After getting energy from eating a whole cake and asking Sogae to take care of his butler outfit, Sunz and Grace made their way to the training facility.

While walking to the ‘Sparring Area’ they pass an elderly man with white hair and beard wearing a full suit.

Grace whispers to Sunz (That old guy is rich, he’s wearing a brand suit.)

Sunz whispers back (Really, what kind of brand is that? I just want to know what brand you’re talking about. To me all suits are expensive.)

Grace whispers (It’s not a brand that you can find online, this brand only exists in the Hero Corp. It’s known as the Outfit Development branch, and they only provide for Rank-A and above, that old guy must have good connections and lots of money.)

Sunz whispers (Wow, Rank-A and above. You must also have one right, since you are rank-A after all?)

Grace whispers (Of course, but not as high quality as that man.)

Sunz whispers (What? High quality? If you are at least A-rank then your outfit must be top of the line. How higher can you go?)

Grace whispers (I actually don’t know, the only obvious detail is that, the suit was made for him and no one else… kinda disappointed, I’m sorry.)

Sunz whispers (If you got to S-rank then we’ll know more.)

Grace whispers (That’s… gonna be hard, like really hard.)

Sunz whispers (That is for the future us to figure out. For now, how do you know that his suit is S-tier?)

Grace whispers (Well, every A-rank outfit always has the first letter of their name embroidered on the cuff of their outfit, and the color is always black. That man has his name embroidered in his chest pocket with the color blue.)

Sunz *chuckles* and then jokingly whispers (You would be a menace if you still have 20/20 eyes.)

Grace threateningly whispers (Well, I can get the surgery to have my 20/20 eyes back, but you will lose the glasses privilege… the process is very simple.)

Sunz: Please don’t!

Grace: Wow~ someone really has a problem, haha.

Sunz: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be loud.

Grace: Oh well, at least that old guy is already gone, so we can talk normally now.

Sunz: Yeah… so, did you see what his letter was?

Grace: It was the letter N.

Sunz: So is there any person in the Hero Corp with an N in their name, that is old and also likes the color blue?

Grace: I don’t think so.

After walking a bit more, they heard noises coming from the ‘Sparring Area’.

Grace: I thought we were the only one here. Most of the losing contestants are already on break.

Sunz: I guess, it must be one of the staff. I don’t think they will be mad if we ask them to leave, since they probably know who we are.

Grace: I hope so.

When they entered the ‘Sparring Area’ they saw Archibald fighting one-on-one against the hologram.

Sunz whispers to Grace (So, who will be the one to ask him?)

Grace whispers back (You should! You know him, I don’t.)

Sunz whispers (I can’t. Sure, he and I know about each other but not that close for me to start the conversation. I usually let the other person initiate the conversation, not me.)

Grace whispers (If you don’t do anything soon then your time will be cut short.)

Sunz whispers (Why don’t you do it? You started the conversation when we were strangers.)

Grace whispers (Well… I don’t want to interrupt an old man's exercise. They have little time left to live.)

Sunz whispers (So, are we just going to wait until he's done?)

Grace whispers (I guess so.)

…

After 5 minutes of watching Archibald effortlessly sparring with hologram, the system shut down.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Archibald: That was quite the warm-up… You two can come out of the corner now.

Sunz:…

Grace:…

Archibald: I also heard what you two were whispering about. Either you two come out or this old man with a lot of time left will do it himself.

Both Sunz and Grace awkwardly step out.

Sunz: H-hello Mr.Archibald, long time no see.

Grace just waved her hand.

Archibald: It’s great to see you and know that you’ve advanced to the final round.

Sunz: Thank you.

Archibald: I see that you’ve also been acquainted with a fine young lady. If I remember correctly, your name is Grace, right?

Grace nodded.

Archibald: Not much of a talker? Well, if I didn’t miss hearing that you are here to train, then hop on. I’ll help you prepare for the next match.

Sunz: You sure that it will be ok?

Archibald: Don’t worry, I’m old but have lots of experience. I heard that your next opponent is quite the work, so you’ll need every help you can get.

Sunz: Um, thank you. *getting on the arena and making his way to the other side*

Archibald waited for Sunz to walk out of earshot and told Grace

“You too, join the fun and make it a two-on-one.”

Grace: ha…ha, will it be necessary? Isn’t it better for him to fight you alone?

Archibald: An A-rank will surely bring up the difficulty. Don’t you think so, Miss Patinage?

Grace was shocked to hear her last name: You… you know who I am?!

Archibald: hmmm, your parents have an important role at the Hero Corp don’t they?

Grace: I… I don’t know. All I know is that they are also Heroes like me.

Archibald: How unfortunate, that’s mean I know as much as you do.

Grace: Are you, one of those people?

Archibald: The best money can buy… For now, go team up with him and test out your strength.

