The Daily Life of the Demon King

Passing through the massive stone gates, Alex heard them slowly shut behind him, cutting him off from the roar of the arena. Yet, even here, faint echoes reached him—the jubilant cheers of the crowd interwoven with the mournful cries for the fallen Hercules.

At that moment, both gods and humans had lost a hero who had tried to protect both sides. Yet humanity had gained another—a nameless warrior who had raised his spear and shield for their salvation.

On Olympus, anger and sorrow reigned, especially among the gods, for whom Hercules' death was a heavy blow. They could not reconcile themselves to the loss of a defender in whom they had placed so much hope.

As the sounds of the arena finally faded, Alex removed his helmet, letting the cool air brush against his face. His weary sigh broke the silence. In Hercules' final moments, Alex had seen neither anger nor fear in his opponent's eyes, but a calm acceptance. Hercules had fought not for victory, but for sacrifice.

The demigod had realized his opponent could protect humanity better than he ever could and chose to die with honor, as a warrior defeated by another warrior. Perhaps in those final moments, Hercules had recalled his vow to humanity. But now, Alex would never know.

«Damn you, Hercules,» Alex muttered, staring at the stone ceiling. «Why didn't you rise against the gods, like the Valkyries? Why didn't you act as you did when Ares wanted to destroy your city?»

He knew there would be no answer, and it was pointless to ask questions destined to remain unanswered. A soft light enveloped Alex's body, and he returned to his usual appearance. The armor of Atreus gave way to a black shirt, pants, and boots. He ran a hand through his hair, brushing it back to keep it out of his face.

Meanwhile, Hlökk, still linked to him spiritually, was in his inner space. She was busy exploring his memories—only those Alex had deemed safe for her to see. The most dangerous and personal ones, like his battles with the avatars of Nyam-Nyam, were securely locked away in the depths of his soul.

«Hey, Hlökk, how're you holding up? Recovered yet? You passed out a couple of times from shock,» Alex asked with a teasing tone.

Hlökk, seated at a lavishly set table, was sipping tea and enjoying desserts. She was engrossed in watching a series—one Alex had once watched with Gloria in Night City. Absorbed in the storyline, she paid no attention to either the battle or Alex himself.

«Can you not bother me? I'm watching a show here. Sam's about to kiss Bridget, so don't interrupt,» she replied dismissively, her eyes glued to the screen.

Alex's eye twitched. He pressed a hand to his face and began massaging his forehead in frustration.

«Are you serious? You were supposed to help me in the fight, and you… You're watching Gloria's favorite soap opera?» he muttered, lighting a cigarette.

Alex exhaled smoke, trying to calm himself. The exhaustion pressing on him wasn't just from the battle but from the constant need to pretend to be someone else to abide by the rules of Ragnarok. One wrong move or display of excessive power, and the gods would break the truce, starting an all-out war.

«Hey, come out already. You can finish your show later. I still need to find Brunhilde,» Alex said irritably.

«I'm not going anywhere until I finish. Go do whatever you want—search for Brunhilde, flip all of Olympus upside down for all I care. I'm not leaving your inner space until I see how this ends,» Hlökk declared in a petulant tone.

Alex sighed, rubbing his temples. His nerves had been on edge since the moment he arrived in this world. Despite everything, he had started to see Hlökk as a spoiled yet endearing younger sister.

«You do realize you're interfering with my plans? If anyone notices the link between us, it'll cause problems,» Alex said, exhaling smoke through his nose.

«I don't care about your plans. Go destroy the gods or whatever it is you do. I'm not leaving until I finish watching,» Hlökk replied, turning her attention back to the screen.

Alex didn't get angry. By now, he understood how to handle this stubborn Valkyrie. Taking his time, he began strategizing how to gently persuade her to cooperate without breaking her trust.

Her behavior reminded him of a stubborn teenager locked in their room, refusing to come out. Fortunately, Alex had experience dealing with such obstinacy.

