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!

slightly, Aaron deflected my attack slightly as my sword changed direction and only ended up grazing his shoulder. A

a smile on his face, Aaron took a couple

his shoulders, his smile deepened.

"Likewise."

I calmly responded.

really thought I had him.

front of me, my brows knit

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

'the one' was a very strong skill, it had a severe flaw. If the opponent expected the skill and was not caught off-guard, then the effect of

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

'What should I do?'

a pretty severe disadvantage at the moment. Not only was Aaron extremely strong, but his fighting style, which was similar to

this world that I faced an opponent as

quite right about

at Aaron before me, a thought

meeting with Aaron truly a

suspicion couldn't help but bloom inside of

he arrived right after I got rid of the five individuals was something suspicious

there before...or was it truly a

my suspicion further grew when I realized how familiar he was with my fighting

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

was

"Shit!"

Turning around, I activated drifting steps and made a run for it. A horrible thought suddenly emerged inside of my mind as I ran

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

get him as far away from there as possible.

"Where are you running?"

my legs continued to run as fast as they

distance between Aaron and

to get

running. Something had seriously gone wrong with the plans. Somehow, the Monolith had gotten wind of Kevin's snooping

even worse than mine. After running

should be good enough for

head and no longer seeing Aaron, I

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

Especially since he had very terrifying

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 the concept

could use that ability to directly

'Quick, quick, quick, quick.'

pages of the red book, I secretly prayed

let it be like I

'”Clank! '”Clank!

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

"Haaa...haaa...fuck"

His breathing

the way they cooperated with each other, it was obvious

'What's going on?'

distanced himself from

'...This was a trap.'

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

very start, they had expected his

'”Clank! '”Clank!

more attacks, Kevin took the

sword, his opponent tried to deflect the attack

"kuukh'”!"

connected with his body and a small transparent

"One ou...khhh!"

rid of one opponent, three more showed up. In one swift movement, Kevin slashed

"...khak."

'”Clank!

two more attacks came from his right and

"Shit..."

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

"Overdrive..."

He muttered.