Qualifying Round (1)
Ding.
Sector A: First match beginning. Will you participate?
"This is..."
A system message floated before the Beast King.
"Already my turn?"
First match, no less.
The Beast King smiled faintly and tapped the accept button on the system window.
Flash!
The moment he pressed it, blue light enveloped him.
Before he knew it, he stood in the center of one of dozens of dueling arenas scattered across the stadium—warped straight from the participants' waiting room.
"A beastman?"
A human man appeared on the opposite side.
"First opponent is a beastman, huh... Talk about bad luck. Drawing me and all."
'A human's my opponent.'
Beast King Brigand adjusted his gauntlets, assuming a battle stance.
Judging by the man's attire and aura, he seemed like a mercenary.
Ding.
Sector A match starting shortly.
5
4
Thud.
The man leaped toward Brigand but slammed into the invisible wall between them.
"Ow ow... What the hell is this?"
3
2
1
Match starting.
The message announcing the start vanished along with the transparent barrier between them.
"Hmph... Whatever it was, we're good now, right? Here I come!"
The man's form blurred, then dozens of copies appeared.
'Afterimages.'
Even Brigand's senses struggled to distinguish the illusions—masterfully crafted.
The Beast King recognized his foe's skill.
"Don't feel too bad about it. What can ya do? Your opponent's me."
Seeing Brigand motionless, the man assumed fear.
Mithril-rank mercenary, Odwin.
The Illusion Swordsman had felled countless foes across battlefields with these afterimages.
He figured this tiger beastman was no different.
'End it quick!'
Other competitors might analyze his strength, so he'd crush without mercy.
Dozens of Odwins formed a encirclement and charged.
Meanwhile, the Beast King pondered.
'The other arenas are too close. Is it safe to use my full power?'
Dozens of duels raged simultaneously across sectors. Unleashing his might here risked collateral damage.
He couldn't sully the glorious tournament hosted by GM himself—as His servant.
Brigand closed his eyes and shook his head.
'What am I worrying for? The Lord is the omnipotent GM. A bit of power won't faze Him.'
He pulled back his fist.
Whummm.
Aura condensed around it.
'Trust in Him!'
He thrust forward.
BOOOOM!
Overwhelming destructive light engulfed Sector A's arena.
His full-powered strike reached the spectator stands but halted at the transparent cubic barrier enclosing the arena.
As the shockwave faded, Odwin and his afterimages dissolved into light particles.
Ding.
Transferring to winner's lounge shortly.
5
4
'He made these indestructible, ultra-durable transparent walls for every single arena!'
3
2
1
Flash!
Trembling at his omnipotent God's power, the Beast King vanished in blue light.
"That light was pretty."
"Yeah?"
'As expected, the Beast King's fights are fireworks.'
And Albus Bernier—object of that faith—watched dozens of simultaneous duels with Duamutef on his lap.
"Dua, want some of this?"
"Wha dis?"
"Ahh. It's called chocolate."
Albus handed her a consumable item, [Square Chocolate].
Nom!
Duamutef chomped it in one bite and munched.
"Yummy!"
Her eyes sparkled.
"More! More pwease!"
"Yeah yeah. Here, more."
Grinning like a dad, Albus spawned items from thin air and gave them to her.
'No cavities or weight gain worries here, so eat up.'
Albus watched her munch, then turned back to the arenas.
Originally, he'd planned one-on-one tournament brackets.
But too many entrants flooded in.
So he created dozens of sectors and arenas, running prelims simultaneously.
From the remaining 32 onward, he'd expand a single arena per match.
'Early dropouts are boring anyway. Semis and finals will be the real fun.'
Hence the indestructible barriers around each.
To prevent crossfire.
'That Beast King blast... the arena blocked it?'
'How the hell did he build these arenas...? Tougher than my month's labor of love barrier...!'
Many powerhouses felt GM's omnipotence more acutely.
Meanwhile, the Demon King broadcast Sector A's hologram massively over the stadium.
'Aura on the fist, plus a touch of divinity. Not bad, Beast King.'
Diana crossed her legs, mic to her lips.
Click.
Suppressing her urge to jump into the fray, she switched to another sector's hologram.
Sector G Arena
The eyepatched man slung his greatsword onto his back.
"This guy's my opponent?"
"S-Sword Emperor...!"
His foe paled upon recognizing him.
"Sigh. Had hopes."
The Sword Emperor scowled in disappointment.
The Great Continental War that once ravaged the land.
Countless heroes rose, but three earned the exalted "Emperor" title for unmatched might: Martial Emperor, Flame Emperor, and Sword Emperor.
Starting as a mercenary just for thrilling fights, the Sword Emperor dove into the war, flipping battles solo with insane survival and swordsmanship.
He charged death traps, challenged legends—his blade always shredding enemy lines.
Soon, he was the Sword Emperor.
Post-war boredom drove him to Luddera for battle.
Then came the duel tournament news: All continents' strongest, hosted by a god!
Maybe worthy foes awaited.
Thus, the Sword Emperor entered with dreams.
But his opponent was
"Sword Emperor, that's too much...!"
Just a random scrub, face ashen.
Match starting.
"Disappointing."
He swung his greatsword lightly.
Whoosh!
Thud.
His foe split in half and collapsed, vanishing in white light.
Transferring to winner's lounge shortly.
'Just this much.'
Light enveloped him.
'Bring a satisfying opponent next time, GM.'
'Even the Sword Emperor's joining...'
Princess Rebecca noted his prowess on the hologram from the lounge, scribbling strategies in mana mid-air.
To win and become GM's apostle, Republic enforcers weren't her only hurdles.
'Sword beam-like power without aura... If facing the Sword Emperor, countermeasures would be...'
She drafted new strategies.
She couldn't lose.
Not when He expected more.
'Watch me, GM. I'll win... and live up to your expectations...!'
At that moment
"......"
"Munch munch... Daddy, why wrong?"
"Huh? Nothing. Just."
Albus felt itchy, restless.
Countless players dueled fiercely.
Powerhouses like Sword Emperor or Beast King one-shot foes, but most traded blows evenly.
For some reason, Albus yearned to join.
To savor a real 'game' he hadn't properly enjoyed.
'Make a new avatar... Yeah.'
Albus manipulated the command window in the air.
'Add one more participant...'