A Bug In Fate

Back to the present...

The arena was bustling with cheers as people cheered for their favourite participant. Their voices were filled with anticipation and excitement as they watched the fight unfold.

On the battlefield, Ryan and Rain were now using whatever they could. They cast spells whenever there was distance between them, while clashing with their weapons whenever they got close.

Sparks and debris flew everywhere as they moved across the battlefield. Ryan’s mastery of the spear was impressive for his age, while Rain’s swordsmanship wasn’t inferior.

"RAIN!"

"RYAN... WE BELIEVE IN YOU!"

"Haha... how much longer do you think they’re going to fight?"

Someone from the crowd muttered in anticipation. His question started a chain reaction as people began to speculate, their eyes suddenly turning analytical.

"They’ve both already used most of their mana... so I think it’s going to take another five minutes before they exhaust themselves," an adventurer said, probably based on his experience.

"But they can still use their physical strength after exhausting their mana reserves, so I think it’ll take ten minutes," another person joined in.

Soon, everyone began throwing out their predictions.

After all, unlike other fights where the winner was decided within just five to ten minutes, Ryan and Rain had already been fighting for nearly half an hour.

Floating in the air, Alice’s voice echoed across the arena, filled with excitement as she looked down at the battlefield.

"Ladies and gentlemen... you are witnessing a wonderful fight. The twins seem to be reaching their limit." She paused for a moment as her gaze swept over the crowd.

"Who do you think will be the one to advance to the next round?" She smiled.

"Ryan!"

"Of course, it’s Ryan!"

"Rain!"

The crowd grew even more excited as they cheered for their chosen participant.

Meanwhile, the battle below only grew more intense as the twins continued to cast their spells at each other.

"Water Burst!"

"Stone Bullet!"

Water Cutter!"

"Earth Shards!"

They were both at their limit when Ryan closed the distance after casting his spell and thrust his spear toward Rain’s hand, his target being the bracelet.

Rain’s eyes widened as he realized Ryan’s intention.

He tried to pull his hand back, but the spear was already too close.

At the last moment, Rain twisted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the spear.

Ryan’s momentum was disturbed because of the missed attack. He stumbled a little, but suddenly, he felt pain coming from his ribs.

Before he could realize what had happened, he was blasted several meters across the battlefield.

The crowd went silent.

Before Ryan could even stand up, he saw a sword coming toward him. He tried to get up and react, but his vision suddenly changed.

He wasn’t on the battlefield anymore.

He was beside the other eliminated participants, where Marcus looked down at him with a smile as he offered his hand to help him stand up.

"Winner of the match: Rain, from Grayhaven!"

Alice’s voice echoed across the arena, confirming what had just happened. Instead of taking another ten minutes, the battle had been decided in just a few consecutive strikes.

"RAIN!"

"RAIN!"

"He actually won!"

"Hahaha!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as they shouted Rain’s name at the top of their lungs, excluding a few people.

For most of the people here, it was simply a fight full of entertainment.

But for Rain, it was the moment he had strived for.

All his efforts had finally paid off.

For the first time, only his name was being chanted.

A smile filled with various emotions formed on his lips as he glanced up at the sky.

I did it.

His gaze then shifted toward his brother, who looked back at him.

Their eyes met.

Suddenly, Ryan smiled at his brother. Despite the pain from the several small cuts covering his body, he raised his hand with difficulty and gave Rain a thumbs-up.

No one knew what he was thinking.

But one thing was clear.

He wasn’t a brother who was clueless about his own brother’s struggles and suffering.

While Rain and Ryan were immersed in their own thoughts, Alice didn’t let the momentum die as she spoke.

"Well... that fight was certainly full of excitement and anticipation, as even until the very end, we didn’t know who was going to win." Her gaze swept over the crowd as a gentle wind blew through the arena.

"But the tournament isn’t over yet."

The crowd went silent as their eyes shifted toward the screen above the arena, where the participants were selected randomly.

"Only two participants remain, so there is no need to look at the screen." Alice chuckled softly, causing some people to feel embarrassed.

"The next and final battle of the second round will be between..." She smiled as she glanced at the two remaining participants.

"ELARA VS MINA."

The moment Alice announced their names, the arena erupted once again.

"ELARA!"

"MINA!"

"WINDMARE!"

"RAVENHOLD!"

"LET’S GO, ELARA!"

"MINA, YOU GOT THIS!"

"SHOW THEM WHAT RAVENHOLD CAN DO!"

"ELARA WILL WIN!"

The crowd was divided into two sides, each cheering for their favourite participant. Their voices echoed throughout the arena, creating a wave of excitement that spread across the entire battlefield.

On the ground, Liam looked toward Mina as she prepared to walk toward the battlefield.

"Good luck," he said with a smile.

Mina glanced at him for a moment before giving him a small nod.

