A putrid smell hung heavily in the air, an overpowering stench of charred flesh and burnt hair that clung to the back of the throat, causing anyone's face to scrunch in disgust and their stomachs to churn. The intensity of the odor seemed to grow stronger with each passing second, mingling with the sharp, acrid tang of smoke. The crackle of fire was the only sound breaking the eerie silence, punctuated occasionally by the soft hiss of embers.

The man's purple eyes gleamed with a cold light, a stoic mask barely hiding his true feelings of revulsion and anger. His gaze cut through the inky darkness of the night, illuminating the ghastly scene before him with a spectral glow.

What he saw was a nightmare come to life, a sight that would make even the most hardened war veterans recoil in horror and gag. Mountains of charred bodies lay before him, their flesh as black as coal, disintegrating into the ground in a grotesque parody of snowfall. The air was filled with the sickeningly sweet scent of burning fat, mingled with the metallic tang of blood.

The bodies were unrecognizable, twisted into macabre shapes with limbs bent at unnatural angles. The clothes they once wore had been burned away, leaving no identifiable features behind, only the skeletal remains of what once were humans. The ground around them was slick with a dark, viscous sludge—a mixture of blood, ash, and the melted remnants of life.

Rivers of crimson blood had either evaporated or mixed with the ashes, creating a grim, dark sludge that coated the battlefield. The air was thick with the unsettling movement of mana particles, rushing out of the deceased warriors, a testament to the formidable power they once held. Each breath he took was filled with the acrid stench of death and decay, a constant reminder of the carnage that had unfolded here.

As the man stepped forward, his boots crunched over the brittle remains, each step echoing in the silence. He could feel the heat radiating from the scorched earth, waves of residual warmth that did little to comfort the chill in his bones.

He placed his hands in his pockets as he stepped forward, mana surging from his body with just a thought. His eyes locked onto the perpetrator of this atrocity, a grim resolve hardening his features.

"Heavenly Demon," he said, his voice heavy with restrained fury, the words diffusing into the air like a deadly mist.

"So, you're finally back after killing the vampires?" the perpetrator responded lazily, lounging atop the largest mountain of corpses he had created. His tone was casual, almost bored, a stark contrast to the carnage around them.

"Did you plan this?" the man asked, scanning the devastation, his anger giving way to a chilling indifference. "To strike when I wasn't here. Then, why didn't you run away?"

"I merely wanted to get rid of the riff-raff before facing the strongest," the Heavenly Demon replied, his black eyes narrowing as he rested his face on his left palm. Flames still danced on his left hand, the same flames that had laid waste to legions of Murim warriors, their heat distorting the air around him.

The purple-eyed man took a deep breath, pushing out more mana, his eyes glowing brighter with each pulse. Power thrummed through his veins, filling him with a potent mix of determination and raw energy. "I suppose it is only right for me to crush you after killing the Vampire Monarch."

"If you are worthy," the Heavenly Demon smiled, the flames on his hand flaring brighter and hotter, casting eerie shadows across the battlefield.

Just before the two of them could clash, I awoke from my nap, the remnants of the intense dream lingering in my mind.

'Why did I dream of that?' I thought, scratching the back of my head as I sat up. I shuffled to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face to shake off the lingering drowsiness. My duel with Ren loomed ahead, and I needed to be fully alert.

'Arthur,' Luna's voice echoed in my mind, tinged with regret, 'I-I am sorry. I don't know why, but Fate was just like-'

'I don't need excuses, Luna,' I cut her off, my tone firm. 'What's done is done. Now, I have to focus on crushing Ren with what I have.'

Silence followed her mental transmission. Luna's usual confidence was absent, replaced by a heavy quiet. I began to strategize, considering every possible angle to take down Ren in my current state.

The primary challenge was Ren's Gift, . It was one of the most powerful Gifts, allowing him to see through any illusion or feint effortlessly. This rendered my newly acquired swordsmanship from Mount Hua Sect nearly useless against him. His ability to anticipate and counter attacks made him a formidable opponent.

I could counter his mana affinities decently with , but landing a successful God Flash on him was the key to victory. The challenge was finding a way to execute the move without him intercepting it.

As I continued to think, I felt a sense of calm determination wash over me. I left the bathroom, my mind focused on the upcoming duel. I needed to find a way to bypass his defenses and exploit any weaknesses he might have. Every detail mattered, every movement needed to be precise.

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I stepped out of my room, the cool hallway air a stark contrast to the warmth of my thoughts. The sounds of other students filled the air, but my mind was solely on the duel. The path to victory was narrow, but it was there. I just had to find it and seize it.

'It's not like this duel even matters,' I mused as I made my way to the hotel's training ground. In this world, training grounds were akin to gyms, and high-class hotels often boasted state-of-the-art facilities.

As I arrived, I noticed the entire Class A already gathered, along with Rose and Luke. Ren was pacing impatiently on the sparring stage, his face etched with irritation, confirming that I was indeed late.

"I really thought you ran away," Ren sneered, his purple eyes locking onto me with a predatory gleam.

"As if a lion needs to run away from a gazelle," I shot back, meeting his gaze unflinchingly as I stepped onto the stage.

