The spectators gathered in the stadium began murmuring, their intense glares locked onto me.

After a moment, Rudra spoke up again, "This wasn't the only time Raj Singh tried to endanger the lives of common people. Check this video!"

The video on the large screen shifted to another clip from a restaurant. In the video, several people seemed to be struggling to breathe while I stood there, appearing as if I were the cause of the phenomenon.

"Here, Mr. Raj released his mana to suppress regular citizens in a restaurant, completely ignoring the fact that children were present there.

When I heard that Raj Singh came to our territory, I decided to confront him for his unlawful actions. I only wanted to warn him, but he continuously showed me an improper attitude and forced my hand."

The spectators, who were already angry at me, erupted in fury. The entire stadium turned restless, some even trying to break through to the VIP cabin where Sister Aisha and I were sitting.

"Punish Raj Singh!"

"Punish Raj Singh!"

"Punish Raj Singh!"

The spectators chanted, their bloodthirsty glares fixed on me.

"Don't worry, Brother Raj. I had already predicted that he would have prepared himself this much," Sister Aisha said, her visage strangely unsurprised.

"Well, I'm not worried. As I said, I don't care what random strangers think about me. Although it will become annoying to go out of the house since they zoomed in on my face for the whole world to see," I chuckled, still sitting in my chair with folded arms.

On the ground, Rudra continued his speech, meant to make the world hate me even more while clearing his own reputation.

"I respect Blood Demon for protecting the nation five years ago, but now he has become blind in love for his incompetent broth—"

Amid his speech, suddenly an unexpected video played on the large display, surprising everyone present.

The camera angle of the clip was close to the ground. In the video, I was sitting on the earth, my crimson body injured beyond recognition, and in front of me stood Rudra, carrying a sword in his hand.

---

"Since the moment you two entered Uttar Pradesh, I had Awakeners on your tail to check what you were up to," Rudra revealed, walking toward me. "I was thinking of some method to frame you for a crime and kill you, but then you offered me the opportunity yourself by entering that gate."

"Wh-why are you… going to such—cough… cough—lengths when this was… the first time… we met each other?" I asked, coughing blood from my internal injuries.

"Blame your brother for that. He humiliated me in front of the whole world five years ago. I'm merely taking my revenge," Rudra replied, stopping right before me.

"But you… will be… jailed for life… on the charge of… murder. Is it worth it… spending your remaining life behind prison… for the sake of revenge?"

"Do you think the government can arrest me? I'm an S-Rank Awakener and a symbol of this country's power. They do not have the guts to offend me."

---

Rudra remained stunned as he watched the video. Forget Rudra—the whole crowd was utterly flabbergasted. Their eyes bulged out, and their jaws nearly touched the floor in shock. Even I was taken aback by the sudden clip.

The moment the video finished, a familiar female voice resounded throughout the stadium.

"This is the reality of the Sword King whom you are hailing as a hero. Till now, he has continuously defamed the Singh family to take petty revenge on Blood Demon."

I easily recognized the voice echoing through every corner of the stadium.

A smile tugged at my face as I said, "Jasmine didn't even tell me when she recorded that video."

"She recorded it by putting the phone in her chest pocket when Rudra thought she was unconscious," Sister Aisha revealed.

"Haha! She's a sharp woman!"

"Of course she is. There's a reason she's our manager."

Rudra, who usually carried a straight face, was burning with frustration and anger. Several veins bulged on his forehead as he instantly bolted toward the commentator's section from where Jasmine had made the announcement.

"How dare you show a fake video to defame me?!"

Just as he was about to unsheathe his sword, a sudden wave of bloodthirst spread toward him, halting his movement instantly.

"If you threaten the lives of my people again, I will drain every last drop of blood from your body!"

Aryan's voice, laced with Soulforce, echoed throughout the stadium.

In an instant, all the S-Rank Awakeners—except the Lion King—who had been casually sitting with indifferent expressions stood up and looked toward one of the large displays hanging at the top of the stadium, where Aryan stood with the Crimson Axe resting on his shoulder.

"Hahaha! You have reached S-Rank, Blood Demon!" Leviathan Rocky laughed, his announcement sending a wave of shock through everyone present.

"Hey, do your job and introduce him," Jasmine's voice came from the commentator's cabin.

"Oh—right," the commentator said, still dumbfounded by everything happening.

"Th-the Guildmaster of Black Raven Guild—Blood Demon Aryan—is here! And if I heard that correctly, Leviathan Rocky just announced that Blood Demon has reached S-Rank!"

The commentator paused for a moment, expecting Leviathan Rocky to confirm it again. But instead, Dr. Reyaan spoke up.

"Leviathan Rocky is correct!"

Taking a big gulp, the commentator shouted, unable to contain his excitement.

"It's official! The Blood Demon is S-Rank! The Blood Demon is S-Rank! India finally has its 10th S-Rank Awakener after three years, since Shadow Monarch reached S-Rank!"

Aryan raised his foot and jumped off the display, landing on the ground and shattering the earth beneath him.

"Wash your neck, Rudra!" Aryan said, pointing his axe at him. "I'll be slicing it off today!"

Aryan's words sent a shiver down Rudra's spine as he stood with his back facing Aryan.

Wiping the bead of sweat from his temple, Rudra turned and shouted,

"Don't be cocky, Aryan! You've only just reached S-Rank. I reached this rank four years ago!"

Rudra's hand instantly moved to the hilt of the sword at his waist as he began drawing it out.

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