Lilith turned away, throwing herself into the mix, a small smile lingering on her face.
It was a rare glimpse of youthful playfulness in a world that seldom indulged in innocence.
Unbeknownst to Daseos, or at least, he didn't really pay much mind to it…
Rex was one of the participants!
And from the moment he entered the arena, his eyes were painted with a vengeful crimson hue, fixated on Daseos.
Daseos was sprawled comfortably on the cold, obsidian floor, appearing to be a bystander rather than a participant in this mad rumble.
He was blissfully unaware, lost in his own world, when Rex's near maniacal scream pierced through the noise, shaking him from his musings.
"Anyone who lands a blow on Daseos gets 1k per hit!"
The fighting seemed to halt abruptly, as if someone pressed a pause button.
A fleeting yet defining silence enveloped the arena, and all eyes — nine pairs of them, to be exact — turned and zeroed in on Daseos, who still lay on the floor, now the epicenter of a brewing storm.
Rex, driven by an intense desire to humiliate Daseos, gleefully watched as the participants registered his announcement.
His grin grew wider and malicious with each passing second, believing that this was the perfect opportunity to repay Daseos for the previous humiliation!
"Ughhh!!"
Daseos groaned, rolling his eyes, the fun and games evaporating instantly.
He sat up slowly, dusting himself off.
His playful grin faded, replaced by a dangerous, icy glare.
Although in his mind, he was jumping for joy,
'Wahahaha! Rex really is my lucky star~ My cute lil' personal ATM!'
He locked eyes with Rex, his expression hardening, as if transforming from a playful teen to a veteran warrior in mere seconds.
With silent resolve, he rose to his feet, standing tall amidst the tense air.
Above the ringing silence, Fizsure jumped in to provide commentary, half-advising, half-amused at the sudden turn of events.
"While playing dead and waiting to ambush your opponents is a good strategy, always make sure to first eliminate enemies that know you and hold a grudge..."
He paused for dramatic effect before continuing,
"And of course, if you're like confetti-hair over there, shifting the scales of battle by bribery and placing a bounty can often turn out effective... sometimes too effective,"
He chuckled, seemingly enjoying the new twist in the dynamics.
"Confetti hair?!"
Rex muttered under his breath, clearly insulted by Fizsure's nickname, yet too focused on Daseos to retort.
But Daseos wasn't paying attention to Fizsure's words.
His gaze swiftly shifted towards Lilith and Devian, who had now strode to his side, his allies amidst this wild circus.
Daseos's eyes asked the unspoken question, 'Will you turn against me too?'
Devian felt Daseos's piercing gaze and responded with a mischievous smirk,
"There's no fun in ganging up on you,"
Devian declared boldly, his tone dripping with disdain for Rex's offer.
"Besides, do I look like I need that trash's money?"
Daseos couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh, a twinkle of mischief returning to his eyes.
"Hah! Spoken like a true second-gen villain!"
He teased, raising his thumb in a playful salute.
The laughter ebbed, replaced by a sense of camaraderie as Daseos continued, a softer, more sincere tone coloring his words,
"I appreciate your loyalty, but take a break..."
Daseos tilted his head, eyes twinkling with mischief,
"Wanna play a game?" he proposed.
Lilith's face lit up with a mischievous delight, her voice tinged with a playful mockery as she giggled,
"First to four?"
With a decisive nod, Daseos outstretched his arm grandly with a gentlemanly flourish, inviting her into the mayhem, motioning towards the seven challengers, his face all mock seriousness.
"Ladies first."
Lilith couldn't help but burst into a fit of wicked giggles, her playful demeanor transitioning into a feral readiness as she eyed the other participants.
"Kekeke~ Don't mind if I do!"
In an instant, her playful demeanor shifted.
Her teeth gleamed wickedly in the ambient light.
With an eerie elegance, she unfurled her fingers, her nails extending into sharp claws that glittered menacingly.
The crowd watched in fascinated horror as she pounced, a whirlwind of graceful fury.
A warm smile played on Daseos's face, a rare moment of genuine affection that faded quickly, replaced by a menacing grin that bore the true nature of a villain forged in the harsh realities of Antagonia.
In a flash, Daseos was on the move.
Daseos moved swiftly, showing his raw power.
In one fluid movement, he grabbed an opponent by the neck, the muscles on his right arm bulging almost disportionately.
It was a show of force, simple yet terrifying.
A girl, seizing the opportunity, vaulted towards Daseos, attempting a mid-air strike. But Daseos was prepared.
With an effortless motion, he hurled the boy straight at her.
*CLAAASSHH!!!*
The airborne collision was almost poetic, both assailants getting taken down by a single masterstroke.
The collision echoed with a resounding clash, a tangled mass of limbs spiraling uncontrollably before crashing heavily to the ground.
Before he could relish his move, Daseos sensed another threat.
A burly student, spotting an opening, lunged at Daseos, aiming a heavy left hook at his ribcage.
But instead of evading, Daseos flexed his muscles with calculated precision, turning his body into a human shield that absorbed the impact with a dull thud.
*Thud—*
The attacker paused momentarily, a triumphant grin stretching across his face, a belief in his success.
He glanced up slowly, the smile fading as he met Daseos's demonic grin that revealed an unsettling delight in the carnage, a hunter relishing the hunt.
The fist, though landed, had done no harm.
Quick as a snake, Daseos seized the extended arm.
There was no hesitation, no mercy.
Crack! CRAACKK!! CRAAACKKK
The gruesome sounds echoed through the arena as Daseos, with surgical precision, broke the arm in three different places.
"AHHHHHH!!!! AARRGHHH!!!"
A series of anguished screams erupted from the victim as Daseos relinquished his grip, leaving him in a heap of pain and broken aspirations.
From the sidelines, onlookers cheered, their faces twisted in vicious delight, a morbid fascination taking hold as they placed bets on who would fall next.
"KILL! KILL!! KILL!!!"
It was a carnival of cruelty, a fairground where pain was the main attraction, and suffering was met with applause.