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!

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

smile on his face, Aaron took a couple of

Touching his shoulders,

"Likewise."

I calmly responded.

really thought I had

in front of

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

If the opponent expected the skill and was not caught off-guard, then the effect of the skill diminished. Furthermore, if

the trick

'What should I do?'

pretty severe disadvantage at the moment. Not only was Aaron extremely strong,

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

is not quite

before me, a

my meeting with Aaron

but bloom inside of my heart as I

arrived right after I got rid of the

it truly a coincidence? I wasn't

my suspicion further grew when I realized how familiar he

there were some videos depicting how I 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

"Shit!"

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

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

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

"Where are you running?"

my legs continued to run as

my disposal, the distance between Aaron

able to get a fair distance away

had seriously gone wrong with the plans. Somehow, the Monolith had gotten wind of Kevin's snooping and put

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

good

my head and no longer seeing Aaron, I hid

carefully opened it. As I opened it, not once did

could show up at 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 places with them. Of course, there were limits to

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

'Quick, quick, quick, quick.'

through the pages of the red book, I

let it be like

'”Clank! '”Clank!

the area as Kevin swiftly dodged and

"Haaa...haaa...fuck"

breathing was

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

'What's going on?'

he distanced himself

'...This was a trap.'

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

start, they had expected

'”Clank! '”Clank!

Kevin took the

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

"kuukh'”!"

his body and a small transparent shield

"One ou...khhh!"

got rid of one opponent, three more showed up. In one swift movement, Kevin slashed horizontally, deflecting two attacks. Unfortunately, one managed to land and hit him in

"...khak."

'”Clank!

Kevin enough time to breathe, two more

"Shit..."

time had stopped for Kevin. Staring at the two attacks directed

"Overdrive..."

He muttered.