Julius took a deep breath as he stepped into Linia's Colosseum, a grand arena filled with roaring crowds, flashing spells, and clashing blades. He had never seen anything like it. This wasn't just a sport—it was a place of battle where the loser was often crippled or at worst-killed.
He had never lived in pre-historic rome so he had never had the experience of being a spectator.
The seats were packed with spectators of all kinds: wealthy nobles dressed in extravagant robes, rowdy mercenaries with tankards of ale, and common folk cheering for their favorite fighters. Banners waved, coins exchanged hands, and the air was thick with tension.
Julius found a spot near the betting booths, listening closely as the announcer's booming voice echoed through the stadium.
"NEXT MATCH—OLAF THE BATTLE WARRIOR VS. LEE THE MAGE!"
His attention sharpened. This was a good chance to observe the competition.
The first few fights were brutal displays of skill. Julius practiced guessing the winner.
A berserker with a massive war axe tore through a heavily armored knight, overwhelming him with pure strength.
"I really thought he would do more..." Julius had guessed wrong.
A shadow rogue dodged every attack thrown at him, disappearing and reappearing behind his opponent to strike at weak points.
"Terrible aim..." Julius sighed, another bad guess.
A fire conjurer turned the arena into an inferno, forcing his opponent to surrender before he was burned alive.
"But you had ten seconds to interrupt him!" Julius went red. He had doubts on betting now.
Julius quickly realized that strength wasn't everything—strategy, adaptability, and magic all played a role.
Then, a match caught his attention.
Callan the Sword Mage vs. the Tialos the Avian Sharpshooter
The two fighters stepped into the arena.
On one side stood Callan, the Sword Mage—a tall bald man wielding a finely crafted longsword. Magic flickered along the blade, enhancing his strikes with bursts of elemental power. His stance was solid, and his eyes gleamed with confidence.
On the other side, Tialos, the Avian Sharpshooter, spread his massive wings. An avian beastkin with razor-sharp talons and a longbow slung across his back, he was clearly a long-range specialist. His golden feathers gleamed under the sun as he hovered in the air. His blonde hair was long and crept down his shoulders.
"All on Callan..." Julius placed most of his money on the Sword Mage and he began to pray devoutly.
The odds are against him, which makes us brothers in the eyes of fate. Julius' thoughts were so serious he almost began to think of Callan as a long lost brother.
The announcer's voice rang through the stadium:
"BEGIN!"
The match started immediately.
Tialos shot into the sky, flapping his wings to gain altitude. Before Callan could even react, an arrow streaked toward him. Callan barely managed to block with his sword, the impact forcing him back.
Julius winced. This was a bad matchup. If the avian stayed in the sky, Callan wouldn't even be able to touch him.
"Stay on him! If you lose it's over!" Julius found himself shouting before quickly realizing how invested he already was.
The crowd roared, some cheering for Callan, others for Tialos.
Tialos continued raining arrows from above, keeping his distance. Every time Callan tried to charge forward, Tialos would adjust his position, making sure he was always out of reach.
Julius clenched his fists. "Come on, there's gotta be a way… This cowardly bird."
Then, Callan did something unexpected.
He thrust his sword into the ground—and in an instant, the arena floor froze over.
"Glacier Bound!"
A powerful frost spread outward in a circle, covering the entire battlefield in a thick layer of ice. Tialos, still mid-air, didn't seem affected—until he tried to flap his wings.
Frost had begun to cling to his feathers.
"He's a genius!" Julius shouted in joy.
The moment he realized this, Callan struck.
BOOM!
Callan propelled himself forward with a burst of magic, closing the distance before Tialos could react. He slashed upward, sending a crescent wave of ice magic through the air.
Tialos tried to dodge—but his wings were too stiff from the cold.
The ice crescent slammed into him, sending him crashing to the ground.
Julius shot to his feet, unable to contain himself. "YES! GO FOR IT!"
Callan rushed forward, sword glowing bright with energy.
One final downward slash—and the match was over.
The crowd exploded into cheers, and Julius found himself grinning as he joined them.
The betting booth attendant sighed in defeat as he counted out Julius's winnings.
