The magical clock installed above the fortress’s enormous gates struck exactly eight o’clock in the morning when the gears began to turn.
A deep metallic sound echoed throughout the complex.
Hidden chains within the walls slowly moved, pulling the ancient mechanisms that protected the tournament fortress’s main entrance.
Little by little, the gigantic gates began to open.
Morning light poured through the passage.
Hundreds of participants advanced.
Warriors.
Mages.
Beastfolk.
Assassins.
Mercenaries.
Only the survivors of the previous stages.
Only those who had managed to make it this far.
The third phase had finally begun.
Guards of the Royal Order patrolled every entrance.
Their crimson armor reflected the light of the magical crystals scattered throughout the complex.
Emblazoned upon their breastplates shone the symbol of the Kingdom of Liogres:
The two-headed lion.
Above the walls, banners fluttered beneath the cold morning wind.
The atmosphere was different.
Heavier.
More serious.
As the number of participants dwindled, the strength of those who remained became increasingly apparent.
Amid the crowd, the members of Guild EXO walked together.
Hitori looked around.
His eyes wandered over the participants moving through the fortress corridors.
Some carried weapons larger than their own bodies.
Others radiated magical pressure so intense it seemed to distort the air.
There were enormous beastfolk.
Mages surrounded by visible mana.
Warriors who concealed their presence completely.
And that was the most frightening part.
The strong could be seen.
But the true monsters usually preferred to remain unseen.
Hitori:
“There are so many people here…”
Kamero:
“Naturally.”
The strategist adjusted his glasses.
His gaze also scanned the surroundings.
Unlike Hitori, however, he seemed to be cataloging information.
As though building a database inside his mind.
Kamero:
“Only forty warriors remain after the previous stages.”
Behind Yashina, six golden hexagons slowly rotated.
Tiny glimmers of light danced around her.
Yashina:
“I’m curious to see who we’ll be facing.”
Aysa:
“I hope it’s a tall, muscular, handsome guy.”
Hitori sighed immediately.
He didn’t even need to think.
The answer came automatically.
Hitori:
“Is that all you ever think about?”
A mischievous smile appeared on Aysa’s face.
Aysa:
“I have my priorities.”
Kamero:
“Actually, from a strategic standpoint, it makes perfect sense.”
Hitori slowly turned his head.
As though he had just heard blasphemy.
Hitori:
“I can’t believe you’re actually supporting this.”
Kamero answered without changing his expression.
Kamero:
“Her ability works best against emotionally unstable men or those who are easily attracted.”
Kamero:
“The greater the target’s interest, the more effective her paralyzing fluids become.”
Aysa immediately pointed at him.
Aysa:
“See?”
Aysa:
“Kamero understands my needs.”
Hitori remained silent for several seconds.
Then pointed at the two of them.
Hitori:
“When you explain it like that…”
Hitori:
“…it sounds terrifying.”
Kamero:
“That’s your problem.”
Kamero:
“You rarely think before acting.”
Hitori:
“Take that back immediately.”
Kamero:
“No.”
Aysa dramatically placed one hand over her chest.
Aysa:
“Boys…”
She closed her eyes.
Aysa:
“Don’t fight over me.”
Hitori and Kamero:
“WHO SAID WE WERE?!”
Yashina couldn’t help laughing.
Even after spending so much time together, those three could still behave like children.
Kamero then turned his attention back to the group.
Kamero:
“Now we’re only waiting for Sarina.”
Aysa:
“That’s strange.”
Aysa:
“She’s usually the first one here.”
Hitori:
“Do you think something happened?”
Yashina smiled faintly.
Yashina:
“Maybe she gave up.”
A voice came from behind them.
Sarina:
“You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”
Everyone turned around.
Sarina walked between the fortress’s stone pillars.
Small currents of wind swirled around her as her hair gently swayed.
Yashina crossed her arms.
Yashina:
“I wouldn’t exactly say yes…”
She smiled.
Yashina:
“But I wouldn’t say no, either.”
Sarina:
“Conceited.”
Yashina:
“Show-off.”
Kamero watched the exchange.
Then sighed.
Kamero:
“Interesting.”
Kamero:
“You two are actually talking without trying to tear each other’s heads off.”
Aysa:
“That really is progress.”
Hitori blinked.
Confused.
Hitori:
“What are you talking about…?”
The entire group fell silent.
Even Sarina.
Even Yashina.
Kamero closed his eyes.
Kamero:
“Sometimes I forget just how oblivious you can be.”
Hitori:
“Hey!”
Kamero:
“Let’s get moving.”
Kamero:
“The auditorium should already be open.”
