episode_0109

The tournament preliminaries will be held briefly compared to the finals.

The finals are the only ones that are broadcast on the Internet and have external officials come and watch.

This is because the preliminary competition is a process of filtering out cadets who will enter the finals.

As a result, games are held in separate venues rather than one stadium, so there are quite a few cases where game schedules overlap.

This is true for the first year, and if you consider the grades above, the number of overlapping games doubles.

Because of this, there are only a few people who take the time to watch other cadets’ preliminaries.

Therefore, the stadium where the tournament preliminaries are held is relatively empty and has an overall quiet atmosphere.

“……”

That’s usually the case.

As I was leaving the players’ waiting room and going on stage, I felt a buzz in my ears and so many people showing up that the wind shook me.

The stadium looked similar to the Colosseum.

In the center, there is a spacious arena covered with dirt and sand, and there are spectator seats surrounding it in a circle.

The sounds and signs of popularity felt in the stands were far from quiet. It was so crowded that there was no separate market.

This was true even though there were no outside officials and it was full of cadets.

I looked through the power of observation and found that quite a few seats were filled. In addition to the green tie that signifies first graders, red, yellow, and blue ties were also seen.

They are seniors who have rarely met each other due to their different lifestyles.

Among them, there were people we generally knew a little about.

A person who will one day be reborn as a global powerhouse if something does not happen along the way.

A person who will make a name for himself as a very talented person.

Even though his military power was mediocre, he was a person who could gain political advantage if he became friendly with him.

‘and…’

The point of view of the Power of Observation was moved to one corner of the audience. Even though it was in a pretty corner, there was a person who caught a lot of attention.

His height is longer than average, as if advertising that he is a superhuman.

Unique, hard facial features that are clear and attract attention.

Brown hair roughly tied back and green, green eyes like leaves.

A blunt face that stands out even among the colors of the ground and leaves.

‘Lee Ji-yeon.’

Taesan’s successor, whom we have never met before. The main character who worked together until the end of the first episode.

The moment I recognized him.

– Tiring!

The alarm rang because I was so used to it that I was now sick of it. A sound as if a small bell had been rung was heard in my ears.

I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck.

There is no confession necklace or hologram projector. The heavenly wings were also not equipped.

In tournaments, not only priest weapons but also internal artifacts obtained from the City Cradle cannot be used.

I left everything behind.

In other words, it was not an alarm that could be heard in the audience, and there was no reason for the alarm to ring so clearly in my ears.

I suppressed the arrogance that was about to crumple. If all eyes are focused on you and you frown when you see the other person just entering the stage, bad words will come out.

‘Status window? Status?’

Unidentified alarm.

What I realized was when I was staying in the healing room due to the damage I suffered in Sifnaha.

An alarm that can be heard in your ears even if you don’t have a smartwatch. At first, I was a bit confused, but at some point, I was certain that it was ringing in me.

‘Is this a real status window? But why isn’t it floating?’

The first thing that came to mind was the status window. However, even when I called up the status window, the status window did not appear.

It was to the point where I suspected true mental illness.

I sighed internally and relaxed.

On the other side of the stage, Aiden was standing, holding a long sword.

A sword held in each hand. A stage for sparring. Various perspectives from people around you.

The situation was quite similar to that time.

“It’s been a while… uh… It’s hard to say that it’s been a while, but we met in the classroom a few days ago…”

haha…

Aiden trudged over to me and began speaking in a somewhat awkward manner while checking the equipment.

Strange emotions were evident in his facial expressions and tone of voice, and Aiden seemed to feel the same way about the current situation as before.

“……”

My inability to open my mouth was also the same. The curse could not be resolved then or now, and it is barely being circumvented with the necklace of confession.

However, it wasn’t the same as back then.

[As of the current time, the tournament preliminary matches will be held.]

Meanwhile, the host’s amplified voice rang out inside the building.

[The rules are virtual sparring. All-out combat, including strong body and strength, magic and unique abilities, is permitted, and sparring may be stopped arbitrarily at the discretion of the moderator in charge of mediation.]

It’s different from the last friendly sparring. Right now, it’s still an interim evaluation of City Cradle, so backups, including the power of the tower, are at stake.

It is in a similar state to the inside of the tower.

