The Author's POV

"Give me a break."

Passing my hand over my head, and feeling just how smooth it was, I bitterly smiled.

"The effects of the pill are a lot stronger than I originally thought."

For my own sake, I refused to look at myself in the mirror. Wasn't too keen on seeing my appearance, which in the most likely scenario, probably would've reflected the lights coming from the top of the mirror and blinded my eyes.

That aside, I wasn't exactly sure about how much time passed since consuming the pill, however, if I had to make an estimate, I would say that I had been in my room for about a week.

"Ugh."

The stench that was coming out of my body made my nose momentarily close up.

Covering up my nose, I turned my wrist and checked for any new notification.

"Oh, right."

Checking my watch, my eyes lit up as soon I noticed the date. Today was the day of the finals for the tournament.

"I wonder if Kevin managed to get to the finals."

I thought out loud as I stretched my body.

Since I had not moved for about a week, my body was understandably sore.

That aside, I would start questioning life if Kevin didn't make it to the finals. My sacrifice would end up for naught.

"Anyhow, I should probably go see the match now that I'm at it."

Lowering my hand, I glanced around the room and pretended to not see just how messy it was. Then, letting out a small sigh, I headed for the shower.

***

Booom—!

The platform shook and a powerful energy blast spread out throughout the whole platform.

"Kh..."

Skidding back, Kevin's feet came to a halt near the edge of the arena grounds. A faint red hue enshrouded his sword.

'Eighteen...'

He muttered inside of his head as he slowly lifted his head and his eyes soon paused on the figure before him.

With long silver hair gently cascading down his back, and a haughty look to match his presence, Vaalyun glared in Kevin's direction.

"Is this really the best you can do? Were all the words that arrogant human said lies?"

Despite his words, there was heavy solemness in Vaalyun's voice. They had been fighting for over ten minutes, and neither of them had still gotten the upper hand in their exchanges. Their fight was even, and this enraged Vaalyun to no end.

Raising his hand, the mana in the surroundings converged towards his body. Then, twirling his fingers, a small magic circle manifested in front of him as the mana around him twisted into small sharp funnels that levitated around his body.

As soon as the spikes formed, with a simple wave of his hand, Vaalyun directed his attack in Kevin's direction.

"Die!"

Swooosh—!

projectiles, Vaalyun's attack shot in Kevin's direction at an unbelievable speed. They were so fast that only a select few from the audience below

"Huuuu..."

A red hue suddenly enshrouded his body, as

'Nineteen...'

around him froze. Following this, much to the audience's shock, Vaalyun's attack once

made the audience gasp in surprise was the fact that the attacks were split into

first, however, it soon became clear to the audience that Kevin held the upper hand in the exchange as the energy coming from Kevin's attack still persisted for

a halt a couple of meters away from

the attack he had just used now was not just a simple attack, but one that was filled with everything that

now that he was fighting did he notice that Kevin's attacks were becoming stronger and stronger with each slash. It had gotten to the point

tensed when he

to finish this

he had been humiliated in front of everyone, people started to

went as far as saying that Kevin

to no end. A rank having a shot against him, someone at

'Overdrive'

flame became even more vibrant and the energy coming out from

that was starting to become too strong for him to handle. His

his hands started to bleed profusely as he increased the grip of

'Twenty...'

muttered inside of his mind as he cried out inside of his

previous attacks, something different occurred. With a muffled thunder-like roar,

terrifying force. Waves of ripples surfaced in the air as Kevin's attack shot in the direction of

attacks

moment when the two energies came into contact with each other, the space around the two attacks distorted. Two different kinds of terrifying energy, one being white and the other being bright red, cold and hot, stood off against each other for a moment before suddenly exploding

Bang—!

throughout the

so loud that even those that were not actively watching the

shreds and the spectator's vision

wasn't only the spectators that were unable to see the outcome of the match, but even the referee had a hard time seeing who had won as the energy released by the attack of the two individuals was

the massive explosion, silence pervaded the surroundings as everyone

***

Bang—!

shit. Looks

I hurried towards the tournament areas. After having taken a shower,

I had taken a copy of my face and therefore, if I wanted to, I could look exactly the same as I did before. The only problem

from fighting for a while. Well, it wasn't like I was planning to pick a