Beads of sweat began to form on Ryoshu's brow, a physical manifestation of the swirling anxiety that consumed his thoughts. With a furrowed brow, he glanced concerned at his fellow students. The atmosphere was thick with tension, weighing heavily on each of them. Some wore expressions of sheer terror, their eyes wide with fear, while others clenched their fists in a futile attempt to steady their trembling bodies.Empathy flooded Ryoshu's heart as he observed their distress. He could almost feel the waves of fear radiating from them, tangible and suffocating. It was as if their terror had taken on a life of its own, weaving its tendrils into every fiber of their being."I can't blame them," Ryoshu murmured to himself, his voice barely audible amidst the cacophony of their surroundings. His own legs trembled beneath him, betraying the facade of composure he desperately tried to maintain. With a frustrated sigh, he brought a trembling hand to his thigh, delivering a sharp slap in a fu
The battlefield erupted into a frenzy of chaos, and arrows filled the sky like a relentless hailstorm. Each shaft, sharp and deadly, seemed to possess a mind of its own, seeking its target ruthlessly. Among the chaos stood Kenzo, a towering figure of resolve amidst the tumult, commanding even amidst the overwhelming onslaught of projectiles. Amidst this flurry of death, Kenzo's focus remained unbroken, drawn to a single arrow amidst the barrage – Ryoshu's. With a steely determination, Kenzo tracked its path through the chaos, his eyes locked onto its trajectory with an almost unnerving intensity. There was an unmistakable aura surrounding Ryoshu's arrow. A sense of purpose and precision set it apart, capturing Kenzo's undivided attention amidst the chaos.In a practiced motion born of years of discipline, Kenzo reached deep within himself, his hand finding the familiar grip of his second sword, the Lightning Sword. With a silent reverence, he whispered its name as though invoking
Amidst the swirling chaos of the ongoing battle, the tension crackled in the air like electricity, palpable and charged with anticipation. The arena buzzed with activity as contestants vied for dominance, their every move scrutinized by spectators and competitors' watchful eyes. In this tumultuous environment, the scoreboard flashed a significant update: "40 points... the archers have made clever use of the situation! But there's still not much unity among them. 315 remain."The recent onslaught, marked by a flurry of strikes and counterattacks, had left no corner of the arena untouched by its devastating impact. The ground bore witness to the fallen, their numbers growing with each passing moment as the battle raged. The clash of weapons and the cries of combatants echoed throughout the arena, a haunting symphony of conflict underscoring the fierce competition."It's over," Master Kenzo's voice cut through the din, his tone laced with resignation and wry amusement. "I accidentally
"I thought I could easily survive with all these useful skills," Ryoshu mused as he sat alone by the flickering campfire, reflecting on his abilities and the many challenges he had overcome. His journey had been long and arduous, filled with trials that tested his endurance, resourcefulness, and sheer will to survive. From treacherous mountain passes to the dark, creature-infested forests, each step of his path had been fraught with danger. And yet, he had always believed that his extensive skill set—honed through countless battles and relentless training—would see him through any situation that arose.However, all that changed the moment he crossed paths with Kenzo. The man's presence was like a storm, intense and overpowering, and it quickly became evident that Ryoshu was not as prepared as he had thought. Kenzo moved with a fluidity and precision that Ryoshu could only dream of, his every action exuding confidence born of true mastery. In their brief encounter, Ryoshu felt expos
He tightly closed his eyes, feeling the warm blood trickling down his skin, pooling on the cold ground beneath him. The pain was intense, a sharp reminder of his vulnerability, but Ryoshu focused on the lessons he had learned, trying to engrain them into his very being, letting them become a part of him. The chaos around him seemed to fade as he retreated into his mind, replaying each crucial moment, every decision that had led him here."I... remember now." His voice was barely a whisper, a soft murmur amidst the chaos. Slowly, he opened his eyes, the world coming into focus with a new clarity. Everything seemed sharper and more vivid as if he were it all for the first time. Colors were more vibrant, sounds more distinct, and even the air felt charged with an electric intensity he had never noticed before.Suddenly, his perception of the world shifted dramatically. He could now sense every minute detail around him. The gentle whisper of the wind through the leaves, the subtle rustl
His entire face was shrouded in fabric, tightly wound around his head, leaving only minuscule apertures for his eyes and nose. He stole glimpses of his surroundings through these narrow gaps, the only solace in an otherwise suffocating situation. Amidst this concealment, he found a strange comfort. He seemed invisible to those around him. It was as though his struggles were insignificant, lost amidst the chaos and tension that permeated the room. This feeling of insignificance was exacerbated by the looming presence of Kenzo, whose formidable figure demanded the attention of all present.Kenzo’s patience wore thin as he stood there, waiting in vain for a response from the group. His frustration was palpable, etched onto his features as he finally addressed them with a mix of irritation and determination:““If you persist in your inaction, I will have no choice but to pursue each of you individually. And let me make this clear: no leniency will be granted. Ineffective hiding will only
