The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 437

The arena roared with cheers. Every seat was packed, and the crowd was wild. Faces were red with excitement as people yelled and stomped their feet. Volkan ran into the arena. He looked like a storm about to break.

*Rumble!* He moved with unstoppable power.

Volkan charged like a bull, but then he suddenly jerked his head back. A flash of light! *Zap!* Something sharp and hot zipped past his cheek, missing him by only a tiny bit. Volkan knew Chris well from many fights. He knew Chris’s sword could reach him even from far away.

It was like a gut feeling, built from experience. Chris’s sword, fast as lightning, changed direction to attack again. Volkan blocked it hard, pushing power into his legs to move.

*Whoosh!* Chris was right there, face to face. Their eyes met for a split second, and then the fight exploded. Their swords became a blur. Normal people in the crowd could only see flashes of movement, too fast to follow.

*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!* The sound of metal on metal filled the arena. It was a furious storm of attacks. Volkan blocked a strike aimed at his heart, but Chris instantly changed direction, aiming for his head. Volkan felt like he was drowning in attacks. He blocked and blocked, dozens of times for every attack he tried to make. But the instant he saw even a tiny opening, Volkan struck back at Chris’s head with all his might.

Was this a fight to the death? No, not really. But in this moment, nothing else mattered. They were here to prove who was stronger. Neither of them would hold back just to be nice to the other. Winning was everything right now. Volkan was sure he could give it his best. He knew beating Chris was almost impossible, even if he fought with everything he had. So, whenever he saw a chance, he aimed for Chris’s weak points, trying to win.

*Zap!* Chris just barely blocked the attack aimed at his heart. Volkan felt his power surge. ‘This is it!’ he thought. *Wham! Rumble!* This was Volkan’s special move: Strong Strike. Muscles bulging, he unleashed his aura. It exploded in red-hot waves, crashing down like lightning exactly where Volkan wanted it. Once he started this attack, it was almost impossible to stop. Even a small hit could be deadly. Volkan had waited for this perfect moment to attack with everything he had.

*Wham! Wham! Wham! Wham!* The crowd gasped. They couldn’t believe their eyes. This was Chris, one of the best fighters in Dmitry, second only to Roman Dmitry himself! And yet, Volkan was pushing him back, hard. Volkan wasn’t unknown, but most people thought he was much weaker than Chris and Kevin. But now, seeing Volkan fight like this, they were amazed. Mendes? Raymond? Could they have beaten Volkan? Probably not. Against Volkan’s raw power, they would have been crushed. They wouldn’t have lasted like Chris; they would have dropped their swords and begged for mercy.

‘Maybe… maybe I can do it,’ Volkan thought, his eyes burning with hope. Just like Chris admired Roman Dmitry, Volkan and many other soldiers looked up to Chris. Roman Dmitry was like a legend, too far away to reach. But Chris? Chris was someone they could actually try to beat. They knew they might never be as strong as Roman Dmitry, but they could prove themselves by becoming better than Chris. Many people wanted to be the best under Chris. Not just Kevin, but fighters like Volkan had always pushed themselves to catch up to Chris. Today, Volkan thought, today could be the day he finally achieved his dream. The crowd roared, cheering for Volkan. They loved his energy, his fierce will, and his powerful attacks. But all of this… all the cheering and Volkan’s confidence… it made Chris feel a cold anger inside.

Chris knew Volkan was skilled. He admitted it. Volkan had improved a lot, maybe not as much as Kevin, but still, he was strong. Not many in this tournament could stand against him. But Chris didn’t like it. He didn’t like the hungry look in Volkan’s eyes, the way Volkan fought like he was already winning, and the crowd cheering for him. Chris realized: he had become the target. Just like everyone wanted to be as great as Roman Dmitry, all the fighters in Dmitry were now trying to beat him, Chris. But Chris wouldn’t let it be easy. He wanted to show them all that beating him was incredibly hard. He wanted to be a wall they couldn’t climb, a test they couldn’t pass unless they were truly ready. He would be the ultimate challenge in Dmitry, the second strongest after Roman Dmitry, someone who crushed anyone who dared to challenge him.

*Wham! Rumble!* Their swords crashed together again, a huge impact. Chris blocked Volkan’s powerful strike and instantly moved forward as Volkan stumbled slightly. *Zap! Clang! Clang! Clang!* Chris started a simple attack pattern, like from a textbook. He didn’t need fancy moves. He just attacked the obvious openings. Anyone could see what he was doing. If Volkan’s right side was open, Chris attacked the right. If the left was open, he attacked the left. Even people in the crowd could understand the simple pattern.

