That morning, I was eating breakfast that had once again been delivered through the small opening beneath my door. This time I was given grilled fish, bread, something like porridge, and a fruit I had never seen in my world, yet it tasted sweet and refreshing. After I finished eating, someone knocked on the door again. A soldier entered and told me to follow him immediately.

  Ah… was this my second day of trying to persuade Hellraider again?

  Honestly, I was almost out of ideas on how to at least calm him down so he would be willing to listen to me. But no matter what, I could not tell The Graendall that Hellraider was no longer a man with reason. They still wanted to keep trying to communicate with him.

  I walked again toward the same underground chamber. This time, however, not many soldiers were present. What stunned me was that only Commander Gruzhnil stood there among the high-ranking officers. I truly admired him as his dedication to understanding Hellraider was unwavering. In The Mayhem, I had always thought that Gruzhnil was the only character who showed pure devotion toward Hellraider without any hidden motive, even though he paid the price by never receiving a single word in return.

  When Commander Gruzhnil saw me, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

  "May luck be on our side today," he said softly, his voice filled with hope.

  I simply nodded.

  I approached Hellraider's cell, where he was still sitting against the wall. When I was about one meter from the bars, I sat down on the floor and looked at him again. Feeling my presence, Hellraider merely glanced at me, his expression once more filled with rage as he growled.

  "Lord Hellraider, forgive me for coming again. I have no intention of forcing you to speak endlessly like this. But you must understand, we are both stranded in another people's territory. I cannot refuse when they ask me to help speak with you. They cannot understand your words, and you cannot understand theirs. Honestly, if you no longer wish to speak to anyone, including me, that is fine. But in my heart, I do not want you to remain like this forever."

  I spoke as gently and respectfully as I could. Yet, as expected, Hellraider seemed to know no mercy as his life had been filled only with violence, terror, and destruction.

  "GOOO AWAYYYY…! I DON'T NEED YOUR LIIIEEES ANYMOOOREEEEE…!!!"

  Hellraider shouted while pointing his arm and index finger toward me. His voice thundered through the underground chamber.

  I swallowed hard.

  How long would it take to awaken even a fragment of reason within him?

  In the game's lore, there had never been scenes like this. Hellraider being only forcibly made to understand The Graendall language and integrate with them. He never held loyalty toward the military order; he merely used them as a stepping stone to destroy hell on a far greater scale.

  While still stood up, I turned slightly toward Commander Gruzhnil behind me, gesturing with my hand so that Hellraider would look at him.

  "Lord Hellraider, allow me to introduce the one behind me. This is Gruzhnil, the supreme commander of this planet's military order. I am proof that he can treat me well, even though I am merely an ordinary human. He has come here twice now to meet you, hoping you would speak even a little with us. It is understandable if you are angry at the soldiers who exploited you, but at the very least, you could voice your grievances. I will convey them to Gruzhnil as the highest authority here."

  My eyes had grown weary as I spoke, started to get tired with this thing.

  "GOOO AWAYYY…!!! TELL HIM I WILL KILL YOOUUUU…!!!"

  Hellraider roared again, pointing furiously at Commander Gruzhnil, his eyes bulging with rage.

  I stood frozen in shock as I heard his words, when suddenly I felt a hand grip my shoulder again. Gruzhnil had stepped forward.

  "That is enough. Let him rest again," he said calmly.

  In the same coliseum corridor as yesterday, I conveyed everything I had said and everything Hellraider had shouted. When I told him that Hellraider threatened to kill him the moment he was freed, Gruzhnil closed his eyes and let out a long breath. He then instructed me to return to my room.

  That became my daily life in Grivendal—confined within a room, directionless, with no clear path on how Hellraider might at least become cooperative with me first. I began to think that I would remain here until they obtained what they truly wanted.

  That night, I heard a sudden surge of noise coming from the coliseum arena.

  Why was it suddenly so lively at night?

  Curious, I peeked through the small window. I saw many soldiers and civilians were preparing something. Luxurious decorations were being installed across the spectator stands.

  I wondered if an important event was about to take place.

  Another prisoner battle? Why prepare something so extravagant? Did this have anything to do with me—or with Hellraider?

  I stopped watching, afraid of being suspected again, and lay back on my bed with those questions echoing in my mind.

  The next morning, the noise still had not ceased. Someone knocked and opened my door. A soldier told me to come with him again. I wondered if I was being taken back underground. But honestly, I had no ideas left if I was asked to speak to Hellraider again.

  Instead, I was brought to a large hall and had breakfast with other Graendall soldiers. Afterward, I was guided outside the coliseum.

  When I emerged, I saw enormous crowds filling the stands consisted Graendall soldiers, high-ranking officers, and what appeared to be officials of the Grivendal government. Imperial banners and decorations surrounded the entire coliseum. At the top stood a grand stage with the most luxurious ornamentation, and two seats placed at its center. Several Graendall space shuttles were seen flying above the coliseum.

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  I was ordered to watch from the lower stands, directly facing the arena. I noticed dark-blue flower petals scattered across the arena floor.

  What kind of grand event was this?

  This was clearly not an ordinary Judgment Arena.

  Neither Commander Gruzhnil nor Hellraider was visible yet.

  Then imperial trumpets blared in unison, followed by thunderous cheers from the crowd. Two figures walked onto the grand stage and took their seats. I immediately recognized them—characters from The Mayhem as well.

  They were Emperor Gregustus of Grivendal and his only daughter, Princess Glynpatra.

  This was truly a major event and important enough for the emperor himself to attend.

  Then the northern gate of the arena opened.