«You've seen my memories about G.I.R., haven't you?» he asked, attempting once more to distract Hlökk from her show.

«Stop interrupting me! You mean that weird green dog?» the Valkyrie retorted, banging her teacup on the table in irritation.

«Exactly. G.I.R. has the entire series stored. You could watch it uninterrupted, without being stuck in my spiritual space,» Alex suggested, striving to sound as calm as possible.

Hlökk paused to consider. On the one hand, it was tempting—she could enjoy the series without distractions like Alex's wandering gaze or restless thoughts. On the other hand, there didn't seem to be any drawbacks. After a few seconds of deliberation, her figure began to materialize in the real world. Light emanating from his gloves formed into Hlökk's human shape, her expression as haughty as it had been during their first encounter.

«You should have started with that instead of wasting my time,» she declared loftily, flipping her hair back. With a wave of her hand, she strode toward the waiting room where Rebecca, Hrist, and three troublemakers were staying.

Alex shook his head as he watched the Valkyrie walk away. Negotiating with her had cost him precious time. Tossing his cigarette aside, he resolved not to waste another second and headed for one of the hidden areas of the coliseum, where he suspected Brunhilde might be.

Brunhilde walked through the coliseum's corridors with a stony expression. Her eyes betrayed an indescribable sorrow. She had lost someone she considered an older brother, a pillar of strength, and a role model.

When Ragnarok began, Hercules had been one of those who supported her decision to challenge the gods in an effort to save humanity.

Passing through the massive mechanical doors leading to the tomb of fallen heroes, Brunhilde entered a spacious chamber adorned with white columns.

On the altar stood chalices dedicated to Adam and Lü Bu. She added another—a silver chalice for Hercules. As the chalice filled with water, an image of the smiling hero appeared above it.

«Forgive me, brother… I'm sure you'll forgive me, dear Hercules, for honoring you alongside these fallen warriors,» Brunhilde whispered as tears began streaming down her face.

She sank to her knees before the altar, her restrained grief breaking free. Her sobs filled the silence of the room.

«Wait for me just a little longer, brother… When it's all over, I'll join you… in the afterlife,» she said shakily.

Immersed in the pain of her loss, Brunhilde failed to notice the presence of an intruder. The figure moved silently, stepping closer to the grieving Valkyrie. Each step was soundless, and they approached her with deliberate slowness as she tried to pour out the sorrow weighing on her heart and soul.

Alex walked through the corridors of the coliseum in search of Brunhilde, but he didn't know exactly where she was. All he knew was that she was in a room resembling a memorial tomb for fallen warriors.

Using a mana pulse, he was able to locate Brunhilde and headed in her direction. When he reached the door, it was locked, requiring fingerprints or something of the sort. But for Alex, it was just a wall, and he decided to pass through it by becoming immaterial.

Alex was glad he had mastered this skill, as now any door was open to him. Passing through the locked door, the first thing Alex heard when entering the room was Brunhilde's sorrowful crying, a cry that expressed all her pain of loss.

Alex felt a weight on his heart. He knew it was his hands that had taken the life of Hercules, someone Brunhilde had considered close. This was the first time that his actions had led to the death of someone dear, someone revered as a hero. Alex didn't know how to face the one who was now mourning their loss. Suppressing a heavy sigh, he moved toward Brunhilde, hoping to ease her pain, even if just a little.

Slowly approaching the grieving woman, Alex stopped behind her for a moment, looking at the portraits of the fallen heroes. His gaze lingered on the image of Adam, and a new wave of sadness rose in his heart. Adam, his brother, whom he had never known, had died at the hands of a god.

Instead of sorrow, a wave of rage replaced that feeling, and Alex fought to suppress it, not wanting to destroy everything around him in a burst of emotion. He knew that rash actions would only worsen the situation. To confront the gods and understand their plans, a cool head and strategy were required.

