I grip my blade firmly. Ready to use my strongest strike. The fight now begins.

"Begin!"

Echo: Rupturing Rip!

This is the same as the Unique Skill Echo: Rupture, but I put vibrations onto my dagger. It can with stand this move because it was specially made using my own mana to create a Mana Weapon. Mana weapons strengthen the weapon itself, and allows you to store mana in it, resulting in weapon skills. The real power of this skill allows me to input vibrations into anything but mana. However, It doesn't allow me to simply because this skill goes through Mana itself.

Good block it if you can. That will be your demise!

The man raises his left leg and it starts glowing red.

What power! If he tries hard enough, he could break my dagger! Fine then. Break it. You'll regret it the moment you try to.

As I get ready to clash my weapon with his leg, within that moment, it switches trajectory. Crack.

'Ah. My arm! His leg wasn't even in the position to do that. So how did he-'

"AHHHH!!!"

As I fall to the ground, barely keeping my focus more on the fight, Caz in a normal voice

"Something about that blade is dangerous. I can't believe I had to use my skill just for this."

Then among the men, the savages start to burst out in laughter. As if I'm a fool to accept his proposal.

'Calm down! Calm down! I underestimated him. This is why I'm in this situation! I currently don't even have the ability to injure him in the slightest. All I need is one punch!

Holding back tears, I try my best to stand up, Caz approaches me. In an unpleasant way, he speaks.

"What's wrong? What happened to all that that vigor you had moments ago? Was it all crushed along with that arm?"

"Bahaha! Who knew the boss had a sense of humor!"

"That kids got guts I tell you!"

At this point, he's just mocking me! If he kicks fast like that, my skill Echo: Sonar will at least let me feel his body movement a little

Unlike the other moves I just used. I'm using Echo exactly like a sonar. This isn't a skill on it's own, because I'm using Echo normally but in a different way. I learned that this was possible by sending waves to a dead rage rat I found outside the gate and noticed that some of them bounced back. I was doing this only because it just came to me at that time.

As he takes one step forward, I activate the skill and leap in to punch.

'A kick from the right!? '

I turn all my focus to that area and use my foot to block the attack. It then sends me in spinning motion mid air allowing him to kick me in the side sending me through someones door.

'Ow! I think I sprained an ankle. I'm lucky he didn't use that skill right there, otherwise I would've been out of commission. Good thing I can now ready his attacks more clearly!'

The Red Knight Clara called out

"There are thirty seconds left!"

'30 Seconds!? I got to stop dawdling around and get back to fighting!'

I jump through the window then start the fight back up. I start to get used to using the skill more efficiently and Almost landed a hit.

'That's good enough! If I keep this up, I can defeat him within 40 seconds, leaving 20 seconds left!'

Caz has a little smile on his face. He then say

"You seem to have grown a little stronger in that moment you broke your arm. Well, I'll take it up a notch then."

Caz lifts up his left leg again. It starts shining red and then turns into a dark red aura.

Oh no! I got to get away from here now! If he hit's me, it's all over!

As I try to leap back far enough from him, Caz is already in behind me. Then, in a serious attitude, he says

"It's been over the moment you agreed to fight me."

With little to no effort, he kicks me in the chest. Sending me flying through a few homes.

"Guh!"

As I take rubble from on me, blood spilling out of my mouth. It's even getting too hard to breath.

'It hurts! My entire body hurts!' I said as I groan in pain.

My entire body is bruised but what hurts the most is around my chest. I try and take a look to see what happened. If someone was to look at my chest, even they could plain out see that almost my entire rib cage was broken.

"15 seconds left." Said the Red Knight Clara.

'I have to get up! I can't lose everything I've worked for now! Get up body, Get up!' I thought to myself while wheezing

Luckily I get up. The tough part is landing a hit. That's when I get a look at the crowd.

The some of his men simply look at me with concern. At Least there are some normal enemies. Some even started talking about it.

"Hey, I think you should finish him off already! He looks to be suffering."

"Don't you guys think this is the one time the captain went too far."

Thanks for the concern, but I don't want it from people who destroyed my village. Even then, the cruel bastards start their chatter again.

"That's what you get for acting all hotshot with our boss Dumbass!"

"Give him a very painful death!"

"Fight Bermil. I haven't seen someone with potential as you. However, this is the true moment you outshine even those with greater potential. So stop standing there and fight for your village" Said Caz with a look of emptiness on his face.

'It's like he doesn't even care!'

"8 Seconds!"

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8 seconds. I have to hurry. I don't stand a chance against him at this point, but I can't give up, I just need one Punch!

