Dyre stood next to Lilith, as the other battles started and concluded. Lilith then turned to Dyre as he was getting ready for his second round.
"You did great my child, your spearmanship has grown splendidly." Lilith said, hugging her Child.
Dyre putting back on his helmet. "Thanks, mom. Wish me luck." as he picked up Gae Bulg and walked back to the arena.
The crowd this time just stared at Dyre as he faced his new opponent. Now he didnt recognize the demon in front of him.
They had the head, torso, and arms of that of a human. But after that was the body of a snake.
'A gorgon?' Dyre thought to himself, he couldn't remember a gorgon in hell's army. Gorgon's are a powerful race that had no relationship to the seven kings.
The gorgon stood there unflinching, then they spoke
"How about we formally introduce ourselves, Im Boa warrior of Wrath." Boa then bowed, Dyre looked at Boa.
"Dyre Beacon son of Pride." He said spear over his shoulder. Boa lifted an eyebrow to this, they knew that Dyre wouldn't be foolish to lie about being the child of one of the seven Kings.
But Lilith having a child, and it not being well known until now they knew was impossible. Boa smiled and lifted up their hands.
"I surrender."
Dyre was obviously confused looked to the Unnamed, The Unnamed not surprised at all announced.
"The warrior Boa has surrendered! Dyre is the winner by default!"
With the winner announced Dyre returned to his mother's side and watched as Boa slithered away.
…
"Boa! What are you doing? You just let him win?" a young demon asked the gorgon. Boa turned to the demon.
"What? I couldn't beat him, so why waste my time?" Boa said unperturbed by their peer's obvious disappointment.
" And besides we don't need to fight him, we have somebody for that." they said as the group looked at Allabelle.
…
'Ten times' Dyre thought to himself, after Boa had Surrendered all the other opponents Dyre had faced had all surrendered.
This battle was going to be the last one, every challenger of the tournament would face twelve others, and Dyre has only won once.
As Dyre was lamenting his score, Lilith had walked in, with a gift for her son. A whole basket of sun apples.
Removing his helmet, revealing a dour look.
"I'm sorry, mom."
Lilith looked confused "Sorry for what? My child."
"Ten of my battles have been won by surrender, doesn't really bring the idea of glory does it?"
Lilith looked to her son, and smiled lovingly, as she put her hands on his shoulders and brought him close.
"A win is a win my child, there is no reason to feel shame because your opponents feared your power."
Dyre never really thought about it that way before. The glum look on his face disappeared and grabbed a sun apple.
Lilith smiled at the fact that she made her child feel better. She then turned to the person who had just entered the room.
Beelzebub stood in the doorway, a smug grin on his face. "How are you, oh great victor?"
The malice was obvious in his voice. Circe was his strongest warrior and next in line for the Demon General position, so it was not hard to tell why he was furious.
"Who is my last opponent?" Dyre said unfazed, truly the only king he had to fear was the Unnamed.
"Oh, you probably already know who it is, young prince of pride." Beelzebub sarcastically bowed after speaking.
'Allabelle.' Dyre thought to himself as he kept eating. He then thought about something else.
"What will the winner receive?" Dyre asked with a mouth full of food. Dyre had only been fighting because it was his duty of being the son of Lilith. But it had completely slipped his mind that there was a prize at the end.
Beelzebub smiled, "The winner will become Hell's Champion." As he said that Dyre stood straight up.
Hell's Champion, a title that was meant to be equal to Heaven's Chosen.
'Owen's title' Dyre thought to himself. It wouldn't be a terrible idea to grab that.
"Is that all? All you have to do is fight a bunch of people as a child and you receive the title of the strongest?" Dyre asked, confused as to the idea of this prize.
Beelzebub laughed, "It's not an easy task, you need to have twelve … v victories." As Beelzebub talked it slowly dawned on him.
"You also need to … be a child of a King." Beelzebub's smile had now completely disappeared.
It was now Lilith smiling, but Beelzebub said nothing. He looked at Dyre and disappeared.
…
"Wow, you're all inept." Belphegor said as he massaged his temples. The six Kings sat in the same room that Dyre first arrived.
"Look how were we supposed to know that the kid was going to defeat Circe and scare the others?" Mamon said as her annoyance to Belphegor's complaining was unneeded for her.
"What are we to do if that bastard wins?" The King of Envy asked, obviously annoyed that had even happened.
The Unnamed could not stand his child being ignored. "My child will not lose to that failure."
Belphegor stared at the Unnamed "You were the one who wanted to curse him, do you remember that right? That boy is here because of you." Belphegor said matter of factly.
The decision of cursing Dyre had come to Belphegor and Lilith abstained while the other five wanted the child out of their mind. So Belphegor decided to accept that it was happening and Lilith didn't care enough to do anything.
The Unnamed had fought the other Kings tooth and nail to convince them to try and curse the newborn of the Lantern's. And obviously got his way, but it was also obvious to the other Kings that the Unnamed had forgotten that Dyre was once his greatest fear.
Then Mamon spoke again, "Fine! But if he's our champion, it's on your head." after saying that Mamon left.
After Mamon left the other Kings then took it as a sign to leave. While the Unnamed sat there and stewed.
"That bastard isn't going to win!"
And with saying that he too disappeared.