The sun was almost at its peak.
The midday heat pressed down on the training ground mercilessly. The dry ground reflected the heat, thin dust rose whenever the wind blew, and the air felt heavy—a mix of heat and gathering mana.
In the middle of the field,
two groups stood facing each other.
The tension between them… as hot as the sun above.
The marksman group stood in a spread formation.
Everyone held uniform bows—strong wood coated with thin metal in certain parts, enough to withstand small mana flows without damaging the weapon's structure. Their arrows looked ordinary… but the tips began to glow faintly, a sign that basic magic had started flowing as they drew their bowstrings.
But—
in their midst, one figure stood out.
Lawo, with hair sticking out in all directions like an explosion of arrows. Even though his hair was short, the strands that stood up were blown by the wind that was growing hotter toward noon.
He wore silver armor that reflected the sunlight, making him stand out even more. His bow… looked the same at first glance, but the aura emanating from it was different.
Denser.
More stable.
When he tried to draw his bowstring, the arrowhead infused with mana looked larger, more solid—as if it wouldn't waver even before being released.
His gaze was straight ahead.
Calm.
Calculating.
On the other side—
the mage group was ready.
Their large robes fluttered gently in the hot wind. The fabric wasn't just for protection… but also a medium to stabilize mana flow. Every small movement helped direct the energy they were gathering.
Their magic staves were made of wood with small mana cores—enough to strengthen basic spells and maintain stability while chanting.
Faint magic circles began to appear beneath their feet.
But—
among them, one stood out.
Rose, with long hair reaching down to her waist. The hot wind also blew her hair strongly, as if signaling an approaching storm.
She stood taller, more confident.
Her staff had a large mana core—visible from the brighter, more stable glow at its tip. The mana she gathered was much denser than the others, making the air around her tremble slightly.
She wasn't just following the formation—
she was its center.
And in front—
Rena.
Her position remained the same.
Frontmost.
Slightly to the side.
And… outside the main formation.
Dust swirled around her feet.
Sweat dripped from her temples.
But her eyes—
remained focused.
The ponytailed teacher saw Rena staying outside the mage formation, not joining the mage group. She could only scratch her head and watch Rena calmly, thinking to herself.
Hmm… Rena… someone who wants to be a knight…
From what I've read in books about knights, isn't the position Rena is taking wrong?
Then, instead of thinking further, the ponytailed teacher just sighed, smiled, and shifted her gaze from Rena to Rena's rusty sword. Then she remembered one of the Headmaster's sayings.
"Sometimes, theory and what's written in books aren't completely true and applicable to real events… we are the ones who make it true, writing a new chapter in the book!"
Recalling the Headmaster's words, the teacher's cheeks lifted as she scratched her head. She looked at Rena again calmly and thought.
I don't know the real way a knight fights. But just reading books and theory doesn't necessarily match real-world events—and someone who can adapt… that's what Rena is doing.
Then, with a small mutter, the teacher continued.
I believe in you, Rena…
The wind stopped for a moment.
As if the world was holding its breath.
Then, right after that mutter—
The ponytailed teacher's voice rang out loudly as she looked alternately at the mage and marksman groups.
Ready…!!!!!!
On the marksman side, bowstrings began to be drawn in unison.
On the mage side, magic circles began to glow brighter.
The heat of the sun.
The flow of various mana.
The heat of tension.
All mixed into one.
The ponytailed teacher, her jaw tensed, scratched her head and said.
Begin!!!!!
Rena stepped forward.
One small, quick step—
but enough to put her on the front line before the clash happened.
Rena calmly moved her gaze quickly between the marksman and mage groups, then quickly concluded.
I… feel pressure from two directions.
From behind—large mana starting to gather.
From in front—attack intentions ready to be released.
Then, with a grin and sharp eyes, Rena stared at the hands of the marksman group.
Before that… I have to!!!!
I have to disable all their hands!!
With sharp eyes, Rena ran quickly toward the shiny silver armor—right in front of Lawo's eyes!!
Seeing that, Lawo was a little surprised by Rena's behavior. Then, with a condescending smile, his brows arched downward as he gave a thumbs down. He muttered.
Too bad… looks like this weird knight kid will die first!!!!
Then, drawing his bow faster than his group members—who were launching their attacks while the mage group was still chanting spells regularly as agreed—Lawo aimed to shoot at Rena.
Take this, level 4 precision shot!!!
Fire Arrow!!!!!!
The arrow shot fast, like the sound of a flying bee.
Swooshhhhh!!!
Rena stayed on the same path, right in front of her eyes. The fire arrow headed straight toward her, and Rena didn't change course. With her left fist clenched tightly and her right hand holding the rusty sword, she stared sharply at the arrow—so sharply it seemed to outshine the arrow's own sharpness—and muttered.
Just as planned!!!
Quickly, Rena stopped abruptly, then swiftly broke the sword using her left foot. Her right hand held the hilt, and finally, the intact rusty sword became a blade without a hilt and a broken hilt with a short blade.
Seeing Rena break her own sword, Lawo just smiled faintly. So confident was he that he didn't launch a follow-up attack.
Tch… is she giving up???
Suddenly!!!
Rena shouted loudly as she threw the bladeless hilt using her left hand and ran toward Lawo and the marksman group using the sword with half a blade in her right hand, her jaw tensed.
ENERGY RAZOR SLASH !!!
The thrown blade—
hit Lawo's flaming arrow precisely. It was as if without resistance, the blade faced the arrow and passed through effortlessly.
Lawo was shocked, shouting loudly with a sharp stare at the arrow he had fired.
What??
How is that possible???
Impossible!!!
Meanwhile, Rena quickly continued toward Lawo with her broken sword, her eyes sharp.
Seeing that, Lawo panicked. Rena was coming straight at him, his eyes darting everywhere as he tried to focus. He thought to himself.
Calm down!!!
I ju— just—
Suddenly, Rena was right in front of his eyes. Quickly, she broke Lawo's bow.
Crack!!!
Then Rena ran quickly toward the other members, making them all shocked with various reactions.
What??
What's happening??
How is that possible???
What does this mean??
How did this happen??
No matter the words or the number of bows—
Rena broke every bow without difficulty. They all made the same sound.
Crack!!!
Meanwhile, the mage group hadn't even finished chanting their spells. They could only stand there, mouths agape. Some lost focus, others whispered.
Is it over already??
What happened??
Their bows are broken??
Rose, sticking out her pointed nose, remained focused on chanting her spell and shouted loudly to the members still chanting.
Don't lose focus! Keep casting your spells!!!
By the rules, we haven't won yet!!!
Hearing that, the mage members snapped back and answered in unison.
Yes!!!!
But before everyone could continue, Lawo—quickly giving a thumbs up this time (like), not down—spoke with teary eyes.
We surrender!!!!
Hearing Lawo's words, his members also followed.
That's right!!
We surrender!!!!
The ponytailed teacher, seeing that, was also stunned. Even the healers on the sidelines had just been ready to cast healing spells for Rena—only to find the fight already over so quickly.
Then, professionally, without thinking further, while scratching her head, the ponytailed teacher announced loudly.
Finished!!!
And between the two forces—the mage group and the marksman group—
that afternoon, it wasn't just hot because of the sun and Rena.
But because two forces that should have clashed… everything changed before it even began.