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!

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

on his face, Aaron took a couple of

decided to use that skill..." Touching his shoulders, his smile deepened. "As

"Likewise."

I calmly responded.

really thought I had him.

in front of

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

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

trick behind my skill after watching some of my clips

'What should I do?'

Not only was Aaron extremely strong, but his fighting style, which was similar to

arriving in this world that I

not quite

at Aaron before me,

meeting with Aaron truly

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

he arrived right after I got rid of the five individuals

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

further grew when I realized how familiar

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

was like

"Shit!"

around, I activated drifting steps and made a run for it. A horrible thought suddenly emerged inside of my mind as I ran for it. On the opposite direction of where the portal

I took care of before near the

culprit, my goal was to get him as far

"Where are you running?"

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

with drifting steps at my disposal, the distance between

long, I was able to get a fair distance away

seriously gone wrong with the plans. Somehow, the

a serious problem since Kevin's situation might be even worse than

be good

longer seeing Aaron, I hid

it. As I opened it,

could show up at any time. Especially since he

Dual-link.

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

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

'Quick, quick, quick, quick.'

red book, I secretly prayed that everything was going to be

don't let it be

'”Clank! '”Clank!

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

"Haaa...haaa...fuck"

cursed. His breathing was

From the way they cooperated with each other, it was obvious that they were familiar with each

'What's going on?'

as he distanced himself from the eight

'...This was a trap.'

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

very start, they had expected his

'”Clank! '”Clank!

the offensive and counterattacked. Kevin

tried to deflect the attack when suddenly Kevin's sword disappeared and reappeared on his

"kuukh'”!"

body

"One ou...khhh!"

one swift movement, Kevin slashed horizontally, deflecting two attacks. Unfortunately, one managed to land and hit

"...khak."

'”Clank!

breathe, two more

"Shit..."

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

"Overdrive..."

He muttered.