58 - Ranking Battle (3)

The Colosseum of Struggle buzzed with a raucous crowd. With so many Clarice cadets participating in the ranking battles, matches were held simultaneously across eight venues.

"Hey, aren't those the two war heroes up front? Did you see their faces?"

"Shh, they'll hear you! They're the ones I admire."

"As expected of Kaeran His. Here to watch?"

"Probably. This is the only noteworthy matchup left this morning..."

In the Colosseum hosting Kaeran His and Lev Denek's ranking battle, two war heroes occupied the premium seats. The blue-haired Scarlett, arms crossed, whispered to Dustin.

"No word from Umberto today either?"

"Yeah. He should've arrived by now."

This wasn't wartime, so the full group of ten wasn't traveling together, but three—including Umberto—had planned to observe the academy. Yet contact with him had been cut off for days.

Sigh, off helping someone again, no doubt? Scarlett thought, before shifting her gaze to the ash-gray-haired boy ahead.

"That punk kid's no ordinary punk, huh?"

"Probably not."

The pair's mission was to scout successors—heroes—to purify holy sites under direct imperial orders. Beyond famed geniuses like Kaeran, Melissa, Abelin, and Lily, true gems occasionally rose from the mud. Dustin himself had been one.

And the first duel they chose to watch? Lev Denek, naturally.

"A clash between Rank B and S..."

Dustin's inquiry into Lev Denek revealed he'd defeated a senior archer of the same class. Overshadowed by Kaeran, sure, but he had real value. Above all, they'd witnessed his exploits up close...

Then a man approached them.

"Ah, there you two are."

"Sir Regulus... or should I say, Guildmaster now?"

"Haha, something like that?"

Regulus, former captain of the Imperial First Knight Order, had unblemished white skin marred only by deep furrows between his brows. His slicked-back pomade gave him a gentlemanly air, though his stern demeanor—not warm and approachable—had made Scarlett uneasy during her time as an imperial mage.

Ugh, him here of all places.

She'd heard he'd retired from the knights to build his own guild, Crow Faye, but his intentions were unclear.

As the three exchanged awkward greetings, the magic speaker announced:

"Looks like it's starting," Regulus said, and all eyes turned forward.

"Rank B, Lev Denek. Rank S, Kaeran His. Step forward."

At Sub-Instructor Bella's signal—her face screaming you again?—we faced off.

-Waaaaah!

-Kaeran! Show 'em!

Makes my heart race a bit.

As the opening match heralding the ranking battles' highlight, more spectators than expected had come to watch our duel.

-Woooo!

-Fight!

Show us Rank S class!

The cheers were worlds apart from game or novel hype. Pure, raw sound. Most probably here to see the cocky side character get wrecked by the protagonist.

Kaeran smiled mildly, offering a handshake.

"Meet again. Thought you'd dodge by rejecting the last slot."

"Why pass up a free rank-up?"

He just chuckled at my casual jab. Yeah, hope that's your last laugh.

Here we go.

Checking this guy was the first real button on my academy life. Even without him, third- and fourth-years were leagues above first- and second-years... in this amazing academy where monsters popped up daily and betrayals were routine.

-Waaaaah!

Amid the ongoing roar, Bella began explaining the rules.

"Detailed rules for ranking battles, victory conditions, and disqualifications follow academy regulations."

Unlike the rowdy crowd, proceedings were dead serious. No emcee goading trash talk to caricature nobles—lingering old biases. Fanfic author was strict on useless details like that.

"If ready, don your protective gear."

At her cue, we equipped duel guards.

No ash-gray dispersal, no Mainhwa, no hermit. Gotta win clean.

As I steeled myself, the announcement blared.

Bella started the countdown.

"Start in 30 seconds."

-Swish.

Kaeran subtly adjusted his stance. Ranking battles weren't "kill on sight," but killing intent gleamed in his smile. I was an eyesore he wanted gone.

*Ding.*

Damn, he's stacked.

Through my demon eyes, he'd grown even since days ago. To curb that insane growth, I had to nail the parasite.

The key was luring him to steal this [Parasite-Fireball].

Whew... Recall the fanfic plot.

In his ranking battle with Edwin, Kaeran dominated early, but Edwin's grit and execution trait turned the tide mid-fight. As victory tilted to Edwin, Kaeran unleashed Copy.

No self-respecting author makes Copy spammable. Trigger: mortal peril or Massacre mode.

Described with chuuni flair: Hah, no choice...? or Shall we begin for real?

Self-insert darling, huh...

To induce it, recreate Edwin's scenario. Enrage him max.

"10 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seconds."

Kaeran was melee. Calm stance, but coiled to spring. As ranged, he'd expect my first strike.

To dodge, no straight charge—he'd arc, trusting agility.

But my agility matched his. Spirit King's blessing boosted it further. Crucially, this Kaeran lacked real combat experience. His weakness.

"5 seconds."

