NoveLight ™
The preliminary rounds of the tournament are conducted more briefly compared to the main rounds.
Only the main rounds are broadcast online and attended by external spectators, which is a result of the preliminaries simply serving as a way to filter which cadets make it to the main rounds.
Because of this, the preliminaries aren't held in a single arena but are spread out across various locations, leading to many overlapping match schedules.
This applies not only to the first-year students but also to the upper years, resulting in a multiplied number of overlapping matches.
As such, few people split their time to watch other cadets' preliminary matches.
Therefore, the arenas for the preliminary rounds are usually sparse, with empty seats creating an overall calm atmosphere.
“......”
But that’s usually the case.
As I stepped out of the waiting room and walked onto the stage, I caught the sound of murmurs, and I could feel a crowd so large it seemed to sway the wind.
The arena resembled a coliseum.
In the center was a spacious, sandy battleground, surrounded by a circular seating area for spectators.
The sounds and presence emanating from the seats were far from calm. It was as bustling as a marketplace.
Even without any external spectators—only cadets—it was still like this.
With my Observation Power, I noticed that a fair number of seats were occupied. I saw not only green ties, indicating first-year students, but also red, yellow, and blue ties.
These were upper-year students with whom I had almost no interaction due to different living areas.
Among them were some I knew, albeit one-sidedly.
Some would someday become world-class fighters, should they avoid mishaps along the way.
Others would rise to fame as skilled warriors.
Some, even if lacking in raw strength, could offer strategic advantages if I became close to them.
'And then...'
I shifted my observation to the edge of the spectator stands, where someone sitting in a rather secluded spot was drawing a lot of attention.
They were tall, noticeably above average, like an advertisement for superhumans.
With distinct and sharp features that naturally drew the eye.
Their loosely tied brown hair and leaf-like green eyes stood out even against earthy tones.
‘Lee Jiyeon.’
Heir to Taesan, someone I had yet to meet. A significant figure I had worked alongside until the end of the first round.
The moment I recognized her.
An alarm rang, a sound so familiar that it was almost tiresome. It was like a small bell ringing by my ear.
I sighed, rubbing my neck.
There was no Confession Necklace or hologram projector. I hadn’t even equipped Wings of the Sky.
In the tournament, not only are weapons forbidden, but artifacts acquired within Shio-ram are also restricted.
I left everything behind.
In other words, the alarm wasn’t coming from the spectator seats, and there was no reason for it to ring so clearly in my ears.
I forced down a scowl. With so many eyes on me, frowning at the opponent just entering the stage would certainly invite some unwanted commentary.
‘Status screen? Status?’
A mysterious alarm.
I first became aware of it when I was recovering in the healing room after the Shipnaha incident.
Even without a smartwatch, the alarm rang in my ears. At first, I wasn’t sure, but at some point, I was certain it was meant for me.
‘A real status screen? Then why isn’t it showing up?’
The first thought that crossed my mind was a status screen. But no matter how I tried to call it up, not even a hint of it appeared.
I almost wondered if I was losing my mind.
Suppressing a sigh, I began to stretch.
Across the stage, Aiden climbed up, gripping a longsword.
Each of us held a sword. The dueling stage. The variety of gazes locked on us.
The situation was quite similar to that time.
“It’s been a while… Well, actually, we met in the lecture room just a few days ago...”
Ha-ha...
Aiden, who trudged up while checking his equipment, awkwardly broke the silence.
There was an odd tension in his expression and tone, suggesting that he also found this situation similar to last time.
“......”
I, too, couldn’t find the words to speak. Just like then, the curse still lingered, and I was only barely bypassing it with the Confession Necklace.
Not that things were entirely the same as last time.
[At this moment, the tournament preliminary round will begin.]
Amidst this, the amplified voice of the announcer echoed within the building.
[The rules allow virtual combat. Combatants are permitted to use body strengthening, aura, magic, and unique abilities, but the match may be halted at the discretion of the referee.]
This wasn’t like the friendly match before. It was the midterm assessment at Shio-ram, with backup measures in place, including the power of the Tower.
It was almost as if we were within the Tower itself.
At the very least, no one would die, and injuries would manifest as those same light clusters as last time.
[Prepare for battle on both sides.]
I drew my sword, feeling the cool energy sweep past my ears as I took my stance.
Aiden, gathering himself, also unsheathed his sword.
“Aiden Reynolds. Let’s have a good match.”
He steadied his grip, holding his sword firmly with both hands, and spoke with a steely gaze.
“This time, I won’t be careless. I’ll give it my all.”
His stance left no room for doubt.
Nodding at him, I let the mana from my core spread through my body.
‘Manifest Body Strengthening.’
[Let the evaluation begin!]
The moment the voice resounded, we both kicked off the ground.
The distance closed rapidly, and finally, our swords clashed in the center.
The sound of metal rang harshly. Sparks flew as aura-clad swords scraped against each other and then rebounded upwards.
“Ugh...!”
This time, Aiden’s arm was the one thrown back.
Despite wielding a sword with one hand against an opponent using both hands.
He didn’t waver, immediately steadying himself and swinging his sword back at me.
I watched the trajectory of his swing, predicting where it would land and the follow-up strike he would make.
Our swords collided. Blades scraped against each other, and sparks flew as we pushed against one another.
My feet shifted constantly to stabilize my stance.
With each shift, I evaded his attacks and delivered strikes aimed back at him.
The duel was underway.
Soon enough, one side began to yield.
Aiden was the one being pushed back.
As I relentlessly pressed him, I slammed my aura-infused sword down.
A blue arc traced through the air, and Aiden, struggling to block, gripped his sword tightly with both hands.
Boom!
“Argh...!”
Aiden groaned as his legs dug into the ground. Dust rose from the indent his feet made as he was gradually pushed back.
His arms trembled under the strain of my assault. He was being slowly forced downward.
Realizing that brute force wouldn’t work, Aiden gritted his teeth, shifting his weight to his lower body.
He tried to distribute the force pressing down on him and, taking advantage of a brief gap, aimed to shake me off.
I anticipated his move and countered.
As he pulled back to strike, I retracted my sword.
Then, turning with the exposed gap in his upper body, I aimed a swift, aura-clad kick at his torso.
Boom! The impact landed on Aiden’s midsection, folding him over.
The force sent him skidding back, unable to counter the shock.
I immediately followed up, swinging my sword at him.
Not wanting to lose, Aiden, disregarding the saliva trailing from his mouth, met my attack head-on.
Our blades clashed, their edges interlocking. Aura swirled, and one side’s energy was relentlessly chipped away.
Shing! A flash of light erupted near Aiden’s shoulder.
He grimaced and tried to react, but my relentless attacks continued, making light burst repeatedly.
‘Power.’
In terms of sheer strength, I held the advantage.
‘Mana.’
In both quality and quantity, the aura I infused with my mana was far superior.
‘Skill.’
My skill in wielding the sword and sustaining combat also placed me in the lead.
Aiden continued to retreat, his aura dissipating, his body accumulating wounds.
“Huff... Huff...”
Aiden stepped back, breathing heavily.
With every breath, blood-like clusters of light dripped from his wounds.
In contrast, I stood steady, my mana reserves overflowing. I hadn’t allowed a single injury.
It was one-sided.
This time was different.
Aiden hadn’t underestimated me or let his guard down. From the start, he had given it his all.
It felt like an entirely different era had passed.
It was a deeply peculiar feeling.