Crimson Overlord

Chapter 437: Underground Tournament 1

Luna knelt beside the spring, cupping the cool water in her hands before splashing her face. She looked toward Orpheus, who stood quietly beneath the shade of a twisted tree, his crimson eyes fixed on the distant horizon.

"You’ve been unusually quiet," she observed.

"I’m thinking."

"Danger?"

"A possibility."

Luna smiled faintly. "That’s your way of saying yes."

Orpheus finally turned toward her. His eyes were calm as usual.

"If you’re entering an underground tournament, you’ll be facing opponents whose identities and motives are unknown. Some will hide their true strength. Others will be hunting far more than prize money."

"I know."

"You’ll be alone."

She rose to her feet, meeting his gaze without hesitation.

"I’ll manage."

He remained silent for several moments before walking closer.

"Luna."

"Hm?"

"I’ll be investigating something while you’re inside the city. We may not see each other again until after the tournament."

She nodded.

"I figured."

The breeze carried the scent of wild herbs through the clearing.

Orpheus extended a hand.

"Before we separate..."

Luna immediately understood.

Without a word, she gently brushed a few strands of blue hair away from the side of her neck.

"If it helps you," she said softly, "then take what you need."

His expression remained composed, though his eyes softened.

"I won’t take much."

She smiled.

"I know."

He leaned forward, resting one hand lightly on her shoulder.

There was only a brief pause before he drew a small amount of blood—just enough to replenish himself without causing her discomfort.

A faint crimson glow spread beneath Luna’s skin for an instant before quickly fading as her natural vitality restored the tiny mark.

When he stepped back, she exhaled slowly.

"As gentle as ever," she teased.

"You like it that way, though."

She laughed quietly.

"I suppose that’s true."

Orpheus handed her a small crystal vial filled with a shimmering silver liquid.

"If you’re seriously injured, drink this."

"What is it?"

"A concentrated restoration elixir."

She accepted it carefully and stored it inside her spatial pouch.

"I’ll save it for an emergency."

"You’d better."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Finally, Luna reached into another pouch and withdrew a folded bundle of dark clothing.

"Time for my disguise."

Within minutes, the elegant noblewoman disappeared.

She exchanged her refined attire for fitted black combat clothes reinforced with light leather armor. A hooded cloak concealed most of her figure, while a polished obsidian mask covered the upper half of her face. Even her shimmering blue hair vanished beneath an enchanted wig of deep raven black.

Looking into the spring’s reflection, she almost failed to recognize herself.

"No one from the academy should know I’m participating," she said.

"Nor should anyone connect you to the Morningstarr family."

She adjusted the mask.

"My aura?"

Orpheus produced a small enchanted ring.

"Wear this."

As soon as Luna slipped it onto her finger, the overwhelming pressure of her mana diminished dramatically, becoming almost impossible to identify.

"Incredible..."

"It won’t make you weaker," Orpheus explained. "It simply disguises your signature."

She flexed her fingers, smiling beneath the mask.

"So now I’m just another wandering swordswoman."

"Exactly."

He looked at her one last time, carefully examining every detail of her disguise.

"...Perfect."

She placed both hands on her hips.

"So?"

"So..."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"I almost didn’t recognize you."

She grinned triumphantly.

"Success."

The massive walls of the demon city could already be seen in the distance, rising above the surrounding landscape like a fortress carved from obsidian.

Somewhere beneath those streets, hidden from ordinary citizens, the underground tournament awaited.

The perfect place to test everything she had learned.

Orpheus adjusted the collar of his coat.

"I’ll handle my business in the city."

"And I’ll win the tournament."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Confident."

She folded her arms.

"My teacher would be disappointed if I wasn’t."

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

"Fair enough."

They exchanged one final nod before parting ways at the crossroads.

Orpheus disappeared toward the city’s northern district, where secrets and hidden investigations awaited him.

Luna, now disguised as an unknown swordswoman, pulled up her hood and walked toward the southern quarter.

Toward the hidden arena.

Toward her first true test without her master’s guidance.

The underground arena lay far beneath the streets of the demon city.

Hidden behind an ordinary tavern in the southern district, a massive iron gate descended into the earth through an ancient spiral staircase. The deeper Luna walked, the louder the sounds became.

The roar of thousands.

The clash of steel.

The cheers of bloodthirsty spectators.

The smell of smoke, sweat, roasted meat, and old stone filled the air.

The hidden coliseum was enormous.

Countless rows of seats climbed upward in concentric circles around a battlefield nearly one hundred meters across. Crimson crystals embedded into the walls illuminated the cavern in an eerie scarlet glow, while enchanted barriers surrounded the arena to contain the destructive force of the fighters.

Merchants wandered through the crowd selling food and drinks.

Gamblers shouted odds at the top of their lungs.

Veteran mercenaries, demons, adventurers, beastmen, vampires, ogres, and countless other races watched eagerly, waiting for the next spectacle.

This place had only one rule.

Win.

Everything else was irrelevant.

Luna kept her hood lowered as she approached a heavy oak counter where several clerks handled registrations.

An elderly demon with crimson skin glanced up.

"Name?"

She had prepared for this.

"My name..."

She paused briefly.

"...Black Raven."

The clerk dipped his feather pen into black ink.

"Real name?"

"Black Raven."

He looked at her for a long moment before shrugging.

"Fine."

He pushed a parchment toward her.

"No killing unless both participants agree beforehand."

"No attacking spectators."

"No interfering with officials."

"If you lose consciousness, the match ends."

"Destroying the arena means you pay for repairs."

Luna blinked.

"...That last rule seems oddly specific."

The old demon sighed.

"It happens more often than you’d think."

She signed the parchment.

The clerk handed her a smooth obsidian token engraved with the number 217.

"A waiting room is down the corridor."

"When your number is called, proceed to Gate Seven."

She accepted the token.

"Thank you."