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Making sure to tack as many tracking runes onto Azgalor as possible I throw him off the stage, and only one more person remains. Out of three on the list before this fight, one remains after seeing the thrashing Azgalor received. Either the person is an absolute fool or they have something that is giving them the confidence to walk into the arena.

I see a man with scars covering his face walk toward the stage, even with his aged appearance the fiery red hair has seen to it that makes it seem like living flames. He wears armor that covers most of his body except the neck up and the hands. A fierce red cloud emanates from him as I observe him.

Now, why exactly did he stick his head out here and show up? He used an alias but even so Catherine's people should have been able to tell who he is, or at least what family he is. The armor is the wraith king's armor, so the man is a Samael royal family member. Based on his age he is likely the leader of the family who later joins Catherine after negotiating for a safe place for his family to grow.

I looked toward the box with Catherine in it and she is slightly smiling, so she did know. Whatever, it's not like this is a bad thing.

The older man meets my eyes and gives a short nod as we wait for the challenge to commence.

"Begin!" I hear the announcer shout and I send a spear of evil light hurtling toward my opponent.

With a loud shattering noise the spear disappears and where it hit him in the chest there is not even a scratch on the armor. I feel an impulse from my devil nature to snatch the armor from the old man, but quickly putting aside the evil thought I prepare to send some attacks.

I can negotiate with him after the battle and this is all over and maybe get an alliance with his family. His people are rooted in the Bloody empire and could prove useful if Raizen tries to resist an alliance.

----

- Krobelus POV -

"Does anyone else see the look Nova is sending the old man or is it just me?" Shea asks with a hint of concern.

"I saw it too, it was like the look he gave to Athena's backside when she bent over to pick up a dropped cup." Isabella nods in agreement and replies.

"Huh?!" Athena squeals but is ignored other than Kia poking her in the side much to the embarrassed girl's displeasure.

"Yea, should be looking out for old men now?" Freya jokes but a few here have hesitant looks.

"It's because of the armor, it's an artifact and he has been hunting it." Catherine answers but has a hint of amusement at everyone's assumption.

"Ohh, that does make some sense. He is like a hoarder for those artifacts." Shea shakes her head at Nova's antics, I catch Isabella cringing at the subject. After she told me about what happened to her to get that curse I was also made aware she lost the boots to that person. So talking about royal family artifacts isn't something she likes to hear.

"And I am sure he will acquire this one as well, he said it prevents soul invasion which is crucial for some plan of his." Who could invade his soul with his power already being so high that makes him need the artifact to combat?

----

- Daeon Samael POV -

Another magical-based attack slams into me and the armor negate most of the damage. I am starting to feel a bit of a sting from repeated attacks to the same spot, it's almost like he is testing the armor for weakness.

If he wants to see the armor in its full power I might as well show him!

I activate my Bloodfury bloodline talent to its full potential and also coat myself in my hottest flames. With this, I should be able to damage him as long as I manage to hit him.

I launch toward him and keep myself low and as small of a target as possible as magical attacks of varying types pepper my body. None of them aimed at exposed flesh which confirms my suspicion of him wanting to test the armor. But why would he want to test its capabilities so thoroughly?

"That armor lives up to its reputation, though I wonder how well it defends from more conceptual magics." Conceptual? What does he mean by that?

I soon find out as I feel locked into place and can't even so much as twitch, The space around me is locked. No, it's not space that is locked, it's time.

If it was space my ability to teleport wouldn't be blocked off, or I would at least be able to try to teleport. But I am completely frozen and only the effects of the armor are allowing me to observe what's happening.

"Wait, you aren't completely frozen. That is very useful, That armor is ridiculous, and it can duplicate those effects onto one other person as an ability? Fascinating." I feel the hold on me ease off and let me go, like a pair of massive hands that were clutching me gently setting me down.

I shrug off the feeling and charge once more using my flames to propel myself to send a punch into his face. A fist meets mine and kills all my forward momentum and I stumble back.

The blast from the impact of the two fists cracked the stage but it repairs before my eyes as if the damage is being reversed. And he calls my armor strong, this guy can manipulate time itself. I feel my muscle flare up in pain and grit my teeth.

I came here after one of my people alerted me that someone was looking for us, it turned out to be the empress of the dark shadow empire and I came thinking she wanted to have our help in removing Raizen. Once I got here her people came and told me it was this Nova guy who wanted to make a deal with us for an alliance, we get protection and a foundation to rebuild our family.

