The night felt as if it had just begun. Despite the cool breeze and the darkness surrounding the mansion, the room remained brightly illuminated. The air was thick with anticipation.
The blonde announcer returned after several minutes, her voice echoing throughout the grand hall. "The duel will begin shortly as the stage is being set up," she announced. Ji-ho furrowed his brows. The mansion was massive, but did it truly have enough space for something like this?
The announcer continued, "As mentioned earlier, the participants will be the new soldiers… and our special guest."
Murmurs filled the room. All eyes slowly turned toward Ji-ho. He could feel the weight of their gazes pressing down on him like an invisible force.
Ye-rin noticed the attention and leaned in close, whispering into Ji-ho's ear, "I think it might be you." Her voice held a nervous glint. Ji-ho didn't respond immediately. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself.
At that moment, a young boy stepped forward and exchanged a few words with the announcer. She nodded, then cleared her throat."The stage is finally set," she declared.
Ji-ho remained skeptical. They must be really skilled Ascendants to be able to set up an arena that fast… The announcer raised her voice again,addressing the audience. "To everyone interested in this duel, please follow me outside and take your seats."
Without hesitation, the entire crowd marched forward, leaving no soul behind in the grand hall.
Ji-ho followed the procession outside, and his eyes widened at the sight before him.
The enormous courtyard of the mansion had completely transformed. The fountains, cars, and carefully arranged flower beds had vanished. In their place was a vast, open battlefield. The ground was smooth and sturdy, clearly reinforced for combat.
Ji-ho's gaze swept across the towering seats surrounding the arena. They were made of clay, seamlessly crafted into a semi-circle formation. He quickly realized that a mana user had constructed them.
His eyes drifted to the highest seat, where Geon-woo sat. It was more elaborate than the others, yet it too was made of clay. The sheer scale of the transformation left Ji-ho in awe. As he took his seat beside Ye-rin, he leaned in and whispered, "Aren't they afraid of getting hit?" Ye-rin chuckled softly. "Relax. There's a powerful barrier protecting us." She stretched her hand forward, touching the invisible shield. "See?"
Ji-ho narrowed his eyes. "Fine… but just how many duels have you attended?" Ji-ho asked, raising an eyebrow. Before Ye-rin could respond, the rhythmic stomps of boots filled the air. The blonde announcer raised her hand, gesturing toward the soldiers stepping into the spotlight. "Here are the duel exhibition participant!" she announced.
A murmur spread through the audience.
"A 1v1 duel consisting of eight matches."
More whispers erupted. "But there are only fifteen of them…"
"Would you let me finish?" the announcer snapped, irritation lacing her tone. She cleared her throat before continuing. "There will be an extra guest. Mr. Do-hyun, please step forward." Do-hyun's teeth clenched. "A model? Where's the white-haired guy?" the crowd whispered. Do-hyun's fists tightened at the murmurs. He had just been overlooked.
Then, Geon-woo rose from his seat. The entire arena fell silent. He smiled as he spoke. "Well, you see, we were only expecting Ji-ha's boyfriend to fight tonight, but it seems Yetti also brought her boyfriend…" Ye-rin pouted, visibly embarrassed. "Would you stop calling me that?" Geon-woo chuckled. "Since Ji-ho is dating my daughter, he will also be participating."
The murmurs returned, this time more intense. "But he has no powers," Ye-rin protested, trying to shield Ji-ho from the decision. Geon-woo's expression darkened. "The world is cruel," he said firmly. "If he wants to stand beside you, he must prove that he is at least worthy." Then, his mood shifted back to his usual playful self. "Besides, he'll be given a weapon, and he'll be paired up with Do-hyun."
Ye-rin looked frustrated. "It feels like you already planned all of this, huh, Dad?"
Before she could argue further, Ji-ho placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
He smiled. "I got this." A gentle breeze passed through the arena as he walked toward the stage.
As Ji-ho stepped into the ring, the announcer began introducing the participants. "This year's rookies are truly gifted," she said, flipping through a list. "They might just rise to the very top of the EDC." She started listing their names.
Kim Ye-jun an E5, A young lad with bright red hair, his presence illuminated under the arena lights.
Im Ju-won an E5, Another promising soldier.
The announcer continued introducing the participants, her voice carrying over the murmuring crowd.