Everyone:
“Right!”
The group resumed walking.
Without realizing…
That it would be their last peaceful moment before the battles began.
The main auditorium stood near the fortress entrance.
From the outside, it looked like just another ancient building of the kingdom.
Massive blocks of pale stone formed its walls, while ornate columns supported the main structure.
It looked no different from the countless buildings scattered throughout the river city.
Inside…
It was another story.
The moment they passed through the enormous double doors, Hitori felt as though he had entered another world.
Magical crystals illuminated the ceiling in perfect geometric patterns.
Holographic panels stretched across the walls like enormous translucent screens.
Enchanted minerals mimicked the appearance of the purest glass.
Arcane runes glowed beneath the polished floor.
Magical technology and ancient architecture coexisted in almost absurd harmony.
The governor had clearly spared no expense on the tournament.
Hitori:
“I’m always amazed by places like this.”
Aysa:
“I still prefer taverns.”
Sarina:
“You prefer anywhere that serves drinks.”
Aysa:
“Exactly.”
The group walked toward one of the areas reserved for participants.
Meanwhile, dozens of other guilds also took their seats.
Some groups talked quietly.
Others remained in absolute silence.
There were also those who simply watched the competitors around them.
Predators evaluating other prey.
Little by little, everyone settled in.
Then the auditorium’s enormous gates began to close.
The sound of gears echoed through the hall.
One by one.
The noises faded away.
Silence filled the room.
Even the loudest participants stopped talking.
Shortly afterward, a side door opened.
Several knights of the Royal Order entered.
Their armor gleamed beneath the crystal lights.
Their formation was orderly.
Impeccable.
Disciplined.
But they were not what drew everyone’s attention.
It was the man walking at their center.
Red hair.
Broad shoulders.
A firm posture.
A presence so overwhelming it seemed to occupy more space than it should.
His mere footsteps caused the murmurs to disappear.
Hitori felt the pressure immediately.
It wasn’t mana.
It wasn’t killing intent.
It was something different.
Experience.
Strength.
Authority.
The kind of presence possessed only by battle-hardened veterans.
???:
“So that’s…”
???:
The Second Captain of the Royal Order walked to the center of the stage.
Then looked at the participants.
The silence became absolute.
William Vanish:
“Good morning, everyone.”
His voice wasn’t loud.
Yet it reached every corner of the auditorium.
William Vanish:
“I am the Second Captain of the Royal Order of Liogres.”
William Vanish:
“William Vanish.”
Murmurs immediately spread through the crowd.
???:
“The Crimson Lion…”
???:
“Is that really him?”
???:
“They say he wiped out an entire squad by himself…”
???:
“During the Border War.”
William ignored the comments.
He was probably used to them.
His reputation extended throughout the kingdom.
During the last great military conflict of Liogres, William had led countless battles.
But one particular event had turned him into a legend.
Surrounded by enemy forces.
Separated from his comrades.
He had faced an entire squad alone.
And won.
From that day on, he was given a new name.
The Crimson Lion of Liogres.
William waited for the silence to return.
Then continued.
William Vanish:
“Now that the introductions are over…”
William Vanish:
“Let’s get to what matters.”
The crystals scattered throughout the auditorium began to emit light.
A gigantic holographic projection appeared above the stage.
Several participants raised their heads.
Others held their breath.
The tournament was about to move forward.
William Vanish:
“The names of the participants competing in this morning’s round will now be displayed.”
The names began appearing one after another.
Aysa watched attentively.
Then crossed her arms.
Aysa:
“My name isn’t there.”
Sarina:
“Mine is.”
She pointed toward the projection.
Sarina:
“Noble Rogue.”
Kamero:
“So Aysa is the only one fighting in the afternoon session.”
Aysa:
“Oh well.”
Aysa:
“I suppose the tournament wants to save its biggest star for later.”
Yashina:
“Your ego is terrifying.”
Aysa:
“Thank you.”
Yashina:
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
While the two argued, Hitori studied the list.
Some names were familiar.
Others were completely unknown.
But two of them caught his attention.
Hitori:
“Guma and Mimi are fighting this round too.”
Yashina:
“You’re right.”
Kamero:
“That means we’ll probably see some interesting matches.”
The projection changed once again.
This time, it displayed the brackets.
Yashina vs.
Kuma.
Kamero vs.
Taija.
Noble Rogue vs.
Asuka.
Guma vs.
Tajoro.
Mimi vs.
Kirai.
And…
Hitori vs.
Alexey.
Hitori stared at the name.
He didn’t recognize his opponent.
But that meant nothing.
Many participants had concealed their true abilities until now.
