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—!

bit of force into my attack. The moment my hand smacked against

Swoooosh—!

the ground around us bent

pressing my foot on the shield, I jumped up and

"Was that it?"

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

strength of your

again questioned. The edges

I touched my

'Is one enough?'

me, it would take one second and a half

the card by ten more seconds by channeling my mana inside of a specific area that would delay the

Glad she listened.

"Try attacking again."

John taunted.

again dashed in his direction.

Bang—

I arrived before the shield, stomping my left foot on the ground, my body shot toward the right side and I once again smacked a card on

Smack—!

shot out between the point of contact between my

two is

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

opponent's strength,

done

John halted his steps. Furrowing his brows tightly, he

what you

careful if

SHUUUUA—!

his shield glowed, and

to scream before his whole body was entrapped by

could hear a small scream coming out from his

"...Oh shit."

ticked, and the flames engulfing John grew, my

stronger than I had originally

head in Melissa's direction, I found her looking at

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

eyes

'What did I expect?'

"What's going on here?"

a

head, I spotted a familiar figure rushing in our direction. Long

Swoooosh—!

Donna waved her hand and the flames engulfing his body

"Haaa..haaa..."

on the ground. His breathing was extremely rough, and a part of his hair was burnt. Fortunately, that was the extent

relief once I

he specialized

myself in a bit of trouble. It wouldn't be to the extent of me getting kicked out by the Union or anything like that, but it would

"Did you do this?"

my thoughts was an airy voice. Turning my head, my eyes interlocked with Donna's. She had an icy glare on her

Gulp—!

swallowed a mouthful of saliva. She may have not been releasing any pressure, but the aura that her

it wasn't anything

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

have

"Huuuu..."

and lowering my head, I muttered

'Monarch's indifference.'

***

tournament was coming up in a couple of days and Donna was supposed to give a roundup to the participants about who their opponents were and how the structure

to arrive at the residence, she suddenly

could also hear a muffled

hesitation, she dashed in the direction

against each other. One seemed to be

hand and quickly removed the flames away

features of a young

'John Berson.'

Donna instantly recognized him.

people she paid close attention to

sure that he was okay, she turned to

knit as soon

never seen him

of all the five hundred participants, and yet, the

Instantly she became warier.

"Who are you?"