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

smile on his face, Aaron

skill..." Touching his shoulders, his smile deepened. "As expected. You're a tough

"Likewise."

I calmly responded.

really thought I

of me, my brows knit

to end the battle quickly, but from the looks of it, Aaron did not slack off

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

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

'What should I do?'

only was Aaron extremely strong, but his fighting style, which was similar to Jin's,

probably the first time since arriving in this world that I faced

is not quite right about this

before me, a

meeting with Aaron truly

of suspicion couldn't help but bloom inside of my heart as

after I got rid of the five individuals

there before...or was it truly

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

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

was

"Shit!"

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

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

if Aaron was truly another culprit, my goal was to get him as far

"Where are you running?"

my legs continued to run as fast as

drifting steps at my disposal, the distance

was able to get a fair distance

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

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

should be good enough

longer seeing

out the red book, I carefully opened it. As I opened

since he had very

Dual-link.

as he saw someone, he could directly swap places with them. Of course, there were

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

'Quick, quick, quick, quick.'

red book, I secretly prayed

let it be like

'”Clank! '”Clank!

reverberated across the area as Kevin swiftly dodged and parried the incoming attacks directed towards him from

"Haaa...haaa...fuck"

cursed. His breathing was

cooperated with

'What's going on?'

wondered as he distanced himself

'...This was a trap.'

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

very start, they

'”Clank! '”Clank!

more attacks, Kevin took the offensive and counterattacked. Kevin

opponent tried to deflect the attack when suddenly Kevin's sword

"kuukh'”!"

connected with his body and

"One ou...khhh!"

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 and hit him in

"...khak."

'”Clank!

breathe, two more attacks came from his

"Shit..."

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

"Overdrive..."

He muttered.