Challenging

The elder of the Northwest city said that there was indeed a way out of this city, which was isolated from the outside world. He claimed the gods had intentionally abandoned the city to imprison sinners, but as soon as the sinners left the city, they would immediately die. Mahendra suppressed his anger as much as possible, controlling his emotions while looking at the old elder.

"So, where is the way out?"

Just as Mahendra asked this crucial question, two men burst into the room and forcibly dragged him away. It seemed that challengers always appearing at the wrong time was intentional. Strangely, Mahendra didn't resist at all. He allowed the two men to drag him away.
It wasn't because he felt reluctant or was too tired, but because he thought it would be better if he didn't get the answer to his own question.

"There is a way out of this city, but the real problem is the unwritten battle that the old man just mentioned."

Sinners who leave the Northwest city will die immediately. Mahendra knew there was something else restraining them here: the battles in the Underground Arena. They were content to be in this city, only needing blood crystals and life-or-death battles. They partied whenever they had time, typical of short-sighted people who didn't want to lose anything.

"There's no way people in the Upper Realm would tolerate this. As far as I know, they would make these people, whom they consider sinners, die," Mahendra thought.

How could he know this when he had never met them? Even Mahendra was confused about the answer.

"Gods? Don't tell me in this city," Mahendra's words trailed off.

Another battle in the arena began, but Mahendra was thinking about other things. He mumbled to himself the whole time until the fight ended with a victory. Mahendra walked out of the arena, pausing for a moment at the doorway.

"Hey, Mysterious! Do you want to fight me again?"

Hearing the challenge again, Mahendra turned and looked at his opponent, who was nearly unconscious but still forcing himself to stand. The Orc with the tough body was panting, and despite his mental and physical exhaustion, he was still smiling, looking very unsatisfied.

"It seems your fun will only be satisfied if I use my full power."

He opened the hood of his black cloak, revealing striking black and red hair under the arena lights. Small black specks or scratches were visible on his neck and face. His red eyes with sharp pupils made all the arena fighters shudder.

"What's wrong? Can't you guess who I am yet?" His lips curled into a sneer. Mahendra then took off the black cloak, and only then did all the curse marks become clearly visible on both of his arms.

"Red eyes and black blotches on his body... this is exactly the description of a savage mentioned by the gods," said one of the fighters outside the arena, feeling that the figure of the Mysterious Sir was someone who would bring them trouble.

"DEVOURER DESTINY?!" exclaimed Mahendra's last opponent, who suddenly realized who was in front of him. His body started to break out in a cold sweat and tremble with both fear and excitement.

"Shouldn't he have died 2,000 years ago?"

"Dead? Hey, is the title 'Devourer Destiny' just an empty rumor? He must have been reborn."

"Our enemy! Our chance for freedom is right before our eyes! Everyone, we must finish him off!" another person shouted enthusiastically.

This was exactly what Mahendra had hoped for. A wide smile appeared on his face, showing his satisfaction with those who intended to challenge him as a group. No matter how many of them there were, Mahendra would fight them all alone.

"Your resolve is good. Now, attack me! Kill me!"

His provocative words sounded like a death wish. His loud voice echoed in every corner of the underground room. Sinner's blood flowed through their bodies, and their fighting spirit and desire skyrocketed. Various attacks—from punches and kicks to weapons—were directed at the single target there.

They broke through, destroying the door and even the wires that had been a barrier, flattening them. In an instant, Mahendra was surrounded.

An axe flew, nearly hitting his head. Kicks and punches from the front and back cornered him in the center. His body was beaten until purple bruises were clearly visible on his pale white skin.

"Not enough! Come on again!" Mahendra shouted with a sharp gaze. He then jumped from one Orc's shoulder to another, using them as high platforms.

"This human is so agile!" Some of them grumbled because Mahendra was harder to catch.

The red-eyed man rotated his body slightly and began slashing people's backs with just one swing of his hand. His fingers seemed to be dancing; the dagger, which appeared heavy, was actually much lighter in his grasp. No one could catch him, they could only see the greenish glow from the emerald stone on his dagger.

"Don't tell me he was holding back at the beginning?!"

"Haha! Holding back? Are you serious?!"

"Don't get me wrong. I never give up in a fight that challenges me. I let myself be beaten so you would all crowd together," Mahendra retorted, now at the corner of a staircase.

"Devourer Destiny! Come on and fight me again! Make it fun for me!" The craziest Orc was Mahendra's last opponent in the arena.

"Tch, so you still haven't fallen."

Mahendra began to sheath his emerald dagger, then unleashed a high-power fire magic spell. He indiscriminately set everyone there on fire.

"Hey, I was just starting to warm up, but you've already lost? This is no fun at all!"

"As you said, Devourer Destiny!"

The Orc, Vampire, Beast, and even human races who were considered strong enough still survived the high-level magic. The fire burned their bodies, but who would have thought there were water and ice mages who helped extinguish the flames in an instant.

"It's a waste to let you all die and rot in this place," Mahendra muttered.

Magician with the rank of High-ranking Magician, even though they only number 5, a small count, their power is strong enough to extinguish the flames of high-level magic, almost surpassing level 10. Water and ice are indeed the weaknesses of fire, but at the same time, fire is no less formidable.

"Hahaha! You can use magic too?!"

"This is amazing. Better than before! Come on, attack me again!"

This fight won't end until either Mahendra or they fall. The dagger has been discarded, and high-level fire magic seems like a toy to those with physical endurance, especially the Orc race. 

Mahendra tries to buy time by constantly running and dodging attack after attack launched his way.This time, a large scythe from a human warrior flies towards him, the massive weapon is thrown like a boomerang, and Mahendra can only narrowly avoid it, with a small piece of his hair getting cut off.

As their fight continues, the tavern owner is secretly hiding. It seems he has become very cautious after finding out the new arrival's identity. His face is a little pale, and a cowardly side of him has re-emerged.

"I didn't expect him to be a Dark Elf but a Devourer Destiny. However, this isn't over yet. At least not until 'they' arrive."