09:

  - Arena -

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  A few days later...

  'D*mn. He's really unpredictable! Lately, he's been interacting with me more after I said the night air was cold.' Itzayana clenched her fists, lightly hitting the mattress with them.

  Her body was currently pinned down by Zorian, who was still asleep, unable to move anywhere; her left arm cuffed to Zorian's arm, which was wrapped around Itzayana's waist, keeping her body in his embrace, feeling her presence, still there, intact, and breathing... The most important thing is that the "green" aroma is still strong for him to inhale.

  ---

  [Zorian's study]

  A female servant nodded lightly after placing a letter on Zorian's desk. She took a few steps back, her head bowed as Itzayana entered the room.

  Silence stood between them for a moment... Click... The large door closed again.

  "Your Highness." Itzayana asserted her voice, not wanting to beat around the bush. Zorian put down his pen, his eyes and attention fully focused on Itzayana standing before him. He placed both palms under his chin.

  "I... I have something I want to ask!"

  "Speak."

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "I'm curious about the whereabouts of my family. Have they been killed or not?" Itzayana's fingers gripped each other anxiously around her thighs, her eyes staring listlessly at Zorian. Worried and nervous at the same time...

  "They escaped. I deliberately let them escape and am curious to see how far they have gone." Zorian replied.

  "What?! Something hurt again! Huh!?."

  What was he thinking?!.

  Hesitant, Itzayana swallowed her saliva. On the other hand, curiosity arose in her mind, "Do you intend to put them in the 'arena'!?"

  'Arena' was the name given to the arena where fate was decided, which Zorian created to relieve his boredom.

  It was a tragic ride that was performed for the public in a stadium, with the main requirement being that the audience was made up of adults. The system was similar to an execution site, only the techniques used were different from those usually used in executions.

  It involved one selected "fighter" and a special stage prisoner. If the "fighter" won, the prisoner would die on the spot, but if the opposite happened, the prisoner would get an extension of time to suffer in prison.

  The purpose of this "arena" is; 1) to relieve Zorian's boredom, 2) to train Zorian's own abilities, and 3) as a show that he puts on (Zorian likes the attention focused on him).

  In short, it is from Zorian for Zorian himself.

  Zorian himself often participates as an ordinary person (undercover, using a false identity), and is known as the "emperor of combat." His alias is "Zion." No one knows the person behind "Zion" because "Zion" = "hero" with above-average logic and strategic abilities. Additionally, the "arena" is also an execution site polished with the name "arena." This makes the place more flexible and exciting compared to the usual execution sites.

  “Execution sites are too formal and wasteful of time just to end the life of a burden, so why not create an execution site that is more planned, inspiring, interesting, and different from the others?” - Zorian's way of thinking.

  ---

  [Back to Zorian's study]

  "Not really, they're more suitable for more personal purposes. Besides, I already have plans for that 'arena'." A smile with fire as yeast in dough spread across Zorian's cheeks. His eyes sparkled with excitement for the challenge.

  "Are you interested in that 'arena'!? I think your taste is quite unique, from what I've seen...!?"

  "No, I prefer activities by myself, like reading books."

  'Ha-ha... Are you kidding me?!' Itzayana thought irritably.

  A smile full of fire still lit up Zorian's lips. "Oh, really? Reading books?!"

  "Haha, we have the same hobby... How wonderful." Zorian chuckled.

  He continued. "I'll save you, if anyone dares to mess with you, just tell me."

  "I'll do that for you (as a famous tyrant)."

  Itzayana was silent for a moment, cold sweat began to drip from her forehead.

  'My body suddenly felt cold.'

  Better not, thank you. But enjoy that "suffering" for yourself....

  Almost forgot, Zorian is deaf and numb to what "suffering" is. He has deactivated such human traits; the buttons are already very rusty. They can no longer be cleaned, so the solution is to throw them away!. Tsk...