"1 second."

"Start!"

-Flash!

His form vanished at the signal. I stayed cool.

-Whish!

Deployed Wind Archery - Form 2: Wind Barrier calmly.

*Ding.*

Days in the training hall honing just this.

* * *

Victory demanded strategy. But to a genius like Kaeran? Meaningless.

The gap's clear~.

He'd claim triumph naturally. Better ponder how long to toy with the foe.

Too many eyes—he might flee—so go easy? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Nah, no mercy for him. Priority: smash that smug face.

"Start!"

-Tadak!

Kaeran lunged forward.

-Ping!

Bolts as predicted. Laughably slow trajectories.

-Clang clang!

He parried some, dodged others—minimal movement. Closed distance, prepping all-out war.

Simple against ranged: Archers open strong, Lev included.

...?

That was it? No Gailon-level tricks he'd expected.

-Clang!

Distance shrinking, yet no rapid or consecutive shots.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Huh? Underestimating me?

As Kaeran crashed into Lev unscathed, You're... just die.

He unleashed dual-sword flurry, leveraging speed.

-Kang!

Slashes danced—left low, right... sealing Lev's moves, cornering him.

-Kang kang!

A restrained, precise ballet.

-Waaaaah!!

-So fast!

But cheers aside, no real damage.

Cheap tricks...?

Duel blades, plus a mysterious transparent barrier around him.

Banking on that, huh?

Kaeran scoffed at the amateurish play. As his barrage paused, creating gap, Lev countered.

-Ping!

"!"

Bolt dove through the opening.

-Ting!

It'd have hit clean, but Kaeran's reverse-grip left sword blocked.

"Sorry, cheap tricks don't work on me."

"Too bad."

"Hah?"

Lev's nonchalance heated Kaeran's blood.

-Kang! Ka-kang!

His strikes accelerated.

-Kajik! Pajik!

Barrier was magic—mana-limited. Lev aspired to mage but was archer now. Push, and cracks would show. Archers yielding melee to close-range? Game over.

-Boom! Pa-chang!

No aiming, no counters—Lev barely blocked. Kaeran sneered, hacking wildly.

-Kang kang!

His elegant strikes

-Kajik!

turned brutal. After dozens of clashes,

-Thwack!!

Thrilling impact jolted Kaeran.

There it is?

Clean hit on Lev's body.

-Thwack! Kang!

This close, crossbows are useless.

Lev did nothing now. Barrier shattered; he just twisted to minimize pain. But his stoic endurance, swallowing groans despite peril, only fueled Kaeran's rage.

-Grooo... Blood boils. Thrilling. Vision tunnels on Lev Denek.

His successor ability Massacre tightened its grip, craving slaughter.

Then—

-Thud!

"!!"

Lev slipped? Groaning Urk, vitals wide open.

Kaeran wouldn't miss.

All focus zeroed.

It's over??

-Whish!!

-Kang!

"?!"

-Crash crash clang!

His strike oxidized against Lev's final layered wind barriers.

"?"

Shadow loomed over Kaeran's head.

-Pow!!!!

Heavy, dull thud. Red-haired form tumbled.

-Flop.

Rolls. Flails. World flips.

-... Cold, hard cheek touch. Throbbing skull.

-Woooowaaaaah!!!

-Whaaaat!!

Quadrant cheers exploded, voices blending.

Ugh...

Kaeran sprang up instinctively.

"...Urgh."

Lev, pointedly distancing, gripped his crossbow like a club.

While Kaeran fixated on bolt paths, full swing to the head side.

You crazy bastard...!

Off-guard. Lev never planned to shoot or prove archer worth. The stumble, exposed vitals—all theater for the cross-counter.

"You little shit... pissing me off...?"

Kaeran's acceleration amplified the impact. Head pounded. Vision blurred faintly.

But Lev ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠took damage too.

"Haa. Haa."

Seemed more exhausted. Decent moves, but stamina and strength couldn't support—overwhelmingly inferior. Plus, Kaeran had magic as backup.

But he didn't want easy win.

-Woooo!!

His brief flop shown to masses. Kuh... kuahaha?! To control this mongrel emotion, make Lev feel the wall proper.

So, turn his tricks against him.

-Stagger.

Kaeran feigned unsteadiness, daze.

-Waaaaah!!

Crowd roars. Giving time for finishing blow.

Come on, show your cheap shit. Trash.

He had Elasticity, Immunity, divine Copy—mimic any magic or swordplay once seen. One slip sufficed. Bait ultimate, Copy it, disarm, punish with stolen tech. Done.

Then—

-Fwoosh!

Lev's crossbow ignited blue.

-Throb!

"Uh...!"

A chill voice echoed in Kaeran's heated, aching head.

-Blue flames... blue flames... Wind Archery... Wind Archery...

Selena's intel on Lev Denek. Kaeran smirked.

Bon appétit...?

Now it begins.