The Author's POV

"Aaron."

"Oh? You know me?"

Standing on the spot where I used to be standing moments before, was Aaron. Theodora Academy's number one ranked first year.

"Of course, I would. You're pretty famous." Taking a step back, I replied. "...It'd be strange for me to not know you."

"That makes sense..."

As if it was the most logical answer, Aaron crossed his arms and thoughtfully nodded his head.

Looking around, he asked, "...but, you still haven't answered my question. Where are the other two?"

"You're talking about Kevin and Jin?" I shrugged my shoulders. "Beats me. They are off doing their own thing."

Even though I knew; why would I give him the answer? That was a stupid question to begin with.

"Mhm, I see. Then I'll get rid of you first."

Aaron's eyes coldly flashed. Disappearing from the spot he was standing, he reappeared a couple of inches away from me.

'”Sha!

Slashing sideways, I could hear the faint sound of his dagger splitting the air apart.

"...khuk!"

Bending my knees slightly, I watched as his dagger pierced the area where my head used to be.

'”Thump!

Stomping on the floor, I pushed my body back. Cold sweat trickled down my forehead.

"...that was close."

After distancing myself from Aaron, I placed my hand on the sheath of my sword and glared in his direction.

"Hmm, you're as good as I thought you were.", Aaron said as he looked at me from the distance.

"You too..."

There was a reason why Aaron was the number one ranked person in Theodora academy. Experiencing his skills firsthand, I now understood just how strong he was.

Furthermore, from the looks of it, he seemed to be taking me seriously unlike all of my other opponents before.

"Damn it."

Unknowingly, my grip on the handle of the sword tightened.

'”Sha! '”Sha!

Before I knew it, Aaron once again attacked me. Unlike before, I was more prepared and thus was able to dodge his attacks.

"...khuak!"

Unfortunately, cuts still appeared on my body as Aaron's dagger tore my clothes and skin.

'He's done his research on me...'

The more Aaron attacked, the more difficult my situation became. He was leaving me no room to breathe. Like a machine, he attacked, attacked, and attacked.

Because my rings needed half a second to make, and the Keiki style couldn't defend, I was truly in a stump. Slowly but surely, my injuries were starting to pile up as cuts appeared all over my body.

'Crap, I can't let this go on...I needed to create some distance.'

Gritting my teeth, I raised my head and directly stared at Aaron in the eyes. Slowly my pupils turned grey as I muttered inside of my mind.

'The one..'

Aaron instantly fell into a trance as his footsteps slowed down for a split second. Taking advantage of this opening, placing my hand on the sheath of my sword, a clicking sound resounded across the area.

'”Click!

"...Kahk!"

'”Clank!

only ended up grazing his shoulder. A large cut appeared on his clothes as blood dripped on

on his face, Aaron took a

skill..." Touching his shoulders, his smile deepened.

"Likewise."

I calmly responded.

I

front of me, my brows

one, and taking advantage of the small opening I created, I wanted to end the

the opponent expected the skill and was not caught off-guard, then the effect of the skill diminished. Furthermore, if my opponent's mentality was strong, the effect of the

the looks of it, Aaron had found out the trick behind my skill after watching some

'What should I do?'

moment. Not only was Aaron extremely strong, but his fighting style, which

the first time since arriving in this world that

is not quite right about

at Aaron before me, a thought suddenly struck

my meeting with Aaron

help but bloom inside of my heart

that he arrived right after I got rid of the five individuals

there before...or was it truly a

my suspicion further grew when I realized how familiar

I fought online, from how he was able to counter a few of my combos, it looked like he had been spectating

was like

"Shit!"

and made a run for it. A horrible thought suddenly emerged inside of my mind as I

care of before near the portal, there was a

as far away from there as possible. If

"Where are you running?"

Aaron. Completely ignoring him, my legs

the distance between

long, I was able to get a fair

had seriously gone wrong with the plans.

a serious problem since Kevin's situation might be even worse than mine. After running for a further kilometer,

should be good

and no longer seeing

opened it. As I opened it, not once did I let

could show up at any time. Especially since he had very terrifying skill at his

Dual-link.

places with a selected target. As long as he saw someone, he could directly swap places with them. Of course, there

me, Aaron could use that ability to directly teleport before me. I'd be screwed

'Quick, quick, quick, quick.'

through the pages of the red book, I secretly prayed that everything was going to

let it be like

'”Clank! '”Clank!

the area as Kevin swiftly dodged and parried the incoming attacks directed towards

"Haaa...haaa...fuck"

cursed. His breathing was extremely

cooperated with each other, it was obvious that they were familiar

'What's going on?'

wondered as he distanced himself from the eight

'...This was a trap.'

had thought that there were only four opponents he needed to take care of, but contrary to

the very start, they had expected

'”Clank! '”Clank!

attacks, Kevin took the offensive and counterattacked.

deflect the attack

"kuukh'”!"

his body and a small transparent

"One ou...khhh!"

showed up. In one swift movement, Kevin slashed horizontally, deflecting two attacks. Unfortunately,

"...khak."

'”Clank!

two more attacks came from his right and

"Shit..."

moment, it felt as though time had stopped for Kevin. Staring at the two attacks directed towards his head and chest, he knew he had to do

"Overdrive..."

He muttered.