"Will it be a fair duel? Are you sure you can win?"
A beautiful woman with dark skin and long pointed ears that drooped slightly shouted from the distance, but I didn't recognise her at first due to being focused on the man I would soon kill.
Somehow, I thought her voice seemed to carry concern and worry.
However, there was nobody here apart from Muru who would do that for me. I was standing on a huge hexagon that began to descend slowly, making the people above look down upon us like an arena.
It was then I noticed the woman's face and realised who she was further confirmed that voice was never for me.
Her name was Astaroth, a high-ranking demoness, formerly a dark elf, who became an Arachne upon her death before being selected as the twenty-second dungeon master.
"Asmodeus, of the sixty-ninth seat, you have challenged Valsef of the sixty-fifth seat."
"This duel has been confirmed one of domination and death. Are you aware of the consequences of this match?"
The voice was the person I wished to be absent the most...
Arrogant and selfish, a woman filled with her pride and desire to become the strongest existence in the universe.
Lucifer, the strongest dungeon master.
No?
Isn't this great?
She has always hated me, and this seemed to be her chance to get rid of me, so she allowed a match that normally required extra paperwork and the council to agree due to needing a replacement for the one who died.
"I am well aware and accept."
Since she already writes me off as dead, why should I respect her and act like a cowering fool even if she can crush me like an ant today? One day, I will be her superior and show all of these filthy pigs my true value.
"Do you accept Valsef?"
The idiot didn't even think and just sneered at me.
"Of course."
A moment passed as my body continued to produce more and more magic circles that wrapped around me entirely: my tongue, legs, arms, stomach and fingers.
"Then you may begin--"
I didn't care about being proper or etiquette because this man was already a living corpse.
He called Muru dirty and brought up her trauma.
Two flaming circles exploded beneath my feet, sending my body catapulting forward at high speed. Valsef's arm reached for his sword, slowly drawing it, but my fist was already shooting towards his face, wrapped in a crimson flame.
My eyes could see Muru cheering me on from above, and my heart felt warm. Her eyes were red with tears, watching me with her beautiful eyes glistening as my fists began to rain with a flurry of blows, training with the wolves and that paladin I was never the man from over a week ago!
I didn't sleep more than two hours and spent more than ten hours fighting, training and improving!
Yet my opponent wasn't even worth mentioning!
"Ugh!?"
His bones broke under my punches, and his sword swung wildly through the air, trying to cut me, but how could he compare to the wolves biting at me in their desperate bid to survive?!
The fire burned as five magic circles lowered my mana by fifty before black fire wrapped my fists; the heat was more than tripled before, but the heat caused me to feel pleasure as Valsef collapsed his bones, repairing rapidly as if to resist my fists.
⟪Flaming Fists⟫
Every punch cost me fifteen mana, but the result was his chest exploding into pieces as my flaming fist shattered his ribs and heart. Valsef screamed in agony, dropping his sword, reaching out for his something, but how could I allow him to surrender?
"Agh... I... S-Surre--Guha!?"
This wasn't enough to forgive his words about Muru!
"Don't speak."
I grabbed his head and lifted him off the ground, glaring at him as his screams rang in my ear like music!
⟪Searing Blow⟫
A flaming blow to his stomach sent him crashing onto the hexagon once again as it repaired itself; my body felt amazing as the huge amount of mana I had was quickly being diminished by my relentless assault.
"My god... He's THAT Asmodeus?"
"Asmo... you, when did you become a real man?" The voice was familiar, but I couldn't focus as this bastard kept trying to surrender, so I grabbed his lower jaw in my tight grasp; his fearful eyes looked at me in terror, pleading silently, but how could I care?!
I tightened my fist as several magic circles exploded while I tore off his jaw; the flesh was instantly cauterised by the extreme flames now he couldn't surrender.
⟪Hellfire⟫
A massive explosion occurred twenty metres in front of me, sending Valsef flying into the air, crashing back onto the hexagon, rolling across the floor covered in his blood.
⟪Hellfire⟫
Valsef's right leg blew apart; he rolled further away, trying to escape, so I ran after him, jumping into the air, grabbing his remaining foot, swinging him around and slamming him onto the stone floor, causing it to crack the loud thud echoing as the entire crowd seemed stunned by my display.
No magic, pure physical prowess, something they all knew I shouldn't have!
I mounted his body, watching with a smile as he began to struggle with my last magic circles hovering around my fists as I smashed his jaw to stop it from healing.
⟪Searing Blow⟫
The flames were too much, and Valsef's skull exploded as I stood up, looking around at everyone staring at me as if witnessing something unbelievable.
"Haha..."
My body trembled as I stared at Lucifer, smiling at her expressionless face; she knew I shouldn't be this strong!
Everyone here knew, yet only she seemed to realise the truth!
I didn't care; she seemed to want to save him, but I snapped my fingers with a wicked smile on my lips before muttering the words.
⟪Hellfire⟫
Valsef's corpse exploded, leaving behind a smouldering mess of flesh and gore, but I didn't want his title, nor did I care for his items. The crowd remained silent as I walked towards the centre of the hexagon, where Lucifer hovered, staring at me as if seeing someone else.
⟪Rank 65 Dungeon Lord Valsef Killed + 2000 DP⟫
"Congratulations on your victory, Asmodeus, of the sixty-fourth seat."
Her words sounded forced, but I didn't care as Muru landed in my chest, hugging me tightly, crying into my shoulder, but I didn't care anymore.
"As for your spoils..."
"I don't need them, only his sister. I will remain the vanguard of our defence as the sixty-ninth dungeon lord."
The crowd seemed shocked by my rejection of lifting my rank, but I still didn't wish to leave this post in the near future. I would rise when my strength could beat the others without using surprise to brute force them.
Then, the others could die and become the ones to face the heroes first when their strength picks up in a few months.
"Are you sure, Asmodeus?"
Lucifer asked with a raised brow, surprised by my decision.
"Yes."
She nodded, waving her hand, summoning Valsef's sister, who knelt before me; her body trembled as I approached her, looking down at her appearance.
"I won't force you to do anything but serve my dungeon as a maid and combatant; if you fulfil your role, I might grant you some freedom."
"A...ah.....ye....yes....!?"
"Know this was because of your foolish brother who bet his beautiful sister as a bargaining chip. Muru, take care of her and let her calm down."
Muru nodded before grabbing the trembling woman, leading her towards the corner and helping calm her down. I would decide on what position she would fill later.
Lucifer didn't say anything else as she waved her hand, dismissing the arena and returning everyone to the council room, but she disappeared immediately after landing, probably annoyed by my display.
Everyone returned to their seats as I sat in Valsef's empty chair, with the shy sister and Muru returning to me after a short time.
Valsef's sister was very quiet and respectful as I placed Muru on my lap, allowing her to hug me as I smiled at the demonesses glancing at me now and then.
"Thank you, darling... you beat him for me..."
"Muru, never think you are dirty, inferior or worthless, and to me, there is nobody equal to your value."
Her lovely green cheeks blushed as she rubbed along my thighs; tonight, for sure, we would have to get that counter closer to one thousand so she could remove this trauma.
Since coming to this world, my mind thought there would be nothing for me here, and I would become lonely and bored alone before slowly becoming insane.
But I found something to live for in this world, and she was sitting in my lap.