William slowly drew his sword.
The blade reflected the light of the magical crystals.
The entire auditorium fell silent once more.
William Vanish:
“I hereby declare the third phase of the tournament officially begun.”
The mana in the air grew dense.
The crystals scattered throughout the hall shone brilliantly.
Runes appeared across the floor.
Pillars of light rose around the selected competitors.
Hitori suddenly felt his body become strangely light.
As though it had lost all weight.
As though space itself were folding around him.
Hitori:
“Wait…”
The world disappeared.
Everything became light.
And when he could see again…
He was somewhere else.
A circular arena built from black stone.
Magical barriers surrounded the battlefield.
Empty stands occupied part of the structure.
The atmosphere was cold.
Silent.
Strangely isolated.
Hitori:
“What?!”
An irritated voice came from the opposite side.
Alexey:
“Who do they think they are, teleporting me like this?!”
Another voice answered immediately.
???:
“Stop complaining.”
???:
“I wasn’t the one who made the rules.”
Hitori turned his head.
Leaning lazily against one of the barriers stood a man with completely messy black hair.
He looked like someone who had just woken up.
Or someone who wished he were still asleep.
Maybe both.
Above them, a magical disc appeared.
William’s image was projected once again.
William Vanish:
“You have all been transported to individual arenas throughout the tournament complex.”
William Vanish:
“Each match will be supervised by a judge of the Royal Order.”
The man lazily raised one hand.
Taiku:
“I’m Taiku.”
Taiku:
“The judge for this match.”
He yawned.
Taiku:
“Try not to make my job difficult.”
Hitori blinked.
Alexey did too.
Both of them looked equally confused.
William’s projection continued:
William Vanish:
“The rules remain the same.”
William Vanish:
“Lethal attacks are prohibited.”
William Vanish:
“A match ends when one participant surrenders or is rendered unable to continue.”
The projection disappeared.
Silence returned.
Then Taiku spoke again.
Taiku:
“One of you should just surrender already.”
Taiku:
“Make my life easier.”
Alexey’s eyes widened.
Alexey:
“What kind of knight says something like that?!”
Taiku:
“The kind who enjoys peace and quiet.”
Hitori rubbed his forehead.
Hitori:
“This guy is really weird.”
Taiku lazily raised one arm.
Without enthusiasm.
Without emotion.
Without any motivation.
Taiku:
“Just start already.”
Alexey flashed an arrogant grin.
The kind of smile that immediately made you want to punch him.
Maybe it was the way he lifted his chin.
Maybe it was the exaggerated confidence in his eyes.
Or maybe it was simply because he looked utterly convinced he was the most important person there.
He pointed directly at Hitori.
Alexey:
“You shall have the honor of witnessing Alexey’s glory!”
Hitori remained motionless.
He looked around the arena.
First to the left.
Then to the right.
Then behind himself.
Alexey stared blankly for a few seconds.
Alexey:
“What are you doing?”
Hitori:
“Looking.”
Alexey:
“Looking for what?”
Hitori:
“The person you were talking to.”
Silence filled the arena.
Taiku closed his eyes.
Like someone who already regretted accepting this assignment.
A vein bulged on Alexey’s forehead.
Alexey:
“I’M TALKING TO YOU!”
Hitori:
“Oh…”
He scratched the back of his head.
Hitori:
“Honestly? I’ll pass.”
Alexey froze.
Alexey:
“How dare you reject my greatness?!”
Hitori:
“Because this conversation is getting weird.”
Taiku sighed.
Taiku:
“I’m already tired.”
Mana began gathering around Alexey.
Small arcs of electricity ran across his arms.
The air grew heavier.
The familiar scent of ozone spread throughout the arena.
Alexey:
“Then I’ll teach you to respect true power.”
A blue rune appeared before him.
Then another.
And another.
Energy accumulated rapidly.
Until it formed a zigzag shape made entirely of lightning.
Alexey:
“Lightning Zigzag!”
He fired.
Not like an ordinary projectile.
But like a bolt of lightning tearing across the sky during a storm.
Hitori reacted instinctively.
His body moved to the side.
The attack missed him by mere centimeters.
However—
Alexey smiled.
And that smile immediately made Hitori realize something was wrong.
Alexey:
“Deep Shock.”
What had looked like a simple lightning bolt exploded.
Not with fire.
Not with impact.
But with electricity.
A massive electrical discharge spread across the arena.
The ground glowed blue.
The currents struck Hitori before he could completely escape.
Pain shot through his body.
His muscles locked.
His nerves burned.
His vision blurred.
Hitori:
“GAH!”
