Floor 3 – Combat Zone Initialization
The metallic door behind Riku hissed open, steam rising from hidden vents. Beyond it, a broad circular arena awaited—half-flooded with ankle-deep water, scattered ruins dotting the edges, and a slowly turning crystal sphere floating in the center sky like an artificial moon.
[System Alert: You have entered Floor 3 – Arena Combat Round]
[Objective: Survive for 20 minutes OR eliminate all opponents]
[Bonus Objective: Protect the 'Marked Ally' (Sorin)]
[Combatants Remaining: 14]
Riku glanced beside him.
Sorin stood barefoot, her expression calm, despite her obvious fatigue. Her silver hair was still damp from earlier mist, but her violet eyes burned brighter than before.
"Fourteen opponents?" she muttered. "They're not gonna make this easy."
"They never do."
A hum in the air warned them of incoming teleportations.
Across the arena, portals shimmered. Combatants arrived one by one—some in student uniforms, others in custom gear. Several wore masks. One girl even had armored gauntlets sparking with embedded crystals.
And one of them… was Shiba.
Riku's jaw tensed.
He's here too?
---
Flashback – Shiba the Dropout
A year ago, Shiba Kazeharu was expelled under mysterious circumstances—something involving illegal combat practices and mana tampering. But he had raw skill. Dangerous skill.
Now he stood across the arena again—taller, bulkier, and grinning like a madman.
"Well, well. If it ain't the genius faker," Shiba called out, cracking his neck. "Riku Aoyama, right? I thought they threw you in with the other 'recyclables.' Looks like you're still alive."
Riku's voice was calm. "Barely. And you're still compensating with noise."
Some of the others chuckled. Shiba scowled.
"Talk smart when you're not hiding behind broken toys."
---
The Countdown
The floating crystal pulsed red.
[Combat Initiation: 60 seconds]
Riku turned to Sorin. "Stay near me. Use barriers only when necessary. I'll handle the front."
"…You're sure?"
"I've got this."
He tapped his wrist.
[System Activation: Combat Focus ON]
[Purchased: Reactive Step Lv.2 | Adaptive Guard Lv.1 | Blade Recall Lv.1]
His body shifted—lighter, sharper, honed like a freshly unsheathed sword.
---
0:00 – The Arena Breaks Loose
As the timer hit zero, chaos erupted.
A masked student summoned twin daggers and blurred toward Sorin.
Riku moved instantly—Reactive Step triggering with a burst of acceleration.
CLANG!
Their weapons met, and Riku's eyes narrowed. He twisted his blade, redirected the angle, then elbowed the attacker in the gut, sending him skidding across the wet stones.
Another came from above—blasting fire from palms.
Sorin raised a hand. "Barrier: Cursebound Shell."
The fireball warped mid-air and turned into ash.
Two more fighters dashed toward them from the left.
Riku spun his sword into reverse grip. "System, purchase: Phantom Mirage Lv.1."
[Phantom Mirage purchased – 3,200 Credits deducted]
A transparent clone of himself blinked to life, intercepting the attackers with feints and delays.
Behind him, Sorin hissed, "I see why the system picked you."
---
5 Minutes In – Shiba Enters
Shiba finally joined.
Not with fire.
Not with speed.
But presence.
He stomped onto the center ruin, smashing it into chunks.
"Anyone touches Riku… goes through me first," he declared to no one in particular. Then he grinned at Riku. "Of course, I'll be touching you very soon."
His fists glowed red—inscribed with illegal spell runes.
"You're not supposed to use that," one masked girl shouted.
"Who's gonna stop me?" Shiba snapped. "This isn't school. It's a blood test."
And he charged.
---
Riku vs. Shiba
Their clash lit up the arena.
Each punch from Shiba cracked stone, forced Riku to parry on instinct. His arms vibrated from the pressure.
[System: Endurance Boost Lv.1 recommended]
"Purchase it."
[Done – 2,400 Credits deducted]
He rolled under Shiba's next hook, slicing at the man's exposed flank.
Sparks.
Armor under his uniform?
Shiba laughed.
"You're sharp. But not sharp enough!"
He slammed both palms into the ground. A pulsewave exploded outward—tossing debris, water, and weaker fighters into the walls.
Sorin barely shielded herself in time.
Riku skidded but held his footing.
This guy… was a walking monster.
---
Mark of Genius
And yet…
As blood trickled from his nose, Riku smirked.
"You think brute force makes you stronger?" he asked.
"I think results do."
"Then let me show you something."
He raised his left hand.
"System, Initiate: Cognitive Resonance Mode – Time Split Lv.1"
[Activated – 15 seconds of accelerated thought and reflexes]
Suddenly, the world slowed.
Shiba's movement—predictable.
His stance—off-balance.
His left rib—unarmored.
Riku stepped in like water over rock.
SLASH.
KICK.
UPPERCUT.
Shiba reeled.
Blood sprayed from a deep gash on his side.
"You bastard—!"
But Riku was already gone.
Above him.
Sword raised.
"Blade Recall!"
The phantom clone's blade flew into his hand.
He brought both down in an X-cross slash.
BOOM!
Shiba hit the floor, stunned and growling.
"You... cheat."
Riku crouched over him.
"I adapt. You just punch."
---
End of Round
As the 20-minute timer expired, only five remained.
Sorin.
Riku.
A female twin-blade user hiding her name.
A tall spear-user covered in burns.
And Shiba—barely conscious.
[System Alert: Floor 3 Completed]
[Reward: Skill Shop Unlocked – Tier 1]
[Optional Ally Sorin: Trust Level Increased]
[Notoriety Increased: 'Academy Rumor – Ghost Blade' Created]
---
Outside – Ayumi's Patience Runs Thin
Ayumi stood outside the sealed arena.
Still waiting.
Still no word.
But now… there were whispers.
Students murmuring about a mysterious fighter in the underground bracket—a boy wielding two blades, outsmarting every opponent.
Ayumi's eyes narrowed.
"…Riku."