At the same moment, an alarm blared, signaling the start of the battle. Chaos erupted instantly as candidates charged at each other, vying for a place in Nexus.

In the arena, the atmosphere was electric. Several candidates, eager to prove their worth, targeted Ikku, the youngest among them. With a swift movement, Ikku dodged the first attacker, a muscular young man. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. He knew they would see him as an easy target.

"I’m the youngest; this was inevitable," he thought.

As a candidate charged at him, raising his fist for a strike, Ikku anticipated the move. With surprising agility, he avoided the attack and in an instant delivered a spinning kick that struck his opponent’s chest. The impact sent the man flying out of the arena with such force that Ikku couldn’t help but smile.

However, his victory was short-lived. Another, larger candidate moved into his blind spot.

"Damn!" Ikku thought, realizing the threat too late. Unable to avoid the attack, he raised his arms to brace for impact. The blow was brutal, sending him tumbling several meters to the edge of the arena. As he got back on his feet, he tasted blood on his lips.

"I can’t let my guard down. I’m so close," he muttered, scanning the arena. Adrenaline continued to flood his system. His gaze fell to his right, where he spotted a girl about his age with long brown hair tied in a ponytail. She wore blue jeans and a black top, standing near the edge of the arena. She looked focused, waiting for an attacker charging at her.

"I’ll take care of you, sweetheart," the man sneered, a sadistic grin on his face.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

With a swift motion, he threw a punch. But, to Ikku’s amazement, the girl dodged effortlessly, grabbing the man’s arm and executing a judo throw. In one fluid motion, she hurled him out of the arena, leaving Ikku in awe.

"Wow," he murmured, his words betraying his admiration. He had never paid so much attention to a girl before.

Suddenly, a loud horn echoed through the arena, resembling a klaxon. The edges of the arena began to crumble into dust. The girl, caught in her momentum, lost her balance and started to fall. Instinctively, Ikku rushed forward.

"What am I doing?" he thought as his reflexes took over.

He reached out and, with a desperate lunge, managed to grab her. Pulling her back into the arena just in time, he collapsed onto the ground beside her.

Both were crouched, panting and exhausted. The dust from their fall hadn’t even settled when the girl, still in shock, fixed Ikku with an incredulous gaze. She seemed to be searching for an explanation, something that would make sense of his actions.

"Why... why did you save me?" she asked, her voice trembling as if she couldn’t believe it.

Ikku looked at her, unsettled. His heart was pounding, but he hadn’t thought before acting.

"I... I don’t really know," he replied, lowering his gaze slightly, embarrassed. "I just... listened to my instincts."

Silence hung between them. The girl continued to stare at him, her eyes searching his for something. His answer seemed vague, insufficient, but after a moment of reflection, she smiled.

"Let’s just say that works for me," she finally said, her voice carrying a hint of relief. "What’s your name?"

"I’m Ikku. And you?" he asked, the tension in his body easing slightly.

"I’m Carla," she replied, standing up. Her movements were still a bit unsteady, as if she was processing what had just happened.

"We’ll continue this conversation later, Ikku," she added, casting a wary glance around them. "The trial’s far from over. There are still about ten candidates left. We need to stay on guard."

Ikku nodded, a renewed sense of determination lighting up his face.

"You’re right," he said, getting to his feet, a resolute smile forming despite the fear gnawing at him from within.