Pulling himself away from his thoughts, Alex turned his gaze to Brunhilde, who still hadn't noticed his presence. Her tears seemed to fill the room with pain and bitterness. He sighed softly, and, overcoming his internal tension, gently placed his hand on her head, slowly stroking her hair.

Brunhilde flinched at the unexpected touch but didn't sense any threat. On the contrary, her heart felt a little lighter, as if someone was sharing the heavy burden with her. She looked up and met Alex's gaze. His eyes were filled with sorrow, but behind that, there was an uncontainable rage that he was desperately trying to keep under control.

Unable to hold back her emotions, Brunhilde suddenly stood up and embraced Alex tightly, finding in him the support she so desperately needed. She cried uncontrollably, soaking his chest with her tears, and he remained silent, gently stroking her back, allowing her to weep. It was important to let her express her feelings now. Alex understood that as long as her heart was mourning her loss, she wouldn't be able to gather the strength to fight.

It took a few minutes before her tears began to subside. Brunhilde slowly pulled away, wiping her eyes.

«Thank you... You helped me endure this moment,» she whispered, her voice still trembling with emotion.

Alex looked at her with a soft seriousness.

«You are not alone in your pain. I lost a brother too. But now is not the time for sorrow. We need to direct this pain and anger at those who caused their deaths. At the gods who decided to destroy humanity,» he said, his voice firm.

A fire of determination ignited in Brunhilde's eyes. She nodded, finally pushing aside the last remnants of sadness.

«You're right. We still have work to finish,» her voice gained firmness, and her face became serious.

Alex watched her transformation with a slight smile. Sorrow was meaningless if you had the power for vengeance. He knew he would act, channeling his anger at those who had sparked the flame of Ragnarok.

He took out a cigarette, lighting it and letting the smoke curl up toward the ceiling. Suddenly, Brunhilde tilted her head, looking at him with mild surprise.

«But how did you get in? The door was locked,» she asked, her voice sounding puzzled.

Alex, smirking slightly, flicked the ash from his cigarette.

«There are no locked doors for me,» he replied, winking.

«Still, how did you do it?» Brunhilde pressed, not backing down.

Alex flinched slightly and looked at her, thinking about how to respond. Admitting that he passed through the wall, mimicking a well-known vampire from another world, was out of the question.

«It's a secret, my dear Valkyrie,» Alex said with a grin, gently tapping her on the nose.

Brunhilde immediately blushed, awkwardly covering her nose with her hands. This gesture Alex had allowed himself twice now, and despite her best efforts, she couldn't get used to such familiarity. Her determination, which had so suddenly risen after her grief, vanished, replaced by embarrassment. However, in this confusion, she unexpectedly found herself seeing Alex in a new light, fully realizing how unusual he was.

His black hair, swept back, rainbow-colored eyes reflecting something inexplicable, and his black clothing—all of it sharply contrasted with Adam's image. But despite the differences, in his gaze, she saw the same care and willingness to protect his loved ones. What puzzled her even more was the feeling that Alex's power was impossible to gauge, as if it were hidden beneath a thick fog, preventing one from piercing the depths of his being.

«Do you already know who our next opponent will be?» Alex asked, his perceptive gaze fixed on her.

«Not yet. Do you have any guesses?» she responded, surprised at herself for asking such a question.

Her intuition told her that Alex was capable of predicting the outcome of events. His confidence made her feel as though he knew more than he was willing to admit. Alex did indeed know who would be involved in the next battle, but he preferred not to reveal his knowledge completely.

«I don't have any particular guesses, but I feel they will send someone capable of fighting for a long time, disregarding wounds. Most likely, it will be a god, but not from the Olympian pantheon—someone from another mythology,» he said thoughtfully, stroking his chin.

Brunhilde pondered his words. Ideas began to flicker through her mind about who could be put forth in the fifth battle. Her thoughts shifted from sorrow to strategic planning, and Alex noted how quickly she could focus on what truly mattered.

«I have one candidate for the next battle. But first, he needs to be found,» she said decisively, and determination once again flared in her eyes.

