“I got lucky,” said Su-hyeun.

That was the opponent he had in mind, the very same man he wanted as his first fight and asked Gordon Rohan about it earlier. Su-hyeun had been ruing the missed opportunity after his request was denied, but luckily enough, he got matched up with the individual he wanted to fight anyway.

“Who’s your opponent that you’re saying you got lucky?” Hak-joon asked. He was busy searching for his own name until he heard Su-hyeun’s muttering and began searching for the latter’s name instead. And after spotting what he was looking for, he gasped in surprise and asked again. “What do you mean this is luck? That’s Thomas, isn’t it?”

“That’s why it’s good.”

“Dude, could it be that you get, like, super excited and stuff when fighting strong enemies?”

“You think I’m a monster? I hate fighting. I’m a pacifist.”

“But then, why….That dude, he’s dangerous, isn’t he?”

Hak-joon glanced at Thomas grinning away in the distance.

That man also must’ve been rather pleased with who his opponent was. It was quite likely that he, too, had been conscious of Su-hyeun.

“You know, I just wanted to step on him at least once, that’s all.”

Hak-joon knew that Su-hyeun was quite angry. Still, he couldn’t help but worry. It probably had to do with Thomas’s previous display of ruthlessness.

“If you think it’ll get too dangerous, please throw in the towel. Please,” said Hak-joon.

That was what Su-hyeun told him yesterday.

“If it comes to that.”

And the reply implied that it wouldn’t come to that.

Hak-joon spat out a lengthy groan.

While the two of them were chatting away, Gordon Rohan began addressing everyone else.

“Everyone, I assume that you’ve all confirmed who your opponent is by now. As for who goes first, it’s coincidentally me. Well now, lucky me.”

Gordon’s opponent was an awakener named Mirage Rowoon. The latter sucked in deep breaths — perhaps out of nervousness — and raised a shield and a shortsword.

Mirage Rowoon was famed for his high defense and endurance. So much so that as far as defending was concerned, he was absolutely confident in enduring the whole day, even if the entire world started attacking him.

“Okay, then. Let’s get started right away.”

Swiiish—

With the exception of Gordon Rohan and Mirage Rowoon, all the other participants were transferred to the waiting area.

Crack, craack—

Gordon Rohan’s body slowly descended to the floor. “Good. This is not bad for my first challenger.”

“Challenger? Are you talking about me?” Mirage Rowoon gripped the shield even tighter and glared straight at Gordon Rohan. “Sure, I might not be as strong as you, but it still feels pretty insulting to hear you looking down on your opponent even before the start.”

Clunk—

The four-sided wooden shield began transforming little by little, and eventually, was enveloped in blue-colored metal. Its size also grew much bigger than before. Now curved in an elliptical shape, it had transformed to provide not just protection from the front, but from both sides, as well.

“Right, it’s understandable that you feel confident about your chances. You must be pretty skilled just by the fact that I’ve heard your name.”

Gordon Rohan was feeling quite happy with this match-up because he knew about his opponent.

“You allegedly said that even if you were fighting the whole world, you can still last the entire day. Is that true?”

“That I did.”

[The match will begin.]

The moment Johnny Brad’s start signal reached the two…

“Why don’t we put that claim to the test?”

Fwooosh—

Gordon Rohan’s figure disappeared from the spot.

At the same time, Mirage Rowoon raised the shield, having instinctively realized that an attack was incoming.

Kaaaa-boooom—!

Kurung, kurururung—

An incredible impact force was transmitted over the shield. While being pushed back, Mirage Rowoon looked over the shield at his front.

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