Hours passed beneath the eternal night of the Underworld.
The Colosseum never quieted.
Each match ended in blood, each victor walked away with another life behind them, and each defeat was met with thunderous cheers from millions of spectators. Demons, abyssal entities, demon lords, ancient beasts, and rulers from the deeper circles of Hell watched every battle with unwavering attention.
Damian fought without hesitation. One opponent after another fell before him. Some tried overwhelming him with brute force.
Others relied on speed, cursed techniques, or spiritual abilities.
None of it mattered. He adapted, devoured and endured.
By the time the final match approached, whispers had spread throughout the arena.
The Child of the Fallen. The Devourer. The Human Who Walked Through Hell.
Back in the contenders' room, Damian sat alone near the stone wall once again.
The little girl with short pink hair remained beside him, her legs swinging gently from the edge of the bench as she watched him with bright crimson eyes.
Unlike everyone else, she showed no fear.
Only curiosity. Outside, the announcer's booming voice echoed through the massive colosseum.
"For our final round…"
The crowd immediately erupted.
"The Child of the Fallen!"
The spectators roared so loudly that the stone walls trembled.
Then the announcer raised his hand once more.
"…versus…"
He smiled broadly.
"…Quan… the Bringer of Fear!"
The cheers doubled. The entire arena shook beneath the excitement.
Among the spectators, one demon folded his arms and laughed.
"The rising beast… versus the one who left it all behind."
He grinned.
"I wonder who will win."
Damian slowly stood from his seat. As he began walking toward the entrance… A small tug stopped him. He looked down.
The little girl was holding the edge of his shirt with both hands. She smiled innocently.
"I hope you win, big brother."
Damian looked at her for a brief moment. His expression remained unreadable. Without replying, he gently pulled his shirt free and continued walking toward the arena.
The colossal iron gates opened. The crowd erupted as Damian stepped into the arena. Across from him, another gate slowly rose. A lone figure emerged from the darkness..he is Quan.
He stood five feet eleven inches tall with a slim, athletic build. His short crimson hair moved gently with the breeze while equally crimson eyes stared calmly toward Damian.
Unlike the previous contestants, Quan walked with absolute confidence.
No arrogance or hesitation there was only certainty.
He stopped in the center of the arena. Damian stood opposite him. Neither of them moved.
Quan smiled first.
"Why aren't you speaking?"
His grin widened.
"Did fear grab your tongue?"
Dark demonic energy exploded outward from his body. The pressure rolled across the arena like an endless storm. Many weaker spectators instinctively stepped backward. Even several contestants inside the waiting room became visibly uncomfortable.
Damian simply looked at him. His voice remained calm.
"Is that supposed to make me feel fear?"
Quan's smile widened. High above them, the announcer slammed his hand downward.
"Begin!"
The instant the word left his mouth Quan disappeared. Not by speed but by becoming a shadow. His body dissolved into darkness before instantly reforming beside Damian.
His fist was already inches from Damian's face.
BOOM! The punch landed or so it seemed. Quan's eyes narrowed. His fist passed straight through Damian.
His body dissolved into black primordial mist before reforming several meters behind him.
Without wasting the opportunity Damian spun his right leg shot toward Quan's head. Quan vanished again.
His body melted into darkness before disappearing entirely. Damian's enhanced perception expanded across the battlefield.
He searched but felt nothing. Then he looked upward, Quan floated high above the arena.
His right palm pointed directly at Damian.
"Shadow Beam."
A massive beam of condensed darkness erupted from his palm. The attack tore through the air toward Damian.
Damian calmly raised his right hand.
"Devour."
A gigantic black mouth burst from his palm. Its jaws opened unnaturally wide. The Shadow Beam disappeared completely inside it. Silence followed. Quan blinked.
"My attack…was devoured?"
He descended slowly toward the arena floor. His voice deepened.
"Answer my call…for I am the One of Shadows."
Instantly…Every shadow within the colosseum began moving.
The spectators, pillars even the arena itself. Darkness flowed toward Quan like rivers returning to the sea. The shadows wrapped around his body.
His eyes glowed brighter.
"Shadow Realm."
Darkness exploded outward. Within seconds, the entire arena disappeared beneath an endless black veil.
Light ceased to exist. Damian stood silently. His enhanced perception searched every direction.
Nothing. He frowned slightly.
"I can't feel his presence."
A voice whispered beside him.
"Here I am."
Damian instantly swung his right hand backward but nothing was there.
Quan wasn't there Instead a devastating kick struck Damian across the back.
BOOM!
He flew dozens of meters before regaining his footing. Before he could recover…another strike. Then another and another.
Blows came from every direction. Left, Right, Behind…Above. Quan laughed. His voice echoed from every corner of the Shadow Realm.
"You can't fight what you can't find!"
Damian blocked one strike. Missed another. A powerful kick launched him into the air.
Before gravity could pull him down Quan appeared above him. His foot slammed into Damian's chest.
BOOOOM! Damian crashed into the arena floor. Stone shattered beneath him.
He lay on his back for a brief moment. Blood escaped the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away. Then spoke calmly.
"Spirit Embodiment."
A brilliant white light erupted from his body. His black hair instantly turned pure white. Silver light flowed through his eyes.
Within Damian's consciousness, Sophie sighed softly.
"I thought you'd never use this again."
Damian answered quietly.
"The situation calls for it."
The moment the transformation finished Quan attacked again from Damian's blind spot. He appeared directly behind him. His fist shot forward.
Before it could land Damian spun and his right leg crashed into Quan's face.
BOOOM!
Quan's body flew backward. He smashed directly into the edge of the Shadow Realm.
CRACK.
The barrier shattered. Darkness fractured like broken glass. Damian slowly lowered his leg.
"High Spirit Illumination."
A wave of radiant white spiritual energy exploded outward from his body. The remaining fragments of the Shadow Realm instantly dissolved. Light returned to the arena.
The spectators shielded their eyes. Quan landed roughly across the battlefield before standing once more.
He stared at Damian.
"So…you're a Spirit Contractor."
His eyes narrowed.
"How are you using two completely different powers at the same time?"
Damian began walking toward him.
His footsteps echoed across the ruined arena.
"I'm built different."
Quan's expression twisted with anger.
His fists clenched.
"How dare you be so arrogant in front of me!"
Dark shadows burst around him once more.
"I am the One of Fear! You will pay!"
He disappeared. This time through speed alone. Damian leaned forward. His body exploded into motion.
The distance between them vanished instantly. Both fighters threw their right fists.
BOOOOOOOOM! The collision generated a shockwave so violent that the arena floor burst apart beneath them.
Stone pillars collapsed. The spectators gasped. Without retreating Quan immediately threw a vicious right hook.
Damian raised his left forearm. The punch slammed into his guard. Damian answered immediately.
His right foot struck Quan's right leg. Then another kick this one smashed directly into Quan's ribs.
Quan grunted but retaliated instantly. His left fist shot toward Damian's jaw.
Damian caught it with his right hand. Quan's left leg rose. A powerful kick aimed for Damian's side. Damian lifted his own left leg and blocked it cleanly.
Neither man yielded. Quan fired another punch and Damian slipped inside its path.
His own fist crashed squarely into Quan's face.
CRACK! Quan stumbled backward several steps.
Blood spilled from his mouth. For the first time since the battle began…The Bringer of Fear had been driven back.