[18th June]
The stadium fell into a strange silence.
A moment ago, it had been on the verge of ending without a fight.
Now—
A late arrival stood at the gate.
Messy. Disheveled. Almost laughable.
And yet… he had stepped in.
Rey watched him without expression.
Davin.
Late.
Clothes wrinkled. Slight damp patches. Hair out of place.
Pathetic.
At least… that's what the crowd thought.
Laughter spread quickly.
"He's scared."
"Look at him—he definitely panicked."
"Facing the Deathshot Archer? I'd wet myself too."
The noise built.
Mockery. Dismissal.
Cheap judgments.
Up in the stands, Gravion covered his face.
"…That idiot."
Even Marin didn't know whether to laugh or worry.
Davin, meanwhile, walked forward like none of it mattered.
"Sorry, sorry—slipped in the bathroom. Took longer than expected."
He scratched his head, smiling awkwardly as he handed over his ID.
Like this was just… another day.
Rey didn't react.
Didn't laugh.
Didn't speak.
His mind wasn't here.
It was still in the medic hall.
Blood.
Screams.
Bone cracking.
Fenlor.
A thin line of tension settled behind his eyes.
Cold.
Sharp.
Unmoving.
"Hey!"
Davin suddenly called out, stepping closer.
"Name's Davin. Let's have a good match, yeah?"
A grin.
Bright. Open. Almost stupid.
"My brother says you're strong. I'm excited."
Rey finally looked at him.
Properly.
And what he saw… didn't match the surface.
"…You talk too much."
His voice was flat.
"Anyone with a brain wouldn't reveal anything before a fight."
A pause.
"Or maybe you're just that childish."
Davin blinked.
Then laughed.
"Too harsh."
But his eyes… sharpened slightly.
Just for a moment.
Gone the next second.
"Alright then. Let's make a bet."
He leaned in a little.
"If you lose—join us."
A grin.
"My brother really wants you in our team."
Rey didn't even respond.
Just turned away.
'Like hell I will.'
Up in the stands, Gravion wanted to disappear.
'…I need to retrain this idiot from scratch.'
The referee stepped in.
Raised his hand.
"Both contestants… ready…"
A beat.
"Begin."
Davin moved first.
A sharp push off the ground—
Body leaning forward, spear angled low.
Fast.
Rey's fingers moved at the same time.
Three arrows slid into place.
The string pulled back halfway—
Thrum.
The first arrow came low, aimed at the thigh.
The second cut straight for the throat.
The third lagged a fraction behind, angled toward the ribs.
Davin's step broke mid-motion.
His spear snapped across—
Clang!
The first arrow deflected.
He twisted his shoulder—
The second scraped past his collar, tearing cloth.
The third—
Clang!
Barely blocked.
The impact ran through his grip.
His wrists tightened.
Rey didn't move.
Another set was already drawn.
Thrum.
Davin shifted his footing this time.
The arrow struck his spear again—
A dull vibration climbed up his arm.
Another three.
Then another.
No gap.
No pause.
Davin tried to step in—
An arrow forced him back.
Another aimed higher—
He tilted his head—
It passed by, grazing his cheek.
A thin line opened.
He didn't touch it.
Didn't slow.
Three more arrows came.
Closer now.
Faster.
Davin exhaled once.
Then stepped forward again.
This time—
He didn't stop.
An arrow brushed past his shoulder.
Another tore through his sleeve.
The third missed his neck by inches.
He closed the distance.
Five steps.
Three.
One—
The spear shot forward.
Rey's fingers tightened on the string—
But—
Clang!
The spear struck the bow.
The frame jolted sideways.
The string slipped out of line.
Rey stepped back—
Just one step—
Davin didn't pull back.
He followed like a shadow.
The spear twisted.
Wrapped.
Hooked.
A sharp rotation—
Rey's grip broke.
The bow was knocked out of alignment.
Dragged aside.
A flick—
A strike—
The spear tip clipped Rey's hand.
A thin line opened across his skin.
Blood welled instantly.
But—
Rey didn't react.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't hiss.
Didn't even look at Davin.
His gaze dropped.
To his own hand.
To the blood.
And for the first time—
Davin felt it.
Something shift.
Not anger.
Not panic.
Something colder.
Something that didn't belong in a normal match.
And suddenly—
The air between them felt… heavier.