At least you will never die, and your wounds will be expressed as the same halo as before.

[Then, both sides are ready.]

– Grumble

I pulled out my sword. A cool air passed through my ears, and I slowly took a stance.

Aiden across from him also got his emotions together and pulled out his sword.

“Aiden Reynolds. Thank you very much.”

A posture with the sword held firmly in both hands forward. Aiden said with his eyes focused.

“This time, I won’t let down my guard and will do my best.”

As if to prove his words, there was no sign of hesitation in his posture.

He nodded his head and spread the magic inherent in his core throughout his body.

‘Striking body art, manifestation.’

[Then, the evaluation begins!]

As soon as that voice rang out, both sides kicked the ground.

The distance narrowed. In the end, the blades clashed in the center and struck each other.

– Kyaang!

The metallic sound spread harshly. Sparks erupted, and the sword with all the energy flew upwards.

“Pfft…!”

Unlike then, it was Aiden’s arm that was thrown away.

Even though it was a sword wielded with one hand and a sword wielded with two hands.

Aiden straightened his posture as if there was nothing to be embarrassed about and swung his sword.

I observed the swinging trajectory. We predicted where the swinging trajectory would cut and the trajectory that would emerge from the follow-up blow.

– Chang! Chaejaejaeng! Gakkagak…!

Sword and sword clashed. The blades brushed against each other, pushing each other with force, sparking a flash of fire.

The legs that firmly supported my posture changed positions over and over again.

The upper body moved accordingly to avoid the attack, and the sword drawn along the arm cut the opponent.

The sparring is being established.

Soon, one side started to push back.

Aiden was the one pushed out.

He repeatedly pushed Aiden away and slashed with his sword, which was full of energy.

A blue trail was drawn, and Aiden, who was busy blocking the attack, hurriedly supported the sword with both hands to block it.

bang!

“Keuuk…!”

A groaning sound came from Aiden’s mouth. Both his legs dug into the ground. Dust rose from the hollow ground, and Aiden’s legs were slowly pushed away.

The arms that blocked my attack trembled as if there had been an earthquake. Soon, it is slowly pushed downward as if under pressure.

Did they decide that a power struggle was too much? Aiden gritted his teeth and shifted his center of gravity to his lower body.

It seemed like he was trying to disperse the force coming from my side and then use the momentary gap to swing the sword away.

predicted. I also responded accordingly.

The moment I was about to shake it off, my side retrieved the sword first.

Then, he rotated his body towards his upper body, which was wide open due to the large force of shaking off his arms, and stretched out his legs wrapped in strong energy.

Boom! The foot that broke the river and dug in landed in Aiden’s northern part.

“Gagging…!”

A burst of laughter erupted again, and Aiden’s back buckled.

Aiden’s feet, unable to relieve the shock, scraped the ground and were pushed away.

I immediately followed him and drew my sword.

Aiden, as if he couldn’t lose like this, stretched out his sword without even wiping the drool leaking from the corner of his mouth.

– Kakagak…Chaejaeng! visor!

The swords were intertwined. The sum of the blades facing each other has increased. The strengths were intertwined and one side’s strengths were unilaterally cut away.

Sigh! A halo of light flashed from about Aiden’s shoulder.

Aiden responded with a frown, but the blades that invaded each other one after another were streaked with light.

‘strength.’

In a one-sided power struggle, this side had the upper hand.

‘horsepower.’

This side had an overwhelming advantage in terms of the quality, quantity, and purity of the magical power it possessed, as well as the strength of the power created through it.

‘technology.’

Basically, this side had the upper hand in terms of sword handling and fighting skills.

It was Aiden who was repeatedly pushed out, and it was Aiden whose strength was being chipped away and whose body was covered in scars.

“Whoo…Whoo…”

Aiden, standing at a distance, let out a heavy breath.

As he breathed, light that acted as blood was dripping from the wounds on his body.

It was a wound carved during the sparring.

On the other hand, I had no trouble breathing, and my magical power was more than enough. Even injuries were not tolerated at all.

It was one-sided.

It was different from last time.

Aiden didn’t let down his guard and underestimate me. This is despite the fact that we tried our best from the beginning.

Something like a feeling of another world.

It was a very strange feeling.