Arlug is still a heavy-set man with a chin that’s big and hard to look at. He exudes a smug aura as I walk up to the stage without a beast walking beside me.

“What happened, shit lips. Momma’s boy has no more beasts?” He is trying to get me angry again. I don't respond to him as he keeps talking and making a fool of himself again.

“I thought you died when you fell into the fracture. I guess not since you manage to crawl your way up here.”

“Arlug, I’ve been meaning to ask you something. Why did you call the authorities about my accident, and why did you leave your name?”

He seemed stunned by my question and replied less arrogantly. “I respected you after you hit me. I thought you grew some balls. But you avoiding me for a week showed me that you were a lucky coward instead of someone that deserves my respect.

“You should give up. I’m a B-rank healer, and you’re a tamer without a beast. I can outlast any damage you deal and knock you out before the five minutes are up.”

Healer? I cannot accept that he’s a support class and a good one at that. I pulled Flash Gordon from behind my back, and Arlug almost flinched.

“You can have the first attack because It's futile anyway. I saw your first fight. Your skeleton got a good blow because of the other guy's momentum, but me? I’ve been investing heavily into Vigor ever since your cheap shot.”

I silently nod and casually throw Flash Gordon at the guy.

SMACK

Ugh

Boomph

Flash Gordon smacked Arlug in his massive stomach and knocked him flat out on his ass. I walk over and see that he’s unconscious. I casually whistle Flash Gordon into my hands and leave the stage bathed in a crowd of cheers.

~

Honestly, the tournament was an absolute snooze fest. I sicked Khan on the wolf boy, and he cried out that I was cheating by using more than one beast. I had to explain to the instructors about Khan’s unusual physiology. The next match wasn’t any more difficult.

My 4th opponent was a mage who specialized in fire magic. She was one of the up-and-comers of the institute purely because of her class. Duchess blasted her with so much mental magic that I could pick her up and drop her off the platform.

Did I get too powerful too quickly? I know that complaining about my strength is foolish. But none of my peers are giving me a fun fight. I should’ve taken the loan and gone to a different institute…

Stupid regrets are useless. Instead of dwelling on the “what ifs,” I’ll focus on my present and future. I hope the next few fights are eventful.

The next fight was a good match-up if you brought me out of the picture. Rob went up with me again, and the opponent looked like a typical warrior. I was incorrect with my judgment. When he unsheathed his sword, [Radiant] mana covered the blade. He had an uncommon [Elemental Warrior] class that infuses their attacks with specific elemental mana.

His elemental could do massive damage to Rob. I crouch down to his eye level.

“This is a good opportunity for you to get some combat experience against humans. Don’t get scattered, and I will give you a treat.”

Rob stands up straight and gives a salute. The other guy must've not heard my conversation with Rob because he speaks out to me.

“You are a powerful tamer that has powerful beasts. I am prepared to give it my all in this endeavor. Come at me, great tamer, and let us clash until the victor is decided. Huzzah!”

I get a closer look at the guy. He looks like he is larping as a knight of a specific round table. The whistle is blown as Rob and the knight clash in the middle of the arena. This guy is decently leveled for a first-year.

[Larping Student Lv35]

The student has a sword and shield combo that Rob can’t penetrate without commitment. But he will be devastated by a counterattack if he doesn’t land a good enough strike.

Rob uses his superior agility to run circles around the guy trying to disorientate him, smacking him with a shovel whenever possible.

The student is resilient, blocking the critical attacks and letting the weaker ones bounce off his armor.

“Hup!” the guy yells as overhead swings his sword and almost takes Rob out. Rob backs away from him and starts bombarding him with [Bone Shots].

The student takes heavy damage before infusing his shield with [Radiance] and creating a barrier. The bone projectiles disintegrate on impact. The student pushes forward and attacks Rob once again.

His shield of light dissipates as he attacks, so Rob flings dirt into his eyes. Rob brought that dirt with him in his little bag.

CLANG

THUD

One shovel swing after getting the upper hand takes out the larping student and gives Rob, and by proxy me, the win.

“Good job, little buddy, come here for your prize.”

Rob happily trots over to me and stands patiently. I reach into my pocket and hand him a crisp one hundred dollar bill. He pockets the money into his bag and follows after me when I leave the platform. It doesn’t seem like Rob has access to CC, so I decided to give him some money.

