The Broken Halo

(Some minutes ago)

Akaza looked down at his token. The number five had appeared on its glowing surface.

He raised his head and looked toward Stage Five. His opponent was already walking toward it.

The demon was a Superior Archfiend with deep brown skin, short black hair, and a body that did not look particularly large. His hands were covered in dark grey gloves, and he carried no weapon.

Simon had taken note of all the demons so he recognized him.

Simon remembered him.

During the elemental affinity test, none of the pillars reacted to his demonic energy. During the strength test, his result had also been ordinary for a Superior Archfiend.

Three rings without demonic energy.

And three rings with demonic energy.

Nothing about him had drawn attention.

Simon’s memory was quite good, so he had memorized everybody’s affinity, affinity grade, and physical strength test.

Akaza entered the stage, and the demon entered from the other side. Neither of them spoke as the red barrier rose and sealed them inside.

The moment it closed, both demons moved.

Their fists collided at the centre of the stage.

BANG!

A heavy shockwave spread from the point of impact and caused the barrier to ripple.

To everybody’s surprise, Akaza slid one step backward.

They had all expected Akaza to send the Supreme Archfiend flying, but he was the one that took a step back.

Akaza’s eyes sharpened.

The Superior Archfiend did not give him time to think. He stepped forward, struck toward Akaza’s throat with two fingers, then changed direction and drove his knee toward Akaza’s stomach.

Akaza slapped the first attack aside and blocked the knee with his shin. He countered with an elbow, but the demon leaned beneath it and struck Akaza’s ribs with a short punch.

Bam!

Akaza twisted with the blow and kicked toward the demon’s head. The Superior Archfiend raised one arm, blocked the kick, then swept Akaza’s supporting leg.

Akaza jumped over the sweep and came down with his heel. The demon rolled away before the heel struck the stage.

BOOM!

Cracks spread across the stone.

The compound became quieter.

This was not the one-sided battle they had expected.

The two demons rushed at each other again. Fists, elbows, knees, and kicks moved too quickly for some Archfiends to follow properly.

Akaza punched toward the demon’s chest. The Superior Archfiend shifted half a step, allowing the fist to scrape past him, then struck Akaza’s jaw with his palm.

Akaza’s head turned from the impact.

He answered with a punch to the demon’s stomach.

The Superior Archfiend grunted, caught Akaza’s wrist, and tried to throw him over his shoulder. Akaza planted his feet, stopped the throw, and drove his knee into the demon’s thigh.

Both of them separated.

Blood appeared at the corner of the Superior Archfiend’s mouth, while one of the wounds on Akaza’s forearm had opened again.

Simon watched with narrowed eyes.

The demon’s physical strength was not at the level he had shown during the strength test. Every collision with Akaza carried force that was close that of a Minor Greater Demon!

Despite being a Superior Archfiend, a rank lower than Akaza’s, the demon’s physical strength was higher than Akaza’s!

He had hidden his strength during the strength test.

Just like Simon.

’Could he be a Daemon?’ Simon’s eyes flashed with a calculating glint.

While Simon pondered on the shocking revelation of the demon, dark demonic energy spread across both fighters at almost the same time.

A second later... they vanished and the stage trembled when they collided again.

BOOM!

Akaza’s fist struck the demon’s shoulder. The demon endured it and drove his forehead into Akaza’s face. Akaza staggered half a step, then caught a kick aimed at his ribs and pulled.

The Superior Archfiend used the force to spin in the air. His other heel struck the side of Akaza’s head.

BANG!

Akaza released his leg and slid backward.

Instead of becoming angry or frustrated, his lips curled slightly.

The demon saw the expression and understood.

Akaza was enjoying himself just like he was.

He rarely found an opponent which was not only as strong as him amongst Archfiends, but was also good at hand to hand combat.

They attacked again.

This time, their movements became even faster. Akaza used short, clean punches, while the Superior Archfiend mixed kicks, throws, and joint attacks into every exchange.

