Chapter 23: Only Four Remain

In the game, Elliot Sivrax eliminated everyone left in this arena, firmly taking first place with an overwhelming lead in points.

But now… I couldn’t allow that to happen.

If he remained in first place, I wasn’t confident I could defeat him in time. That left me with only one option—

Take first place myself.

And hold it until time ran out.

Using my ability, I sensed everyone within my range. I didn’t even need to think about where to start.

I felt someone rushing toward me from my left.

I turned to see a massive young man leaping at me, swinging a huge war hammer.

At the right moment, I stepped aside. The hammer slammed into the ground where I had been standing, shards flying everywhere.

Before he could regain his balance—or even start lifting his hammer again—my sword moved toward his neck.

“You should have chosen your opponents more carefully.”

He was eliminated. My watch rang, but I didn’t care. In the next moment, I vanished from my spot.

I headed toward two people who were fighting each other.

I appeared behind one of them and cut toward his neck without hesitation, eliminating him instantly. The moment he disappeared, the other understood the situation and thrust his spear at me.

I placed my sword in its path and deflected it, then swung with my other blade. He gritted his teeth and tried to evade, but I felt the sword tear through flesh, carving a deep wound across his chest.

His scream of pain echoed out. I took advantage of it, stepped in, and delivered a backward kick to his ribs.

The spear flew from his hands, skidding several meters away before hitting the ground. In an instant, I was on top of him and finished it.

In the next moment, someone appeared behind me.

It was a girl, holding a sword in one hand and a shield in the other.

I stepped aside, dodging the sword she tried to drive into my back, then turned and attacked. She raised her shield in time and blocked my strike.

At the same moment, she recovered her sword and slashed at my neck. I raised one blade and stopped it midair, while my other hand delivered another cut. She reacted quickly, lifting her shield to block—but at the last instant, my sword’s trajectory changed, carving a deep gash into her thigh.

Blood splattered onto the ground, followed by her painful groan. For a moment, she lost her balance. I struck her sword hard, sending it flying, then thrust toward her neck—but she raised her shield again and saved herself at the last second.

But I had two swords.

With the other, and without the slightest mercy, I drove the blade into her abdomen, nearly piercing straight through.

She vanished before me. Eliminated.

After that, no one came to me.

So I went to them.

I moved with speed and precision, dropping opponent after opponent. Some I deceived and stabbed in the back. Others I faced head-on.

But they all shared one thing in common.

They were all eliminated.

I wasn’t the only one putting on a spectacular show. There were three others like me.

I tried to avoid them until the end.

Unfortunately, the time to face them came sooner than I expected.

…

In the control room, where the test proctor Darin was present.

“Amazing… this is incredible. Looks like we’ve hit the jackpot this year,” someone said as they watched the clashes unfolding in the final arena.

Darin smiled.”Yeah. I can’t wait to see them collide.”

He was talking about four people who had become the center of attention.

One of them weaved through his opponents with unbelievable speed and skill for someone his age. His twin swords were like extensions of his body, carving a path of blood.

Far from him, a nimble girl danced between her enemies, dodging every strike with astonishing precision, as if she had seen everything before it happened, her sword slipping through defenses to end each fight.

Elsewhere, there was a girl with blazing red hair and orange eyes like flames. Fire erupted everywhere around her, devouring her opponents without mercy.

But among the four… the last one stood out the most.

One moment he was far away. The next, he was right in front of you. Gravity shifted around him, crushing his enemies. White lightning moved along his sword—and not just lightning, but flames as well.

And if that wasn’t enough, even the stone ground itself bent to his will. Sometimes it restrained his enemies, sometimes it made them stumble, while his sharp blade finished them off.

By every measure, this person was… a miracle.

As if the world itself favored him.

The spectators watched with intense focus, waiting for the long-anticipated clash.

And it arrived.

Gradually, the fights dwindled until they stopped completely.

The arena that once held a hundred people was now empty.

Only four remained.

Four people stood there, their eyes locked onto one another.

Darin smiled.”Looks like the real show is about to begin.”

[00:34:12]

Top Ten Rankings:

1.Caius Astroweild [5823]

2.Elliot Sivrax [5673]

3.Izel Ashvil [4573]

4.Leona Starlin [4485]…

My breath came out rough between my lips.

Earlier, I had given everything I had, taking down everyone who crossed my path.

In the end, I succeeded and climbed to first place.

But there was something I hadn’t expected.

I didn’t expect the arena to be cleared in less than half an hour.

And that was… bad.

More than half an hour remained, and I was stuck here with these monsters.

With those main characters of the game—people whose lives I once wished I could live, people I wanted to be as strong as.

Each of us stared at the others, thinking about our next move.

Everyone wanted first place.

I wished they would fight among themselves… but it seemed this world didn’t like granting my simple wishes.

The three exchanged glances, and a silent agreement formed between them.

Yeah… those bastards knew each other. What else would you expect from nobles and their social circles?

And guess who the unknown outsider was?

Of course… me.

So it seemed they had decided to get rid of this stranger first, then settle things among themselves.

I felt their gazes sweep over me from head to toe.

I did the same, evaluating their condition. Not perfect—but not bad either.

In short, they could still fight at full strength.

And so could I.

The three of them took their first step toward me.

I knew a lot about them—especially that shining young man and his broken strength.

Time to try stalling.

“So, guys… how about a little chat? I promise it won’t take much of your time.”

It probably wasn’t the best thing to say.

The first to respond was Izel Ashvil.”You can talk all you want… from a hospital bed.”

At the same moment, flames ignited in her hand.

“Such a hot tone, my lady.”I tried to compliment her.

Apparently, she didn’t appreciate it. She clenched her teeth and hurled a fireball at me. I dodged it easily.

And it seemed the others didn’t want to hear me talk either.

In the next moment, they all charged at me.

I smiled as I spread my arms wide, like villains do in movies.

“Come on… show me what you can do, my dear heroes.”

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