But this time, instead of a thin, neat slash like the one before, the sword's path was crude and immense, creating a gigantic gap in the building where he stood. The sheer force of the strike had cleaved through concrete and steel, leaving a gaping chasm nearly ten meters wide. The edges of the gap were jagged and raw, evidence of the overwhelming power behind the blow. Debris was scattered everywhere, chunks of concrete and twisted metal strewn across the floor, and dust hung in the air, slowly settling like a shroud over the scene. This massive breach made it nearly impossible for an ordinary person to jump across, effectively isolating one side of the building from the other, turning it into a fortress of sorts, barricading any straightforward approach."20 points for knowing how to utilize the terrain," Kaminari's voice boomed, reverberating through the structure's remains. His tone carried an authoritative weight, echoing off the shattered walls and through the cavernous space
But just as Ryoshu was about to entirely turn away, a faint, desperate groan reached his ears from somewhere behind him. The sound was weak but unmistakable, a cry for help that cut through the scene's chaos."H-help me..."Ryoshu spun around quickly, his eyes scanning the wreckage. Amidst the debris, he spotted a hand clinging desperately to the floor. Once smooth and polished, the floor was now cracked and splintered, bearing the scars of the teacher's overly powerful sword technique. Chunks of wood and stone lay scattered around, a testament to the violent force that had been unleashed.The hand was small and pale, fingers trembling with effort as they gripped the damaged floor. Without a moment's hesitation, Ryoshu's instincts kicked in. He lunged forward and grasped the hand firmly. The skin was cold and clammy, and he could feel the desperation in the weak grip. Whoever this was, they were barely hanging on.Ryoshu knew he had to act fast. Summoning all his strength, he began to
Charlotte's sigh was heavy with the weight of her disappointment. Her eyes locked onto the paper she held, searching for hidden meaning in the inked numbers. The quiet room seemed to echo with her despondence. Her brows knitted together, and her lips pursed in a faint frown. "I only got 200 points... so I'm ranked 13th," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, each word laced with a palpable sense of frustration and regret. "Katia got 235 points and is ranked 11th."Ever attentive to his friend's emotions, Haruki moved closer, his expression softening with empathy. His blue hair fell into his eyes as he leaned in, a small, comforting smile on his lips. "You both were so close, weren't you?" he said, his tone gentle and encouraging. "If it hadn't been for those demon worshippers at the end, our whole group would have made it into the top 10.Charlotte's gaze shifted from the paper to Haruki, her mind replaying the chaotic events of the competition's final moments. Her brow f
"What on earth is going on?" he muttered, utterly bewildered by the sight before him. The scene was so unexpected that it left him momentarily stunned. Although he lacked the courage to step inside, his curiosity got the better of him, and he cautiously peered in. Just at the entrance of the dormitory, Haruki and Charlotte were deeply engrossed in an unusually intimate conversation, their heads close together, sharing words he couldn't quite hear."They look so close... why does this scene seem so familiar?" he thought, a profound sense of déjà vu washing over him. The familiarity was unsettling. "This is the scene right after that cold, unfeeling guy Midnight—supposed to be a Star student—challenges the academy."Reflecting further, he realized, "Because I've temporarily taken his place, now everything is unfolding as it should... according to the script of the game Rainfall Disorder."As he stood there, lost in his thoughts and trying to piece everything together, a group of other
"See you later... but... next time, please don't pull on someone else's shirt like that..."At that precise moment, it seemed that the petite angelic girl had just realized she was clutching the hem of Ryoshu's shirt. Her eyes widened in sudden awareness, and she quickly let go as if the fabric had burned her fingers. What stood out most in this scene was the incredible proximity of their heads. Their faces were so close that even the slightest movement could have resulted in an undeniably awkward situation, almost as if the air between them had thickened with tension.Ryoshu's mind raced, struggling to process the sudden nearness. The image of a tomato was the only thing he could conjure to describe Luna's face, which had flushed a vibrant, almost luminous shade of red. Her cheeks seemed to glow with embarrassment, and he could practically feel the heat radiating from her skin.This moment was incredibly challenging for someone like Ryoshu, who was acutely sensitive and easily flust
