The Author's POV

Minutes before the explosion, outside of the dome.

"Jin, you're here."

Kevin approached Jin.

Looking left and right, he asked.

"Have perhaps you seen Ren anywhere?"

Staring at the large translucent barrier covering the dome, Jin shook his head.

"No."

"Strange..." Kevin murmured. "I thought he'd be here already since he left earlier than me."

Having left before him, Kevin assumed that Ren had already left the dome.

'Perhaps he's already left the area?'

Though Plausible, Kevin shook his head.

Even if he chose to go back, he wouldn't have gotten far. Especially since Ren only left a minute before him.

Most likely, he was still roaming around here somewhere or was with a professor.

"Hey, you two! Help out over here!"

"..uh?"

Snapping Kevin out of his thoughts was a rough voice. Turning his head, Kevin spotted a professor in the distance.

With one hand touching the blue barrier, using his right hand, the professor motioned him and Jin to go to him.

Kevin immediately rushed to the professor. Jin silently followed from behind.

"How may I help you?"

"How is your mana reserve?"

The professor asked.

"Half."

"Good...you?"

The professor turned his attention to Jin.

Squinting his eyes for a second, Jin eventually responded.

"...About the same."

"Hm, that's perfect, I need you both to channel your mana inside of the barrier."

"Channel our mana inside of the barrier?"

"Mhm, we need as many helping hands as possible. This is the only way we can contain the large explosion from affecting the civilians that have come today."

The instructor's voice became serious.

"You understand how serious the situation is, right?"

If the explosion was not contained, many of the people that had come to attend the tournament would die. Especially since the majority couldn't defend themselves. Not everyone was a powerful hero.

"Understood."

Kevin's back straightened.

Convinced by the instructor's words, Kevin immediately placed his hand on the barrier and injected his mana into it. Jin did as well.

By the side, taking out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, the instructor thought for a moment before asking.

"Want some?"

"No, thank you"

Taken aback for a second, Kevin refused.

Even though smoking was not something that would affect his health as it did in the past, Kevin hated the smell.

different way to deal with anxieties. Although the instructor next to Kevin was trying to put on a brave front, Kevin knew

was the only way

"You?"

turned to

"..."

you also don't want

the instructor. Flicking his fingers, the cigarette lit

Puff.

rose in

a

"Hm?...what the"

Kevin's brows suddenly

shut

to him

the images of some of

Kevin could also see some professors rushing towards the entrance of

"I'm also not su—"

"...Hm? Isn't that Ren?"

cutting off the instructor mid-sentence. This anger the instructor a bit, but

on the screen in the distance, Kevin all of

times to comprehend the situation, his

"W-what."

goldfish, Kevin's jaw moved up and down repeatedly.

he doing there? Wasn't he supposed to already be here? Didn't he already arrive? This

short second, millions of thoughts ran through his mind. It was only after that he realized

"REE——!"

—BOOOOOOOM!

by the large explosion that erupted within the dome. Taking his hand off the barrier, Kevin watched in despair as Ren's figure

monitor's in the distance. Because his face never changed, no one knew what he

someone

his fists clenched tightly. So tightly that they were

***

of the

doing

suddenly cried out

the

room could see his

Then.

—BOOOOOOOM!

aftershockes of the explosion were

eyes were glued on the TV

as Ren's body was enveloped by the thick and raging

"...kh"

grit her teeth and turned her

was usually always clear, at this moment her mind was a mess. Many thoughts crossed her mind as

'Did Ren just die?'

problems in the world, for the first time in her life, Melissa

"...just w-hat?"

too showed a similar reaction. Turning her head sideways, she also stopped herself from watching

her mouth with her hand, she tried to supress her screams. Even then, as if her throat was dry, no words escaped from her

"..."

the other two, Amanda's eyes never left the screen. Out of the three, she

remained fixed on the television screen. Amanda's mind was completely

couldn't comprehend, process, grasp, what was happening. What had she

be dead

Amanda, and before she knew it, tears had already started falling

almost inaudible

"...Liar. "

***

"Noooooo!"

large apartment, a high-pitched

"Ren!"

TV screen in front of her, like a crazed person,

not my son! Anyone but my son! Give me my son back!

started falling

"Mama?"

only two years old, Nola couldn't comprehend a lot. But even then, seeing

too started to

"Maama...whaaa!"

opposite to them, bearing a striking resemblance to Ren, was Ronald Dover, his father. He wasn't a many of many words, but that didn't

No.

reason he was still working at a run-down guild that was filled with debt was because of his