After our battle, the entire illusion vanished. All the wounds and blood from earlier had been created by an illusion that felt real. That was why the pain from battles in the arena only reached about 75% of real injuries.
Death conditions were similar. When damage reached its limit, those inside the illusion would not die, but instead lose consciousness. That was why this arena felt like a real battlefield.
"Wow, my wounds disappeared instantly, even though my hand was bleeding just now," Penlope said while staring at her hand.
"Yeah, I heard the Arx Lumina Academy is the best when it comes to realistic combat simulations. So gaining battle experience here is really valuable," Tohime added.
Even so, some of us were in a different situation.
"Ugh…"
"I I think I'm going to throw up."
Quri and Misty looked like they were about to pass out again. It seemed they were too busy fighting and forgot to keep themselves grounded. Well, that's just how they are, so I'll ignore them from now on.
"Sorry, that's because I released too much Mana," Elena said, looking guilty.
"Just leave them. I already warned them to stay aware of their surroundings. They were the ones having fun fighting Helen," I said.
"Leon, why are you still covering your head with that cloak? The battle is already over, right?" Penlope asked.
"Ah, didn't you see earlier? Everyone hates me now," I replied.
After the Trial of Harmony, all the hatred from the audience was directed at me. They thought my fight with Maurice was cowardly because I did not finish the battle properly.
That made everyone see me as a Free Rider who took advantage of my team. Even though the entire plan was designed by me, I ended up being the one everyone hated.
"This isn't fair…" I muttered, pulling my cloak tighter to hide my face from the audience.
The reason we were still here was because Quri said Arthur's Trial of Harmony would start after ours. Since we were already here, we might as well watch. I also wanted to see how far Arthur had developed.
It seemed the butterfly effect had already taken place. Arthur was starting to grow faster. His encounters with Fernando and Orcid clearly pushed his growth forward, since those two became companions who taught Arthur how to adapt on the battlefield.
Fernando was the son of the Kunlun tribe, a tribe renowned for hunting and handling beasts. He had a large build and respected strength above all else.
On the other hand, Orcid was a poison specialist who taught Arthur how to distinguish poisonous plants from those that restored HP. They could be considered early guides in the game, and now they had become Arthur's allies.
"How did they meet Arthur?" I asked Quri.
"Hm? Oh, it wasn't them who met Arthur. It was the other way around. After Mentor Arion gave us the task, it was tough, but not as hard as fighting the enemy in that cave. Still, we nearly died several times."
That mission was indeed difficult. All the materials Mentor Arion requested were located in a dark cave, guarded by wild beasts and surrounded by forests filled with poisonous insects. It was a harsh mission, but still manageable.
"I don't know why, but he mentioned something about a strange light," Quri said.
A light? He didn't take some kind of forbidden drug, did he?
Even though the story was no longer following the original path, I didn't need to worry. This was just a side story where Arthur would not die. So there was no need to be concerned about any loop happening here.
The Trial of Harmony began under a different mentor.
From outside the arena, we could see Arthur's team moving in an organized manner. With Arthur at the front, they formed a V-shaped formation. When they discovered a base, nearby team members would place markers like tall pillars that could be seen from afar.
They set up a mechanism where if someone entered the base area, the pillar would fall. That way, they could respond immediately to an ambush without needing to guard it constantly.
With three bases and the requirement to control territory, Arthur quickly assigned roles without panicking.
Fernando was placed as the front zone guardian. His large body and hunter instincts from the Kunlun tribe made him a natural threat detector. Orcid controlled the area around the base with poison traps and dangerous plants, turning enemy paths into silent corridors of death.
Arthur himself moved as the core of the team. He did not wait for enemies to come. Instead, he read the changes in the arena and sent small units to disrupt enemy bases.
The cheers from the audience grew louder.
Arthur's name began echoing throughout the arena. His fame was clearly rising. I only pulled my cloak tighter, standing at the very back of the seats, trying to hide my face.
"He adapts fast…" I muttered.
Arthur's early development was supposed to be slow. He was still meant to be weak. Yet now, he already looked well trained. The weapon Arthur used was a spear, even though he previously used a sword. Did he decide the spear suited him better this time?
With the warning pillar mechanism they set up early, Arthur's team did not waste energy defending every corner. Every counterattack was precise, fast, and well coordinated.
In the Trial of Harmony, most teams focused too much on defending their own base or attacked blindly. But Arthur did both at the same time. He controlled information, cut off enemy routes, and planted flags while the opponents were still confused.
In other words, Arthur had planned his strategy carefully. It scared me.
It did not take long for Arthur's team to plant all three flags and win the Trial of Harmony. The entire arena erupted in cheers for Arthur.
"Insane… Arthur's team only needed around seven minutes. How long did we take earlier?" Quri asked, comparing our match to Arthur's.
"Thirteen minutes. If we count the time Leon planted the flag, about fifteen. Their strategy was extremely solid. They fought less and focused on objectives. Honestly, our battle earlier was worse than theirs," Tohime said.
That was true. Arthur was incredibly smart in planning his strategy. His commands were clear, and his team members were strong. No matter how I tried to rationalize it, it was because he was the protagonist.
When the arena barrier opened, Arthur was greeted by roaring applause. With his charisma, he waved to the crowd like a hero. We both won, yet I was treated completely differently.
"Where are you going?" Tohime asked when she saw me stand up.
"Getting some air. This place is too noisy. My ears hurt," I replied.
I walked out, thinking about whether what I was doing was right or wrong. Every moment I existed here changed the future. Arthur was walking the correct path, but his accelerated growth, was that a good thing or not? I didn't know.
Right now, Arthur looked like an innocent main character. But in the future, he would become someone strong after enduring countless trials that would change both him and the people around him.
What if there was some being watching us and helping Arthur? A being I was unaware of? If that were true, then that being might also be the reason I awakened in this world.
If that being wanted everything in this world to follow its script, then they would also make sure I died for the world they desired. Just like in a game.
"Got a moment?"
Someone's voice stopped my steps. When I turned around, Edward was leaning against the wall.
"I knew you would come," I said.
"Oh? Then did you see this too?"
Edward suddenly dashed forward and kicked me. That was just the kind of character he was, unpredictable.
"What was that for?"
"At first, I thought you had some kind of prophetic ability. But it looks like you're weaker than you appear," Edward said while adjusting his glasses. "Lyena wants to see you."