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!

as my sword changed direction and only ended up grazing his shoulder. A large cut appeared on his clothes

a smile on his face, Aaron took

use that skill..." Touching his

"Likewise."

I calmly responded.

thought I

in front of me, my brows

one, and taking advantage of the small opening I created, I wanted to end the battle quickly, but from the looks of

the skill and was not caught off-guard, then the effect of

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

'What should I do?'

severe disadvantage at the moment. Not only was Aaron extremely

was probably the first time since arriving in this world

is not quite

Aaron before me, a thought suddenly

with Aaron truly

but bloom inside of my heart as I looked back

right after I got rid of

was it truly a coincidence? I

realized

he was able to counter a few of my combos, it looked like he had been spectating the

was like

"Shit!"

horrible thought suddenly emerged inside of my mind as I ran for it. On the opposite direction of where the portal

the bodies of the individuals I took care of before near the portal, there was a high chance that an instructor

to get him as far away

"Where are you running?"

was Aaron. Completely ignoring him, my legs continued to run as fast

steps at my disposal, the distance

able to get a fair distance

seriously gone wrong with the plans. Somehow, the Monolith

Kevin's situation might be even worse than mine. After running for a

be good enough

seeing Aaron, I hid behind a

the red book, I carefully opened it. As I

any time. Especially since

Dual-link.

switch places with a selected target. As long as he saw someone, he could directly swap places with them. Of course, there were limits to it, but just

someone near me, Aaron could use that ability to directly teleport before me. I'd

'Quick, quick, quick, quick.'

red book, I secretly

let it

'”Clank! '”Clank!

of metal clashing reverberated across the area as Kevin swiftly dodged and parried the incoming attacks directed towards

"Haaa...haaa...fuck"

breathing was

him from all sides were eight individuals. From the way they cooperated with each other, it was obvious that they were familiar with each

'What's going on?'

he distanced

'...This was a trap.'

he needed to take care of, but contrary to his expectations, there were four more lying in

very start, they had expected his

'”Clank! '”Clank!

Kevin took the offensive and

sword, his opponent tried to deflect the attack when suddenly

"kuukh'”!"

his body and a small transparent

"One ou...khhh!"

and back. Right as Kevin got rid of one opponent, three more showed up. In one swift movement, Kevin slashed horizontally, deflecting two attacks. Unfortunately, one managed to land

"...khak."

'”Clank!

time to breathe, two

"Shit..."

as though time had stopped for Kevin. Staring at the two attacks directed towards his head and chest,

"Overdrive..."

He muttered.