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

on his face, Aaron took a

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

"Likewise."

I calmly responded.

really thought I

in front of me, my brows knit

wanted to end the

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 the skill diminished. Furthermore, if my opponent's mentality was strong, the effect of the skill was

found out the trick behind my skill after watching some of my

'What should I do?'

only was Aaron extremely strong, but his fighting style, which was similar

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

something is not quite right

me,

meeting with Aaron truly

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

fact that he arrived right after I got rid of

before...or was it truly a

I realized how familiar he was with

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

was like

"Shit!"

activated drifting steps and made a run for it. A horrible thought suddenly emerged

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

as far away from there as possible. If that portal activated, we'd be

"Where are you running?"

him, my legs continued to run as fast as they

at my disposal, the distance between Aaron and me increased with

able to get a fair distance

had seriously gone wrong with the plans. Somehow, the Monolith had gotten wind of

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

should be good

head and no longer seeing Aaron,

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

Especially since he had very terrifying skill at his

Dual-link.

him to switch places with a selected target. As long as he saw someone, he could directly swap places with them. Of

use that ability to directly teleport before me.

'Quick, quick, quick, quick.'

I secretly prayed that everything was going to

don't let it be like

'”Clank! '”Clank!

across the area as Kevin swiftly dodged and parried the incoming attacks directed

"Haaa...haaa...fuck"

His breathing was

way they cooperated with each other,

'What's going on?'

as he distanced himself from the eight

'...This was a trap.'

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

the very start, they had expected

'”Clank! '”Clank!

more attacks, Kevin took the offensive and counterattacked. Kevin slashed

to deflect the attack when suddenly Kevin's

"kuukh'”!"

body and a

"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

"...khak."

'”Clank!

giving Kevin enough time to breathe, two more attacks came from his right and

"Shit..."

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

"Overdrive..."

He muttered.