The air in the arena was still. Silent.
Rina stepped onto the battlefield with an expression as unreadable as ever. Her silver hair cascaded down her back, her stance relaxed, as if none of this mattered. And to her, it truly didn't. She had never needed to prove herself.
Across from her stood Elden—a rising talent in the Eternis Clan. He was not the strongest, nor the most brilliant, but people noticed him. His victories were clean, his technique refined, and his mind sharper than most. He fought not with raw strength, but with understanding.
The Overseer AI crackled to life, amusement lacing its tone.
"Oh, this one's interesting! Rina, the enigma who barely fights, versus Elden, the tactician. Place your bets, folks—who's walking out of here conscious?"
---
A Duel of Minds
Elden studied her carefully.
Rina had been in the spotlight for years, yet she had never truly fought in public. Her victories were always too effortless, too… distant—like she found no joy in competition.
His grip tightened around his rapier.
I've spent years refining my technique. Learning. Adapting. Fighting. If I can't leave a mark in this fight, then…
He took the initiative, shifting into a fluid stance. Unlike others, he wouldn't waste time on reckless attacks. He would test her, find the limits of her reactions, and then strike with absolute precision.
---
The First Exchange
Elden moved first. A feint, a sudden shift, then a piercing thrust aimed for her shoulder.
Rina sidestepped, not even bothering to block.
Another step. Another dodge.
Her movements weren't rushed, nor desperate. She wasn't reacting—she was predicting.
Elden felt his chest tighten. She's seeing ahead.
His attacks became sharper, faster. Footwork shifted unpredictably, turning into a dance of steel. He struck at impossible angles, feinted where no one else would, and adjusted mid-movement.
Yet—
She was always ahead.
Before he moved, she was already countering. Before he committed, she had already dodged.
And she still wasn't attacking.
"Elden's looking stressed! Someone get this guy a manual on 'How to Hit a Ghost'!" the AI cackled.
Elden's eyes narrowed. He stopped.
Is this what it means to be left behind? No matter how much I train… I was never meant to stand on the same stage as them, was I?
---
The Real Battle Begins
"You're seeing the future, aren't you?" he murmured.
For the first time, Rina spoke. "No."
Then she stepped forward.
It was his first time seeing her attack. And in that instant—he knew he had lost.
Her hand blurred. A simple palm strike. But it landed before he could even think to react.
His vision swayed. His knees buckled.
Am I… just a side character in their story?
He had read countless opponents, broken down techniques, analyzed stances, outplayed fighters far stronger than himself. Yet against her, there was nothing to analyze.
She didn't rely on power. She didn't rely on speed.
She simply understood.
---
End of the Trial
Elden lay on the ground, staring at the sky. His breath was ragged, his body frozen—not from cold, but from realization.
"And the winner is… Rina! Quick, brutal, and still terrifyingly quiet! What a show!"
Rina turned away, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't need to see the future. You were just… too slow." And with that, she left.
Elden chuckled bitterly. If I was meant to be great, then why does my story feel so small?
He had lost. Not because he was weak.
But because she had never needed to try.
END OF CHAPTER 49