«Hmm, and who is he?» Alex asked, raising an eyebrow in interest.

She was intrigued by this sudden shift in Alex's mood, but what fascinated her even more was his clear eagerness to get involved. Alex didn't remember all the participants in the battles of Ragnarok, but he knew one thing: the next contender would lose if things stayed as they were. He already had a plan to fix that, though he understood his actions might seem like a trick. But a trick is only a trick if it's noticed. And if it's not—then it's an art.

«Why are you so interested?» she asked, narrowing her eyes as she studied his face.

«I want to know if he's strong or weak. If he's a weakling, I'll put forth my fighter again,» Alex replied with honest straightforwardness, which intrigued her even more.

Brunhilde became curious about the contender Alex wanted to send out, and she was also intrigued by what criteria a person would need to meet in order for Alex not to consider them weak.

«So, who is your warrior?» Brunhilde asked with genuine interest.

«If your candidate turns out to be a weakling, you'll be the first to know,» Alex replied, extending his hand to her. «For now, allow me to escort you to your candidate, beautiful lady.»

«Well, I won't refuse your offer, brother of Adam,» she said, taking his hand.

«Call me Alex. When I'm called 'brother of Adam,' it sounds so... strange,» he corrected with a light smile.

Brunhilde nodded at Alex's words and, taking his arm, left the room where the memories of fallen warriors were kept. For a moment, she lingered on a photo of Heracles, then, gathering her thoughts, she headed down the corridors of the Coliseum with Alex, toward where the human candidate was located.

During their walk, Brunhilde decided to get to know Alex better. Keeping him on her arm, she began asking questions about what he had been doing before this day. Alex, concealing some details, spoke of his life: the battle with the dragon and his work as a mercenary. Brunhilde was especially intrigued by how he had encountered the Pantheon and another contender he wanted to put forward for the fight. Alex explained that he had met them during his travels.

Gradually, their conversation shifted to more personal topics. They both shared stories, recalling those they had met along the way. Their faces were lit by smiles, when suddenly, fast footsteps rang out behind them. They both turned at once and saw Göll running toward them, gasping for breath, trying to catch up with her sister.

«SISTERRR!» Göll shouted loudly, almost colliding with them.

She stopped in front of Brunhilde, breathing heavily. It was clear that the girl had already worn herself out, running through the vast corridors of the Coliseum. Alex and Brunhilde silently waited for her to catch her breath.

«Sister, forgive me,» Göll began, lowering her head and unable to meet Brunhilde's eyes. «I went too far. I didn't consider your feelings. I shouldn't have been rude... You also suffer from the fact that Heracles... is gone.»

Brunhilde listened attentively to her sister. She stepped closer and placed her hands on Göll's shoulders. Göll flinched, squeezing her eyes shut as though expecting a reprimand, but instead, she heard a calm and gentle voice.

«You didn't do anything wrong. You were upset, just like I was. But we must look ahead. For the sake of all humanity,» Brunhilde said with a warm smile.

Alex silently nodded, pleased that the sisters had reconciled, though he didn't quite understand when they had fallen out.

«Oh, how close you two are,» Alex theatrically wiped an imaginary tear. «I almost teared up.»

Alex did this to lift the somber mood that had begun to weigh on him. He couldn't stand all this sadness; it was better to focus on something important than to continue feeling down. When you take on responsibility, there's no time for sorrow, not until the job is done.

Alex might seem cold with such thoughts, but that was life. Brunhilde and Göll looked at Alex, who was clapping his hands and then began wiping his eyes with a sad expression. Brunhilde got annoyed at Alex for ruining the moment, while Göll was surprised and finally noticed Alex, since she had been focusing only on Brunhilde and hadn't seen Alex, who had been walking arm-in-arm with her.

«Can you stop ruining the moment? Are you doing this on purpose?» Brunhilde frowned, looking at Alex with reproach.