"I don't know how you guessed it, but Callan had low odds. Looks like you're walking away with a nice payout, kid."
Julius grinned, taking the coins. He had made a good amount off of his bet. 10 Silver to be exact.
After a long day, he felt exhilarated. For the first time since coming to this world, he had truly felt alive.
With his newfound 10 silver wealth, Julius returned to the shady information broker.
The man gave him an amused glance. "Back so soon? Got the money this time?"
Julius dropped the coins onto the table. "Tell me everything."
The man shrugged briefly.
"Don't test me." Julius said in frustration, slowly pooling the money back.
The man chuckled, leaning in. "Alright, listen up. The Ruloy Academy Entrance Exam isn't just about raw power. It's designed to test three things: Strength, Intelligence, and Adaptability. If you don't have all three, you fail."
He continued, lowering his voice.
"The exam changes every year, but one thing is constant: They always test your ability to work in a team. You need to work with other people to pass the exam. Many people fail because of their arrogance. Lastly..."
"This is the most important part. For every exam in the last decade, there has been a dungeon involved. Prepare for dungeons and you'll be very set to get in."
Julius nodded, absorbing the information. This was exactly what he needed.
"Good to know. So you're saying I could potentially just get carried by my teammates? Looks like I do have a chance afterall."
"Don't leak this information, or I'll find you."
"Of course, of course. Like I would give other people a chance to get in ahead of me." The two laughed as they walked past each other, acting as if they had never spoken.
With his remaining money, Julius treated himself to a proper meal at a bustling inn. He ordered a hearty roasted meat platter, fresh bread, and a mug of something sweet.
"Ah. The taste of victory."
A short adventurer in a dark robe looked at him enviously. "Must taste nice."
"You gotta dip your hands in danger if you want to reap the rewards." Julius shrugged.
As he ate, he thought about everything that had happened.
He had gotten a magical ring from Aldric.
He had watched real warriors fight and enjoyed his day at the colosseum.
He had won big in the Colosseum and learned crucial information for the entrance exam.
He wasn't just surviving anymore. He felt like he was on the winning side.
Everything was falling into place.
Julius lay on the bed in his rented room, staring up at the wooden ceiling. His body was exhausted, but his mind refused to rest.
"I can't even procrastinate by watching dumb videos. And I can't even impress girls with cool powers. This is the worst of both worlds. Give me a different Isekai or at least take me home!" He whined.
For just a moment, he tried to pretend this was normal—that he had simply traveled to a new city for an adventure, that he would wake up in his own room tomorrow, late for class, with his mom yelling at him to get up.
But that wasn't real anymore.
Earth was gone.
His small, messy bedroom. His laptop. The city streets filled with cars and people staring at their phones. His friends from school, who always laughed at dumb jokes. His parents.
He had been in this world for a while now, but the weight of it all had never truly hit him due to all the action.
"I can never go home."
The words made his stomach twist.
"Or can I? No, not like this..." He was powerless, he felt it through every living moment he had in this world where the people were all superhuman.
He turned on his side, gripping the blanket tightly. And even if he wanted to build a new life here… that'd be hard too.
Xero's words echoed in his mind.
"You'll be hunted for as long as you're alive." Or something like that...
Vielli's eyes—cold, hungry—flashed in his memory.
"One day, she's just going to kill me, isn't she? I have the scent of dread after all... And she's powerful."
[Vielli- Level 190]
Julius sat up abruptly, breathing heavily. His chest felt tight. He needed air.
Without thinking, he pulled on his boots, grabbed his coat, and quietly stepped out of his room.
The inn's tavern was mostly empty this late at night. Only a few candlelights flickered in the dim space.
But Julius wasn't alone.
Someone was already sitting at one of the tables, as if they had been waiting for him.
A young girl, probably in her early twenties, with sharp blue eyes and messy silver hair. She wore a dark cloak, his face partially shadowed by the hood. A single dagger rested on the table beside a half-empty mug.
Julius hesitated.
The girl slowly looked up, locking eyes with him. Then, she smirked.
"You aren't from here are you..."