I could feel the eyes of my classmates boring into me, a mix of worry and curiosity. The weight of their expectations was palpable.

I needed to show them why I was chosen as Rank 2, and Ren was Rank 3.

Before we could begin, the door to the training ground burst open, and Professor Nero strode in with an air of authority. The collective gasp from the crowd told me his arrival was unexpected.

"I will be overseeing this duel," Nero announced, his voice commanding as he ascended to the stage, effortlessly hovering above us.

The professor's sudden presence added an extra layer of tension to the atmosphere. His eyes scanned the gathered students, finally resting on me and Ren. The intensity of his gaze was enough to make even the most confident student second-guess their abilities.

Ren's smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Fine by me," he said, cracking his knuckles in anticipation.

I nodded, feeling a surge of adrenaline. "Let's get this started."

As we squared off, the training ground seemed to shrink, the world narrowing to just Ren and me. The sounds of the others faded, replaced by the rapid thud of my heartbeat.

Nero raised his hand, signalling the start of the duel. "Begin!"

In that instant, all thoughts of pain and disappointment from earlier vanished. This was my chance to show my worth, to prove that I deserved my rank.

Due to his lack of talent with weapons, Ren relied on traditional martial arts, using kicks and punches to inflict damage. His Gift, , rendered my Illusion Sword technique useless, so I decided not to waste energy on that. Feints might still confuse him since he was young and inexperienced, but I couldn't rely on that alone.

I needed to exploit my biggest advantage.

Activating Lucent Harmony, the world around me sharpened as I tapped into the ambient mana, usually just out of reach. The air crackled with energy as I prepared my spell.

"[5-circle Spell: Fiery Thunder Spear]."

A spear of crackling energy materialized in my hand. I hurled it toward Ren, the air humming with power. Without missing a beat, I launched myself at him, lightning aura enveloping my body. My plan was to use the significant gap between our basic attributes to overwhelm him.

Ren's brows furrowed in concentration as he saw the incoming attack. He raised his hands, a spell forming in response to parry my Fiery Thunder Spear. The air around him shimmered with mana as he readied himself for the clash.

The spear of fiery thunder raced towards Ren, illuminating the training ground with its intense glow. The heat and energy radiating from it made the air sizzle, creating an electrifying atmosphere. Ren's eyes glinted with determination as he summoned his own mana, preparing to counter my attack.

In that split second, I closed the distance between us, my body a blur of motion. The lightning aura around me crackled with raw power, making every step I took resonate with energy. The ground beneath my feet seemed to tremble as I surged forward.

Ren's spell clashed with my Fiery Thunder Spear, creating a brilliant explosion of light and sound. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the training ground, causing everyone to shield their eyes from the blinding light.

But I didn't stop. Using the momentum of my lightning aura, I pressed the attack, my movements fluid and relentless. Ren struggled to keep up, his martial arts skills and spellcasting unable to match the sheer force of my enhanced abilities.

My confidence soared. I saw a flicker of doubt in Ren's eyes, and I knew I had him. This was my chance to prove my superiority, to show that I deserved my rank.

The basic swordsmanship I had honed through relentless training struck him with precision. Ren tried to counter with a flurry of attacks—punches, kicks, knees, elbows—but I could sense them all. My battle instincts allowed me to perfectly counter his movements while pushing him back with my superior strength and speed.

I struck his chest with the hilt of my sword, knocking the air out of his lungs. He stumbled, gasping, and I saw my opening for the finisher.

"[God Flash]."

'NO, ARTHUR!' Luna screamed inside my mind. But it was too late.

Ren's eyes glowed with an ethereal light, his Gift activating. He saw through my attack, predicting my movements with perfect clarity. He sidestepped my strike with ease, his expression calm and focused as he even dodged God Flash.

Before I could react, Ren countered with a swift, powerful punch to my gut, knocking the wind out of me. Pain exploded through my body as I staggered back, gasping for breath.

He didn't let up. He kicked my sword hand, the impact sending a jolt of pain through my arm and causing my grip to weaken. My sword clattered to the ground.

Ren pressed his advantage. He moved with a fluid grace, his attacks relentless. A knee to my ribs, an elbow to my jaw—each blow landed with devastating precision. I tried to defend myself, but I was off-balance, reeling from the sudden shift in momentum.

As I was about to gain my balance, Lucent Harmony blinked out of existence, the backlash causing pain to course through my body as my knees buckled.

Gritting my teeth, I attempted to regain my footing despite the pain, but Ren was already on me. He delivered a spinning kick to my side, sending me crashing to the ground. The impact knocked the breath out of me, leaving me dazed and vulnerable.

I lay there, struggling to get up, the realization of my defeat settling in. Ren stood over me, his chest heaving with exertion, but his expression was one of triumph and control.

The training ground was silent, the intensity of the duel still lingering in the air. My classmates watched in stunned silence, their expressions a mix of shock and awe.

Luna's voice echoed in my mind, filled with regret. 'I'm sorry, Arthur. I tried to warn you.'

'No,' I replied softly, 'It was my fault.'

I messed up at the end. Using God Flash too early was my mistake. That's why I lost.

I lost.

I failed.

Would I survive in this world?