{Eren Brown's POV}
A huge explosion occurred, affecting everyone around us, making Mai and Lucas pause as they stared at what was happening..
Once the light faded, Ren could be seen standing in his place—slightly injured, but fine. His health had reached 75, which is an impressive achievement, by the way...
In contrast, I was in really bad shape. I mean, several bruises formed across my body, and if it weren't for that shield, my condition would have been far worse. On top of that, my health points had dropped to 65...
Technically, the Spear King Art was stronger, but the difference in power between us kept me from defeating him so far.
"You're truly amazing; it looks like the academy won't be boring like I expected."
Ren spoke, but I wasn't interested in his words at that moment. I was focusing on my next step, while at the same time healing my injuries through my spear—whose effectiveness is excellent, if you ask me. But it seems Ren immediately caught on to my plan...
Ren moved from his position, trying to attack me—but something happened that made me smile. How could I not, when I saw Mai finally move for the first time since the fight began...
"It seems you forgot I exist. Alright then—I'll remind you."
She said as she unleashed a barrage of arrows toward Ren, which he dodged with great skill...
"Alright, try this!"
Mai shouted as she gathered mana into her bow and fired arrows at an insanely high speed. I could almost swear she was shooting 100 arrows per second—this reminded me just how terrifying she is...
I mean, her main weapon isn't even the bow. But she has a seal, because she practices a somewhat dangerous Four-Star Fist Art. She can't start using it normally until she reaches at least Rank C, because the recoil of that art is extremely dangerous to her body...
Ren dodged the arrows brilliantly, but even so, he didn't escape them all. A few arrows hit him, dealing truly good damage. His health points had already dropped to 65, which meant the conditions I set for myself to win this duel were almost complete.
I left Mai to handle Ren, since she seemed fully engaged in confronting him, and I turned my attention to Lucas, who hadn't moved since the duel began. I looked at him and noticed the shock on his face.
"You... how are you this strong?"
Lucas muttered, and he seemed terrified—because I'm a variable he didn't write into his novel...
"Training. Then training. And more training."
I lied to him with a straight face, and it seemed he bought my little lie—or maybe he didn't. Either way, I don't really care. The current Lucas is truly annoying; he wants everything to be under his control, and he fears any anomaly that happens in the story he wrote...
My friend, the moment you entered your own story, that means there are at least hundreds of variables even if you do nothing—so what about you taking the Bow King Art...
"This isn't the time for talking."
I muttered as mana swirled around my spear, my focus gathering into a single point, and I started running toward the stunned Lucas...
But it seems he snapped out of it and began firing arrows at me—something that was useless in this moment, because I bypassed them easily and started striking at him.
You might ask why I didn't use Thunderbolt; well, I don't have enough mana except for one powerful attack, and right now I'm saving it for a finishing blow, so to speak...
I delivered several strikes to Lucas across different areas of his body; and it can be said that even while using a bow and being stunned, Lucas's reflexes are truly amazing...
He avoided most of my attacks, but that doesn't mean I didn't hit him. I landed several blows that reduced his health to 75, which is good...
"Mai—switch!"
I shouted loudly as I left Lucas and headed toward where Ren and Mai were, while at the same time Mai withdrew and moved toward Lucas.
And it can be said that Mai did a good job; she brought Ren's health down to 61. That's an achievement—I mean, Ren started taking this seriously. You could see it in his eyes, glowing with a terrifying crimson color...
But that doesn't mean Mai or I were fine, because my health dropped to 50, and hers to 56.
"Just a little more."
I muttered, and I clashed with Ren again. It seemed he entered battle mode—his foolish smile was nowhere to be seen, replaced by the smile of someone starving for combat.
I struck at his left shoulder, hoping to land only a minor hit to reduce his health even slightly. Ren noticed and dodged skillfully, then countered with a similar strike toward my stomach...
I barely avoided it by rolling away, only to be surprised by a sword coming toward my right shoulder.
"Damn it."
I muttered in a low voice as I avoided Ren's sword; and it can be said that it scratched me slightly...
I pulled away from Ren, but it seemed he didn't want to give me the space to do what I wanted. He advanced toward me with his sword, and the white mana could be seen surrounding it...
"You won't do it."
Ren spoke loudly as he aimed his sword at my neck; and it can be said that if he hit me, I'd lose immediately. So I blocked with my spear—and it can be said we weren't evenly matched...
I was pushed back, while Ren stood his ground, showing no signs of injury...
"Eren, it's time."
Mai's voice snapped me out of my daze.
It was finally time to execute the plan I had been aiming to carry out...
Mai immediately began luring Lucas toward a specific point we had agreed on earlier, while I began luring Ren toward the other point...
But Ren wasn't weak enough to be lured easily, because while I tried to do so, he hit me several times. If it weren't for my new spear and its healing ability, I wouldn't even be standing right now.
The moment I felt I was in the right position, and I saw Mai and Lucas approaching...
I looked at Ren, with Lucas coming from behind him, then I muttered in a low voice:
"Dragon's Presence."
I activated Dragon's Presence at maximum power, which made Ren and Lucas freeze for a few seconds...
And those seconds were enough for me to deliver a single strike...
I gathered mana around my spear, and my vision began to change. I started feeling calm, as if everything was under my control—like I had entered a state of enlightenment. A wonderful feeling, if you ask me.
I closed my eyes and began gathering as much mana as I could...
All of this happened in mere moments...
And then I muttered in a low voice, performing a move I had been longing to execute since day one...
"Spear King Art, Second Form: Star Piercer."
My spear lit up with an ominous black color, similar to the one the old man—Zero Max, the master of the art—had struck me with.
And immediately, I directed it toward Ren and Lucas, who were already frozen.
BOOM*
A loud explosion echoed, shaking the entire arena around me...
And the absolute darkness released from my spear surged toward both the author and his hero.
The darkness swallowed them instantly...
When the darkness faded, Lucas could be seen surrounded by a white circle, as if he had been defeated...
As for Ren on the other side, he was kneeling on one knee, panting heavily. He was bleeding from different parts of his body, and the number 2 could be seen on his shield...
"Damn it... it seems even this wasn't enough to defeat him."
I muttered in a low voice, my vision turning to darkness. It seems I lost consciousness...
.....
I opened my eyes to find myself in a familiar room that resembled royal halls, with a throne in the center. Sitting on it was an imposing man with white hair and a muscular body—I recognized him immediately...
"Zero Max."
The moment I said that, the man threw a spear right in front of me, then spoke loudly:
"It seems you reached the second level rather quickly. Congratulations on this achievement."
He said, a smile forming on his face for a few brief seconds before returning to his usual expression.
"Now, let us see your current level."
.