The Author's POV

"…err."

A deathly silence enveloped the studios as Zack was at a loss for words. His mouth momentarily twitched as he had difficulty trying to find the right words to say.

Staring at the screen in front of him, he wanted to bury himself underneath the ground.

Recollections of the words he previously said flashed across his mind as he lowered his head in shame.

If Ren had beaten Kevin within a very small margin, he may have been able to brush it off, but that was not what happened. It was a far cry from what happened as Ren simply beat Kevin without the fight even being a close one.

Rubbing salt to his wounds, Lorena spoke from the side.

"…So, I guess your previous analysis was incorrect."

"Keum, well, it appears that I may have underestimated Ren."

With a slight cough, Zack quickly brushed the topic aside and quickly changed the topic. He was a man that had been in the industry for quite a while, and therefore, had very thick skin.

"Anyways, have you all seen the last moments of the fight? When Ren was able to defeat Kevin?"

Tapping onto the table, replays of the last moments of the fight appeared on the screens of everyone watching. With a serious disposition, Zack pointed toward the rings surrounding Kevin.

"Most of you are probably already aware of what these rings are. Since you've seen his profile you must know that one of the sword techniques Ren practices is [Ring of vindication], a three-start defensive manual."

Pinching the hologram and zooming toward the ring, Zack continued.

"Notice how the rings over here are red? ...When one reaches the essence realm of mastery for this art, they are able to display 'Elemental discharge', which is the third movement of the defensive art. What it essentially does is attract a specific psyon before diffusing it in the air. In doing so, one is able to weaken a psyon attributed attack, which is exactly what happened in this case."

Zooming out, Zack pointed at all the thirty rings on the screen. Then, pinching onto the screen he zoomed toward Ren and pointed at his sword.

"While Kevin was attacking, Ren was secretly gathering rings. Once Kevin was about to use his most powerful move, it was then that Ren discharged all the rings and dissipated all the flame psyons revolving around Kevin, reducing his attack completely."

As Zack explained to the audience, secretly he was shocked himself. Had he not replayed the match a couple of times before, he would've never been able to tell what had happened.

Once he did find out exactly what Ren did, he was left extremely impressed. Ren may have not outclassed Kevin in terms of brute strength, speed, or any other stat, but what he did however completely outclassed Kevin in terms of strategy.

Although he hated to admit it, Ren without a doubt deserved to win the match.

***

At the same time.

"Looks like you still have a long way before reaching my level."

Ren's words powerfully rang inside Kevin's ears as he looked up at him with a mixture of shock and confusion.

'Just what in the world happened?' Kevin wondered to himself as he looked around, towards the rings surrounding him.

He already had an idea of why he lost, but the way that Ren was able to handle him so easily made him question reality. After all, Kevin didn't think that it would've been so one-sided. Especially when he knew that he could also beat Kimor.

Fortunately, seemingly being able to see through his thoughts, Ren softly said.

"I broke through."

"Huh?"

A look of disbelief flashed across Kevin's face as he quickly closed his eyes. Then, sensing the mana around Ren's body, he couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

It was true!

through to rank. No wonder he felt so much stronger than when he had fought

"Haaa…"

before leaning back and resting his hands over

square. I can only accept

well. He wasn't the type

all, Ren did beat Kimor who was two ranks higher than him. He didn't doubt that Ren may have also beaten him if their ranks were the

had set his mind to take this opportunity

problem he had with the situation was the fact that he was unable to gain the elven tear, however, after deliberating over this matter for the past few days, he decided to perhaps try to trade for it with one of his more important

all he could do at

to the right and tried

winning. I guess this is the end for me. Do me a favor and win the tournament so that I don't feel terrible

Just before Kevin could say anything

"I forfeit."

thunderclap, Ren's words resounded throughout the whole stadium as everyone froze on the spot. Including

"…Ren."

Kevin's brows furrowed.

so, you don't need to forfeit. It

"Stop it."

cut Kevin off before turning his head to

not surrendering because of

"Uh...really?"

surrendering because he felt pity for his circumstance, then what was the reason for

seen it. He had beaten him cleanly! There was

any further, the referee's voice echoed throughout

you sure

were hints of doubts in the referee's words as he too struggled to understand why Ren

at the referee, Ren didn't answer but instead yawned and walked toward the edge of the platform. Upon arriving at the edge,

eyes locked onto the audience who was currently still

forfeiting is quite simple

words were soft almost everyone that was watching heard them. Be it

for the answer to why he was suddenly giving up. 'Was he perhaps injured?'

back, it would make sense for him to have suffered

answer completely took everyone off-guard as some people

quitting

Silence.

upon the tournament grounds as everyone looked in Ren's

once the crowd was able to process his words, many individuals stood up

the tournament

"Bullshit!"

admit that you can no

words were a blatant provocation to the other races! He was clearly

Ren's direction who simply took everything with a smile on his face. Seemingly

shoulders, he continued

from Kimor and Kevin, there isn't anyone worth fighting.

even more heated as

"How dare you human!"

"Such arrogance!"

his shoulders,

from Kevin and Kimor, is there anyone that would even pose a challenge

words may have been somewhat drowned out by the crowd's noise, but almost everyone present heard them, and one of the elves couldn't

"Vaalyun!"