"To grow stronger is to bury the past—but what happens when the past refuses to stay buried?"
1. Rising Through the Rounds – The Growing Storm
The China National Hunter School Tournament was in full swing.
Matches played out one after another, but only a handful of names truly stood out.
✔ Sung En's flawless victories had solidified her position as one of the tournament's strongest competitors.
✔ Wei Cheng was proving himself as an immovable wall, tanking through opponents with sheer endurance.
✔ Elite students from the rival Imperial Dragon Academy were starting to dominate, gaining attention.
✔ And then… there was Joshua.
The boy who fought like he had already won the tournament before it even started.
From the crowds to the noble guests, from the instructors to the rival academies, everyone was watching Joshua Lim.
And they were starting to question just how high he could climb.
2. The Crowd's Growing Curiosity – Background Reactions
✔ Spectators began debating his fighting style.
"He doesn't just use Aura or Magic—he switches between them mid-fight like it's second nature."
"It's like he already knows how every opponent fights before they even move."
"No wasted movement. No hesitation. That's not something a 17-year-old should have."
✔ Hunters and noble families began whispering.
"A future 7-star? It's too early to say, but…"
"This boy is dangerous."
✔ Students from the rival academy—the Imperial Dragon Academy—began taking notice.
"If he reaches the finals, it'll be a problem for us."
"He's already making Zhao Feng look like an afterthought."
✔ Sung En, Wei Cheng, and Jiang Yue watched from their own perspectives.
Wei Cheng exhaled as he leaned back in his seat. "The gap between us is ridiculous now."
Jiang Yue smirked. "You say that, but I don't see you upset."
Wei Cheng chuckled. "Nah. If anyone deserves it, it's him."
Sung En, however, stayed silent.
Her violet eyes followed Joshua closely, noticing what others might have missed.
The way he calculated his every move. The way his energy never flared uncontrollably. The way he seemed utterly unshaken by any of his victories.
Almost like he had seen it all before.
"Joshua…"
Something about him felt different.
And for the first time, she wasn't sure if it was a good thing.
3. The Next Opponent – A Ghost from the Past
Joshua sat in the waiting area, leaning back with his eyes closed.
His body was relaxed, but his mind wasn't.
Because he already knew.
His next opponent… was someone from his past life.
When his name was called, he opened his eyes and smirked.
"So we meet again, Kai."
4. The Battlefield – A Reunion Only Joshua Remembered
The simulation field activated, transporting Joshua onto the battlefield.
Across from him stood Kai Zhang.
✔ A fourth-year student.
✔ A high 4-star assassin-type Aura user.
✔ A cold, precise fighter, known for his lethal blade techniques.
Joshua remembered him well.
In his past life, Kai Zhang had been one of his greatest obstacles.
✔ They had clashed countless times in different missions and conflicts.
✔ Kai had always been a step ahead back then—faster, sharper, deadlier.
✔ At one point, Joshua had even lost to him.
But now?
Joshua was different.
And the Kai Zhang standing before him wasn't the same elite warrior he once feared.
5. The Fight Begins – Shadows & Stealth
The moment the match started—Kai vanished.
✔ No sound. No energy signature.
✔ He disappeared into the shadows instantly, his presence erased.
The crowd gasped.
✔ "Stealth! This is an assassin-class fighter!"
✔ "Joshua's in trouble. If he can't track him, he's finished."
But Joshua?
He simply smiled.
Because he had already been through this once before.
✔ His eyes flickered, his senses sharpening.
✔ Every movement of the wind. Every faint shift in the arena. He read it all.
And when Kai finally struck from behind—
Joshua was already gone.
6. Breaking the Past – A New Joshua
Kai's blade sliced through an afterimage.
Joshua reappeared a step to the left, his dagger aimed at Kai's ribs.
A perfect counter.
Kai's eyes widened in shock.
"Impossible."
Joshua's smirk widened.
"Not impossible. Just experience."
The crowd exploded in shock.
✔ "Wait, did he just dodge an assassin's stealth attack?"
✔ "That's not normal—only high-tier assassins can read stealth movement!"
✔ "How the hell did he know?"
Kai quickly regained his composure, vanishing again.
But it didn't matter.
✔ Joshua adjusted his stance, allowing his instincts to take control.
✔ He moved like a shadow, predicting every strike before it even landed.
✔ Kai attacked from the left—Joshua countered. From above—Joshua dodged. From behind—Joshua struck first.
And then, in a final flawless movement—
Joshua twisted through an incoming strike, appearing right behind Kai—his dagger pressed against the assassin's throat.
The match was over.
[Victory – Joshua Lim Wins!]
The entire arena fell into stunned silence.
Even Kai himself was frozen in disbelief.
"This… wasn't supposed to happen."
Joshua chuckled, stepping back.
"You were faster in my memories."
Kai's eyes flickered with confusion. "What?"
Joshua smirked. "Nothing."
He walked away, leaving Kai standing there, trying to understand what had just happened.
But he never would.
Because he had already lost before the fight even began.
7. The Aftermath – The Weight of Change
As Joshua stepped out of the simulator, the reactions rippled through the crowd.
✔ "No one has ever read Kai Zhang's movements that perfectly before!"
✔ "He fights like he's done this a hundred times."
✔ "I don't know what's scarier—his Aura skills or his magic proficiency."
From the stands, Yue watched with narrowed eyes.
"Joshua Lim… What are you?"
Sung En crossed her arms, her brows furrowed.
"That wasn't just skill. That was something else."
And Zhao Feng, watching from across the stadium, gritted his teeth.
"Tch. He's getting more attention than me. That's unacceptable."
Joshua, meanwhile, simply stretched his arms and smiled.
"One step closer to the finals."
And one step closer… to breaking the past completely.