"Thanks." A soft smile appeared on her face as she turned toward the centre.

Alden, who was just standing there, was also about to say something, but he held back for obvious reasons.

Elara and Mina stepped forward from their respective positions.

Neither of them said anything as they walked toward the battlefield, their footsteps steady as they approached the centre of the arena.

The cheers continued to follow them with every step.

"RAVENHOLD!"

"WINDMARE!"

"MINA!"

"ELARA!"

The atmosphere became even more intense as the two finally reached their positions.

Elara stopped and looked at Mina from a distance.

Mina simply met her gaze, her expression calm.

For a brief moment, neither of them moved.

The previous battle between the twins had already left the crowd excited, and now everyone was waiting to see what these two participants would show them.

Alice floated above the battlefield, looking between the two participants.

She raised her hand.

"Are you both ready?"

Elara nodded.

Mina did the same.

Alice smiled as she looked toward the crowd one last time.

"Then..."

She paused for a moment.

"Begin!"

The moment Alice announced the start of the fight, both participants moved at the same time.

Mina gripped her sword tightly and charged toward Elara, while Elara stepped backward and pulled an arrow from her quiver, coating it with mana before releasing it.

The arrow flew through the air at impressive speed, but Mina swung her sword and deflected it without slowing down.

"Fireball!"

A spell circle appeared in front of Mina, and a ball of fire shot toward Elara, forcing her to move aside as it exploded against the ground, sending flames and dust into the air.

"Wind Blade!"

A spell circle appeared beside Elara, and a sharp blade of wind rushed toward Mina, who blocked it with her sword, although the force pushed her back several steps.

"Come on, Mina!"

"ELARA!"

"RAVENHOLD!"

"WINDMARE!"

The crowd erupted in cheers as the two continued their exchange. Everyone knew Elara came from a noble family, while Mina was a commoner who had been trained by her elder sister, apparently a higher-ranked adventurer.

Back on the battlefield, Mina rushed forward again while forming another spell circle.

"Fire Arrow!"

Several flaming arrows shot toward Elara. She avoided the first two, but the third came from an unexpected angle, forcing her to deflect it with her mana-coated bow.

Elara immediately fired another mana-coated arrow toward Mina, who tilted her body to avoid it before forming another spell circle.

"Fireball!"

The fireball rushed toward Elara, forcing her to dodge again and giving Mina another chance to advance.

Neither was willing to give the other an opening. Mina continuously tried to close the distance with her Fire spells, while Elara kept moving around the battlefield, firing mana-coated arrows and using her Wind spells whenever Mina got close.

Inside a VIP room, Elara’s mother watched her daughter’s performance with a smile.

"Wind Burst!"

A spell circle appeared in front of Elara, releasing a powerful gust of wind toward Mina.

Mina resisted the force before suddenly pushing forward and forming another spell circle.

"Fire Spear!"

A fiery spear shot toward Elara, who quickly moved aside as it passed dangerously close.

"MINA!"

"GET CLOSER!"

"ELARA, DON’T LET HER REACH YOU!"

The cheers became louder as Mina continued advancing, having realized that Elara would have the advantage as long as she maintained her distance.

Mina increased her speed and used her sword to deflect the incoming arrows, while her Fire spells forced Elara to keep changing direction.

Eventually, Mina reached her.

Her sword swung toward Elara, who barely blocked it with her bow, but the impact forced her backward. Mina immediately followed with another slash, forcing Elara to dodge again and again.

"RAVENHOLD!"

"MINA, YOU GOT THIS!"

For the first time, Elara was being forced onto the defensive, but she didn’t panic and instead waited for the right opportunity.

As Mina swung her sword again, Elara stepped backward and formed a spell circle.

"Wind Burst!"

A powerful blast struck Mina at close range, forcing her backward and creating the distance Elara needed.

Before Mina could recover, Elara pulled an arrow from her quiver and coated it with mana while another spell circle appeared beside her.

"Wind Blade!"

The blade of wind rushed forward alongside the arrow. Mina raised her sword to block, but the attack came faster than she expected.

The arrow slipped past her sword.

Clang!

It struck her bracelet, and a flash of light surrounded Mina before she disappeared from the battlefield.

For a brief moment, the arena fell silent before Alice’s voice echoed across it.

"Winner of the match... Elara, from Windmare!"

The arena erupted.

"WINDMARE!"

"ELARA!"

"SHE WON!"

Elara lowered her bow and took a deep breath while looking toward the spot where Mina had disappeared. Meanwhile, Mina had already appeared beside the other eliminated participants.

She looked toward the other side of the battlefield, and her gaze met Liam’s. He nodded at her with a smile, and without even realizing it, a smile formed on her own lips as she shook her head.

She had given it her best, and there wasn’t any regret in her heart. Shaking her head, she simply sat down as exhaustion finally caught up with her.

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