Volume 6 Chapter 33 [The Shadow Player SIDE] It's Best To Destroy An Unfavorable Stage
The Blood Duel Cup—a tournament held to determine the strongest in the world.
Hosted by the World Conference, which represents the Bloodline Nation, the event grants honor to its victor. But prestige alone isn't enough. To truly prove its worth, the Cup must show it can attract powerful contenders and enforce fair rules across the board.
Even if a champion is crowned...
Can they truly claim to be number one?
If even the slightest flaw appears in the system, critics pounce.
"Is the Blood Duel Cup even legit?"
But this time, things are different.
This year's Cup is... too perfect.
Elite warriors from across the nations have assembled.
The venue is polished down to the smallest detail.
Even merchants and craftsmen have traveled far just to witness it.
For fifteen years, the tournament had been silent—paused under the rule of the Demon Lord. But now, it returns. And the forces behind it have prepared far too well.
Anyone thinking of stirring up trouble... will face serious backlash.
If someone dares to disrupt the peace or slander the organizers—
They'll be stopped.
By a certain man: Abel, vice-captain of the Diamante Kingdom's Knight Order and twin brother to Commander Cain. He leads a squad whose job is to shut down threats before they spread.
In other words—this time, no one's getting away with cheap tricks.
* * *
Preparations continue quietly inside a chamber reserved for high-ranking nobles—so exclusive, not even the knight order dares to enter without permission.
"How's the summoning?"
"It went smoothly. The venue and VIP areas are tightly guarded, but outside that, security is loose. We used the Summoning Stone beyond the perimeter... and something far stronger than we expected appeared. If all goes well, the damage should be substantial."
A secret meeting unfolds.
Five men dressed in matching, luxurious robes converse in a soundproof room. Given their identical attire, they likely hail from the same nation.
"But Valzeil, I never thought we'd manage to gather such powerful figures... There's no way we could top this four years from now."
"Which is why, if we destroy it now, it's over. It's not about gathering strength—it's about the scandal we'll unleash."
"Exactly. These fools from a so-called 'great nation' full of refugees got cocky. This is what they get."
"This tournament should have been ours. The Bismuth Federation was meant to host it. Their interference is unforgivable."
"If we don't recover our investment in the venue, our entire regime will suffer. We can't let the Blood Duel Cup succeed."
"Right! Damn that debt... If not for it, we'd be number one. Now BraveRangella falls first, and they treat our nation like a joke. What happened to respect!?"
Yes—these men represent the Bismuth Federation.
A coalition of smaller nations united as one political body.
Their representatives gather here today for one reason:
To avoid the shame of losing to Valzeil.
The Permanent Council Members of the World Conference consist of the seven most powerful nations. Once, the Diamante Kingdom stood at the top. But since the Demon Lord's rise, the other members have either fallen or lost power.
Now, the Bismuth Federation, rising from the promoted states, has claimed one of those empty seats. It was even expected to overtake Diamante someday.
They had predicted, "Once we defeat the Demon Lord, we'll host the next Cup."
And so, they built the venue.
But even with the Demon Lord gone, the scars remain.
Though they claim the second spot within the Bloodline Nation, they still fall far behind Diamante—barely keeping up appearances by taking on massive debts from the Hero community.
As Ellie, the Luster Report's merchant chief, once put it:
"When powerful backers fund public stability, that's aid. But when they bankroll lavish displays just to look impressive... that's called debt."
To Ellie, a nation that borrows money just to maintain appearances has no right to worry about pride. But the Federation sees it differently.
In their minds, they should have hosted the tournament.
They thought, "Even if we don't host, they won't attract anyone strong anyway."
But when warriors like Horace, Garboros, and Masamitsu unexpectedly showed up... it flipped their plans upside down.
Now they have no choice:
If they can't win, they'll ruin it.
The venue is located in the Forest of Soul, a dungeon classified as a spirit realm.
No lives are lost here.
Wounds hurt, yes—but when defeated, participants are transported outside in perfect health.
That guarantee of safety is another reason they feel no hesitation.
* * *
"Still, can you believe Brave Rangella was the first to fall?"
"It's ridiculous. We gave them the title of Brave, and now this?"
"If we sabotage the tournament, that disgrace disappears. They should be grateful we're doing this."
Brave Rangella—the one who defeated the Demon Lord, the hero who brought peace—
Now, the first to drop out.
To the Bismuth Federation, that loss is an embarrassment. Not just for the Brave, but for the Council Members who granted the title.
So if the tournament becomes chaos... the shame fades.
Their logic is twisted.
The Blood Duel Cup exists to find the strongest—
Not to worry about the order in which heroes fall.
Anyone who fails to grasp that sees the Cup only as a tool for power.
* * *
"By the way," one of them says, "those herbs we took from Liv Aquas, the Verdant Comet Dragon... The potions we made turned out stronger than we thought."
"Hah. Seems like fortune's on our side."
Their twisted smiles gleam under the room's lantern light.
Their preparations are working. Their sabotage is set.
But whether the world follows their plan... is another matter.
After all—
Only those who see reality for what it is can know what truly lies ahead.
Notes:
• Cain - A 14-year-old beautiful boy with short, light purple hair. Newly appointed Commander of the Diamante Kingdom Knight Order. Highly talented and efficient, tasked with managing the 'Forest of Souls' dungeon and participating in the Blood Duel Cup. Twin brother of Abel.
• Abel - Cain's twin brother. Works in the castle and serves as the dungeon management supervisor. His role allows Cain to focus on his duties without worry.
• Bismuth Federation - A federation of small nations united as a single community. Originally planned to host the Blood Duel Cup but was overshadowed by Diamante Kingdom. Known for its massive debt and desire to maintain appearances.
• Ran - A silver-haired, busty, and beautiful young girl with a dominating spirit. She is one of the 'Four Source Maidens' and is deeply affected by her mother's disappearance.
• Ellie - Black-haired beauty in a pantsuit, with a great figure and a blank expression, adding to her 'beautiful aura'. The one who like loli. Carries an attaché case, giving off strong career woman vibes. Speaks coldly and handles complex matters, as seen when she comments on Horace's tech.
• Masamitsu - Known as the Holy Knight. Member of the 'Moonlight Nine'. His appearance is not described. He expresses concern about Horace being in the spotlight, indicating a friendly or cautious relationship.
• Garboros - Known as the Royal Table. Captain of the Captain of the Five-Star Pirates. His appearance is not described, but he is known for his immense strength, capable of taking down powerful sea monsters alone. He is primarily interested in gourmet food and has little regard for honor or material possessions. His relationship with Horace is one of acquaintance, and he participates in the Blood Duel Cup seemingly for the experience.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!