<h4>Chapter 48: A different oue [2]</h4>


    Noah''s POV:


    I currently had 669 points.


    ''Was this enough? Or should I get some more?''


    In the novel, Aeravat had 850 points.


    Although my own performance may not earn me as many, I was certain aboutnding in the top fifty.


    Taking a deep breath, I exhaled as my steps resonated through the canopy. The rustling of branches, bogs and fallen leaves echoed beneath. I knew I had to reach at least the top fifty.


    Besides the extra te of a thousand credit, and a steady supply to not care for the months toe, I also had a small desire to do good in this trial. Securing a top fifty would also open the doors for the future tournament.


    But those thoughts could wait forter.


    "Kraaa!" Suddenly, a growl broke the silence.


    An unintelligent life form—ava chimp lunged at me from above, but with a simple sidestep, I evaded the bastardized simian.


    It tried to char me with scorchingva, but once again, I easily dodged.


    It didn''t take me long.


    In just a matter of moments, theva chimpy lifeless in my hands.


    Yes, I was in the battle mode.


    With thest monster finished, I turned back and made my way to the dungeon.


    ***


    Third person''s POV:


    In a flurry of swift movements, a young man with dark-brown hair and matching pair of eyes sliced through the ranks of enemy.


    Each strike eliminated his enemy, his katana moving with a deadly grace of unknown style.


    After each victory, he smoothly sheathed and unsheathed his weapon, poised and ready to dash to the next group.


    Suddenly, an onught of arrows flew at Karthik with terrifying speed—????????????!!


    Using the blunt side of his katana, he deflected the attack with a resounding metallic tung.


    But the force of the arrows pushed him back, causing him to stagger a few meters.


    Watching the scene with a smug expression, the girl responsible for the attack couldn''t help but taunt,"You''re not as strong as the rumors painted you, Karthik."


    Indeed, the figure standing proudly before her was none other than Karthik, his strength was of (F+).


    But it didn''t meant much to Sera of ss A3, her own ranking was (F+).


    She was the second strongest in her ss, and that fact gave her much satisfaction.


    Her stylish pixie hair fluttered in the wind, while crossbow aimed on Karthik, sending two arrows at him.


    Unfazed by her challenge, Karthik smoothly unsheathed and resheathed his Katana in rapid session, a subtle ?????????? apanying his motion.


    To Sera''s surprise, the arrows were neutralized by two arcs of energy.


    Undeterred, she unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks.


    But Karthik responded with a simr intensity. In a matter of seconds, he sheathed his katana again, leaving arrows scattered at his feet.


    Watching the chaos before her, Sera could feel cold beads of sweat trickling down her back. But before she could react, Karthik blurred, only for him to reappear behind her.


    Sera found herself falling to the ground, defeated. But she wasn''t just defeated physically...no her hair style was changed a bit too.


    As her body glowed ready to be teleported, her closing eyes took in the sight of Karthik with a smug smile...and in his hand...in his hand was hercerated hair!


    "Remember this bitch or go bald to remind yourself why I''m painted to be strong in the rumors."


    Witnessing the defeat of one of the strongest students, fear gripped the hearts of the students of the allied sses.


    Desperate to escape the battlefield, they attempted to flee. But, their hope was swiftly shattered as Karthik pursued them with a crazy smile.


    Yes, the guy was a menace.


    ***


    Myung Joon''s POV:


    With a powerful leap, a muscr figure jumped at me while brandishing a bastard sword.


    Reacting swiftly, I rotated my body, getting ready to greet the iing attack. Raising my mace, I shed it against the enormous de.


    ??????????????!—The impact whizzed through the air, momentarily halting our battle.


    The power behind my strike sent the guy soaring through the air, but he skillfully regained his footing uponnding.


    As I watched the aftermath of our brief sh, a frown etched my face.


    I knew the person I was fighting—it was Adin, the leader of ss A3.


    Despite his (F+) strength, rumors imed his strength to be formidable.


    But, based on our brief exchange, it was clear that I possessed superior strength. Or perhaps...


    Noticing something strange, I furrowed my brow. "He''s panting unusually heavy," I contemted.


    Not only was the guy in front of me struggling, but I noticed the two other on the sidelines wearing simr expressions.


    If my memory served me right, they were Kenta and Arisha, the leaders of ss A4 and A5.


    They were weak...which was strange...


    Putting that aside for now, I seized the opportunity amidst the battle and charged at Kenta.


    In a quick reaction, the guy with white hair conjured an ice wall, attempting to hinder my advance.


    Without halting my momentum, I swiftly spun on my heels, twisting my body, and delivered a forceful m with my mace. The thick ice shattered in one mighty blow.


    Meanwhile, Arishaunched a javelin towards me.


    With agility, I evaded it mid-air and snatched it with my left hand before swiftly hurling it towards Adin, who was foolishly charging at me from behind. To my surprise, the projectile found its mark, impaling Adin''s shoulder, as a short cry of pain escaped him.


    Ignoring the pain of his impaled shoulder, Adin charged at me like a raging bull, with Kenta and Arisha following closely behind.


    Using my own momentum, I spun and delivered a swift blow towards Arisha, who swiftly reacted, parrying with his spear, but still getting pushed back. In the midst of this exchange, two fireballs hurtled towards me.


    With a nimble mid-air spin, I managed to evade one, while the other was deflected by a forceful swing of my mace, sending it back towards Kenta, who skillfully dodged it.


    Before I could catch my breath, Adin swiftlyunched another attack with his sword, which I met with a retaliatory strike from my mace, sending him reeling back two meters.


    Undeterred, I rushed at him, mming my mace once again, but Adin rolled to my back and swiftly regained his footing.


    Surprisingly, the javelin was still lodged in his shoulder, yet the fool was determined to fight me.


    Without granting me a moment''s respite, Arisha leaped above Adin''s head with a long jump, aiming to strike me with his spear.


    "Fuck this shit!" I exhaled my fury.


    "Yeah!" With a battle cry, I unleashed a powerful strike from my mace, sending Arisha hurtling back to where he came from.


    Without pausing, I spun on my heels, deftly dodging Kenta''s fireball, and swiftly struck the javelin impaled in Adin''s shoulder.


    As a result, the massive guy was flung through the air, the javelin piercing through his body and impaling Arisha''s left leg.


    Seizing the opportunity, I nced behind me only to find Kenta unleashing a fiery tornado spell towards my ssmates, eliminating most of them.


    Without skipping a beat, I dashed towards Kenta and delivered a resounding blow, eliminating him from the battle.


    Adin, nowying on the ground, met the same fate and was eliminated.


    Witnessing all of this, Arisha decided to surrender, realizing the futility of continuing the fight.


    He too soon got eliminated.


    With a smug smirk, I found myself wondering, "I wonder if Aeravat will pose any challenge to me? " But, I quickly snapped out of my arrogance and regained my focus.


    As I thought about the battle, a realization struck me.


    There was something off about the way these guys were behaving during the fight- their heavy breathing and unusual gait.


    It almost felt as if they were drugged? Or perhaps, I was mistaken.


    Interrupting my thoughts, Kenta appeared by my side. "Done with your little ego trip, Myung Myung?"


    I shot him an angry nce. "Don''t call me that, asshole."


    "Yeah, yeah, sorry," he replied cheekily, shing an unapologetic smile. He continued, "But now we''re only left with 30 students. What should we do next? Oh, and by the way..."


    Scanning the faces of our remaining ssmates, he proceeded to exin, "Those guys you sent earlier to trail ss A1 have discovered the entrance to the dungeon."