"7 Seconds!"

I start my run up as he once again changes his aura around his leg, from the color of red, to a that of a rose in the darkness.

'I will die a cowardly death anyway. I would have died but probably after the match ends, so I wouldn't be able to save anyone then.'

"6 Seconds!"

"That's Right! Come at me with your strongest punch! Bermil!" Caz says with a face that of a man married to war.

"4 Seconds!"

As I reach the last 4 seconds of this battle, the world seems to move slow. It's like it's telling me to say my goodbye's before I leave.

'Sorry, Mom of this world. I should have at least lived for Grain, so I can comfort you. Now you will have to mourn for the both of us.'

"3 Seconds!"

'Sorry Grain, Rinwald, Sars, and Sheya. I sent you all to where the enemy planned to invade. If I thought more carefully about the enemy, you wouldn't have died. I will meet you guys soon.'

"2 Second!"

'Sorry Reina. I left that entire battle to you. I should have helped defeat those men before leaving. I hope you at least survive out of us all. Become a Village Guard while your at it.'

"1 Second!"

'Most importantly. Sorry Iya, and Mom. If there was ever a chance you got reincarnated into this world too, I could have met you. I should have set off to find you way earlier. I guess this is goodbye. I'll be with my friends in the afterlife if there is one anyway. Don't join us to quickly everyone.'

As tears start running down my eyes, I let my heart cry out.

"I won't lose!"

"0 Seconds remaining!"

I guess this is it. It's over. I wasn't even close to him at all.

As I'm falling from exhaustion, someone's hand seem to stop me. All I can see is the dirt, where I should have fallen. As I try to stay awake, the man tells me.

"You fought hard and brilliant. Your fight is over. You loss. Make sure to use this loss as a way to better your future. You can rest now. I will take over."

I slowly fade into darkness. Then I wake up to myself in bandages and a cast.

"Huh? I'm alive?"

It looks like it's night outside. I wonder what happened to the person who saved me. I should thank them later.

I then see the unbelievable before me. It's Rinwald, Grain, Sars, Sheya, and Reina all sleep on the floor next to me.

"Guys!?"

Rinwald wakes up.

"Bermil? Bermil, you woke up!"

He then hugs me while covering me in tears and snot.

"Ouch!"

"Thank god! I thought you weren't gonna wake up!"

"I should be asking the questions. How are you guys alive."

The others start to wake up. All look at me with a face of relief and runs to give me a hug.

Sars start off with a

"What got you injured like that!?"

Grain with a sad expression

"When I found you, I thought you were dead! You were limp and not moving at all."

Reina continues this chaos

"You run away from our fight and almost die! How stupid are you."

Sheya is sitting there in the back crying.

Why are they worried about me!? How the hell are they even alive!?

"I should be the one asking questions! Didn't you guys fight a tall pale man with long black hair!? He said he killed you all!"

Rinwald then responds with

"Oh yeah! We got into a fight with him. We realized we lost and then he decided to keep us as hostages."

He starts looking away and sweat appears on his face. I didn't really pay attention to that detail so I ignored it.

"What!? What about the other villagers!? He didn't attack them at all!?"

Sheya then steps in

"U-Um. He didn't have to since he had over a 500 men. He was able to split 100 from his 500 and still keep us hostage."

Grain adds on

"That's not even all! There were 4 others dressed in armor with different colors commanding all of them. We were completely at their mercy."

4 others!? That must mean Caz and Clara were also commanders. That still doesn't make sense. There wouldn't be any left for Clara if Caz controlled 100 of them. Then Clara was probably the strongest among them.

"Why did he even spare you guys?"

Rinwald slowly started to walk out of the room. Grain grabs him and brings him in front of me. Rinwald suddenly looks like he's seen a ghost.

Grain steps up and explains

"Well as it turns out, Rinwald realized we would probably die if we continue any longer. Out of desperation, he said you were the strongest out of all us here. He kept saying things like "Bermil will defeat you!" and "You'll lose the moment you fight Bermil!" So he basically put a bounty on you."

What?

"So Rinwald, you basically sold me out."

"Well, er- If I didn't we'd all be killed so all's well that ends well okay! Hahahahahahaha! Hah-"

"What do you mean all's well the ends well!? I went through unimaginable pain and all you have to say Is All's well that ends well!?"

"Look I'm sorry! I didn't know this would have happened!"

"I may be able to put up a fight with our village guards, but that doesn't mean I can't take on the whole world. I'm grateful that result is better than the other but please don't pass my name around like I'm some kind of weapon."

