Qin Chuan's words shattered the false harmony in the Shadow Domain.
Dies Martin's hand, which held the wineglass, froze in midair.
The cynical expression on his face solidified for the first time.
Three seconds later, Dies Martin laughed.
It was no longer the teasing, probing laugh from before, but a candid laugh without any pretense.
"All right, I admit it."
He downed the lump of Fraud Power in his glass, then casually tossed the glass aside and let it dissolve into shadows.
"I was getting a little restless and couldn't hold myself back."
Dies Martin admitted it openly. He leaned against the back of the throne, his posture once again becoming languid, but his presence was completely different.
If he had been a spectator watching the show just moments ago, then now he had finally revealed the gravitas befitting an Upper God.
"I'm curious." Qin Chuan did not press him about exactly what he had done. Instead, he changed the subject. "Why did you do this? Just to watch an even more exciting show?"
"Of course not." Dies Martin shook his head. He raised one finger, and a mass of constantly twisting, dark-purple abyssal energy gathered at his fingertip.
"Shadow, you may not understand the Abyss as it is now."
"It's a stinking sewer, a massive gladiatorial arena. There used to be a few old monsters keeping it in check. Everyone fought every day, but at least they still followed some rules."
Dies Martin's tone carried a hint of self-mockery. "But now? You killed most of those old monsters, and the rest are hiding like cowards. The entire Abyss is in chaos. Whoever has the biggest fist gets to make the rules."
He pointed at the Abyss Lord who had been killed in one strike by Dragon Soaring World on