«What did you expect?» he smirked, shrugging. «I was just helping you pull yourself together, and now you're back to putting on your sad face. You do realize that I don't help everyone heal their broken hearts.»

Brunhilde's eyebrow twitched. In the short time she had spent with Alex, she had learned a lot about him. He was kind and caring, but at the same time careless, lazy, and at times incredibly annoying. His strange jokes and endless confidence got on her nerves, but she held back, taking a deep breath.

«Sister, why are you with brother of Adam?» Göll asked, shifting her gaze from Alex to Brunhilde.

«Alex came to support me. He helped me get through the sadness and offered to escort me to one of the contenders' chambers,» Brunhilde replied, softening a little.

«Call me Alex, 'brother of Adam' sounds strange,» he added with a smile.

Göll looked at him carefully, for the first time noticing his relaxed yet confident demeanor.

«Alright, Alex. Then let's go, we need to hurry,» Brunhilde said, confidently heading forward.

Göll looked at Alex once more, this time more closely, and he, as if responding, simply waved at her and winked. She couldn't help but be surprised by how casually her older sister, Brunhilde, referred to Adam's brother by his name. Once Brunhilde finished explaining, she walked up to Alex and, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, took his arm again. Göll's surprise only grew when she noticed how familiar and natural it seemed.

«Wait for me!» the younger Valkyrie exclaimed, hurrying to catch up with them.

Alex and Brunhilde stopped to wait for her, and when Göll finally caught up, the trio continued their way. While Alex and Brunhilde were engaged in a lively conversation, Göll occasionally glanced at Alex, intrigued, trying to figure out who he really was. Noticing her curious gaze, Alex, with a slight smile, took a candy from his pocket and offered it to the young Valkyrie.

«Thanks,» Göll muttered, accepting the treat and immediately recalling one of the gods who had been just as carefree and easygoing in conversation.

Finally, they reached the massive doors, adorned with an image of an eastern dragon soaring through the clouds. Alex glanced at the doors and smirked.

«Listen, Bri, if your contender turns out to be an idiot or a weakling, I'll beat him like a dog and put my own guy in his place. You won't mind, right?» he asked with clear irony in his voice, unexpectedly calling Brunhilde by a new nickname.

«Bri?» she asked, tilting her head in confusion.

«Yeah, Bri. Your new nickname. I'm too lazy to say your long name,» Alex replied, rolling his eyes.

Brunhilde nearly choked in surprise and began coughing, trying to suppress her embarrassment. Göll, seeing her sister's flustered expression, couldn't believe her eyes. The stern and unapproachable Brunhilde—embarrassed?!

«I don't mind, if your contender is truly as strong as you say. But let's first take a look at mine,» Brunhilde attempted to steer the conversation to manage her embarrassment.

«Well then, open these doors so we can look at the next idiot you've chosen,» Alex said with a smirk.

«Isn't it the man's duty to open doors? And why have you already decided he's an idiot?» Brunhilde asked, slightly irritated, rolling her eyes.

Göll watched their interaction with delight, her eyes shining as if she had just gained an older brother who could keep her formidable sister in check. Alex only shrugged and with effort pushed open the heavy doors.

What they saw beyond the doors made Alex's face darken with black lines: behind the massive doors were... more doors.

«Oh, come on...» he muttered through clenched teeth, heading toward the second set of doors. After throwing them open, he found a third set. Alex's eye began to twitch, and his patience was running out.

Brunhilde saw the dark lines on Alex's face, and a victorious smile appeared on the Valkyrie's face, pleased to have made Alex frustrated. With black lines across his face, Alex went to the next door and swung it open, only to find more doors. Alex's eye twitched again, and now he wanted to beat the idiot who designed this layout with a stick.

«If there's one more set of doors, I swear by all the gods that I'll find the architect of this place, make him look at it with his ass, and the person living here won't have it easy either,» he mumbled under his breath as he opened yet another set of doors.