"Yes!"

A woman passes through the door and then both me and her burst into tears.

"Bermil!"

"Mom!"

We both embrace each other in tears.

"Bermil! I'm so glad! You lived!"

"I'm so sorry to make you cry! I never intended to do that!"

As she calms herself down, she ask that Grain and the others leave the room. They all nod in agreement and leave the room.

She starts off with

"Bermil! I'm glad you are alright but I needed to have this serious talk with you before I left 3 weeks ago, but I was short on time before my trip to vising your dad.

3 Weeks? That was a few days before the battle! I was asleep for that long!?

"Oh you visited Dad right? Can you tell me what he said?"

"You Dad is dead."

"What?"

"Please calm down. I was too scared to share it with the both of you. Since I heard you fought hard and showed bravery, I thought about sharing it with you only. So please keep this a secret between you and me."

I pause a little, then I answer

"Fine then. I will keep this a secret between you and me. As for compensation, can you tell me about the culprit?"

"!"

"It's ok, I won't do anything beyond my ability. So you can tell me can't you?"

"The culprit currently unknown."

"How?"

"That's what the reports say about him. The person they suspect to be behind it is a noble head of the Roxeze Family, Donald S. Roxeze."

"Is that so. Well then I'm at least glad I got to know sooner than later. You also better let Grain know before it's too late. Otherwise he might completely break down."

"I will do it when I think he is ready."

She gets up and leaves the room. As I get ready to get some rest, someone else opens the door and enters.

What is it now.

What I see is a dark Elf with deep blue skin and lavender eyes. Short and black hair. Dressed in a red long sleeve and black pants with grey armor around his wrist and feet.

"Bermil. How's it been."

"So the last 10 must be here right."

"No. Just 5 of us completed our mission. The other 5 have yet to complete theirs."

Of all the people to come back, why'd it have to be this group.

"What's wrong Bermil, you look pissed. Could that major loss ruin your resolve so easily? I knew it you are weak."

"Nothing's wrong Nazil. I'm completely fine."

"That's great! Well anyways you might lose your spot for candidate if you sit in bed for too long. See ya!"

"Wait you bastard!"

Ugh. I can't 2nd year's returned before us. Worst of all, If I stay here too long, I could lose my spot and Grain would probably take my spot.

The candidates are all young people chosen from the either the village, or village guards. The 3rd years contain up to 5 Candidates. 2nd Years has also had around 5 people with potential join the ranks. This year, we only got up to 4. Grain could have joined if he actually knew how to swing a blade properly.

"I think if I take it easy for today, I will be alright by tomorrow."

Thank god we have a B rank Healer. Too bad she's one of the annoying second year.

I turn over and shut my eyes to sleep. It's now the next morning, and I wake up to a scarlet haired cutie with brown skin and purple eyes staring over me.

Ah. Another one of the second years.

She's also one of the few people with a Unique skill. It's called Unique Skill The Writer. We suspect her Specialty will have something to do with mind control. Only because so far one of her skills allow her to give people a change of emotion. She's like a living drug.

"Hey Bermil. Did you sleep well?"

'This is bad! If only Emelia didn't get Accepted into the program.' I thought to my self in a panic.

'She's trying to use her Unique Skill The Writer: Quick edit. If I say any words that doesn't please her at all, she can take control of my body until she does something that gives her even a hint of happiness. Last time she pulled this off, I ended up the woman's restroom and ended up getting my ass beat!'

'I need to learn Mind resistance, but I would have to enter a human capital and register myself for a Skill Encyclopedia. Even then, I would have to meet the requirements just to earn D level resistance and that's the lowest level of resistance. I just need to stay silent.'

"Staying silent are we? Well we can't have that can we? Now it's time for your tickle time!"

'Oh crap! I'm not prepared for this! I can't only walk normally.' I screamed to myself with horror on my face.

"No! Please! Mercy!"

"Take That! and That! I can't forget that weak spot either!"

"Bwaahahahahaha! Stop it Emelia! I can't defend myself in my situation!"

"Then answer my Question! Did you sleep well!?"

"Yes! I slept like a baby!"

Crap. I done something regrettable.

"Good. Now recover quickly so you can bully you even worse than I currently just did right then."

She steps out of the room.

Huh? I'm not in her control? Maybe that was really what she wanted to hear. Well, I think I should rehabilitate myself. I haven't really been moving for more than 2 weeks. Oh wait. Crap! I forgot that I need someone to help!

"Someone help! Please!"

I'm in for a tough time.