Roaring Heroes Battle the Overlord (Ainz)

The arena was unusually solemn and quiet. Its walls were draped with golden and red intertwined silk fringes, and the ancient coliseum had been redecorated, now exuding an air of lavish splendor.

Nearly four hundred fully armed royal and guard knights stood at attention, with dozens of court mages wielding various colored staffs encircling the spectator stands, their expressions vigilant, ready for what was to come.

If it weren't for the howling cold winds of winter and the swirling, blood-tinged scent of death in the sandy ground, one might mistake this not as a battlefield for a warriors' life-or-death duel, but as the royal wedding of a kingdom's princess.

However, given the high-profile attendees in the VIP section of the arena, today's final match was no less significant than a royal wedding.

Seated within several layers of a transparent magical barrier was the supreme ruler of Re-Estize—King Ramposa III.

To the left of the king was the second prince, Zanac Valleon Igana Ryle Vaiself, and to his right, the third princess, Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself.

Below them, numerous high-ranking dukes, marquises, and ministers sat with rigid propriety.

The presence of so many dignitaries from the kingdom underscored the significance of this ultimate battle.

The kingdom-wide Warrior Captain selection tournament culminated today with this final grand duel—an event combining the finale and the honor of competing in front of the royal knights.

Two of the kingdom's elite warriors, who had fought their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, were now vying for the supreme title of the Warrior Captain and command over the elite cavalry of the royal knights.

In a gesture of populism, the King had opened up seats not only to the royal family and nobles but also to commoners in the vast arena, allowing the lower classes to partake in this unparalleled grand event.

... ...

"Hey! Barrett!"

Someone called out Barrett's name. Turning, Barrett saw his old friend—"Wind Blade" Yaso Abel, with "Iron Blood Hand" Deus Lefia by his side.

Yaso approached quietly, lowering his voice and asking mysteriously, "Hey buddy, got any 'inside scoop'?"

"What inside scoop?" Barrett was clueless.

"It's the final match, your captain 'Black Disruptor' versus Brain. I'm heading to the betting parlor. Just wondering, what's your captain planning?"

Yaso looked eager, and Deus leaned in closer to listen.

Barrett got it—aside from the king and the nobles, bettors were also keenly interested in who would become the Warrior Captain. EeDeChi and Brain's names were definitely already up on the betting boards, and these two were about to place their bets.

Although Barrett was usually unlucky with gambling, this time he actually had an inside scoop.

Barrett whispered, "Bet on Brain to win. The captain talked it over with us, she doesn't want to be the Warrior Captain at all. She's only in the competition because old Tony asked her to. When the fight starts, she's going to lose on purpose."

"Is that true?" The excitement was evident on Yaso and Deus's faces.

Barrett affirmed confidently, "Cross my heart!"

"Thanks, bro!" Yaso slapped Barrett's shoulder. "Our fortune depends on you this time!" After that, he and Deus walked out of the arena laughing.

...

The copper bell of the clock tower struck nine times, and the announcer's resonant voice filled the arena:

"Ladies and gentlemen, the highly anticipated final selection for the Warrior Captain begins now!"

Brain and EeDeChi entered the arena from opposite gates, stepping onto the dry, cold yellow sand. They drew their swords, the bright blades glinting as they faced each other.

EeDeChi gripped her sword, hesitating and pondering how she should throw the match. First, she couldn't strike too hard, or she'd send Brain flying with one blow. Secondly, her movements couldn't be too fast, allowing Brain a chance to strike her.

Or maybe just surrender by throwing down her sword, but that would be too fake. At least her acting had to show some sincerity. EeDeChi pondered, her mind a bit scattered.

"Clang!"

The sound of the metal sword hitting the sand was crisp. EeDeChi looked up to see Brain throwing his sword to the ground.

"I concede," said Brain.

He bowed gracefully to EeDeChi, picked up his sword, and walked away. In the brief moment EeDeChi was stunned, he had already left the arena.

The arena fell silent until, seconds later, the announcer's voice boomed, "Unbelievable! Beyond everyone's expectations! Brain Unglaus concedes! The victor is EeDeChi!"

"I object! I object! I object!" EeDeChi finally snapped out of it.

She jumped up and down in the arena, shouting as she threw her sword down, "I CONCEDE TOO!"

The arena fell silent once more, with only the whistling northern wind passing through, leaving the announcer speechless.

After a few seconds of silence, the stands erupted in an uproar!

The much-anticipated royal duel concluded in such a manner? The two strongest warriors of the kingdom conceding one after another?

In the VIP section, the three most distinguished spectators—the King Ramposa III, Prince Zanac, and Princess Renner—whispered among themselves, shocked by this unprecedented twist.

Actually, Brain's reasoning was simple; he knew he was no match for EeDeChi. Moreover, he thought that EeDeChi wanted to be the Warrior Captain.

Rather than being crushed by EeDeChi again, he chose to gracefully accept defeat. Giving the chance to the girl he loved was also a gentleman's act.

EeDeChi, in the middle of the arena, jumped three feet high in anger, protesting that she should have lost the match.

After some discussion among the king and nobles, they instructed the announcer to speak:

"EeDeChi is dissatisfied with Brain's style of conceding without a fight, and thus expressed her dissent in her unique way. The king's verdict is impartial!"

"Although EeDeChi also conceded, Brain conceded first, so the winner is still EeDeChi!"

EeDeChi's eyes flickered, and she quickly thought of a "brilliant" reason:

"NO! Even though I conceded after Brain, I had already decided in my mind to concede earlier, so I should be declared the loser!"

"What kind of lame excuse is that!" The elderly king with white hair seemed furious in the VIP section.

EeDeChi, oblivious to the king's anger, bounced around the center of the arena, shouting righteously, "I thought of conceding first! So, I lose!"

From the stands around the arena, the crowd murmured:

"Holy shit, I didn't expect our strongest to act like this..."

"Is an adventurer supposed to be this childish when playing dumb..."

"Does she think being the Warrior Captain means you can win or lose whenever you want?..."

In the first row of the spectator stands, Stella propped her chin with her hands, a glimmer of admiration in her eyes, "I think the captain is kind of cute."

"Cute?!" Barrett covered his face and sighed, "Someone get her down from there, she's embarrassing herself!"

"Barrett!"

Someone called his name from behind, the voice filled with undisguised anger.

Barrett turned around and saw Yaso and Deus approaching him.

Trouble! Barrett felt a bad premonition.

"I lost 100 gold coins," Yaso's eyes were bloodshot as he asked Deus, "How much did you lose?"

"I lost 120 gold coins," Deus clenched his teeth in anger.

The two exchanged glances.

"LET'S BEAT HIM UP!"

...

In the middle of the arena, EeDeChi was in turmoil, wondering how things had gotten to this point, and thinking Brain was too cowardly. She looked up at the stands toward her teammates, hoping to get some advice from Barrett, but instead saw three men brawling together.

A few minutes later, a messenger hurried over to her, conveying the king's decree after a lengthy preamble:

"What do you think the Warrior Captain is? Something you can join or leave whenever you like? This is a supreme honor! After careful consideration, the king and his ministers have decided—you will take on the role of the Warrior Captain!"