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 the shield, a circular pressurized wind gale outwardly shot from the contact point between my hand and

Swoooosh—!

ground around us bent

foot on the shield, I jumped

"Was that it?"

lowering his shield, John

the strength of your

questioned. The edges of his lips

saying anything, I touched

'Is one enough?'

take one second

area that would delay

Glad she listened.

"Try attacking again."

John taunted.

magic card and once again dashed in his direction. The speed at which I was going was

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

Smack—!

gale shot out between the point of contact between my hand

two is

from John once again, I stopped. Since the time limit was only ten seconds, there

opponent's strength, this

done

steps. Furrowing his brows tightly, he glared in

know what

if

SHUUUUA—!

shield glowed, and a bright flame suddenly erupted,

before his whole body was entrapped by the

faint, I could hear a small scream coming out from

"...Oh shit."

seconds ticked, and the flames engulfing John grew, my eyes opened

were a lot stronger than I had originally

found her

she scribbled a bunch of stuff on it. Next to

her head, our eyes met and I

'What did I expect?'

"What's going on here?"

then that a familiar voice suddenly

familiar figure rushing in our direction. Long black

Swoooosh—!

Donna waved her hand and the flames engulfing his

"Haaa..haaa..."

was extremely rough, and a part of his hair

in relief once I saw

specialized in

truly been heavily injured, I would've found myself in a bit of trouble. It wouldn't be to the extent of me

"Did you do this?"

eyes interlocked with Donna's. She had an icy glare on her

Gulp—!

any pressure, but the aura that

wasn't anything

gave out wasn't anything I wasn't

have no

"Huuuu..."

a deep breath and lowering my head, I muttered inside of

'Monarch's indifference.'

***

days and Donna was supposed to give a roundup to the participants about who their

was about to arrive at the residence,

could also hear a

the direction of where the noise came

males fighting against each other. One seemed to be fine, while the other was completely engulfed

and quickly removed the flames away from the individual's

quickly dissipated away, revealing the features of a young man close

'John Berson.'

Donna instantly recognized him.

the few people she paid

he was okay, she turned to face the perpetrator of the

instantly knit as soon as her eyes laid

seen

hundred participants, and yet, the face before her was not someone on that

Instantly she became warier.

"Who are you?"