There were one hundred and four candidates in the arena stage of the college entrance trial.
After three rounds, ninety one had fallen into the loser bracket.
That ant only thirteen people were still eligible to compete for the Old Shipyard Port championship.
The fourth round did not follow the rule of lowest number versus highest number.
Instead, the organizers reshuffled the draw.
One person would receive a bye.
The bye granted direct advancent to the next round with no points gained.
The result was announced.
The person with the bye was Zayne.
If it were anyone else, the rest might envy their luck.
But since it was Zayne, nearly every remaining candidate felt relief instead.
Zayne getting a bye ant no one would face that monster in the fourth round.
Whoever ran into Zayne was almost guaranteed to drop into the loser bracket.
So this was great news.
The rest of the matchups were revealed soon after.
Two of them looked ordinary.
Only one matchup stood out.
Evan versus Iain.
Two SSS rank classes had finally t on the sa arena.
"Both candidates, please stand inside the circle," the proctor announced.
"Do not make unnecessary movents before I declare the start."
This match even had two proctors instead of one.
Everyone knew this would be a brutal clash.
"Now, please display your class and level."
Evan, Shadow Dragon Spear, Level 14
Iain, Rainbow Blade, Level 13
Fourteen versus thirteen.
If Zayne did not exist this year, Evan and Iain would be the brightest stars.
"Looks like you are heading to the loser bracket," Iain said.
Two daggers appeared in his hands.
He gripped them in reverse.
Cold light flickered across the blades.
Evan slamd his black spear into the ground.
The arena trembled slightly.
That single move showed his frightening strength.
"You are not enough," Evan said flatly.
He glanced at Iain with disdain.
Iain narrowed his eyes.
An assassin facing a warrior was already a bad matchup.
He would rather face Nia than Evan.
But the draw was the draw.
He had no choice but to go all out.
"Class and level confird. Fourth round begins."
The mont the proctor spoke, Iain vanished like a ghost.
Rainbow Blade was terrifyingly fast.
Evan’s eyes sharpened instantly.
He swung his black spear in wide arcs.
Multiple afterimages appeared.
The arena filled with tallic clashes.
Everyone knew Iain was attacking at full speed.
Yet no one could track his position.
It looked like Evan was performing spear techniques alone.
"So scary. Is this what two SSS rank classes look like?"
"I cannot even see Iain. If I went up there, I would die in one second."
"This is terrifying. We are all awakened, but we are not even in the sa world."
Bright sparks burst again and again on the arena.
Many watched with fear in their eyes.
Sotis the gap between people was wider than the gap between a human and a dog.
They all went through awakening.
They all entered the beginner dungeon.
They all joined the college entrance trial.
Yet Evan and Iain were on a completely different level.
"Who do you think will win?" Kasady asked Charlotte.
"Evan," she replied instantly.
Kasady chuckled.
"Oh? You think Iain will lose?"
"He is pressuring Evan the entire ti."
On the arena, Evan was constantly defending.
He could not touch even the edge of Iain’s clothes.
"It is not what I think. It is what will happen," Charlotte said calmly.
"Iain went all out from the start."
"He failed to finish Evan quickly."
"The mont his stamina drops, it becos Evan’s turn."
"Evan looks defensive, but he is completely relaxed."
"He uses the spear’s durability to block efficiently."
"Every move is precise."
"One gains while the other loses."
"Iain is dood."
Charlotte spoke without hesitation.
Kasady grew more serious.
The head of Supre Academy truly had sharp eyes.
His judgnt matched Charlotte’s exactly.
As expected, the situation changed soon after.
Maintaining extre speed drained Iain heavily.
His movents slowed slightly.
That single mont was enough.
Evan exploded like a long waiting tiger.
He gripped his black spear and unleashed countless spear shadows.
They stabbed toward Iain’s vital points.
This was the chance Evan had waited for.
Iain had no ti to react.
His expression changed.
He tried to block.
But in direct combat, he was no match for Evan.
The black spear lunged like a massive dragon.
Iain deflected it upward.
Evan followed through and seized the spear’s end.
"Shadow Crushing Break."
The spear ca down like a pillar from the sky.
Iain raised both daggers to block.
He was smashed to his knees.
Crack.
A sharp sound echoed.
It was the sound of Iain’s knee shattering.
"Ah!"
Iain scread.
He collapsed and clutched his leg.
The crowd went silent.
No one expected Evan to strike so ruthlessly.
Two dics rushed onto the arena and carried Iain away.
The injury was severe.
Imdiate treatnt was required.
Otherwise, his future as an awakened might be ruined.
Evan left the arena expressionless.
The fourth round was over.
Including Zayne, seven people remained.
That ant another bye would appear.
One person would advance straight into the top four.
"It cannot be that cursed, right?"
Zayne stood before the draw box.
His expression was strange.
He reached in and touched a ball.
His instinct told him this was the bye again.
He refused to believe it.
He pulled it out anyway.
Reality proved his instinct correct.
Kasady glanced at the number and announced.
"Zayne. Fifth round. Bye."
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