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 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.

thought I had him.

in front of me,

I created, I wanted to end the battle quickly, but from the looks of it, Aaron did not slack off in his

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

of it, Aaron had found out the trick

'What should I do?'

at the moment. Not only was Aaron extremely

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

is not quite right about this

me,

meeting with Aaron

suspicion couldn't help but bloom inside of my

after I got rid of the five individuals

before...or was it truly a

suspicion further grew when I realized how familiar he was with

fought online, from how he was able to counter a few of my combos, it

it was

"Shit!"

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

took care of before near the portal, there was

another culprit, my goal was to get him as far away from there as possible. If that portal activated,

"Where are you running?"

ignoring him, my legs continued to run as fast

my disposal, the distance between Aaron and me

to get a fair

wrong with the plans. Somehow, the Monolith had

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

should be good

longer seeing Aaron, I hid behind a

carefully opened it. As I opened

any time. Especially since he had very terrifying

Dual-link.

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

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

'Quick, quick, quick, quick.'

through the pages of the red book, I secretly prayed

it be like I

'”Clank! '”Clank!

the area as Kevin swiftly dodged and parried the incoming attacks

"Haaa...haaa...fuck"

breathing

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

'What's going on?'

as he distanced

'...This was a trap.'

opponents he needed to take care of, but contrary to his expectations, there

they

'”Clank! '”Clank!

two more attacks, Kevin took the offensive

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

"kuukh'”!"

with his body and a small transparent

"One ou...khhh!"

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

"...khak."

'”Clank!

enough time 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 head

"Overdrive..."

He muttered.