But she said I would learn what he wants after the fight, to be honest, I felt insulted. But after this I don't feel conflicted anymore, If he wants us to serve him I will agree for a time. So long as he remains strong and keeps his end of the deal for my family to be safe I have no complaints.

He has enough power from what I have seen today to keep my people safe and that's my main goal. After the war with the Mammon family and losing our lands it's always been my family's goal to find a new home.

I put the last of my strength forward and prepare for one last attack, after that I will rest for a while before talking with this Nova character.

----

- Nova POV -

A mass of spirit power converges into his fist and he readies himself for one last punch. Similar to the spear before, but this time I don't intend to embarrass the other party since he is a potential ally and that would just be kicking my own foot.

I ready myself to catch the fist and toss him out of the arena, then this whole thing will be over.

The old man launches toward me and throws out his fist as he blurs across the stage. I catch the fist with my right and spin while holding onto it. Spinning a few times his body goes limp and I let it soar from my grasp and he crashes into the far wall.

Silence fills the arena as a dust cloud slowly dissipates showing my downed opponent and then a loud cheer comes out. Following the first many more cheers come out.

"Well folks, I would say it's Lord Nova's win and with that done he has now finished all the challengers. The event is over!" The announcer goes on to say that there will be more fights afterward of different professional fighters who came to entertain the audience and many people cheer at the surprise.

I make my way over to the downed man and drop a Phenex tear into his mouth, he will be fine once he wakes up. With him taken care of and even a tracker placed on him in case he runs I teleport to the VIP box that Catherine is in.

----

"Congrats!" Kia clings to my neck immediately after I arrive. How did she know where I would appear, it was like I teleported straight into her arms?!

"Thanks, it was kind of fun." I slip my hands around her waist and return the hug with a kiss on her cheek.

"I am sure it was fun to beat my dad up, you will be able to find him later now right?" She asks with a bit of heat in her voice, seems she is ready to take revenge directly. With her current power she is behind her father still, but now by far if she uses the mask.

"Yea I gave him a few tracking runes, he won't be able to escape me now." She lets go and walks back over to the couch and sits next to her mom who also seems glad at the news.

Alice walks up and tries to mimic what Kia did but lack of height is her detriment and I crouch down and pull her into a quick hug. The troublemaker clings on much to her older sister's annoyance.

Shea manages to quickly pry her off, spotting Zola talking with Delia and Athena I smile. Seems she is also making quick friends with everyone, I am glad she is fitting in easily with no drama.

"Good job Nova." I hear Catherine say from a more casual spot with the other girls. After the spotlight was off her she left the elevated seating to sit with her new friends.

"Thanks, now that that's out of the way I can claim myself a smoking hot empress." A groan escapes most of the people in the room, Catherine just glares at me unamused.

"Isn't there one more person to fight if you really want that honor?" She raises her chin and practically screams to challenge her with her eyes. Almost everyone looks at me eagerly and I can only sigh, it seems I walked into that one.

"Cant, we just consider the fight from last night the deciding factor and move on to the kissing in public scene?" I smashed right through their crowd mentality with a shameless declaration.

"Catherine?!" Tara speaks up in shock, even forgetting a few titles Infront of her empress's name. Catherine's haughty look of cornering me turns into shame as everyone turns to look at her with questioning looks.

"Details!" An enthusiastic succubus speaks up while her daughter fist pumps in agreement.

A sharp look cuts through and pierces me and I just shrug, she tried to trap me and got trapped. It is what it is.

I pull out a ton of festive drinks and food I had prepared beforehand and also shut the noise in the room from exiting. Now we can just enjoy the moment and watch the fights, I even pull in Dodo since he has been doing a good job recently and deserves a break.

----

"So that's your deal huh?" I nod at the old man as he reclines into a chair, he chews the inside of his cheek and looks off into the distance. "I will agree on one condition." I lean forward with some excitement.

"What is your condition?" He smiles and sets the wraith nail on the table, tempting me with its presence.

"You 'share' the artifact with one other and will even make that person stronger. I want you to share the artifact with my successor and also help them rise in power to secure the family head position. Do that and I will hand it over today after signing that contract once you add my conditions." So he wants the one he likes to take the position of artifact sharer and also wants them to lead the family since they will still have the signature armor. Makes sense, but I need more info on the person since I don't want to make a deal if there an asshat.

"Who is it?" He smiles before downing the remainder of his drink.

"My daughter!"