Jae stood in the center of the stone hallway, his boots planted firmly on the cold floor, the air thick with the scent of polished rock and the nervous buzz of the gathered crowd.
His heart pounded, his muscles tense as he faced Fin, the top-five student whose black hair fell into his cold, predatory eyes.
The hall was packed, students from across the academy cramming in to watch the commoner’s first duel, their whispers a constant hum of excitent and disdain.
He braced himself, eyes locked on his opponent, waiting for the first move.
Fin lunged, his body a blur of speed so sudden Jae barely registered it.
The crowd gasped as Fin’s fist shot toward him, and Jae threw up his arms just in ti, his mana shield flaring to block the blow. The impact sent a jolt through his bones, and he stumbled back, his boots skidding on the slick floor.
The hall erupted in groans, students jeering as Jae caught his balance, his breath ragged. Sun’s loud laugh cut through the noise, sharp and mocking. "Weak, commoner!" he shouted, his voice dripping with glee, his cronies snickering beside him.
Jae’s jaw clenched, his blood heating, but he forced himself to tune them out, his focus narrowing to Fin’s smirking face. Focus, Jae, he chided himself, his mind racing. Why didn’t I put more points in Speed? His 63 Speed was no match for Fin’s lightning-fast moves, and he was kicking himself for it now.
But his Strength was his ace. If he could land a few solid hits, Fin wouldn’t stand a chance.
I Just need to outsmart him, Jae thought, his eyes tracking Fin’s every twitch. He devised a plan: dodge Fin’s attacks, wait for an opening, and hit hard with his fists.
He steadied his breathing, his heart still pounding but his focus razor-sharp, ready for the next move.
Fin attacked again, his body blurring as he darted forward, his fist aid at Jae’s chest. Jae reacted faster this ti, using his Perception to catch the movent.
He twisted, dodging just enough for Fin’s fist to graze his side, the air whistling past. In the sa motion, Jae drove a low punch toward Fin’s ribs, his Strength powering the blow, his fist glowing faintly with mana.
The crowd held its breath, but Fin was too fast, spinning out of reach like a shadow, his movents fluid and infuriating. Before Jae could recover, Fin’s leg whipped around, his boot slamming into the back of Jae’s head with a sickening thud.
Pain exploded in his skull, and he tumbled to the ground, his palms scraping the stone as he caught himself.
The hall burst into laughter, the sound crashing over him like a wave. "Pathetic!" soone yelled, and others joined in, their mocking voices echoing off the walls. Jae’s face burned, his head throbbing, but he pushed himself to his knees, his vision swimming.
This guy’s too fast, he realized, his heart sinking. Physically, he couldn’t keep up—Fin’s speed was unreal, and Jae’s punches weren’t landing. He needed a new plan, sothing to turn the tide. His skills were his only shot now.
Jae wiped a trickle of blood from his cheek, the warm stickiness saring on his fingers, and summoned his Mana Blade. The weapon flared to life, its blue glow cutting through the dim hallway, drawing gasps from the crowd.
He stood, his stance steady despite the pain, and locked eyes with Fin. "Co on, if you’ve got the guts," he said, his voice low and defiant, a smirk tugging at his lips. The crowd hushed, sensing a shift, their eyes wide with anticipation.
Fin’s smirk faltered, but he raised his hand, mana crackling as a fireball ford, its heat rippling the air. He hurled it at Jae, the orange glow streaking toward him like a cot. Jae’s heart leaped, but he was ready.
He reached into his system inventory, pulling out the Anti-Fire Cloak he’d earned from a past mission. The fabric shimred as he threw it over his shoulders, its cool weight settling against his skin.
The fireball hit him dead-on, flas bursting around him, but the cloak absorbed it completely, leaving him untouched. The crowd gasped, their laughter dying into stunned silence.
Even Sun’s jaw dropped, his eyes wide as he stared at Jae, who stood calmly, the flas fizzling out harmlessly.
Fin’s face paled, his evil-looking eyes narrowing with a flicker of fear. He took a step back, his confidence shaken, clearly wondering who, or what, Jae really was.
Jae’s smirk widened, his heart racing with a mix of triumph and adrenaline. Got you now, he thought, gripping his Mana Blade tighter, ready to press his advantage. The crowd’s whispers grew louder, a mix of shock and curiosity
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