Month later.
*Clank*
Ichiro was in his smithy doing last minute changes to his weapon. The sword's name hasn't changed, but Ichiro knows that it is much better than a month ago.
He was sweating buckets, but he has gotten used to it.
He carefully put the sword on the bucket and waited for it to cool down.
"Here." Azura came with a towel and offered with a gentle smile.
Ichiro took it and wiped his sweat.
"Are you sure you have to go?" Azura asked with a sad face.
Ichiro stopped wiping his sweat— he sighed and nodded.
"It won't be anything dangerous— I will go check out my weapons," Ichiro replied with a small smile.
"I will miss you." Azura hugged Ichiro's sweat body and said.
Ichiro patted his girlfriend's head— she didn't notice the solemn look on his face.
He told everyone that he would go to Frozen Island one more time.
But he lied…
It was time for the Underworld tournament!
He received a message from Arkenthym yesterday, and tomorrow they will come to pick him up.
The Underworld tournament isn't held in Coldland because the appearance of Abyss messed up the plans. They aren't foolish enough to have an Underworld tournament under Abyss' nose!
The tournament will be held in Nightlight.
Soon, Ichiro took his sword from the bucket and put it on the anvil, but out of nowhere, a long-awaited message popped up.
*Ding* *Ding*
[Sword of Slaying -> Sword of Slaughtering]
[Sword of Slaughtering: Deals 20% more damage against your opponents!]
Ichiro finally had a slight smile on his face— this increases his chances of survival by a great deal.
His other sword is still Sword of Slaying, but he has no time to improve it.
It took 10 hours to improve to Sword of Slaughtering.
"It is getting late." Azura looked outside the building and saw the sky being pitch black.
Ichiro nodded and put the swords back to their sheaths— they left the smithy and went straight towards their rooms.
He has to leave very early since Arkenthym is a very impatient person.
He lied down on his bed, but he couldn't sleep.
The Underworld tournaments are incredibly dangerous.
But there are quite a lot of messed up bastards enjoying the deathmatches.
Even seeing Police Commissioners in the Underworld tournaments stands is not a rare sight.
Ichiro closed his eyes and hoped to get a wink of sleep.
…
Next morning.
Ichiro looked himself in the mirror and made final changes in his appearance.
He doesn't know why, but Arkenthym told him to dress nicely. Apparently, the people in Underworld are very picky about everything.
The door to his room was opened, and Azura came while still wearing her nightgown.
It was around 5 a.m.
"Do you have to go…" Azura asked one more time— her bright blue eyes showed her sadness.
Ichiro grabbed his bag from the ground and walked towards her.
"I will be fine," Ichiro said and did a small peck on her lips.
He lied— he doesn't know will it be fine, and there is a high chance that he finds himself at the bottom of the ocean.
Azura felt like Ichiro was not telling the whole truth— she watched as Ichiro left the room.
She followed behind him all the way to the front door.
Ichiro was about to open the front door, but he had a feeling that he might regret it in the future if he left so suddenly.
Azura tilted her head and watched as Ichiro dropped the bag and hugged her body out of nowhere.
"I-is everything alright?" She asked with blushing cheeks. Her breasts were squeezing with Ichiro's muscular chest.
Ichiro kissed her cheek, and the eyes showed his absolute determination and strength.
"I am now. See you later." Ichiro grabbed his bag and left the mansion.
Leaving confused Azura alone, she could still feel Ichiro's warmth around her chest.
Ichiro exited the mansion's premises and saw a black car on the side of the road with two men in front seats— they were wearing black sunglasses while looking at him.
Ichiro entered the car and put the bag on the seat next to him.
The men with sunglasses didn't talk— they started driving out of the neighborhood.
The car drove smoothly in the streets and soon arrived at the airport.
They exited the car, and Ichiro followed behind two men as they went past the terminal straight towards the runway where one private plane was already waiting.
The two men entered the plane and stepped aside.
Ichiro walked past them and saw one figure already sitting inside the plane.
He had dark red hair, an attractive face, a straight nose, and a sharp jawline. His muscular body perfectly described his strength, and his tall body almost touched the ceiling of the plane.
"Take a seat," Arkenthym said and kept reading his book.
Ichiro sat down in the chair— he kept his silence.
"You have gotten stronger. Good, maybe you won't die in the first round after all." Arkenthym said with his bone-chilling voice.
Ichiro felt pressured only by sitting near him. He has gotten stronger, but he still feels like an ant in front of Arkenthym.
He gritted his teeth and tried to fight against the pressure, but more he fought, more difficult it became.
"You are still nothing but an ant. Little bit stronger ant, that's all."
Ichiro glared at Arkenthym with his dark black eyes, 'One day… I will fucking show that even ant can bite!'
Arkenthym ignored his glaring— he turned the page in his book and continued reading.
The plane started flying towards Nightlight, where the preliminaries of the Underworld tournament were being held.
The Underworld tournament has no rules, no referees— only strength may triumph!
Arkenthym thinks that Ichiro is an inexperienced brat who hasn't been in deathmatch before and that the chance of him surviving is slim to none.
But he isn't aware… That Ichiro's Iron Style was made for deathmatches!
In his previous life, he lamented that he didn't need his Iron Style to protect anyone— he didn't need to protect himself either.
He was nothing but an assassin.
He was always the predator who hunted others.
Ichiro hated that the fact that every tournament had so many rules.
In this world, there were fewer rules, but it still made Ichiro dissatisfied.
But… Underworld tournament was what he was looking for!
Ichiro has learned to control his bloodlust so that he won't kill everyone who attacks him.
He had that problem in his past life and had in this one.
But… It is time to let that bloodlust loose!
Ichiro.
The World's Greatest Assassin… Is making a return!