The impact hurled him onto the arena floor.
For several seconds, the only thing he could hear was the sound of his own breathing.
Alexey slowly began walking toward him.
Like someone savoring victory.
Alexey:
“I warned you.”
Alexey:
“You would witness my glory.”
Hitori tried to move his arms.
Small spasms still ran through his muscles.
The electrical discharge had been far stronger than it looked.
Hitori:
“Damn it…”
Alexey knelt in front of him.
His smile looked even more irritating up close.
Alexey:
“It went deep, didn’t it?”
Taiku silently watched.
Without helping.
Without commenting.
Without showing any emotion.
Alexey then placed one hand on Hitori’s shoulder.
Alexey:
“Judge…”
Alexey:
“I think we can end—”
He never finished the sentence.
Something appeared out of nowhere.
A black sphere shot through the air.
And struck Alexey square in the face.
The impact was brutal.
His body was launched across the arena floor.
He rolled several times before coming to a stop near the barrier.
Silence returned.
Hitori slowly got to his feet.
Two black spheres revolved around his arms.
The darkness emanating from them seemed to absorb the very light around them.
The air vibrated.
The arena’s shadows trembled.
Even Taiku opened one eye.
Hitori:
“Don’t underestimate me.”
Alexey touched his face.
Blood dripped from his nose.
One side of his cheek had already begun to swell.
Alexey:
“My…”
Alexey:
“My face…”
Rage consumed his expression.
For the first time since the battle had begun, his arrogance disappeared.
Only anger remained.
And that was the exact moment Hitori charged forward.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
The spheres enveloped his arms.
Black matter expanded rapidly.
Forming enormous shadowy gauntlets.
Alexey’s eyes widened.
Alexey:
“What?!”
The punch struck him directly in the abdomen.
There was no explosion.
No flashy effects.
Only force.
Pure force.
The impact distorted the air.
A shockwave spread throughout the arena.
Alexey was launched like a projectile.
His body flew dozens of meters before crashing into the wall.
Chunks of stone were ripped from the structure.
Fragments scattered across the floor.
Hitori slowly walked toward him.
Hitori:
“So that’s what you meant by ‘feeling it’?”
Alexey staggered back to his feet.
His face was twisted with rage.
Alexey:
“LIGHTNING ZIGZAG!”
This time he created more than one.
Dozens.
The sky above the arena filled with bolts of lightning.
The attacks surged forward simultaneously.
A true electrical bombardment.
Hitori raised one hand.
The darkness immediately responded.
Hitori:
“Spheres… Shield Form.”
A mass of black matter appeared before him.
The lightning bolts struck the barrier.
And vanished.
Swallowed.
Consumed.
As though they had never existed.
Alexey’s face turned pale.
Alexey:
“How…?”
Hitori:
“Finished already?”
That was enough.
The little rationality Alexey still possessed vanished.
Mana exploded around him.
Lightning spread across the entire arena.
The pressure intensified.
Even Taiku seemed to pay attention now.
Alexey:
“YOU WILL RESPECT MY GLORY!”
An enormous amount of energy began gathering above his head.
The lightning converged.
Merged.
Fused together.
Transforming into a single gigantic bolt.
Far larger than anything he had used before.
Alexey:
“GREAT ZIGZAG OF GLORY!”
The bolt shot forward.
Its roar resembled a thunderstorm splitting the heavens apart.
The pressure swept across the arena.
The ground exploded.
The walls trembled.
But Hitori did not step back.
He did not dodge.
He did not run.
He charged forward.
The black gauntlets completely enveloped his arms.
The dark matter became denser.
Heavier.
More powerful.
Then…
He caught the lightning bolt.
The explosion illuminated the entire arena.
Smoke.
Light.
Electricity.
Everything disappeared inside a chaotic cloud that engulfed the battlefield.
Alexey began laughing.
A nervous laugh.
Desperate.
Certain of his victory.
Alexey:
“My glory is abso—”
A voice came from within the smoke.
Calm.
Cold.
Direct.
Hitori:
“Dark Punch.”
Then something emerged from the smoke.
A massive fist.
Dense.
Heavy.
As though the night itself had taken shape.
Alexey didn’t even have time to react.
The blow struck him directly.
The entire arena shook.
The ground collapsed.
Stones were hurled into the air.
And when the dust finally settled…
Alexey lay unconscious.
At the bottom of a crater.
The match was over.
Taiku quietly observed the scene.
Then lazily raised one hand.
Taiku:
“Victory goes to Hitori Senki.”
Hitori simply let out a sigh.
Little did he know…
His real problems would begin once he reunited with his friends outside the arena.