Opening another door, Alex found a room filled with plates from food, as if a pig lived here, constantly eating. With each door opened, Alex's face became more and more covered with dark lines, while Brunhilde did her best to suppress her laughter at Alex's irritation.

With every step, his expression darkened further, and Brunhilde, walking behind him, struggled to hold back her laughter, enjoying his frustration. Finally, Alex swung open the last door and stopped.

«Well, well... This is a surprise,» he said, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

Before them was a room with a huge bed, on which half-naked women were lying. In the middle of this chaos, a man was loudly snoring, seemingly unaware of his guests. Alex quickly covered Göll's eyes with his palm, not wanting the young Valkyrie to see such a lewd sight.

«And this is your contender?» he asked skeptically, turning to Brunhilde. «He looks more like a lustful dog than a warrior.»

Göll, unable to resist her curiosity, tried to move Alex's hand, but he held it firmly, not allowing the young Valkyrie to «corrupt her mind.» Brunhilde, giving up any attempt to justify herself, let out a heavy sigh, her demeanor showing that she was not pleased with what was happening.

Brunhilde couldn't find the words to argue and felt a slight shame for bringing Alex to such a place. Alex surveyed the room and noticed many handprints on the walls, which piqued his curiosity.

«Hey, Bri, what are these prints? Like Hollywood for people, or something like that?» he asked, turning to the Valkyrie.

«This is a historical yokozuna wall. Simply put, these handprints were left by famous sumo wrestlers,» Brunhilde answered in a neutral tone.

Alex immediately realized that the contender chosen by Brunhilde was a sumo wrestler. Judging by the numerous empty plates, the man ate in huge quantities. However, after carefully studying him, Alex noted that he wasn't fat — his body was made of powerful muscles, the density of which, in Alex's opinion, could break the bones of an ordinary person with a contraction.

Alex remembered the previous contender who had lost to Shiva. His name was Raiden Tamemmon... or something like that. «Strong, but still lost,» the thought flashed in his mind.

While Alex was pondering, Brunhilde took a deep breath and shouted loudly:

«Get up, now!»

Her deafening voice woke and startled the sleeping women. They jumped up, grabbed their things, and quickly left the room. Alex paid no attention to them, focusing instead on the man, who slowly opened his eyes and rubbed them sleepily.

«Why are you yelling like that? I just fell asleep,» muttered Raiden, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Alex, still holding Göll's eyes closed to shield her from the «show,» sighed inwardly. «Indecent, and he's flashing like a hose,» he thought, looking at the half-asleep Raiden. Brunhilde furrowed her brow, fixing him with a stern look.

Raiden finally looked at the others and, noticing the women, perked up.

«Ah, since you woke me up, I guess you want... HUGS!» he shouted, jumping up and rushing toward Brunhilde.

Alex watched as Raiden leaped into the air to attack Brunhilde, looking like some kind of pervert from an anime. Still holding one hand over Göll's eyes and his other hand connected to Brunhilde, he sighed heavily. But before Raiden could get any closer, a loud voice rang out:

«Taijutsu Technique: Dynamic Entry!»

In the next moment, as if in slow motion, a man in a green suit appeared in the room and, with incredible speed, kicked Raiden in the face. The sumo wrestler was sent flying out of the room, crashing through walls one after another. Alex mentally praised himself for his foresight in creating a clone just in case of any surprises, while Brunhilde's eyes widened in surprise.

The stranger landed gracefully on the floor, striking a dramatic pose. Now they could get a good look at him: a tall man with black hair, a bowl cut, and thick eyebrows. A wide grin spread across his face, showing perfectly white teeth.

«The Green Beast of Konoha has arrived at your call!» the man proclaimed, giving a thumbs up.

Alex barely managed to suppress his laughter. His clone, created for this moment, had gotten too carried away with the image of Might Guy. Brunhilde shifted her gaze from the stranger to Alex, who was trying not to laugh.

«This... your contender?» she asked with suspicion.

