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!

changed direction and only ended up grazing his shoulder. A large cut appeared on

a smile on his face, Aaron took a couple of

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

in front of me, my brows

the one, and taking advantage of the small opening I created, I wanted to end the battle quickly, but from the looks of it, Aaron did not slack off in

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?'

severe disadvantage at the moment. Not only was Aaron extremely strong, but his fighting style, which was similar to Jin's, completely

probably the first time since arriving in this world that I faced an opponent as skilled as

not quite

before me, a thought suddenly struck

with Aaron truly

of suspicion couldn't help but bloom inside of my

I got rid of the five individuals was

there before...or was it truly a coincidence? I wasn't

grew when I realized how

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

was

"Shit!"

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

of before near the portal, there

to get him as far away from there as possible. If that portal

"Where are you running?"

Completely ignoring him, my legs continued to run as

distance between Aaron and me increased

long, I was able to get a fair distance away from

seriously gone wrong with the plans. Somehow, the Monolith

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

good enough

and no longer seeing Aaron,

carefully opened it. As I opened it,

time. Especially since

Dual-link.

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

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

'Quick, quick, quick, quick.'

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

it be like I

'”Clank! '”Clank!

Kevin swiftly dodged and parried

"Haaa...haaa...fuck"

His breathing was

eight individuals. From the way they cooperated with each other, it was obvious that they

'What's going on?'

he distanced himself from

'...This was a trap.'

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

they had expected his

'”Clank! '”Clank!

more attacks, Kevin took the offensive and

attack when suddenly Kevin's sword disappeared and reappeared on his

"kuukh'”!"

sword soon connected with his body and a small transparent

"One ou...khhh!"

back. Right as Kevin got rid of one opponent, three more showed up. In one swift movement, Kevin slashed horizontally, deflecting two

"...khak."

'”Clank!

Kevin enough time to breathe, two

"Shit..."

the two attacks directed towards his head and chest, he knew he had to

"Overdrive..."

He muttered.