The Author's POV

Crash—!

With a loud crash, an orc came crashing down on the hard ground.

"Haa...haa..."

'I will definitely make you pay for what you've done.' Kevin swore to himself as he stared at the orc opposite him. With his head on the ground and his eyes closed, the orc was knocked down cold.

"The opponent is knocked out cold, the match is over."

The referee's voice resounded across the grounds, marking him the victor of the duel.

"Winner, Kevin Voss. He will be advancing to the top 64 of the tournament."

Announcing his victory, the referee raised Kevin's hand in the air.

The loud cheers coming from the audience rang out.

Kevin in return smiled at the audience.

'...That piece of shit.'

Or at least pretended to smile.

In reality, he was still fuming about what had happened yesterday.

The humiliation and embarrassment he felt were something he had never felt before in his life. Just recalling what happened sent shivers down his spine. The embarrassment was just too much.

Turning his head and staring towards the distance where Ren stood, Kevin deeply sighed.

Then, turning his head, he looked towards Emma who was seated next to Ren. Noticing his stare, the two of them waved in his direction.

Staring at the two of them from the arena grounds, doubt crept inside of Kevin's heart.

'...Could the figure in the dream really be Ren?'

Part of him truly wanted to dismiss such thoughts from his mind, but after looking back at the past, Kevin realized that there was a chance that the figure in the vision was Ren.

The Hollberg incident, the time when they were attacked by demons when they were returning from the dungeon, and just a week ago when he lost himself.

In those times, Ren truly reminded Kevin of the figure in the vision.

No matter how many times he wanted to deny reality, he knew that he couldn't...but Kevin wasn't planning on letting those visions dictate his mind.

In the first place, he never truly understood what the visions signified. Were they a vision of the possible future?...or were they simply just visions?

He spent a lot of time trying to rack his brain over the matter, but regardless of how much he thought about it, he couldn't quite understand it.

In the end, he just stopped thinking about it.

He realized that thinking on the matter was simply going to be a waste of time.

Be it the present past or whatever the visions signified, Kevin was not planning on letting the visions corrupt his mind and turn his back on his friend.

Never...

***

"The real matches should begin now."

With my arms crossed, I solemnly gazed at the platforms below.

"...the real matches?"

"Yeah."

I nodded my head. Seated next to me was Emma who was leaning back with her cap held down, covering her face. A small shadow cast over her beautiful face.

Apart from the two of us, pretty much everyone else was fighting in the arenas below. Jin, Amanda, Hein, Ava, you name it, they were all fighting.

Somehow, I ended up stuck with Emma whilst waiting for our turns.

"What I mean is that the next opponents are going to be extremely hard to deal with."

"Munch...much..."

chewing on her gum rang out. From the way she was acting, she didn't

"Munch...much...I'll still win."

that when you get matched up with

Pop—!

Emma's bubble burst apart.

way he will finally fight me seriously for

head, a fire appeared in her pupils. It was clear that she was excited at the prospect

"Suit yourself."

you, you'd probably

to know anyway. The chances

difference was that I wasn't planning on going on easy on her

Kevin's looking at

in Kevin's

"Really?"

and staring at Kevin, Emma waved her hand too. With a forced smile on his

looks embarrassed

loud as I stared at Kevin's forced smile. Overhearing my words, Emma's face cringed as she lowered her

"Ugh, don't remind me."

advancing to the top 64 of

the referee announced another winner and

my head, a deep frown emerged on

'He's strong.'

orc. His very presence attracted the attention of the spectators as his frightening display of power over the tournament had made people realize that

to the

be advancing to

advancing

series of new names started getting called

solemness appeared on my face as I stared at the individuals whose names were being

all higher

could tell from a simple glance that they were all rank from the undulations

advancing to

attention was another announcement, and the frown on my face deepened. This time, it was

'...How troublesome.'

the crowd. With a calm and composed look, he walked back to his

, he was someone that I

can't believe that scum

by Gilbert's appearance as Emma lifted her hat and threw a disgusted look in

25. He just barely

age one could participate was 25 years, and Gilbert just barely

I forget that he's only a couple of years younger

her cap and basking

Those were the names

were announced, it was time for the second half

my

I stretched my

but I knew that whoever my next opponent was, it was going to be someone powerful. I could no longer

13, Caeruleum vs

contestants make their way to the

being called

my head and staring towards the designated platform, I saw a youth slowly walk

yet dangerous aura spread throughout his whole

"Shit..."

silently cursed underneath my

someone strong, I didn't think they would be at this

and a

protagonists, and someone who I

is going to be

muttered from behind as she lifted her hat. Turning my head, I rolled

"...Right."

she isn't

definitely someone who I would definitely

having already witnessed the same repetitive magic card attack system

unnecessary thoughts from my

with his hands behind his back, Han Yufei gazed in my direction with a small frown on his face. Seemingly trying to

smiled at his

on his face, Han Yufei opened his

use

"Mhm, who knows."