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..."

From the way she was acting, she didn't seem to be the

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

that when you get matched up

Pop—!

Emma's bubble burst apart.

This way he will finally fight me

appeared in her pupils. It was clear that she was

"Suit yourself."

against you, you'd probably lose in a

my shoulder. She didn't need to know anyway. The chances of her going against Kevin

I wasn't planning on going on easy on her if she did go up

look, Kevin's looking

in Kevin's

"Really?"

waved her hand too. With a forced smile on his

looks

forced smile.

"Ugh, don't remind me."

Kegigoth. He will be advancing to the top 64 of

words, the referee announced another winner and my previous joyous mood

head, a deep frown emerged on my

'He's strong.'

area was an enormous orc. His very presence attracted the attention of the spectators as his frightening display of power over the tournament had

will be advancing to the top 64 of the

Vaalyun Venmoira. He will be advancing to

Barrelbeard. He will be advancing to the top 64

of new names started getting called

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

all higher

could tell from a simple glance that they were all rank

advancing to the top

attracting my attention was another announcement, and the frown on my face deepened.

'...How troublesome.'

in the cheers of the crowd. With a calm and composed look, he walked back to

was someone that I

can't believe that scum

felt annoyed by Gilbert's appearance as Emma lifted her hat and threw a

just barely made it

could participate was 25

forget that he's only a couple of

her tongue before once again lowering her cap and basking in

were called up. Those were the names

the winners were announced, it was time for the second half of the matches

my

I stretched

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

13, Caeruleum

contestants make their

being called

and staring towards the designated platform, I saw

aura spread throughout his

"Shit..."

cursed

did expect someone strong, I didn't think they would

rank, and a former classmate

talents were on the same level as the protagonists, and someone who I

to be an exciting

lifted her hat. Turning my

"...Right."

she isn't entirely

someone who I would definitely have trouble

With the people having already witnessed the same repetitive magic card attack system from me, there really wasn't any excitement for my match as

unnecessary thoughts from my

gazed in my direction with a small frown on

smiled at his

a frown on his face, Han Yufei opened his

use those cards to

"Mhm, who knows."