The Novel's Extra: Scrapped

Waiting room 4, in a corner.

The room was expansive, with around 13 or so other people preparing for their fights.

My fight was the first after the break so naturally I was the first to prepare myself.

Others in the room whispered about how audacious I was to challenge Shin Jonghak or how I had a death wish.

I didn't let them get to me as I planned out the fight.

I would say it doesn't matter if I win or lose…but I would be lying if I did. 

This matters because I need to understand just how large or small the gap is between rank 2 and me. 

I also despise those who derive their strength from lineage rather than effort. 

Even so, I also need to make sure I show too much of my old sword style. The moment she realizes who I am, my plan goes down the drain.

So my arsenal is: Basic Unarmed and Armed Techniques from Heavenly Berserker arts, My gift which only awakened after entering Cube, and my fire spells which I became proficient at after being exposed to Cube's library.

I think I may also be able to emulate some of Suho's moves if I try hard enough.

"Rank 150, it's time." A person dressed in a Cube staff uniform smiled at me.

I stood up and dusted myself off, looking around at the room of people whispering about me before silently walking off.

The long corridor wrapped around the edges of the arena, narrow windows at the top only exposed the top of the barrier.

Tap Tap Tap…

The person dressed in a Cube staff uniform silently walked forward… but something didn't seem right about him.

I couldn't tell exactly what but I put my hand on the shortsword handle just in case.

"...Hey kid." The person turned back to look at me, their figure unimposing and unmemorable.

I blink the stars into view and saw that in front of me was a blonde haired woman covered in a thin membrane. Her eyes sharp and her skin glowing lustrously.

Her smile was eerie and expectant, as if rooting for me in the worst way possible.

She's… at least a high grade… maybe more.

I blinked once again and saw the man in Cube staff walk away, into the shadows. 

"Don't embarrass yourself." The moment he spoke those words, we arrived at the entrance.

…I should be concerned.

…

Shaking off his discomfort, Minori Nii walked to his side of the stage. 

Across him was his opponent. Tall and well built with snow white hair and an imposing demeanor, his expression was apathetic as he held a spear.

He's bored… well if that's the case I'll end it here for him.

Minori unsheathed his shortsword and held it by his waist, gazing at his opponent and analyzing how he should begin.

He's impatient, I should wait for him to come at me. He's underestimating me as well, so I'll taunt him a couple times. 

—Welcome back, one and all to the second half of today's duels! I'm sure you all had a good break, so I'm proud to welcome you all back with one exciting fight!

"Hey, you." The white haired boy spoke impatiently.

"What do you think you're going to do to me?" He continued, annoyed, like he wants to be somewhere else.

"I'm going to win against you. Isn't that obvious?" Minori watched as veins popped on Shin Jonghaks forehead.

"Woah, was that enough to get you riled up? No wonder Chae Nayun likes Suho so much more." Minori forced an arrogant smirk on his face as Shin Jonghak's body crackled with a sharp increase in mana.

"Hah! I'm gonna beat you within an inch of your life." Shin Jonghak responded through his teeth as he waited for the announcer to count down.

He's a bigger simp than I thought.

—This match is between rank 150, Minori Nii, and the esteemed, rank 2, Shin Jonghak! Is rank 150 overconfident?! Find out in-

—Three!

Minori clenched his fist around the blade.

—Two!

Shin Jonghak lowered his centre of gravity and readied his spear.

—ONE!

Crack–Bang!

The stone tile beneath Shin Jonghak's feet cracked. He bolted forward with a murderous glint in his eyes, a blur of red mana crossing the distance with explosive power.

With a swing of his spear Shin Jonghak felt… no resistance, only a swish of air remained.

Instead, he was forced to dash backward as a crackle of molten mana missed him by a hair's breadth.

Minori didn't even breathe as he swung at the cadet once again. This time aiming for the sensor on Shin Jonghaks stomach.

With wide eyes, Jonghak blocked the attack, his own spear roiling with attributed mana.

The clash of red and orange sent sparks around the stage, cracking the floor and sending a plume of dust into the air.

In the obscuring cloud, the mana clashing with Jonghak's was snuffed out.

Surprised by the sudden lack of an opponent, Jonghak lunged forward, overextending.

It was then that right above him, intense mana flared up.

The white haired cadet smiled before twisting his body and hurling a crescent slash into the sky, a sharply condensed slash of pure mana.

The dust up top cleared to reveal a hovering ball of flame, it branched out like lighting and swirled like magma.

When the crescent slash collided with the ball, it warped and turned, gaining an orange colour before, together with the ball, scattering into fireworks.