Rey stood still.
The bow lay behind him, discarded.
In front—Davin.
Spear in hand. A faint smirk on his face like he had just taken control of the match.
The crowd erupted.
"He knocked it away—!"
"Rey lost his bow!"
"Now it's over—!"
None of it reached him.
Rey's focus… wasn't on the weapon.
Wasn't on the crowd.
It was at that moment.
The instant Davin had surged forward.
The way his movement had changed.
His fingers twitched slightly.
Blood still fresh across his palm.
"Aiden…"
His voice was low. Barely audible.
"…what I felt just now…"
For a brief second—
Silence.
Then Aiden spoke.
Slower than usual.
More serious.
"…You sensed it right kid."
Rey's gaze sharpened.
"That energy he used in that movement…"
Aiden didn't hesitate this time.
"It's mana."
The word settled deep.
Rey's grip on the dagger tightened.
"…So others can sense it too?"
Ahead, Davin rolled his shoulders lightly, adjusting his stance.
Aiden continued, voice calm but edged with thought.
"They can… now."
A pause.
"The world isn't the same as before. Mana density is rising. People will start sensing it."
Davin shifted his footing.
The tip of his spear angled slightly lower.
"But sensing and using are two different things."
His voice hardened.
"That kid… is using it. But what you can expect from a Destined one's comrade."
Rey's eyes narrowed.
A faint breath left his lips.
"…So that's why."
Meanwhile—
Davin finally spoke again.
"What happened?"
He tilted his head, smiling.
"Did I hit you that hard? You've been standing like a statue."
Rey didn't respond.
Davin's grip tightened slightly over his spear.
The casual smile remained—but his stance had changed.
Lower.
More grounded.
"I can't stop now," he continued, rolling his wrist once.
"I have to win that bet."
His eyes flicked up—
Locked onto Rey.
"And bring you in."
The next second—
He moved.
A sharp thrust.
Straight for the chest.
Rey stepped in.
Not back.
Forward.
Clink.
The dagger met the spear.
Not head-on—
Just enough to slide it off course.
Davin's eyes flickered.
He twisted his wrist.
A follow-up strike came instantly—
Clink.
Again deflected.
Rey's movement was minimal.
Just the wrist.
Just the angle.
The spear slipped past his side.
A cut appeared across Davin's sleeve.
Shallow.
Clean.
Davin frowned.
Another exchange.
Faster this time.
Thrust—
Deflect—
Sweep—
Counter—
The rhythm broke.
Davin pushed harder.
Speed rising.
Strength increasing.
But Rey stayed the same.
Step forward.
Half turn.
A slight shift of the shoulder.
Each strike—
Redirected.
Each opening—
Punished.
A thin line opened across Davin's arm.
Another across his ribs.
His breathing grew heavier.
'This… isn't right.'
He pressed forward again—
Using more force this time.
Rey met it—
Clink.
The spear veered off again.
Another cut.
Deeper this time.
Davin hissed under his breath.
Rey didn't rush.
Didn't chase wildly.
He simply walked forward.
One step.
Then another.
Each step forcing Davin back.
The edge of the arena crept closer.
In the stands, Gravion's expression shifted.
The earlier ease… gone.
"…He's adapting mid-fight."
Below—
Davin's back foot slid.
Stopped at the boundary.
Rey stepped forward.
His dagger rose—steady, precise.
Not to kill.
Just enough to push Davin one more step back… and end it.
"Do you still think you can win?" Rey's voice was cold, flat. "I don't have time to waste. Let's finish this."
No response.
Davin's head was lowered.
His grip on the spear… loosened.
For a moment—
He looked… defeated.
The crowd leaned forward.
Even Rey's eyes narrowed slightly.
'Is he giving up…?'
Rey moved.
One clean step.
Dagger cutting forward—
Fast. Decisive.
And then—
Davin moved.
Not back.
Not to defend.
But forward.
The spear in his hand snapped up with explosive force—
CLANG!
A violent shockwave burst between them.
Metal screamed.
Sparks tore through the air.
The ground beneath their feet cracked—
And both figures froze for a split second at the point of impact.
A collective gasp ripped through the stadium.
No one expected that.
No one saw it coming.
Up in the stands—
Gravion slowly leaned back…
A faint smile formed on his lips.
"The real fun…" he murmured quietly,
"…has just begun."