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..."

sound of her chewing on her gum rang out. From the way she was

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

get matched up with

Pop—!

Emma's bubble burst apart.

better. This way he will

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

"Suit yourself."

you, you'd probably lose

I shrugged my shoulder. She didn't need to know anyway. The

going on easy on her if she

Kevin's looking at

waved in Kevin's

"Really?"

Emma waved her hand too. With

looks embarrassed

Kevin's forced smile.

"Ugh, don't remind me."

advancing to the top

another winner

my head, a deep

'He's strong.'

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

to

Vaalyun Venmoira. He will be advancing to the top 64 of the

Borerlig Barrelbeard. He will be advancing to the top 64 of

him, a series of new names started getting

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

are all higher ranked

they were all rank from the undulations of mana

Gilbert Von Dexteroi. He will be advancing to the top

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

'...How troublesome.'

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

rank of , he was someone that I needed to watch

that

wasn't the only one that felt annoyed by Gilbert's appearance as

is only 25. He just barely

participate was 25 years, and Gilbert just barely

I forget that he's only a couple of

lowering her cap

names were called up. Those were the names of the

were announced, it was time for the second

my

up, I stretched my

far the matches had been smooth sailing, but I knew that whoever my next opponent was, it was going to be

13, Caeruleum

make their way

being called out, my

lifting my head and staring towards the designated platform, I saw a youth slowly walk to it with a calm

throughout his

"Shit..."

silently cursed underneath

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

and a former

the protagonists, and someone who I had been keeping in mind

is going to be an exciting match to

she lifted her hat. Turning my head, I rolled

"...Right."

she isn't entirely

was definitely someone who I would definitely

attention. With the people having already witnessed the same repetitive magic card attack system from me, there really

the arena, I removed all unnecessary thoughts from my mind as I focused my

in my direction with a small

smiled at his

face, Han Yufei

use those cards to

"Mhm, who knows."