The arena buzzed with tension as the crowd eagerly anticipated the next battle, unaware that a new kind of danger was about to emerge. Kazuki, Serena, Leo, and the rest of their companions stood together in the waiting area, mentally preparing for their next fight in the tournament. The air felt strangely heavy, though no one could pinpoint why.
Suddenly, a sharp, unnatural laugh echoed throughout the arena, causing the noise to die down. A figure slowly stepped into the center of the arena. His movements were fluid and unnervingly confident. He was tall, with a striking appearance—dark, almost crimson hair and sharp features, his eyes glowing with an unsettling red hue. A collective murmur spread through the audience.
Serena narrowed her eyes. "Something's not right," she muttered.
The man raised his arms dramatically and smirked. "Ladies and gentlemen, adventurers, warriors… allow me to properly introduce myself." His voice rang with a sense of sinister amusement. "I am Marius, a proud servant of the Demon King."
Gasps filled the arena. Panic spread among the crowd like wildfire. Kazuki's eyes widened as he glanced at the others. "Seriously? Here? Now?"
Adventurers exchanged worried looks, and some instinctively backed away from the edge of the arena, while others, emboldened by their strength, stepped forward to face the threat.
Marius continued, savoring the chaos he'd caused. "You see, I've been watching. Monitoring your little games. But now, it's time for the real battle to begin."
Serena's grip tightened on her sword. "We can't let him get away with this. Kazuki…"
Kazuki sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Guess we're not getting a break."
Before anyone could react further, Marius slammed his hand into the ground. The very earth trembled, and in an instant, dark portals opened around him. From these swirling vortexes, grotesque monsters emerged—twisted abominations with glowing eyes and razor-sharp claws, their bodies exuding a foul, otherworldly aura. The audience erupted into screams as they scrambled for the exits.
Kazuki rolled his eyes, trying to keep his calm facade. "Of course, he'd have an army."
Leo adjusted his staff, his face serious but excited. "This is going to be a real challenge."
Several warriors and adventurers from the arena stepped forward, rallying together. "We'll stand with you!" one of them shouted. "We won't let this monster destroy the city!"
Kazuki glanced at Serena and Leo, who both nodded. "Looks like we're up," Kazuki said, brandishing his sword. "Let's try to make this quick."
Serena grinned as she unsheathed her blade. "Finally, some action."
The first wave of Marius' summoned beasts charged toward Kazuki and his companions. With lightning speed, Kazuki stepped forward, cutting down three of them before they could even close in. His movements were precise, almost too fast to follow. Despite his casual demeanor, there was no denying his overwhelming strength.
Serena dashed forward next, engaging a particularly large, hulking beast. Her sword flashed in the sunlight as she expertly dodged its swipes and countered with swift strikes of her own.
Leo, staying at a safe distance, began casting a complex spell. "Give me some cover!" he yelled, summoning fire to his hands.
Kazuki nodded, moving to block the next wave of enemies. He didn't like to fight, but when it came down to it, he knew how to handle himself. Each monster fell easily before his blade, but more kept pouring out from the portals.
"This isn't ending anytime soon," Kazuki muttered, glancing toward Marius, who stood watching, a twisted smile on his face.
The demon's laughter echoed again. "You think you can handle my minions, heroes? Let's see how you fare against my true strength!"
With a flick of his wrist, Marius summoned a massive beast—a grotesque demon with wings, claws, and fire spilling from its mouth. It roared, shaking the very foundations of the arena.
Kazuki sighed, stepping forward. "This is going to be annoying."
Serena glanced at him. "Want to switch?"
Kazuki smirked. "No need. I've got this."
Just as Kazuki was about to engage, a soft chime echoed in his ears, and a window screen appeared in front of him, flickering with a warning.
**[Danger Detected: High-Ranking Demon Servant Present]**
Kazuki frowned, the screen blinking out of existence as quickly as it came. "Figures."
With a surge of energy, Kazuki launched himself at the beast, meeting its flaming claws with his sword. The impact caused a shockwave that rattled the arena, the force pushing some of the nearby fighters back. Serena leapt into action alongside him, using her agility to strike at the creature's legs while Kazuki held its attention.
Leo, having completed his spell, unleashed a torrent of fire, engulfing a group of monsters still emerging from the portal. The flames roared, turning the beasts to ash.
The battle raged on, with Marius watching from the sidelines, his smirk unwavering. He seemed amused, as if this entire fight was nothing more than entertainment for him.
"Is this all you've got?" Marius called out mockingly. "You call yourselves heroes?"
Kazuki's eyes narrowed. He didn't like being toyed with. But rather than react with anger, he kept his calm, methodically cutting through the enemy ranks. The creatures were powerful, but they weren't a match for him. The real problem would be Marius himself.
Still, the demon continued to send wave after wave of monsters, each more vicious than the last. The adventurers and warriors who had stayed to fight alongside Kazuki were doing their best, but it was clear that some were struggling to keep up.
Kazuki, however, remained unfazed. He fought with a casual efficiency that belied his strength, taking down monster after monster without breaking a sweat. He could see the fatigue beginning to set in among his allies, but they were holding their ground.
"We need to take out that portal," Leo said, his voice strained as he launched another fireball.
Kazuki nodded, charging toward the dark vortex, cutting down anything in his way. Just as he reached it, a massive clawed hand lashed out from the shadows, catching him off guard and sending him flying back into the wall.
"Kazuki!" Serena shouted, eyes wide with worry.
Kazuki slowly stood, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. His expression darkened, and for the first time, there was a glimmer of seriousness in his eyes.
"Alright," he muttered, gripping his sword tightly. "Let's end this."