«Yep, Might Guy, a shinobi. As you can see, he's strong: one hit was enough to send that big guy flying. I doubt Raiden will be getting up after that,» Alex said, glancing at the ruined walls.

Brunhilde stayed silent, still trying to process what had just happened. Göll, despite having her eyes covered, was smiling, sensing that Alex was capable of anything, even turning a serious situation into something completely absurd.

Raiden, after receiving a powerful kick to the face, flew through several walls, leaving a trail of debris behind him before crashing to the floor. A clear imprint of a foot was visible on his face, and blood was pouring from his nose. Brunhilde stood frozen in confusion, unsure how to react to what had just occurred. She had barely gotten a chance to imagine her candidate, and now he had already been thrown out of the room.

The brunette placed a hand on her forehead and sighed with a hint of exhaustion, while Alex and Might Guy, both struggling to contain their laughter, tried to keep a straight face. Alex feared angering Brunhilde, while Guy — being Alex's clone — didn't want to ruin his role.

«Alright, let's forget about this. THRUUUUD!» Brunhilde called loudly.

Alex turned toward the doors, from which the sounds of footsteps crunching gravel could be heard, and finally, a silhouette appeared in the doorway. A tall, muscular woman with pink hair tied in a ponytail and a golden ornament in her hair entered the room. It was Thrúd — the third Valkyrie sister. Alex tilted his head to look at her face; her height was impressive.

«What? Disappointed? Expecting someone else?» she asked, surveying everyone in the room.

«No, not at all,» Alex replied, studying Thrúd carefully. «Just surprised by your height. That must be inconvenient in everyday life? I mean... you must need special rooms, furniture, dishes, a house...»

As he spoke, Thrúd froze in confusion, not expecting such a comment. Alex muttered to himself something about room and table sizes, genuinely absorbed in the thought. Suddenly, Thrúd burst out laughing, tilting her head back.

«You're a funny guy, Adam's brother. I already like you. Too bad I wasn't the one who fought alongside you against Poseidon, but instead, that two-faced Hrist,» she said, patting Alex on the back with her huge hand.

Alex glanced at Thrúd but stayed silent, knowing that she would become his partner in the next battle, albeit for a different part of his persona.

«Who's my partner in the next battle?» she asked, scanning the room until her attention was caught by the gaping hole in the wall.

Brunhilde nodded toward Might Guy. Thrúd looked down and saw him: the man in the green jumpsuit with a wide, dazzling smile.

«He looks... fragile,» she said, evaluating him from head to toe.

Brunhilde turned to Alex, seeking support, and he spoke up:

«Don't judge by appearances. This guy is stronger than he looks. I'm sure he'll surprise you.»

«Hmm, well then, I'll take your word for it, Adam's brother,» Thrúd said, extending her hand to Might Guy.

Might Guy, keeping his signature smile, shook her hand enthusiastically.

«With your help, the fire of my youth will burn even brighter, igniting flames in the hearts of others!» he proclaimed grandly, laughing loudly.

Alex flinched at how much his clone had gotten into the role of Might Guy. But this was Alex's own choice, and in order to win this tournament, he had to play many roles, just to ensure no one noticed that he was cheating. After all, if no one notices your cheating, then it didn't happen. When Thrúd's silhouette disappeared, Might Guy clenched his fists, nodded with his wide grin, and headed toward the arena to face the upcoming opponent. Alex and the two Valkyries exchanged glances and moved toward the spectator seats to watch the battle.

However, as they walked, Alex discreetly created another clone. This one headed to the waiting room to retrieve Rebecca and the three troublemakers. Alex remembered that this was a chance to meet Buddha.

To be continued...

(In general, the author decided to post chapters in advance for those who treated him to coffee. After all, the Author sends chapters to his friends so that they can read them before everyone else, and so the choice is obvious. It is a large chapter consisting of three and will still come out, as it should, every third day. My P*treon p*treon.com/GreedHunter)