"Ah… well I guess I just got lucky,"
Julian tried to look as clueless as possible, he knew that any kind of reaction would warrant more suspicion into Marcus’s mind.
"Luck doesn’t explain that unusual technique, or how you knew exactly where to target the Arborax. So let ask you this, who are you really, Julian?"
Marcus’s eyes narrowed on Julian, who looked at him with an almost expressionless face. He was curious to see whether Julian would fall right into his trap.
"No one of importance," Julian t Marcus’s gaze steadily, his face carefully neutral.
"I’m just another participant, like you. We all have our strengths and weaknesses."
Marcus frowned, clearly unsatisfied with the vague response.
"That doesn’t explain your abilities. Those mana bullets, your strategic insight... it’s not normal for soone our age."
Julian shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.
"I’ve had so... unique training. And I’m observant. That’s all."
Marcus stepped closer, his voice lowering.
"I don’t buy it. There’s sothing you’re not telling us. How did you know about the Arborax’s weakness? And that last shot that saved - it was too perfect."
Julian tensed slightly, realizing he may have revealed too much during the heat of battle. He needed to be more careful going forward.
"I’ve... read a lot about different monsters," Julian said carefully. "And as for that last shot, I just got lucky. Right place, right ti."
Marcus’s eyes narrowed further, clearly not convinced. "You expect to believe that? No one gets that lucky."
Julian t Marcus’s gaze steadily, refusing to back down.
"Believe what you want, Marcus. We’re all here for the sa reason… to beco the Royal Blade. Does it really matter how we got here or what skills we have?"
Marcus opened his mouth to argue further, but redith’s voice echoed through the hall, announcing the returning participants who had defeated their respective boss monsters.
The two boys locked eyes for a mont longer, an unspoken tension hanging between them, and finally, Marcus walked off.
"This isn’t over," he muttered as he turned to join the others.
Julian watched him go, feeling relieved that he backed off.
He had managed to deflect Marcus’s questions for now, but he knew Marcus wouldn’t let it go so easily. That ant he would have to be even more careful going forward.
Standing in the centre of the hall, Julian realised how empty it was.
Earlier there were about 300 people that took up a fourth of the hall, but now it was cut down to just about 7 kids, including Julian.
On the stage, redith’s gaze swept over the assembled children, her expression unreadable. When she spoke, her voice carried easily through the cavernous space.
"Congratulations to all of you who have made it this far. To commorate such an occasion that only you’ve proven yourselves to be exceptional in various ways. However, the true test is yet to co."
She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing.
"The next challenge will push you to your limits, both physically and ntally. It will test not just your magical abilities, but your judgnt, your ethics, and your resolve."
Julian felt a chill run down his spine.
He had a feeling that whatever ca next would be far more complex than battling monsters or solving puzzles.
redith’s eyes seed to linger on Julian for a mont before she addressed the group again.
"Before we proceed, I must ask - are you all prepared to face what lies ahead? To make difficult choices that may haunt you? If any of you wish to withdraw, now is the ti."
The remaining participants exchanged uneasy glances, but no one stepped forward to withdraw. Julian felt his heart racing, but he stood his ground. He had co too far to back out now.
redith nodded, seemingly satisfied with their resolve.
"Very well. The next challenge will take place in a simulated environnt, much like the previous one. However, this ti, you will be facing not monsters, but against each other, this fight will inevitably be a free for all,"
A collective gasp echoed through the hall.
redith continued, her voice steady and unwavering.
"But this is not a simple battle of strength. Each of you will be given a unique objective - a task that you must complete within the simulation. These objectives may conflict with one another, and they may force you to make difficult decisions, however, if I must make it clear now, only 2 people can go through to the final challenge,"
As she pulled out a remote, she tapped her hand onto a button and on the screen she displayed all the nas of the remaining participants.
[Royal Blade Contestants:]
[Marcus Renfield - #0,001]
[Tiberus Ashworth - #0,002]
[Kyra Deverauxe - #0,005]
[Faustino Skye - #0,006]
[Marlon Devora - #0,012]
[Cullen Von Dexter - #0,024]
[Julian Ryker Uzziel - #10,000]
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the remaining participants.
"Please look at these nas and be proud to see how far you’ve co. Not only will your success be judged, not just on whether you complete your objective, but how you choose to do so. Rember, the Royal Blade must be not only powerful, but wise and just."
This challenge would require careful strategy and quick thinking.
Julian couldn’t rely solely on his abilities - he would need to outmaneuver his opponents ntally as well.
"The simulation will begin in one hour," redith announced.
"Use this ti to prepare yourselves. When you’re ready, step onto the teleportation circle."
As the participants dispersed, Julian found a quiet corner to gather his thoughts.
He needed to be ready for anything. Whatever objective he was given, he had to find a way to complete it without revealing too much about his true capabilities.
-I knew those nas sounded familiar… Cullen, Marlon, and even Tiberus. These are mages, not to be underestimated. I rember they are part of Prince Pyre’s group, notorious for bullying and causing trouble within the academy, but to think they survived this far without being in a group together speaks of their reliability and strength.
In Julian’s mind, he weighed the consequences of confronting the remaining participants. Although the objective was unclear, he reasoned that if it was a free-for-all, he had to assu combat was likely, given that only two people could be left standing.
"Damn it... so many side characters are here and I’m not even good enough to be one myself..."
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to center himself.
"If I could figure out the formula to get through to this next challenge, then the future is set in stone for ,"
This challenge would require more than just raw power or quick reflexes.
It would demand strategy, adaptability, and perhaps most importantly, the ability to read and outmaneuver his opponents.
As Julian opened his eyes, he noticed Marcus pacing back and forth across the room, clearly deep in thought about his upcoming plan for the challenge.
anwhile, Kyra stood apart from the others, her face pale with anxiety, as if she were reconsidering her decision to participate after hearing redith’s conditions.
On the opposite side of the room, Tiberius, Marlon, Faustino, and Cullen had ford their own group. This alliance, in particular, was more concerning than anything else that lay ahead.
As the minutes ticked by, Julian found himself growing increasingly restless.
Whatever objective he was given, he knew he’d have to be careful not to overdo it with his attacks, as he had seen earlier that the boy he shot at in the first challenge had almost fainted just from a small release of his mana bullet.
But at the sa ti, holding back too much could cost him the chance to advance.
Finally, redith’s voice rang out once more.
"Participants, please step onto the teleportation circle. The challenge will begin montarily."
Haah...
Julian took a deep breath, bracing himself for what was to co.
As he approached the glowing circle, he caught Marcus’s eye one last ti.
His gaze was sharp and he could tell that if they were to et on the battlefield, he was sure to engage on sight.
Julian had felt the sa about him and knew that whatever happened in this challenge, Marcus would be watching him closely.
With a final mont of though, Julian stepped into the circle.
There was a flash of light, a disorienting sensation of movent, and then...
He found himself standing in what appeared to be a vast, abandoned city.
Crumbling skyscrapers soared overhead with their windows dark and empty.
The streets were also littered with debris, and an eerie silence hung in the air.
Before Julian could fully take in his surroundings, a holographic ssage appeared before him.
[Objective: Eliminate the following contestant: Kyra Deverauxe - #0,005]
"Huhhh?! Eliminate Kyra?"
His jaw dropped the mont he saw her na.
The shy and nervous girl who had been his teammate in the previous challenge?
It felt wrong on every level.
But he knew he couldn’t afford to let his personal feelings interfere. This was a test, and he had to approach it strategically. Still, the thought of actually harming Kyra made him uneasy.
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