The Author's POV

"Huuup!"

Jumping down from the building and softly landing on the ground, I walked over to Hein.

"You okay?"

"…Yeah."

He replied, his eyes darting all over the shield. My brows furrowed at his actions.

"What's wrong?"

"...Nothing."

Taking out a handkerchief, he slowly wiped away the dirt that was on his shield.

A sigh escaped from my lips once I saw this. Ever since Henlour, he had always been acting up like that whenever his shield got dirty. I didn't even know how to react at this point.

That aside, apart from minor dust on his body and shield, he truly did look fine.

"We'll talk more later. For now, step back."

"Wai—"

Cutting him off, I extended my hand and turned my head.

"Don't worry, I'm only borrowing him. You can fight him later."

My goal was to test the magic cards. I wasn't going to kill him. Hein could easily fight against him in the future. Plus, at the moment John was still stronger than Hein by one minor rank.

"…fine."

What I said seemed to have some effect on Hein who eventually stepped back. I nodded in satisfaction.

Looks like he still had some respect for me.

"You still didn't answer me, who are you?"

John's voice rang from behind as a powerful wave of mana sprung from his body.

Ignoring him, lowering my head, I stared at the cards in my hand.

'Fireball, Ice wall, quake, and blind.'

They were the spells enchrypted in the magic cards. They were quite the simple spells, but they were still quite powerful. At least, they were powerful enough to deal with the person in front of me.

The reason why Melissa chose to encrypt these spells was because the others were just too complicated for her current level of development.

Lifting my head and staring at the place which was surrounded by people, I looked back at John.

"Looks like a big crowd has formed around us."

"That's good."

John lowered his body and took out his shield. He took a stance that looked similar to that of Hein. But, if I had to say, It was a bit more refined. Not sure if it was a bit more efficient though.

"I'll keep you in check until the others come. See how you can explain the fact that you are here despite not being one of the people participating."

I rolled my eyes at his words.

Honestly, if I explained to him properly, I could resolve this whole conflict, but…why would I?

Had the perfect testing material right in front of me. Why would I miss such a good opportunity?

Turning my head, I looked at Hein and softly muttered.

"Pay close attention."

Bang—!

Then, pressing my foot onto the ground, I shot in John's direction. Within a couple of seconds, I was already before him.

"Huuup!"

Reacting to my sudden burst of speed, taking a step forward, the ground beneath John cracked apart and small pieces of rock shot upwards.

Dodging the pieces of rock, I swiftly arrived before him. As I arrived before me, in my view, all I saw was a massive shield. It looked as though I was facing a massive tortoise.

Quite frankly, despite my experience, I saw no openings. Still, I wasn't disheartened by this.

'Let's see.'

Taking out the 'fireball' magic card, I channeled my mana into it. Then, turning my body sideways, I skid before the shield and smacked the card right on it.

Smack—!

my attack. The moment my hand smacked against the shield, a circular pressurized

Swoooosh—!

result, the ground

pressing my foot on the shield, I jumped up and did

"Was that it?"

distanced myself from him, lowering his shield, John looked at me. Confusion flashed

the strength

once again questioned. The edges of his

anything, I

'Is one enough?'

what Melissa told me, it would take one second and a half to activate the

could also delay the activation of the card by ten more seconds by channeling my mana inside of a specific area that would delay the flow. This was a feature that I suggested to her a while back and the one

Glad she listened.

"Try attacking again."

John taunted.

out another magic card and once again dashed in his direction. The speed at which I was going was the same as

Bang—

before the shield, stomping my left foot on the ground, my body shot toward the

Smack—!

powerful wind gale shot out between the point of contact between my

think two

stopped. Since the time limit was only ten seconds, there wasn't enough time to add

considering my opponent's strength,

you done playing

upright, John halted his steps. Furrowing his brows

don't know what you

careful if I

SHUUUUA—!

glowed, and a bright flame suddenly

have enough time to scream before his whole body was entrapped

hear a small scream coming out

"...Oh shit."

flames engulfing John

flames were a lot stronger than I had

direction, I found her looking at

scribbled a bunch of stuff on it. Next to her, Amanda had a helpless expression

our eyes met

'What did I expect?'

"What's going on here?"

was then that a familiar voice

a familiar figure rushing in our direction. Long black hair,

Swoooosh—!

John, Donna waved her hand and the flames engulfing his

"Haaa..haaa..."

John knelt down on the ground. His breathing was extremely rough, and a part of his hair was burnt.

in relief once I

specialized

the extent of

"Did you do this?"

me out of my thoughts was an airy voice. Turning my head, my eyes interlocked with Donna's.

Gulp—!

releasing any pressure, but the aura that her body gave off

wasn't anything too

gave out wasn't anything I wasn't used to as

have no

"Huuuu..."

a deep breath and lowering my head, I muttered inside

'Monarch's indifference.'

***

a roundup to the participants about who their opponents were

as she was about to arrive at the

faint, she could also hear a muffled

the direction of where the

was then that she saw two males fighting against each other. One seemed to be fine, while the

raised her hand and quickly removed the flames

away, revealing the features of a young man

'John Berson.'

Donna instantly recognized him.

of the few people she paid close attention

she made sure that he was okay, she turned

as soon as her eyes laid

never seen him

all the five hundred participants, and yet,

Instantly she became warier.

"Who are you?"