From the moment I escaped the Void System, one question had been haunting my mind.
Where did I stand compared to those main characters?
Those who were born with talents that brushed the heavens.Those who possessed overwhelming abilities.Those destined to become the pillars of humanity's future.
Was I their equal… or above them?
It was true that I had fought Kyle—but only after stripping him of his greatest advantage.And it was true that I had clashed with Garon, the human tank—but only for a brief moment.
Yes, I had reached the upper second rank.But rank had never been a true measure of strength.
There were far too many other factors: reaction speed, combat skill, mastery over essence and abilities… all of them added entirely new layers to one's power.
I looked at the three standing before me.All of them were in the same rank as I was.
Leona Starlin possessed two abilities.One allowed her to perceive and sense the future one second before it happened.The other enabled her to seal her enemies' senses.At this stage, she could likely seal only two senses at most.
Izel Ashvil had the power to control and create flames.And her fire was anything but ordinary…Fortunately, its full potential hadn't manifested yet, which made the situation manageable—for now.
And then…
The shining, honored protagonist.
Elliot Sivrax possessed three complete abilities—at least so far.
Gravity Manipulation.He could increase or reduce gravity within a certain range as he pleased.It sounded simple, but once this ability matured, it alone could create black holes.
His second ability allowed him to manipulate space, though for now it was limited to shortening the distance between two points along a straight line.
His third ability let him command the elements at will: lightning, fire, earth… and more.
Each one was powerful, with terrifying growth potential.And as if that weren't enough, he possessed a larger essence reserve than anyone else in the same rank.
There was only one word to describe him.
Broken.
I took a deep breath as my essence surged, flooding through my entire body.
I smiled as the three of them advanced toward me.
"So… three against one," I muttered.
I didn't blame them.I was ranked first—eliminating me was the logical choice.Besides… I wanted this.
I wanted to see the gap between us.
The first to reach me was Elliot.Using his ability, he compressed the distance between us and appeared right in front of me, sword swinging down.
He probably thought I'd be surprised—hesitate, at least.
But I had already anticipated it.
My muscles tensed as my sword moved, effortlessly deflecting his strike.A flicker of surprise crossed his face before he quickly regained composure.
In the next instant, an overwhelming pressure crashed down on me.The gravity around us multiplied.
My swords grew heavier.My movements slowed.It felt as though my entire body was being dragged downward several times over.
"Interesting," I said.
Elliot raised an eyebrow."What is?"
The essence I had been storing for this exact moment surged violently, flowing faster and in greater volume.
"Everything," I replied.
My body strengthened further—becoming lighter, faster.
Elliot's sword moved with precision and skill that would make most people his age look like amateurs.
But not me.
I deflected his strikes with superior technique, and with my other sword, carved a shallow cut into his thigh.
This time, genuine surprise appeared on his face.
Unfortunately, we didn't get to continue our one-on-one.
At that moment, my second guest arrived on my right.
Leona Starlin.
I gathered power into a single strike and swung at Elliot.He blocked it, but I managed to push him back slightly.
At the same time, I turned to my right, where Leona's sword was already coming toward me.
I raised my sword to block—but she had foreseen it.At the last moment, she changed her blade's trajectory.
I had expected that too.
My other hand moved, stopping her strike.I shifted my balance onto one foot, twisted my body, and delivered a side kick.
She raised her arm to block—and succeeded.
But the force behind it was no joke.
Her small body was sent flying several meters backward before she managed to land on her feet.
At the same time, I felt the essence in the air distort—reacting to something flying toward me.
Without turning, I knew exactly what it was.
I sidestepped, narrowly avoiding a condensed fireball.It shot past me and detonated in the distance, erupting into a massive storm of flames.
The entire exchange lasted no more than ten seconds.
And time felt agonizingly slow.
Without giving me even a moment to breathe, all three were on me again.
I tightened my grip on my swords and slashed to my right without hesitation.
There was no one there.
But in the next instant, Elliot appeared—eyes wide with surprise.
Our swords collided for the second time, the impact echoing across the entire arena.
Lightning crackled along his blade.
I instantly pulled away before it could touch me.
Behind me, Izel had already arrived, her hands wreathed in roaring flames.
I leaned my body aside, evading her strikes, and tried to retreat—to create distance.
Only to be stopped by Leona's sword.
She was the first to draw my blood.
A shallow cut formed on my left side.Small enough to be insignificant…
But it was only the beginning.
Not even a full minute had passed.
Then, what I expected finally happened.
I lost my hearing.
The world went completely silent.I couldn't hear my breathing.Not even my own heartbeat.
Then Elliot appeared in front of me again, his sword charged with lightning.
Fortunately, he could only control one element at a time.
I raised one sword and deflected his strike—but even that brief contact was enough for lightning to arc through and shock me.
I refused to let the pain slow me down.
With my other hand, I blocked Leona's second attack.
At the same time, Izel's fist slammed into my side, sending me flying several meters away.
She followed up with a barrage of condensed fireballs.
I twisted my body, dodging them, explosions erupting behind me.
Another exchange—
I swung my sword through empty air.
Only for Elliot to appear there again.
Several more rapid exchanges followed before I finally found myself standing still.
The three of them stared at me as if they were looking at something that shouldn't exist.
The entire clash had occurred in absolute silence—for me.
In the next moment, I saw their lips move.
I read them.
"Strong… and insanely skilled in combat," Elliot said to the two girls.
They nodded in agreement.
Izel stepped forward, sweat dripping down her face, her expression tinged with irritation.
"There's just one thing I don't understand."
I tilted my head slightly."What is it?"
Stalling worked in my favor, so I didn't mind.
But the words I read on her lips caught me off guard.
"Why the hell… are you wearing that stupid smile?"
Oh.
Does my smile look stupid?
I chuckled softly and decided to provoke the fiery girl.
"Maybe it's because of all the heat around you."
Her expression twisted into an angry scowl.
I thought she'd charge at me recklessly.
Instead, she glanced at Leona.
I couldn't read what she said—her lips were no longer visible.
But in the next instant, I understood.
My vision went dark.
Not because the arena grew dim—
But because my sight vanished.
My vision had been sealed.
With that, I had lost the two most important senses a human possessed.
Hearing.
And sight.
Yet strangely…
I didn't feel panic.
All I felt was—
Amusement.