Grace immediately dashed over to Sunz, leaving a trail of her ice image that disappeared in less than a second.

Archibald: Oh young talents, how I envy you.

…

Sunz: Ok, I think this is far enough – Holy! What are you doing here?

Grace: Wow, startled much.

Sunz: Of course, you were there and now you are suddenly here.

Grace: Well, *draws her rapier* it’s been I while since I last trained. You won’t like it when I get a bit chubby.

Sunz: Well… I have a wide range of preferences, as long as you have glasses.

Grace:…I have no words to describe this.

Archibald: Well, it seems you are both prepared, and there will be one rule. Keep going until your body can’t handle anymore… So are you two ready?

Grace: Yes!

Sunz: Let’s do this!

Archibald *smile*: START!

Sunz immediately felt a rush of wind from Grace blowing over him as she rushed in first.

Sunz (I thought this was my training?) decided to not engage yet and observe what Grace going to do.

Despite engaging with amazing speed, Grace's first attack missed, and the same goes for the rest of her attack. Archibald's amazing footwork allowed him to dodge with ease, then as frustration built up in Grace after missing so many of her attacks, he performed a simple leg sweep that knocked her off balance then he grabbed her neck and swiped her rapier.

Archibald starts applying more force to the choke as Grace tries to break free. Once he noticed Sunz about to move, he threw Grace at him while holding on to her rapier.

Sunz successfully caught Grace from behind, but they were pushed back a bit due to the force of the throw.

Sunz: You ok?

Grace: ugh, *checking her neck* yeah I’m good. You?

Sunz: Not a scratch, yet. Something wrong? You were being a bit reckless.

Grace: Oh, you know… haven’t been training that much so just trying to get back in the groove.

Sunz: And… the perfect person for that is some old guy?

Grace: Ummmm… yeah kind of.

Sunz: *sigh* well, you can have this. I’m gonna try my best to support you.

Grace: I’m sorry, this was supposed to be your training.

Sunz gets Grace back on her feet: Don’t worry, it’s still training for me, just less physical contact… and more brain power, I hope.

Grace: Thank you. Well then *summons two ice rapiers in each of her hands* keep up.

Once again, she immediately dashed in to attack Archibald but this time with Sunz's support.

On Grace’s first strike, Archibald was about to block but was stopped when Sunz sent out a water wave at his arm and froze it, stopping its movement, which allowed Grace to get a direct attack at his chest and shattered her ice rapier on impact.

The whole thing just shattered in her hand, crumbling onto the floor. Didn’t give her a moment to process what happened, Archibald broke the ice that was impairing his arm movement with a slight shake of his shoulder, then he forced Grace’s rapier back into her hand and windup his leg.

But suddenly, a loud bang came from Sunz's direction, which made Archibald push Grace away and take a step back himself before fire suddenly flared up between them.

Using the moment there was a flame between them, Grace tried to pierce Archibald again but before she about to strike, a foot appeared from the flame and kicked her in the chest, flinging her at Sunz.

Despite seeing what happened, Sunz wasn’t quick enough to respond, which resulted in Grace getting flung at him and landing on his body.

Sunz: Ok, not moving around for 2 days is showing its effect.

Grace: Well, you’re still a good cushion…haha…ow that’s hurt.

Archibald slowly approaches them: I must say, first round you two did quite well.

“Sunz, I see that you are getting better since our last accident.”

“Grace, amazing precision, going straight for the heart but just slightly missed it in order to not kill the target.”

“Well, are you two ready for round two?”

Sunz:…

Grace:…

Archibald: I’ll give you two a few minutes to process what happened.

Grace: How are we supposed to beat you if our weapon can’t pierce you?

Archibald: Well, training doesn’t necessarily mean winning, and you should know that. I am your wall, every time you manage to chip me down that means your training is working. But there will be no chipping today.

“Let’s take a small break.”

Archibald walked outside of the ‘Sparring Area’

Sunz: Grace?

Grace: Yeah?

Sunz: Can you get off of me? You are crushing me.

Grace: You saying I’m fat?

Sunz: No, I’m just saying you are bigger than me because of our height difference.

Grace: Fine… *standing up*

Sunz: thank you. *getting up* well, this training is gonna be tough on both of us.

Grace: I think, he is also not being serious. So this is how it feels to be bullied by the strong.

Sunz: You bullied the weak before?

Grace: Of course, lower rank goes up against higher rank to gain experience. It’s always bully, until the lower rank shows some potential, that is when we become serious.

Sunz: That somehow makes sense.

After a small break, Archibald returned and they continued the training for hours later until.

Grace has gotten used to training against Archibald, and is once again being knocked back by his attack, but this time she didn’t instantly engage again.

She was standing still for a few seconds and then fell onto the floor lifelessly.

Archibald immediately rushed over to check on her while Sunz pulled out his phone to call Sogae.