  Someone walked in.

  I froze.

  It was Hellraider, holding a sword and shield, his condition unchanged from very first time we met.

  Who would he fight this time?

  His opponent had to be incredibly strong.

  A heavy unease settled in my chest.

  Then the southern gate opened.

  When I saw who stepped into the arena, my mind went blank. I wanted to collapse on the spot and scream for everything to stop.

  Commander Gruzhnil would fight Hellraider.

  He carried the same sword and shield as Hellraider and wore only the similar simple attire like me now.

  Why… whyyyyy…?!?!?!?!

  What was he thinking??????

  Why would he accept Hellraider's challenge?????

  Did he truly not understand who Hellraider was—after everything I had witnessed in hell...?!?!?!?!

  When they both stood at the center of the arena, a long trumpet sounded, signaling the start of the duel.

  Hellraider charged first, roaring violently. Yet with Gruzhnil's reputation as the strongest warrior in all Grivendal, he easily blocked Hellraider's strikes with his shield or deflected them with his sword. Hellraider launched relentless attacks, while Gruzhnil maintained a purely defensive stance.

  Hellraider grew increasingly furious and accelerated his assault. I wondered—was Hellraider forbidden from using his firearms here? If this battle had taken place in hell, Hellraider would not just merely have won—he would have annihilated Gruzhnil quickly.

  At one moment, Gruzhnil finally counterattacked. Using only his shield, he slammed into Hellraider's chest, sending him flying several meters backward, though not knocking him down. The crowd erupted in cheers.

  Hellraider immediately surged forward again, attacking at a speed my eyes could barely follow. Yet Gruzhnil endured, and for the second time, he struck Hellraider back with his shield and pushed him several meters backward.

  Then something unexpected happened.

  Hellraider hurled his shield at Gruzhnil—and in the same instant, dashed forward behind it. Gruzhnil reflexively deflected the flying shield with his sword, but doing so left his body wide open. He saw Hellraider's blade already swinging toward him.

  With no time to block, Gruzhnil leapt backward.

  But it was too late.

  Hellraider's blade slashed across Gruzhnil's chest. Blood immediately soaked through the fabric. Gruzhnil grimaced in pain.

  The crowd cheered again.

  What was wrong with them?

  Why were they rejoicing at their own commander's injury?

  Hellraider again pressed the attack mercilessly. Gruzhnil began losing focus as several strikes landed across his face, arms, and legs.

  I truly wanted this madness to end. I didn't want to either one of them died in vain.

  At one moment, Gruzhnil paused to catch his breath. Hellraider instantly charged again. Gruzhnil swung his shield instinctively, but Hellraider rammed into it with his shoulder and right arm, sending Gruzhnil flying and rolling across the ground.

  As he rose, Hellraider was already airborne, sword raised high above him.

  With no time to evade, Gruzhnil raised his shield again.

  Then the unthinkable happened.

  When Hellraider's blade struck the shield, it shattered—as his blade finally struck into Gruzhnil's right shoulder.

  He cried out in pain and slashed back instinctively, but Hellraider leapt away just in time.

  Blood poured from Gruzhnil's shoulder, staining the arena floor. He dropped to one knee, plunging his sword into the ground for support, gasping heavily.

  Some spectators began chanting:

  "THE BEAST… THE BEAST… THE BEAST..."

  I was truly speechless.

  They were openly turning against their own commander.

  I again saw even worse—Hellraider was smiling.

  A wide, twisted smile formed on his face as he looked at the suffering Gruzhnil.

  He sprinted forward, leapt high, and swung his sword downward—clearly intending to decapitate him.

  At that moment, I no longer cared about the laws of The Graendall or Grivendal.

  They had abandoned Gruzhnil.

  I remembered how kindly he had treated me—and now he was sacrificing himself.

  I was about to leap into the arena and stop this insanity by screaming Hellraider's true name.

  But then something utterly impossible happened.

  Everything around me slowed.

  The falling petals drifted through the air in extreme slow motion.

  I saw Gruzhnil suddenly stand as Hellraider, moving as if slowed to 0.25 speed, nearly reached him.

  Gruzhnil calmly stepped sideways past Hellraider.

  Hellraider's blade slammed into the ground, sending dust flying.

  From within the dust, Hellraider instantly swung his sword sideways—

  —but Gruzhnil had already struck first.

  His blade rose from below and collided violently with Hellraider's sword, knocking it from his grasp. The weapon spun through the air and embedded itself into the ground several meters away.

  The entire arena fell silent.

  Gruzhnil stood before Hellraider, sword still in hand pointed to him, while Hellraider knelt.

  Then—unexpectedly—Gruzhnil threw his sword aside.

  He knelt as well, facing Hellraider, and extended his open palm toward him.

  Hellraider's expression shifted to shock and confusion, his mouth hanging open as he panted heavily.

  Moments later, rage returned. Hellraider slapped Gruzhnil's outstretched hand away.

  Suddenly, Gruzhnil smiled.

  He lowered his head, closed his eyes briefly...

  Then turned his face toward me—still smiling.

  Hellraider stiffened in shock and slowly looked toward me as well.

  I felt the gaze of the two strongest warriors Grivendal had ever known fall upon me.

  Commander Gruzhnil raised his right hand even his shoulder severely wounded.

  Soldiers entered the arena and placed restraints on Hellraider's arms—this time without chaining them to his body.

  Still wearing an expression of shock and confusion, Hellraider was escorted back into the coliseum, with Commander Gruzhnil following closely behind him.

  My eyes were still wide open.

  What had happened today was beyond anything words could describe.