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.

weapons together. A powerful current of magic power rose up around their weapons, heating

"Now!"

the area. A majestic vertical blue beam shot in

SHIIIIING!

beam was a

incoming

deep

eye, Jin's world suddenly slowed down. Looking at the approaching attack, he tightened the grip of his daggers as he channeled all of his mana towards them. Within seconds, the dagger dangerously glowed as all of

both daggers. He was

BAAAM—!

the vicinity. It was soon followed by a thunderous explosion that rang

debris flew everywhere hindering the spectator's

the dust to clear out. Then, within a minute, everyone finally got

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

He was the victor.

—WHIIIIII! —WHIIIIII!

was about to finish off his opponents, the whole

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. For those who are unable to leave, an instructor will quickly come to aid

***

"Damn it!"

loud, Kevin bent his neck slightly as he dodged a sword attack. Raising his sword, he

KWANG! KWANG!

eyes would look towards his right from time to time.

careless, damn

many people in one area. They must've added additional support at the very last minute to

into consideration, given that he had done a thorough check of the surroundings, he

sort of artifact, four more people hid around the area and waited for

had been too

KWANG!

"Khh..."

foot on the ground, Kevin raised his sword and looked

need to cut down

He was at a severe disadvantage in number. The only way he could have a shot at winning was by reducing their number. Everyone here was weaker

"Huuup!"

about to execute a special move,

"Kuak!"

Though confused, Kevin took advantage of this situation and swiftly stabbed his sword

Cwaaaaang—!

the individual was unable to defend himself. Stabbing towards his back, a shield suddenly appeared on the

threw everyone off. Needless to say, Kevin took

attack. Unfortunately for him, it was a faint. Right when it was about

Cwaaaaang—!

once again blocked by the small protective shield

That's two

realized that he still needed to get rid of six more opponents. Kevin wasn't conceited to the point that he didn't know that

and glaring at his

"Overd—"

—Click!

powerful clicking sound. Kevin, who was struggling and was just about to use overdrive, abruptly stopped whatever he was

"...you're here."

—Thud!

six remaining individuals. Behind him,

"Wh-at"

surprise, everyone turned to look at Ren. With cold and apathetic eyes, Ren merely glanced at everyone present

—Kracka!

white hue shrouded Ren's body. Taking advantage of the

movement of the [Keiki style] :

—Click!

beautiful blue line drew in the air. With

—Thud!

"R-ren, you!"

his eyes wide, Kevin flusteredly looked at Ren. With

you realize what you have

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 reason

"..."

again placed his hand on the

—Click!

clicking sound rang out in the area. Unfortunately, this time his opponents were prepared as two of the four opponents stood next to each

KWANG!

out in the air. Staring at Ren, Kevin's grip on his

you better answer me after

Clank—!

attack. Only needing to deal with two opponents, Kevin's life was now much easier.

as Ren and Kevin were slowly but surely gaining

his opponents could easily parry. Slowly but surely, wounds were starting to appear all over

minute, Ren would be able to

"...Do it!"

were sure

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

Fuuum—!

suddenly skyrocketed as a small gust

"What's going on?!"

a step back, Kevin