But then… *Zap!* “…Ugh!” Volkan gasped, trying to hide a grunt of pain. Chris’s attacks… they were crushing him. Volkan could see the pattern. It was simple, easy to understand. Blocking each attack *should* be easy. But every time he blocked, it felt like his bones were being shaken apart. And Chris was getting faster. Volkan blocked his right side, just as Chris expected. Before he could even breathe, Chris was already attacking the weakness he had left open. Volkan’s head swam. Chris’s message was clear: *Just try to block me. I’m not using any tricks. Just pure skill. See if you can handle it.* Chris was taunting him, daring him. Volkan’s pride burned, and he fought harder. But the more he fought, the stronger Chris seemed to become.

*Slash.* Pain ripped through Volkan’s side. He stumbled, blocking another attack, but then *slash* again, this time on his leg. The difference in skill was huge. Even with a simple attack pattern, Chris’s attacks were so powerful, so relentless, that Volkan felt like he was losing his mind trying to defend. He knew how strong Chris was. He had always known. But after fighting in the big war, Volkan had started to believe he had become stronger too. He had dared to think he could finally challenge Chris. He had thought of Chris as a mountain he could climb. But now… now he saw the truth. That mountain was much, much higher than he had imagined. He looked up, as if searching for the top of the mountain, but all he saw were clouds hiding the peak, crushing his spirit.

Then, it happened. *Smack!* “Kraaah!” Volkan’s sword snapped in two. The force ripped the sword from his hand, and he crashed to the ground. Silence fell over the arena like a heavy blanket. The cheering crowd went completely still, as if someone had thrown buckets of ice water over them.

*Thud.* Chris pointed his sword down, the tip right at Volkan’s chest. Volkan looked up at Chris. His face was pale, his eyes wide with fear. “…I was a fool to think I could win,” Volkan whispered. “I give up.” Round Two was over. Chris had won. The fight everyone had waited for, the Dmitry tournament battle, was a crushing victory for Chris.

Chris and Volkan. Their fight was over, but the tournament was not. As soon as Chris’s sword was lowered, the crowd surged towards another arena, all moving together as if they had planned it. “Hurry, hurry!” someone shouted. “We’ll miss it if we’re late!” At the same time as the Chris and Volkan fight, another huge match was happening. People didn’t want to miss either fight: Edwin Hector against Kevin. ‘Who will win this one?’ someone wondered in the crowd. Kevin was probably the favorite. After seeing how easily Chris had won, it seemed likely that Kevin, who wanted to be even better than Chris, would beat Edwin Hector. But Edwin Hector had already surprised everyone by beating Raymond. So, maybe he could win again? This fight felt like it could be the real final. It was only the second round of the tournament, but everyone knew the winner of *this* match would probably go all the way to the end.

And then, they arrived at the next arena. People pushed forward, catching their breath, and looked up. What they saw made them shout even louder. “Waaaaaah!” “Edwin! Edwin! Finish him now!” Above the arena…

Kevin was in trouble. Edwin Hector was attacking him again and again.

Just like in Raymond’s fight, Edwin Hector started with fast attacks. Kevin tried to stay close. But this time, it was different. Edwin Hector was faster, stronger. Even at the start, people watching could see how skilled Edwin Hector was. They were amazed.

*Swoosh! Crackle!* Kevin ran straight into the fire. The flames were wild, but Kevin saw right away where to attack. He moved forward without stopping, it was amazing to watch. He didn’t even pause. His skin was burning red, but he used just enough magic to protect himself, his eyes always on Edwin Hector.

Kevin looked at Edwin Hector. Edwin Hector was calm, not scared at all.

“Wind Cannon!” Edwin Hector shouted.

*Whoosh! Crack!* Edwin Hector changed his plan. He saw Kevin could run through fire without getting hurt. So, he used wind to blow away the fire’s heat. Edwin Hector wanted to make the fight last longer. He wanted Kevin to use up his magic. He kept attacking from far away.

Finally, Edwin Hector tricked Kevin. Kevin had been chasing closely. Kevin swung his sword at Edwin Hector, but Edwin Hector disappeared like smoke.

“Illusion!” someone shouted.

It was magic to trick the eyes. It was a trap! Edwin Hector used the wind to make the fire bigger and block what people could see. The illusion was just to fool Kevin.

At the same time, Edwin Hector shouted, “Flare!”

*WHOOSH!* He flew up into the sky, wings wide open, and used his magic power. Just as Kevin cut down the illusion, Edwin Hector was ready to attack with Flare. *BOOM! WHOOSH, WHOOSH!* It was super hot. The stage was small, so Kevin couldn’t run far. The flames were strong and surrounded Kevin completely. People watching gasped. This attack could kill anyone easily. They thought Kevin might be dead. But they were wrong to worry.

