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 as my sword changed direction and only ended up grazing his shoulder. A large

on his face, Aaron took a couple of steps

you're finally decided to use that skill..." Touching his shoulders, his smile deepened. "As expected. You're a tough

"Likewise."

I calmly responded.

really thought I had

Aaron in front of me, my

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

strong skill, it had 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 was strong, the effect of the skill was reduced even

Aaron had found out the trick behind

'What should I do?'

Not only was Aaron extremely strong, but his

in this world that

something is not quite

before me, a

my meeting with Aaron truly a

bloom inside of my heart as I looked back

that he arrived right after I got rid of

before...or was it truly a coincidence? I

realized how familiar he

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

was like

"Shit!"

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

the individuals I took care of before near the portal, there was

get him as far away from there as possible. If

"Where are you running?"

me was Aaron. Completely ignoring him, my legs continued to

the distance between Aaron

to get a fair distance

seriously gone wrong with the plans. Somehow, the

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

should be good enough for

head and no longer seeing Aaron, I hid

the red book, I carefully opened it. As I opened it, not once did I let my guard

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

Dual-link.

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

that ability to directly teleport before me. I'd be screwed if that

'Quick, quick, quick, quick.'

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

don't let it be like

'”Clank! '”Clank!

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

"Haaa...haaa...fuck"

His breathing

all sides were eight individuals. From the way they cooperated with each other, it was

'What's going on?'

wondered as he distanced

'...This was a trap.'

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

the very start, they had

'”Clank! '”Clank!

took the offensive and counterattacked.

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

"kuukh'”!"

soon connected with his body

"One ou...khhh!"

as Kevin got rid of one opponent, three more showed up. In one swift

"...khak."

'”Clank!

to breathe, two more attacks came from

"Shit..."

this moment, it felt as though time had stopped for Kevin. Staring at the two attacks directed towards his

"Overdrive..."

He muttered.