The final phase had begun.
I stood in the arena, facing my first opponent.
Kim Jihwan.
Before I could size him up properly, a familiar voice came from behind me.
"Oh, him?" Kim Hyun said casually as he walked over. "Jihwan specializes in the sword. But don't stress—you won't have much trouble."
I glanced at him. "Why not?"
He smirked. "He's strong, sure. But he's careless. Leaves himself open more than he should."
I don't believe a single thing he said
I turned and found Ha-rin nearby, adjusting her staff.
"I'm up against someone named Kim Ara," she said.
"Good luck," I told her.
She smiled softly. "You too. Don't get hurt."
"We'll both make it through," I said.
We parted ways, each heading toward our respective arenas.
As I stepped forward, my grip tightened around my sword.
First match…
Time to see how far I'd really come.
The match began.
The moment the signal was given, mana surged across the arena.
Flames burst toward me, forcing me to leap back.
"Oho?" the instructor's voice echoed from above. "Contestant Kim Jihwan has abandoned close combat entirely. A mage from the start."
Jihwan smirked as he kept his distance.
"Surprised? Everyone expects a sword. That's why they lose."
I activated Future Sight.
The world sharpened.
Fire swept past where I would have been a second earlier. I dodged again and again, pushing forward.
"Excellent evasion," the instructor remarked. "Kim Jihoon's reactions are… unnatural."
I was almost within striking range when the ground shook violently.
"Let's see you dodge this," Jihwan said coldly.
A towering rock wall erupted between us.
"Earth and fire affinity?" another instructor muttered. "Impressive control."
The wall shattered.
Boulders flew toward me like cannonballs.
I twisted, rolled, and barely slipped through the gaps—but the strain hit me all at once.
My breathing grew ragged.
…Future Sight cut out.
"There it is," Jihwan said, eyes narrowing. "Your little trick ran out."
He raised his hand again.
"You're finished. I can see it—you're exhausted. Give up."
I clenched my teeth and charged instead.
Fire exploded across the arena. One blast slammed into my side, sending pain tearing through me.
"Oof," the instructor said sharply. "Direct hit. Kim Jihoon is in serious trouble."
Think.
I couldn't win head-on.
So I ran.
I dodged, rolled, and barely stayed ahead of the spells raining down on me, forcing Jihwan to keep casting.
"Interesting choice," the instructor murmured. "He's not attacking—he's stalling."
Jihwan scowled.
"Stop running! Face me!"
Each second stretched painfully long.
Then—
The pressure in my head eased.
Future Sight is back.
I surged forward.
Every spell missed. Every movement was precise.
"What—?" Jihwan's eyes widened. "Again?!"
"He's reading the attacks," the instructor said, astonished. "Not reacting—predicting."
Jihwan grew uneven as his mana dipped.
"No… not like this," he muttered, trying to form another spell.
That hesitation—
Was the opening.
I closed the distance in a single burst and struck.
The arena fell silent.
"…Match over," the instructor announced after a moment. "Winner: Kim Jihoon."
Jihwan staggered back, staring at me in disbelief.
"Tch… guess I talked too much," he muttered.
I lowered my sword, breathing heavily.
First round—cleared
I scanned the results and let out a breath of relief when I saw Ha-rin's name.
She had passed the first round.
Then I saw Kim Hyun's.
Eliminated.
I turned to him. "I told you. If you didn't train, this would happen. And now you're out in the first round."
He scoffed. "Don't blame me. The guy I faced was a monster."
I crossed my arms. "How strong could he be?"
Hyun's expression darkened. "Strong enough that you should worry. You're fighting him next."
"…What?"
"He was fast. Way too fast," Hyun said. "Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes a Sword Saint."
I frowned. "A Sword Saint?"
Hyun sighed. "Knights are the weakest—where most fighters start. The best of them become Warriors. Above that are Sword Saints, the elite among elites."
He paused before adding, "And at the very top are Warlords. Each nation has only one."
My eyes widened. "How many nations are there?"
"Four. And the man you're facing is Kim Taehyuk."
Before I could respond, a bell echoed across the grounds.
"The second round will now begin!"
I rushed toward the arena.
The moment I stepped inside, the instructors straightened in their seats.
"That's him," one murmured. "Kim Taehyuk."
"An exceptional presence," another said. "His stance alone is refined."
I activated Eagle Eye.
The match started—
And in an instant, Taehyuk was already in front of me.
Steel flashed toward my throat.
"Oh!" an instructor exclaimed. "That speed—!"
"If not for precognition, that would've been an immediate loss," another said sharply.
I barely pulled back, heart pounding.
Taehyuk didn't press immediately. Instead, he began circling me, steps light, blade steady.
"Notice his footwork," an instructor pointed out. "No wasted movement. He's controlling the arena."
Then he vanished.
"Too fast!" someone shouted.
Pain tore through my side.
Even with Eagle Eye, my body couldn't keep up.
"That confirms it," an instructor said grimly. "Prediction alone isn't enough. His execution surpasses the vision."
I staggered, barely able to remain standing.
The match was already over.
"…Winner," the lead instructor announced after a pause, "Kim Taehyuk."
Murmurs spread through the stands.
"That boy is dangerous."
"If he survives long enough, he may truly walk the path of a Sword Saint."
I dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
Defeat.
But as I stared at Taehyuk's back while he left the arena, I understood one thing clearly—
This wasn't the end.
It was the beginning of the gap I would have to overcome.
Ha-rin made it past the second round.
But the third stopped her.
I watched from the sidelines as she was eliminated, her shoulders slumping as she left the arena. In the end, Taehyuk dominated the finals and claimed victory, standing alone at the top.
The tournament was over.
That night, exhaustion dragged me into sleep the moment I lay down.
When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in my room.
I stood in a vast white void, endless in every direction. No ground. No sky. Just silence.
Someone stood in front of me.
"…Who are you?" I asked.
The figure raised its head.
"My name is Zero," it said calmly. "And I will be guiding you on your journey."
My heart tightened. "Guiding me?"
"Yes," Zero replied. "But understand this—there is someone you must defeat."
I swallowed. "What's his name?"
Zero's gaze sharpened.
"Shinra."
The name alone felt heavy.
"He was summoned to this world just like you," Zero continued. "But unlike you—and unlike everyone else—he was summoned without a system."
I frowned. "Without… a system?"
"That is all I will tell you for now," Zero said, its voice echoing through the void.
The light around me began to fade.
And I knew—
This was only the beginning.