"Instead of paying for tuition right away, I'll invest in the shares of potential guilds with promising futures," he mused aloud, his eyes shimmering with a glint of ambition. Securing financial growth through guild investments excited him; it seemed a wise move in a world where connections and wealth often determined one's success. "And if I gather enough goods, I might even consider starting a small business in the Trading Guild."The thought filled him with a sense of purpose and hope. He could already see the possibilities unfold before him—ventures that would bring wealth and establish his reputation in the bustling city. Money, he understood, was not merely a tool for survival but a powerful key to opening doors to numerous opportunities and connections.In the quieter corners of his mind, the stark reality of his ambitions loomed large. "In the future, the amount of money I'll need is no small sum," he murmured, his tone shifting to one of sober reflection. Supporting the ta
Upon hearing the alarming beep of the error sound, the saleswoman immediately hurried over. Her steps were quick and purposeful, a clear indication of her concern. As she approached, she leaned closer to the counter, her eyes searching for the source of the problem, and asked, "Are you out of money, dear?"The young man, visibly flustered, responded with a slight tremble, "No... please wait a moment. It seems there might be an error." His fingers moved swiftly over the device, trying to troubleshoot the issue with an almost palpable urgency. Sweat began to form on his brow as he frantically tried to resolve the situation.Standing right beside Ryoshu, the saleswoman scrutinized him with a look that betrayed her suspicion. Her eyebrows knitted together, and her lips pressed into a thin line as she tried to decipher what was going wrong. Her eyes darted between Ryoshu and the device, seeking any clue that might explain the unexpected error.Ryoshu felt the weight of her gaze bearing do
"Ryoshu... What are you looking at out there?" Charlotte called out to him, her voice tinged with concern after he had been silent for an unusually long time.Startled from his thoughts, Ryoshu turned towards them, his face pale and eyes wide as if he had just seen a ghost. The unsettling expression made both Charlotte and Haruki exchange worried glances.'Could it be... these two?' Ryoshu wondered internally, his mind racing. 'Is it because they know me or because they are actively engaging with me? If that's the case... I need to come up with a plan quickly. These scenes are making me sick!!!'Desperately trying to compose himself, Ryoshu quickly blurted out, "Oh, um... I saw a white cat passing by, but it's nothing special." He cringed inwardly, realizing it was one of the lamest excuses he had ever concocted.Charlotte raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued but not fully satisfied. "A white cat, you say?""Yeah," Ryoshu stammered, nodding a bit too vigorously. "It just caught my
"Wow, looking over this list again, it's clear just how impressive Amemura is. He scored an incredible 600 points, outpacing Midnight by a substantial margin of 100 points!"Ryoshu'sRyoshu's friend exclaimed, eyes wide with amazement as they reviewed the freshly printed results. The numbers were still crisp on the page, highlighting Amemura's name at the top with a bold score beside it. Ryoshu, however, seemed preoccupied as he fumbled with a newspaper he had just picked up."This... just came out... I didn't have a chance to hear the scores earlier, but... it doesn't," Ryoshu muttered, his voice trailing off as he opened the newspaper. He was soon engrossed, his eyes moving methodically across the columns of text. Despite his initial nonchalance, he found himself compelled to read each word meticulously. A sense of helplessness washed over him as he realized he had no choice but to absorb every detail. The weight of the information bore down on him, making him feel like he was being
"Well, I only got 200 points, so I'm ranked 13th. But Katia got 235 points and is ranked 11th," Charlotte sighed, her eyes scanning the paper in her hand with a mix of disappointment and resignation.Seeing the sadness on his friend's face, Haruki felt a pang of empathy and immediately sought to comfort her. His voice was gentle yet filled with a determination to lift her spirits."Both of you were so close, weren't you? If it hadn't been for those demon worshippers causing trouble at the end, our whole group might have made it into the top 10," he said, trying to inject positivity into the situation.Charlotte nodded slightly, appreciating his effort but still feeling the sting of their narrow miss. "I'm not so sure about that... but we should still celebrate the 2... no, now 3 of us who made it into the top 10! Maybe we could go out for dinner tonight... have a little party or something?"As she spoke, Charlotte absentmindedly twirled a lock of her shiny golden hair around her finge
They walked through it unharmed, and not only that, they managed to carry on a lively conversation, smiling as if they were taking a casual stroll. The air was filled with their laughter and light-hearted banter, starkly contrasting the tense situation at hand. "Do you think we'll be alright?" one of them asked, their voice tinged with curiosity and concern.Ryoshu's mind was racing. He vividly remembered the second scene, every detail etched into his memory, and knew he had to act swiftly. The weight of urgency pressed down on him, his thoughts a chaotic whirl as he considered the implications. "I hope the scene hasn't progressed too far… I need to hurry…" he muttered under his breath, feeling the pressure mount. Without wasting another moment, he took a deep breath and plunged into the invisible curtain that separated him from his goal.The instant he entered, an eerie sensation washed over him. Once responsive and under his control, his body began to betray him. It was as if an u