The Author's POV

In a different area of the dome.

SHIIIIING!

A black dagger pierced through the air in a lightning-fast manner.

KWANG!

Colliding with the metal body of a rapier, a defeating sound rang out, creating hot embers that scattered out.

At the same time, the dagger clashed with the body of the rapier, appearing on the right side of JIn were two twin swords. Raising his left hand, Jin slashed with all of his power.

KWANG!

Once again, a powerful sound rang out. The result of the clash ended up with one person getting pushed back.

"Brother!"

"...He's strong."

Nicholas muttered. Next to him was his sister, Aerin.

Lifting his sleeve, he wiped the blood that trickled down the edge of his lip.

Turning his attention towards his sister, Nicholas asked.

"Aerin, are you injured?"

"No."

"...Good. I'm afraid we have to go all out. We might lose if we don't."

"I agree."

In response to her brother's words, Aerin nodded her head.

"Haaaat!"

Then, with her brother next to her, she charged forward. Their speed was not something anyone could follow with their naked eyes. Within seconds, they were already in front of Jin.

Thrusting forward with her rapier, Nicholas accompanied her movements as he thrust his twin swords forward.

Claaaang—!

This time, it was Jin's turn to be pushed back. The twin's attacks were meticulous and calculated.

Alternating between each other, with no lag in their movements, they both aimed for the most vulnerable part of Jin's body.

Be it heart, lungs, head, liver; they aimed for all of the important organs. To make matters worse, because of how synchronized their attacks were, to Jin, it felt as though he was facing three opponents at the same time.

Slowly, cuts started appearing all over his body. For the next minute or so, Jin was slowly but surely being driven towards a corner. To the spectators, it looked as though he was about to lose.

But.

"Tsk."

Jin suddenly clicked his tongue. Almost instantaneously, a tremendous hue wrapped around his daggers.

Taking a step forward, his body suddenly melted into the darkness.

SHIIIIING!

Appearing right in front of them, Jin thrust his daggers forward as he performed an odd combo. His first strike was a powerful strike that shot up like lightning, followed by consecutive strikes that could seemingly sever rivers.

With each strike, the dagger's pattern became more and more eccentric. At one point, one of the daggers followed a path that was similar to that of a snake. Almost impossible to predict.

Under the barrage of attacks, Aerin and Nicholas both cooperated with each other and tried their best to defend themselves against Jin's weird attacks.

However, they knew that they were once again at a disadvantage. Even though they were going all out, they were still losing.

"Khhh...Aerin"

Pushed back, Nicholas painfully groaned.

"Yes, brother!"

"Let's use that."

"...but—"

"If we don't use it, we will lose. There is no point in saving it."

Nicholas quickly cut her off.

It became painfully obvious to him that they were about to lose. Their opponent was just too strong.

"Understood."

Biting her lower lip, Aerin nodded her head as she raised her rapier in the air.

area. Standing next to each other, the twins connected their weapons together. A powerful current of magic power rose up around their weapons, heating up

"Now!"

light enveloped the area. A majestic vertical blue beam shot

SHIIIIING!

behind the beam was a beautiful light blue

incoming attack,

took a deep breath. "Light

Jin's world suddenly slowed down. Looking at the approaching attack, he tightened the grip of his daggers as he

he slashed down with both daggers. He

BAAAM—!

vicinity. It was soon followed by a thunderous explosion that rang throughout the whole dome. Almost all of the students

flew everywhere

dust to

was Jin. Though his clothes were a mess and cuts appeared all over his body, compared

He was the victor.

—WHIIIIII! —WHIIIIII!

the whole building turned red,

unforeseen circumstances, the trials will now shut down. Please stop whatever you are doing and evacuate the premises. I repeat, please stop whatever you are doing and evacuate the premises.

***

"Damn it!"

attack. Raising his sword, he deflected

KWANG! KWANG!

would look towards his right from time to time. Right where

was careless, damn

Kevin that someone had found out about his snooping. If not they wouldn't have sent so many people in one area.

had taken this option into consideration, given that he had done a thorough check of the

artifact, four more

been too

KWANG!

"Khh..."

parried another attack. Stomping his foot on the ground, Kevin raised his

need to cut down

winning was by reducing their number. Everyone here was weaker than him. As long as he got rid of some of

"Huuup!"

execute a special move, something

"Kuak!"

took advantage of this situation and swiftly stabbed his sword towards

Cwaaaaang—!

was unable to defend himself. Stabbing towards his back, a shield

off. Needless to say, Kevin took advantage of his opponent's

watched as his opponent flustered;y tried to block the attack. Unfortunately for him, it was a faint. Right when it was about to hit him, Kevin's sword magically reappeared by

Cwaaaaang—!

was once again blocked by the small protective shield that all students had. Nevertheless, his opponent was

That's two

six more opponents. Kevin wasn't conceited to the point that he didn't know that the only

taking a step back and glaring at

"Overd—"

—Click!

was just about to use overdrive, abruptly stopped whatever he was doing. The edges of his lips curved

"...you're here."

—Thud!

six remaining

"Wh-at"

turned to look at Ren. With cold and apathetic eyes, Ren merely glanced at everyone present before placing his hand on

—Kracka!

hue shrouded Ren's body. Taking

movement of the [Keiki style] :

—Click!

out in the area; a beautiful blue line drew in the air. With a large

—Thud!

"R-ren, you!"

flusteredly looked at Ren. With a trembling hand, he pointed

you realize what you

cameras broadcasting the event worldwide, the whole world had just found out that Ren was practicing the Keiki style. He had just placed a massive target on his back for no

"..."

his hand on the handle

—Click!

out in the area. Unfortunately, this time his opponents were prepared as two of the four opponents stood next

KWANG!

air. Staring at

answer me

Clank—!

easily parried the incoming attack. Only needing to deal with two opponents, Kevin's life was now much easier. In fact, now

and Kevin were slowly

no restraints on him, Ren dominated his opponents. His lightning-fast attacks were not something his opponents could easily parry. Slowly but surely, wounds

a minute, Ren would be able to

"...Do it!"

when Ren and Kevin were sure of their

other simultaneously, all four of the remaining individuals took out a black

Fuuum—!

skyrocketed as a small gust

"What's going on?!"

a step back, Kevin