Suddenly, power exploded from the flames! It hit Edwin Hector’s wings and chest hard.

*Tap tap tap!* “Shield!” Edwin Hector yelled.

*Crack!* He just stopped his chest from being cut. His shields broke one after another. He used Blink to get away from the attack. And there, in the fire, Kevin was standing. Kevin’s eyes were like a wild animal, angry and sharp. He knew where Edwin Hector would be by feeling the magic in the air. *Rumble!* This was not like the fight with Raymond. Raymond seemed to be confused by the magic flow. But Kevin and the swordsmen from Dimitri were trained to fight magic users. So, Blink didn’t work well against them. Edwin Hector was smart to make the illusion, but Kevin could still see the magic when Edwin Hector used Blink.

*Flash!* Kevin’s sword was so fast. It cut through the air. Just when he thought he had cut Edwin Hector’s neck, Edwin Hector used Blink again and again, very fast.

“Blink!” Flash!

They were only 10cm apart. Edwin Hector made the distance very short so he could cast magic fast. He quickly put his finger right in front of Kevin’s face.

“Chain Lightning!” BZZZT!

It was amazing how fast Edwin Hector reacted. Even while Kevin kept attacking strongly, Edwin Hector fought back with steady eyes.

The whole fight was so exciting, people watching forgot to breathe. Everything changed so fast. No one knew who would win. That’s why everyone watched closely, not wanting to miss anything. It was a fight between a strong swordsman and a strong magic user. They fought hard against each other. Edwin Hector was ahead at first, but Kevin was getting faster and faster at catching up. *Thump. Roar!* Kevin destroyed all the illusions. He broke them all quickly. Every time Edwin Hector used Blink, Kevin followed him, running through the flames. Kevin’s sword was so fast, even shields couldn’t stop it. The air was thick with tension. Edwin Hector, blinking every 10cm, and Kevin, stopping every blink, were fighting like they were more than human.

This time was the same. Edwin Hector kept using magic and then used Blink. But Kevin guessed it and moved to where Edwin Hector would appear. *Flash!* A new spot. Edwin Hector was there. Kevin ran at him right away. When Edwin Hector felt Kevin so close, he smiled a little.

“Magic Trap, Entangle!” Edwin Hector said.

“…?!” Kevin was surprised.

*Tap tap tap!* Even while fighting up close, Edwin Hector had set a magic trap using two spells at once. The trap was very close by, but the magic was so quiet Kevin didn’t see it. Edwin Hector knew the trap was ready, so he blinked over it. He knew Kevin would follow fast, and Kevin’s speed would actually trap him. It worked just as planned. *Thud!* Kevin stepped right into the trap. The magic of Entangle burst out. Big tree trunks, made stronger with magic, suddenly wrapped around Kevin. It was a very short chance. He didn’t have much time. He only had 2 or 3 seconds, but in a fight like this, even a small chance can decide everything.

“Burning!” Edwin Hector shouted. *WHOOOOSH.* His magic power was getting hotter and hotter. He was now using magic of the 8th Circle, very powerful magic. His hair turned bright red, and his eyes glowed red as he looked at Kevin.

“Hell Fire!” Flames from hell. This was to finish the fight. It was incredibly strong. The wild flames of hell rushed through the area before Kevin could move. *BOOM! WHOOSH, WHOOSH!*

Everyone watching was shocked and silent. Then, one person slowly understood what was happening and said quietly, ‘…Is it finished?’ This fight between the two was amazing. Kevin, who never gave up, and Edwin Hector, who had an answer for everything, were both incredible. It was clear. They both deserved to be top fighters in the championship. It was too bad they had to fight so early in the tournament, but they should both be famous after this. *Roar!* The fire was still burning. Win or lose, everyone wondered if Kevin was even alive. The attack was so strong, no one could be sure Kevin survived. Just then… ‘Gasp!’ ‘L-look!’ Someone pointed. Through the flames, a person walked out. Flames were still on his body, like he was made of fire. Some of his skin was burned and melted by the heat. Very quickly, Kevin had escaped the attack. Edwin Hector thought he had trapped Kevin perfectly, but Kevin felt the magic and reacted faster. He didn’t even get 2-3 seconds. Only 1 second. He broke free from the trap right away and got out of the fire. He used his magic to protect himself, but even then, the fire still hurt him this much. *Whoosh, Whoosh.* He looked terrible, burned and hurt. This burning man showed himself to everyone. His face was calm, like he felt no pain.

“Prince Edwin Hector,” Kevin said. “Dimitri will not lose because of this.”

He smiled. But then people saw it. His smile was on his lips, but his face looked twisted, like a monster. The fight was not over yet.