As Thorfin disappeared into the shadows, a figure in a black coat stepped onto the stage. He was Nick, the referee for the event, and he had a commanding presence that demanded attention.
"I am Nick, and I will be your referee for today," he announced, his voice clear and steady.
"Your first test will be a simple one: a series of one-on-one duels. You will be matched randomly, and the winners will advance to the next round. Each duel will last for five minutes. Should you be unable to continue, the match will be called in favor of your opponent."
The tension in the room was palpable as everyone awaited the first match.
"First up: Aiden versus Alisa!" Nick declared, looking down at the list in his hand.
At the sound of his name, Aiden stepped forward with an air of confidence, his muscles taut with anticipation. Alisa, though slightly shorter, squared her shoulders and met his gaze with fierce determination. They took their positions on opposite sides of the polished stage, ready to face off.
As Nick called for the match to begin, Aiden surged forward, fists clenched and ready for combat. The air around him shimmered slightly as he conjured flames in his hands, preparing to unleash his fire magic. Alisa, however, was quick on her feet; she sidestepped his initial strike and countered with a surge of water magic, summoning a wave that knocked Aiden off balance.
The crowd erupted in cheers, the energy in the room escalating with each clash. Aiden regained his footing, his determination unshaken. He shot a stream of fire toward Alisa, who deftly conjured a barrier of water to absorb the flames, splashing droplets across the stage.
The two competitors exchanged blows, with Aiden relying on his raw strength and fiery attacks to overpower Alisa. She danced around him, leveraging her agility and water magic to evade his strikes and deliver quick jabs.
As the match continued, Levi's analytical mind assessed their strengths and weaknesses. Aiden's fire magic was impressive, but Alisa's strategy was proving effective. Each movement was calculated, and she capitalized on every opening, gradually wearing him down.
The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps as the duel unfolded, the intensity of the battle drawing everyone in.
"Time's almost up!" Nick called, his voice cutting through the cheers.
With a final push, Aiden lunged forward, flames crackling in his palms. But Alisa sidestepped once more, summoning a powerful surge of water that enveloped him, dousing the flames and knocking him off balance. He stumbled forward, unable to recover in time as the timer buzzed, signaling the end of the match.
"Alisa wins!" Nick announced, and the crowd erupted into applause.
Nick called out the next match, and the students quickly moved to take their places.
As time flew by at rocket speed, the matches approached their conclusion. The atmosphere in the Entrance Testing Ground was electric, with excitement hanging thick in the air. The crowd eagerly watched as the remaining duels showcased the skills of the competitors, each clash drawing cheers and gasps.
Until now, the top four nobles had yet to face off against anyone, as they would be directly promoted to the finals. All the students in the room knew they would be the strongest of all of them, and that is the reason Levi and others still didn't get on the stage. I know it is unfair but nobody can't do anything to them with all those rules and stuff, I sometimes wish I could break those rules.
"Next Kael vs Sam"
As the name "Kael" was called, he stood up from his seat and walked up to the stage. He approached the weapon stand and selected a dagger, its blade gleaming under the bright lights. Sam, a random NPC, followed suit, confidently stepping forward to choose a sword.
After picking their weapons, they both walked to their respective positions on the polished stage, ready for the duel. Kael held his dagger with a relaxed grip, while Sam raised his sword.
"Begin!" Nick's voice rang out, and the atmosphere erupted as the fight commenced.
Kael stood in a confident combat position, his stance grounded and ready. He held a dagger in his right hand, gripping the hilt firmly as the blade pointed slightly downward, its edge gleaming menacingly in the light.
Even though this is just a normal duel, it still has real weapons, not wooden weapons. It's just the first match NPC's didn't use them.
Sam was the first to initiate the battle, unleashing a flurry of wind blades that sliced through the air toward Kael. Positioned confidently on the stage, Kael remained still, an unwavering silhouette against the chaos. The wind blades cut through him, appearing to slice his body in half.
But then, something unexpected occurred. The remnants of his form dissipated into dark mist, swirling in the air before slowly vanishing. In a blink, the mist reformed, and a new Kael emerged from behind Sam, his dagger poised menacingly near Sam's neck.
The match lasted only ten seconds, a brief clash that left the audience in stunned silence. Kael's decisive movement had turned the tide in an instant, showcasing not just his skill but also the unpredictable nature of his abilities.
As a person who chose the Assassin path, Kael understood that he needed to embody the essence of one. Without embracing the traits of an assassin, he would never truly become one, despite what others might achieve by combating straight forward like a swordsman.
Kael's battle style reflected this commitment. His movements were calculated, his strikes precise, each action executed with a chilling efficiency that left little room for error.
Even I as an author don't know why, the characters have their own will, and even an author can't force them to take another path sometimes.
"Winner Kael" as Nick ended the battle with a shout.
The rankings were determined primarily by skill and strength, as well as the time taken to defeat an opponent. This system favored those who could demonstrate their prowess in the battle. It was precisely for this reason that Kael chose to display his abilities to the Audience.
As the match came to an abrupt end, Kael placed his dagger in the weapon stand, the metallic clang echoing softly in the stillness that followed. With a composed demeanor, he walked off the stage, the spectators' gaze lingering on him.
----------------------
Author's Note:
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to give you a heads-up that some chapters will be shorter for a bit, but don't worry—after a few, they'll be at least 1.5k words each. Life's been pretty busy for me lately with studying for tests, playing games, and trying to catch up on sleep. I appreciate your understanding! I plan to upload a total of four chapters on the weekends.
Thanks for sticking with me!