So then where was Minori?

To the side of Shin Jonghak a crouched Minori swung his blade without mana coating it and slammed it into Jonghak's stomach, aiming for his liver.

It was a distraction!

It was.

The moment dust obscured everyone's vision, Minori made a quick decision, throwing a ball of flame into the sky and waiting for a moment to strike.

So with a satisfying crunch of steel, Jonghak was thrown back, the sensor on his stomach damaged, thus ending the duel in Minori's victory.

To the spectators however, there was only a fierce clash of mana before dust exploded from under the two cadets. Then not a second later, Jonghak was thrown out of the cloud, dispersing it to reveal Minori, breathing heavily in the centre of the stage.

Hweeee—

A whistle was blown.

On the other side of the Arena Jonghak glared at Minori while holding his stomach.

I got tricked…He got under my skin…Damnit!

Then, with a huff, he walked away. His fist shaking.

Minori did the same in the other direction.

I can't feel my arms… why is he so tough? Thankfully I taunted him. A narrow minded enemy is easier to deal with than a smart one.

…am I gonna have to deal with him throwing a fit the next time we have sparring classes? Probably not, he seemed to have cooled down by the end of that.

The battle was only ten seconds long. Yet the audience, for the second time today, was shocked into silence.

…

I sat in the waiting room, once again taking my seat in the corner. My breath was heavy and so were my limbs.

The fight had gone well, though there were more hiccups than necessary.

Let's review…

The fight began with a mad dash, due to my provocation. I side stepped him and slashed at his sensor.

I wasn't fast enough resulting in my attack being dodged. Then I decided to add more pressure onto Jonghak and clash with him head on…

I had to burn the poison in my blood because of it. I probably could have taken my time instead of going with hyper aggression.

Then we clashed and I had to apply a lot of my mana… My physical strength wasn't up to par but because of my potent mana I was able to push back… 

Other than that, I think my decisions were good ones. I might've lost big time if it weren't for the dust cloud.

And even within the cloud I was careful not to use too many moves…

"Haa… I'm still feeling the effects of the clash." I shook my hand.

In the end things could've gone better if I made better decisions.

…

With the defeat of Shin Jonghak, what follows are the consequences. 

The moment I stepped out of the arena, swarms of reporters rushed towards me, followed closely by associates who wanted to establish a connection.

"Cadet 150, please! Let us ask you some questions!"

"Cadet Minori Nii! How did you beat Shin Jonghak!"

"Cadet 150, Hey! We, the diamond guild, want to speak with you!"

I walked past them without much thought, it pays to have a steady mind in cases like these. 

Unfortunately I didn't have one.

Once they noticed they couldn't get my attention the reporters and associates left, with disappointment on their faces.

…

After my first fight, I had two nominations, Yi Yeonghan, which I already beat… and Kim Suho.

I had prepared for this fight before the midterms.

I had sparred against him countless times.

I had a plan.

So why am I losing?

—swish

I rolled out of the way of a sword slice, the ground getting cleanly divided as metallic mana surged around the stage like a storm.

And he's still wearing that stupid smile!

I breathed in and rushed forward, he slashed horizontally and my feet left the ground.

CLANG—!

I had blocked his attack, the expense was that I was thrown across the arena floor like a ragdoll.

Aren't Jonghak and Suho supposed to be rivals?! Why is the gap so large?!

 Not even a thought later Suho dashed towards me.

Another horizontal slash, too fast for my eyes.

I reacted on instinct and jumped over the attack, my hand used him as a vault to get behind him.

My mana surged as I swung my blade, igniting it with flame.

Suho blocked it with his sword before kicking forward, damaging the sensor and sounding the whistle.

I slid across the floor and painfully came to a halt as I lay on the ground. I was winded, covered in dust, cuts and bruises, my weapon wasn't in my hands and more importantly, looking straight up into the sky.

"...Good fight Minori." He held out his hand from the corner of my vision.

"Good fight my ass… that was a beat down." I hefted myself up and held my ribs.

"You really don't know how to hold back do you…"

"Hahaha, I guess I don't." Kim Suho let out a good natured laugh and I punched him in the ribs lightly.

"Alright, I'm done for the day. See ya tomor-"

I caught sight of a burly man sitting in the seats, he grinned from ear to ear as if seeing something funny.

"Yep, I'll see you tomorrow. Make sure to rest well."

I snapped out of it and pretended like I didn't see the burly man.

I then walked away from the arena with a calm expression.

I'm going to throw up… he hits way too hard. Did he go this hard on the other participants?

One more day of duels and then monster wars...I hope no one nominates me to fight. I'm beat.