My opponent for the sixth match left the stage of his own free will. I brought Khan with me, and the archer did not want to fight a losing battle. He is an intelligent man. I can see why he got this far as a purely ranged class.

It’s finally time for the semi-finals.

~

The semi-finalist I’m facing is the only first-year necromancer in the institute named Anabel. She was being privately trained and taught by the faculty because of her powerful class. I was the first one on the stage with Duchess. I watch her enter the stage with 12 undead skeletons standing behind her. They are all armed with swords and shields.

She’s a foot shorter than me and has pitch black hair and eyes. Once the whistle is sounded, she emotionlessly points at me, and the skeletons become berserk, rushing at me with the intent to kill. All the other undead besides my cute little buddy are so dramatic when it comes to living people.

Still, on my shoulder, Duchess casts [Flash]. Her feathers slightly glow while casting, and when the spell activates, a brilliant flash of light spreads from her, destroying the undead.

-69

[Resistance: Radiant 57 > 59]

Even I took some damage from that spell.

The flash only happened for a second, and the only things left were the swords and shields of the skeletons. Not even ash remained, which means the undead were constructed with mana instead of reanimated corpses. I wonder if the institute didn’t give her any cadavers or if she purposely used a less efficient means of getting minions.

Anabel bared no emotions as she flung her hand out. A dark writhing mass of energy flies out. I decide not to dodge and test a theory.

-105

[Resistance: Necrotic 1 > 10]

Oh? Does she know “death” magic? I should ask her if she could help me build up a resistance to it later. Duchess' mind magic works like a charm as her eyes go cloudy as her body relaxes. I walk over to take her out of the stage as I did to that other mage.

[Ellis, she is like you. Be careful.]

“What?”

I understood what she meant right away. Sudden clarity fills her foggy mind. She casts a spell I couldn’t react to. I got too careless, thinking myself invincible, and left myself open. A point-blank bone spear pierced my chest even with my resistance and destroyed one of my hearts.

Critical Hit!

-422

[Resistance: Piercing 78 > 90]

I look down at my bloody chest and carefully grip the spear with both hands. I carefully pull the bone pole out of my chest and throw it to the ground. Blood starts gushing out of my wound violently and paints the ground red.

-100

I close the wound with [Heal Anything] and start to regrow my heart thanks to [Second Heart]. As long as I have one heart, I can always regrow the missing one. It will take some time, and the process will be painful, but it can be done.

Anabel looks at me with horror and starts bawling her eyes out. She collapses to the floor.

“I’m sowwy! I didn't mean to do that.” she managed to choke out between tears. “Oh my gods, I didn’t think you were right there! Are you okay?!” Her eyes are filled with tears.

She put me in an awkward spot. Even though I was the one that got injured, I feel bad for her. Even though she is a necromancer, she is just a student who believes they almost killed another person. I can use this.

I start consoling her. “Hey, hey now. It’s alright, look. My chest is fine, so you must have missed my heart. I have a healing skill, so I am all better now.”

“Really?” she looks up at my chest.

“Yup, all good.”

She stops crying and starts talking, lacing her words with self-pity. “Look at me, a rare necromancer that got all emotional due to my misunderstanding. I’ve embarrassed myself and you with my crying.” She stands up off the ground.

“If you feel bad, you can do something for me. I am curious about the intricacy of necromancy regardless of my inability to cast such spells. Can you show me a few things later?”

“Sure, sounds good.” She smiles and steps off the platform.

?

“We are not continuing the fight?”

She starts giggling at my genuine curiosity. Her aura is entirely different from when she first approached the stage.

“You took a three-foot spear to the chest and was fine enough to console me. I don’t think I’m winning, especially since I used most of my mana in that [Bone Spear]. Plus, your snake is giving me a death stare.”

I look down at Duchess, and she gives me a mental shrug.

“ELLIS VINCERE IS GOING TO THE FINALE!”

The sudden announcement almost makes me jump. Where was that the entire tournament? I go and wait for the final fight by healing my wounds.

~

Duchess’ stats.

Name / Nickname

Duchess / Thisss one

Species

Winged Serpent D (Rare)

Level

50 (MAX)

Evolution Requirements

Not Met

~

Health Points

210/210

Mana Points

700/700

Armor Points

0

Might

22 > 42

Agility

45 > 60

Vigor

22 > 42

Mind

100 > 140

Spirit

50 > 90

Charisma

15 > 20

Luck

10