Kang Seo-jun an E4, The moment his name was called, the arena erupted in cheers. Geon-woo's eyes locked onto the boy. That's him, huh? he thought. The prodigy of Taek ssi…
The announcer continued. Jang Dae-chul an E6, "The son of the late Mr. Jang Baek!" someone in the audience exclaimed. "No way!" the crowd gasped. Ji-ho looked confused. "His dad founded B-Gadget," Do-hyun explained, his suspicion of Ji-ho increasing. "It's the first company to produce artifacts and armor.
He's a big deal in this country I'm surprised even you Don't know that." Ji-ho raised an eyebrow. "I know B-Gadget, but I wasn't aware of its heir." Do-hyun nodded. "I suppose that makes sense. The family is very secretive." Ji-ho nodded, absorbing the information.
The announcer carried on. Son Gyu-Taewoo an E5, a towering young man with an imposing presence.
Choi Byung-hoon an E4, the crowd fell silent as the boy stepped forward. Ji-ho could feel the weight of expectations pressing down on him. So many prodigies...
The announcer kept going. Ryu Ha-eun an E4, a beautiful blonde girl with a cold, unreadable expression.
Park Seo-a an E6 and lastly, Baek Jae-yung an E5. "Thats it" Jaeyung muttered under his breath,
Once all 15 rookies had been introduced, the announcer moved on. "Now, for our two special guests joining the fight, Do-hyun nim an E6,and Ji-ho an.... She paused, then let out a small laugh. "Oh right, I almost forgot! This lad has no powers." Laughter rippled through the audience. Ji-ho clenched his jaw but remained silent.
One of the officers in the crowd stood up. "Geon-woo nim, with all due respect, this boy might get severely injured." Geon-woo's expression darkened. His aura surged, silencing the crowd. "Do you question my judgment?" His voice was dangerously calm.
The officer immediately sat down, his face pale with sweat. Then, just as quickly as it had appeared, Geon-woo's mood shifted back to his usual playful self. He burped and grinned. "Relax, he might surprise us all."
Ji-ho exhaled. No turning back now. The Matchups. A large board appeared above the arena, displaying a randomized matchup list. Names flashed across the screen, pairing off the fighters. Kim Ye-Jun vs Lee Ha-yun, Park Seo-a vs Choi Byung-hoon, Jang Dae-chul vs Yoo Ji-an, Son Gyu-Taewoo vs Han Seo-yun, Shin Bora vs Kang Seo-jun, Baek Jae-hyun vs Seo Ji-ho & Lee Do-hyun, Ryu Ha-eun vs Im Ju-won, Jung Chan-woo vs Oh Jun-u,
The crowd murmured at the odd matchup.
"Wait… The white haired guy is fighting two-on-one against Jae-hyun?" someone whispered. "More like Do-hyun is fighting one-on-one with Jea-hyun." Ji-ho ignored the comments. It was best, if they tought so little of him .
The announcer raised her hands. "Now, let's begin! First up Kim Ye-Jun vs Lee Ha-yun!"
The air in the arena was thick with anticipation. The crowd murmured in excitement as Ye-jun and Ha-yun stepped onto the battlefield. Both were E5-rank, a level that signified talent and potential for their age, but their fighting styles were completely different.
Ye-jun, a tall and well-built boy with striking red hair, clenched his fists, small embers flickering at his fingertips. He was a fire user, specializing in summoning fire soldiers humanoid figures made of flames that fought alongside him. His brute strength and speed made him a formidable opponent.
On the other side, Ha-yun, a slim girl with sharp eyes and short black hair, remained calm. Unlike Ye-jun, who exuded raw power, she specialized in illusions. Her ability allowed her to manipulate her opponent's perception, creating illusions that distracted and opened opportunities. While she lacked Ye-jun's speed and strength, she made up for it with intelligence.
The announcer raised her hand. "Remember your goal is to knockout Your opponent or make them surrender." They both nodded,
Ye-jun vs. Ha-yun! Fighters, are you ready?" Ye-jun smirked. "Ready whenever you are." He cracked his knuckles, his body already heating up. Ha-yun simply nodded, adjusting her stance. "BEGIN!"
The moment the signal was given, Ye-jun dashed forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. His speed was terrifying, he was almost a blur as he swung a flaming fist at Ha-yun. But Ha-yun was already moving.
She sidestepped just in time, his attack grazing past her, the heat making her sweat. Ye-jun wasted no time. He stomped the ground, summoning three fire soldiers that immediately charged at Ha-yun. Their burning bodies flickered as they moved, their glowing eyes locked on her.
The crowd gasped. "That's his ability,Fire Summon!" someone shouted. Ha-yun narrowed her eyes. 'I can't let them surround me.' She quickly jumped backward, forming a hand seal with her fingers. "Illusion Field."