Neither gained a clear advantage.

Eventually, both stopped several metres apart.

Their breathing was heavier, and small wounds covered their bodies. Blood ran down Akaza’s calf from the injury he received in his first match.

Akaza looked at the demon.

”Use your chaos.”

The Superior Archfiend blinked.

Akaza continued.

”I’ll use mine. This fight is enjoyable. I don’t want it to end because I suddenly use my ability.”

For a moment, the demon said nothing, then he forced a small smile.

”I don’t have chaos.”

Akaza’s brows rose in surprise.

”What?”

”I have no elemental affinity.” The demon nodded once. ”I don’t have chaos.”

Akaza stared at him as if he was trying to determine whether he was lying and trying to deceive him.

”How did you become this strong then?”

”It’s a long story.” The demon raised his fists and clenched them. ”But basically, I trained... hard.”

Akaza remained silent for a second, then his smile widened slightly.

”I see.”

They moved at the same time.

BOOM!

Their fists collided again, but this time the Superior Archfiend pushed Akaza back.

Akaza returned immediately and struck his chest twice.

Bang!

Bang!

The demon blocked the third punch, stepped inside Akaza’s reach, and slammed his shoulder into him.

Akaza staggered.

He wanted to quickly regain his balance, but his injured calf failed to respond as quickly as he wanted.

The Superior Archfiend noticed this, and without hesitation, he kicked the wound.

Akaza’s leg bent, and blood splashed across the stage.

”Urghhh.”

He let out a groan of pain.

Before he could recover, the demon struck his stomach, elbowed his jaw, and swept his injured leg.

Bam!

Bam!

Bam!

Akaza fell, but he rolled and kicked upward.

The demon avoided the kick and dropped beside him. Akaza rose halfway and punched, but the wound in his forearm suddenly throbbed and gave in at the wrong moment.

His fist became slightly slower, and that slight delay was enough.

The Superior Archfiend slipped behind Akaza and wrapped one arm beneath his chin. His other hand locked behind Akaza’s head before Akaza could turn.

Akaza immediately grabbed the arm around his neck.

The demon dropped backward.

Thud!

Both of them hit the ground, but the Superior Archfiend remained beneath Akaza with his legs locked tightly around Akaza’s waist. His forearm pressed against Akaza’s throat while his second arm forced Akaza’s head forward.

It was a perfect chokehold.

Akaza struck backward with his elbow.

Once.

Twice.

The Superior Archfiend grunted as the blows struck his ribs, but he did not release him.

Akaza tried to pry the demon’s arm away, but the demon’s grip only tightened.

The blood loss from Akaza’s reopened wounds and the pressure around his neck quickly began to affect him. His vision darkened at the edges.

’Damn it. Damn it!’

Akaza gritted his teeth as he came to a decision.

In the next moment, the atmosphere changed.

Ohm!

A heavy pressure descended on Stage Five.

The ground beneath them cracked, and the Superior Archfiend’s eyes widened.

”Gravity?!”

Several demons outside the stage reacted in surprise. Korran Veyl’s gaze sharpened as he finally saw Akaza’s hidden ability.

The gravity around Akaza and the Superior Archfiend increased.

The Superior Archfiend’s body was pressed harder into the stage. Blood flowed from his nose, and the bones in his arms creaked.

However, he was already beneath Akaza.

The force pushed both bodies together and made it harder for Akaza to create the space he needed.

The demon roared through clenched teeth.

”ARRRGGHHH!”

He did not let go.

Akaza increased the gravity again, but he had used it too late. His concentration was already fading, and his injured body could not produce the control he normally possessed.

The pressure flickered.

The Superior Archfiend tightened the choke with everything he had.

Akaza’s movements slowed. His fingers loosened around the demon’s arm.

A few seconds later, his body went limp.

Then the gravity disappeared.

The official waited for a brief moment, then raised his voice.

”Stage Five. Winner, Rovan.”