," Prince Erigos proclaimed quietly.
The potent energy that exuded from Prince Eribos was nothing short of grand as it caused the sands to tremble and give off steam from the heat produced by the dark aura.
"So, you're resorting to that, huh…? Must've really pushed your buttons," he smiled, beginning to sweat a bit.
"Kekeke…Stay confident while you can, little piggy," Prince Erigos threatened, bulking up as the blood-red aura howled out with an ear-piercing intensity.
At the reveal of this transformation, the crowd went wild as the spectating demons roared and cheered on.
"IT'S PRINCE ERIGOS' HELL RELEASE! IT'S A RARE SIGHT TO SEE ONE OF ROYAL BLOOD'S HELL RELEASE, SO FEAST YOUR EYES, FOLKS!!!"
Looking down at the two in the arena, the archer squinted as he used his trained vision to hone in on his friend's opponent, who had grown slightly in size, now wrapped in a blood-red aura.
"...'Hell Release'?" Klaus mumbled.
"I thought it was just a myth…but here I am, seein' it with my own two eyes," Marlow said, "'Hell Release' is apparently a state exclusive to demons that allows them to tap into a deep reservoir of dark energy–it amplifies all of their abilities many times over. Even worse…I heard those with royal blood have an even more dangerous Release."
"Crap…not good!" Klaus said.
The halfling prince knew well what it was, though it had been a long time: "Hell Release", or sometimes known as, "The Unholy Force."
It's the release of the inherent shackles that demons are born with, binding their true, demonic essence. In simple terms–it's a magnificent tool of a demon's arsenal.
Just then, without any further waiting, the Ripper Prince exploded forward with speed that left a trail of flames behind him, slamming his elbow directly against the halfling's nose.
"Ghh–!" He winced.
"Kekeke!" Prince Eribos cackled in delight.
The impact of the elbow resulted in a tunnel of flames spewing out alongside the massive shock wave, charring the sand behind the adolescent halfling before he was flung backward.
Though there wasn't a moment of reprieve for him as Prince Eribos, utilizing his monstrous agility, appeared above him while he was being sent back, slamming the heel of his steel boot directly into his stomach.
"Puh–!" He spit out both saliva and the air from his lungs.
The brutal impact sent him crashing into the sand below as a massive cloud of dust kicked up from the disturbed sands, obscuring the state of the halfling.
"WHAT A COMBINATION! PRINCE ERIGOS IS DISPLAYING THE UNPARALLELED MIGHT OF THE ROYAL DEMONS! NOT EVEN THE EXILED PRINCE CAN KEEP UP, IT SEEMS!" The announcer roared out.
Amidst the cloud of kicked-up sand, he was given no opportunity to catch his breath before his bloodlusted opponent came down towards him for more, stomping his foot down.
"--!"
He managed to roll to the side at the last moment to avoid being crushed beneath the steel boot of the Ripper Prince, but the force alone caused a massive shock wave to propel outwards from the stomp, blowing sand against his skin.
"--Huh?"
Before he could see properly in the midst of the grains that sharply pelted his face, he was suddenly grabbed by the tight grip of Prince Erigos, who latched onto his face and rushed across the arena with him in hand.
"Kekeke! You're nothing, see?! Little piggy, this isn't your battle–!" Prince Erigos taunted him.
The ashen horned prince blitzed across the sands before slamming him against the barrier with a harsh impact, continuing by clutching his face even tighter as he dug his nails into the halfling's pale cheeks, drawing blood before–BOOM.
Another slam, driving him straight down against the rough sand once again as it propelled upward from the traumatic force.
"TALK ABOUT CRUEL! EVEN FOR HIS BROTHER, THE RIPPER PRINCE LITTLE MERCY, IF ANY AT ALL!" The announcer called.
After having his fun, the crimson-amplified demon prince cackled before once again drawing his blades with deadly intentions, looming over his half-brother with a devilish grin.
"Not good…!" Klaus said.
"Get up, dammit!" Marlow yelled.
–As if hearing his companion's call, just as the sharp, visceral edge descended towards his neck, the black-haired, exiled prince got up in an abnormal way.
"Wha–?" Prince Erigos mumbled, left stunned.
From before his eyes, the Ripper Prince's opponent had vanished without a trace, completely surpassing his senses.
Before Prince Erigos could figure out what happened—a massive, overwhelming swirl of malicious energy birthed itself behind him.
What's this? It's so dense–so potent…there's no way, right? I'm imagining things, aren't I…? Prince Erigos thought to himself.
As the hubris-filled prince spun around, already caked in sweat, his sunken eyes protruded in disbelief as he looked upon the horned halfling.
Though he was bleeding from his head, the black-haired, half-human prince was smiling, rolling his shoulders as he cracked his neck to each side with a sigh of relief.
"Thanks for the warm-up, bro–seriously," he told Prince Erigos, who was speechless, "I haven't tried Hell Release in so long–so I had to feel it out through what you were doing. Thanks for the spark!"