As we exchanged blow after blow, I pretended to be exhausted. My breath came in heavy pants, sweat dripped from my forehead, and my knees looked like they could buckle at any moment. The crowd watching the match was stunned, their eyes wide in disbelief.
The one fighting me—Leon—refused to accept defeat, especially in a close-combat duel against a mage. Though he didn't hate me, I could feel his frustration boiling. He had always taken pride in being a knight. And now, with so many eyes watching, his pride was being tested.
I was truly surprised when he finally unleashed his full power. His aura burst into brilliant light, and both his swords shimmered with energy. He looked like a hero out of legend. His strength… it was no joke. It was comparable to a mid-layer 3-Star warrior. My eyes lit up in excitement. This boy has talent… real talent.
In that moment, I knew—I wanted to recruit him. With the danger looming on the horizon, talents like his were rare and valuable. But right now, I have huge surge to win, I couldn't afford to lose. Yet deep inside, I kept thinking… This boy must be on my side when the time comes.
As our clash intensified, I found myself being pushed back for real. My fake exhaustion was becoming genuine. Leon's strikes were heavier and faster. I became more cautious, silently activating the mental spell Calm Sea, a mind-focused technique that helped me maintain focus and control.
Enough playing around.
I raised my hand and began manipulating twenty floating swords around me. With a swift chant, I summoned my Shadow Sentinel, a mid-level spell and high-level spell that required some alot mana and precision.
The crowd gasped audibly. Shock rippled through the spectators. They hadn't expected me to wield such advanced magic. Most ordinary people wouldn't even be able to comprehend high-level spells in their entire lifetime—no matter how hard they tried. Without talent, understanding it was nearly impossible.
And Leon… Leon wasn't backing down either. He might not be able to use magic, but his knight skills were on par with my own. He dodged the twenty swords with incredible agility, weaving through their deadly dance, and even deflected some of the twin shadows launched by my Sentinel. He kept up, exchanging blow after blow, refusing to yield.
Lucy and Elizabeth watched with wide eyes. They had never expected me to possess such trump cards. I could feel their gazes piercing into me, suspicion growing in their minds. What else is he hiding? they must have been thinking.
Thankfully, they couldn't sense the Calm Sea spell. It existed only in the mind, invisible to those not attuned to spiritual magic. Unless they specifically scanned my inner body, they wouldn't notice it.
Meanwhile, Sophia leaned casually on the railing, a small smile on her lips. Amused by the show, she seemed unconcerned. Her own 2-Star had already been defeated, but she wasn't worried. She still had plenty of trump cards left. Winning this wasn't her goal anyway.
But even she had to admit—those two boys in the arena were true prodigies.
Leon gritted his teeth, the sweat dripping down his face. And then—he made his move.
He raised both swords into the air, his body glowing with an overwhelming aura of white and yellow light. The energy coiled around him like a storm. Everyone watching held their breath. The power radiating from him… it was no ordinary attack. At the very least, it was comparable to a late-stage 3-Star knight's final skill.
Even from a distance, I could feel the heat and pressure coming off him. It could definitely hit me.
And I smiled.
Raising my hands, I summoned all the mana I had been storing. My Shadow Sentinel moved behind me in sync, and together, we channeled a massive fireball into existence—one so huge, it rivaled Leon's twin swords in size and destructive force. Flames surged, crackling with intensity.
Everyone clung to their seats as the battlefield became a spectacle. A massive sword infused with aura versus a giant fireball—two devastating attacks, both appearing like the final trump cards of their users.
Even the four girls watching—Lucy, Elizabeth, Evelyn, and Sophia—couldn't hide their astonishment. This wasn't just a duel anymore. It was a battle of last resorts.
And then—
Boom.
A deafening explosion rocked the arena. Smoke engulfed everything. Visibility dropped to zero. Silence fell over the crowd as they leaned forward in anticipation, waiting for the dust to clear.
When it finally did, only one figure stood.
It was me.
No scratch. No visible injury. My fragile-looking body and calm expression contrasted sharply with the chaos that had just unfolded. I stood still, eyes forward.
The crowd erupted.
Cheers exploded across the arena. The noise was deafening. Who would've thought someone with such a delicate frame could win such a brutal fight?
Leon stood a few meters away, on one knee, panting heavily. His face twisted with disbelief. He had never lost before—at least, with some with the same level as him
I approached him and offered my hand. He hesitated, staring at it… then took it.
Leaning in, I whispered, "The world is vast. Even with talent… we're still just ants."
My voice was cold, yet sincere. Leon flinched. Those words struck harder than any blow. He had become arrogant—too arrogant. But sometimes, losing is what we need to grow.
He smiled bitterly. Despite his average appearance—black hair and black eyes—he was a diamond in the rough. I wanted to motivate him, mold him into someone who could stand beside me.
With Alisa, Leon, and myself… maybe we can all reach 8-Star someday. Maybe we can become pillars of humanity in the coming Danger.
The ground trembled suddenly. A deep rumble spread across the city. Everyone stopped, alert.
One of the guards stationed at the observation post shouted in panic.
"Z-Zombies! A massive horde! Incoming!"
The mood shifted instantly. Panic. Urgency. The arena's match was canceled on the spot.
Evelyn rushed to the entrance. Her eyes widened as she witnessed an ocean of zombies marching forward. In the center… she sensed a terrifying presence—a Peak 6-Star knight with a sword and horse, radiating killing intent.
Her face turned pale. But she didn't hesitate. Instantly, high-ranking knights—5-Star and 4-Star—mobilized, creating a defensive line at the entrance.
Above them, the kingdom's elite guardians—the Pillars—descended from the skies, their auras flaring. At least eight 5-Star warriors stood firm.
Elizabeth, Lucy, and Sophia had already arrived, joining the defense. Elizabeth's aura peaked at the 5-Star pinnacle. Lucy was in the late stage, and Sophia in the early layer.
The crowd began evacuating in silence. Not a single person spoke.
Each step of the approaching zombies shook the ground.
[I'll publish the next chapter after few hours TvT]