Rebirth of the Ruined Noble

The fight ended with a clear winner. It was as I expected—I didn't even break a sweat to defeat Gene. The victor's euphoria surged through my veins, but I knew I couldn't afford to revel in it for long. A resting period of 20 minutes was granted to me before my next match with Winand Klee.

As I caught my breath, I scanned the surroundings. The auditorium was a grand spectacle, adorned with towering pillars and intricate tapestries. The soft glow of magical crystals illuminated the space as the sun was gradually hiding behind the horizons, casting a vibrant aura over the huge auditorium. Many other matches were currently underway, capturing the attention of the spectators. However, my focus was solely on Winand, who had already arrived and awaited our impending duel.

His presence beckoned my thoughts back to the meticulous plan I had crafted to defeat him. It was no secret that Winand had likely witnessed my previous match with Gene. Even if he hadn't witnessed it directly, the whispers of his friends would have surely reached his ears. I intended to seize this opportunity to catch him off guard with a surprise tactic.

"Attention, Eren Pendragon and Winand Klee, please make your way to arena 3 in 10 minutes," the announcement resounded throughout the arena, urging me to prepare for the upcoming battle. With renewed determination, I set off towards the designated arena, brimming with anticipation and nerves.

Upon reaching the arena, I found Winand already stationed there, exuding an air of confidence and focus. Soon, the staff members ushered us onto the stage, and with a commanding voice, announced the commencement of the match.

"Match Rank 258, Eren Pendragon versus Rank 95, Winand Klee, begin!"

The adrenaline coursed through my veins as I readied myself for the clash of powers. Winand grasped a staff in his hand, instantly erecting a protective barrier around himself while simultaneously beginning to chant and incantation.

"Mana shield."

Right after the mana shield, he was trying to cast a big spell to end the fight as soon as possible.

However, I refused to grant him the opportunity to execute his spell. In a swift motion, I drew a magical power handgun from my pocket and fired directly at him.

Boom!

An explosion erupted, shattering the shield enveloping Winand into countless shards.

"Tch!"

A frustrated grunt escaped his lips as his casting was interrupted, thwarting the powerful spell he had planned to unleash. But I wasn't finished. I continued firing, relentless in my assault, until the barrel of my handgun was empty.

Dust clouded the area in front of Winand as he weathered the barrage of bullets, his formidable strength allowing him to withstand the assault. As the dust gradually settled, I observed him standing resolutely, a spear of water imbued with a thin layer of mana serving as his defense against the projectiles. It was the spell known as Water Shield—a formidable defense against conventional weaponry.

In that moment, the disadvantage of the gun became apparent. While it possessed a clear advantage against weaker opponents, it paled in comparison when faced with stronger adversaries. The power of gunpowder alone was insufficient to penetrate the potent magical barriers erected by skilled mages, and even melee fighters who could effortlessly deflect its projectiles with their aura-infused weapons.

Even imbuing mana to the gun only strengthened the gun and reduced the recoil, it had a little effect on increasing the efficiency of the bullet.

This revelation only strengthened my resolve to acquire the weapon I sought—a tool that could bridge that gap.

However, for now, I had to rely on my own abilities to emerge victorious. Without hesitation, I discarded the gun and leaped into close-quarters combat. A gap of 20 meters stretched between Winand and me, necessitating a swift approach to close the distance between us.

Winand, realizing the opportunity granted by my switch to melee, seized the moment to recover from the earlier onslaught. He swiftly cast a series of basic skills with minimal casting time. Two water balls materialized in the air, hurtling towards me in tandem.

Soon he cast other basic skills which had low cast down times.

Undeterred, I pressed forward, determined to overpower him. With a deft movement, I sidestepped one water ball and parried the other with a flick of my blade, sending it harmlessly astray.

But Winand wasn't done yet. Right after the water balls, a towering wave crashed towards me. I quickly assessed the situation, realizing that dodging was not an option. I swiftly adjusted my stance and assumed a defensive posture, preparing for the impact.

I turned right angle to the wave, to reduce the impact and one side of my body became enveloped in black energy.

It was aura, the aura which I had managed to learn in the short time I had.

-Splash!

The wave hit me, pushing me back for about 2-3 meters, but it failed to do any damage to me.

I turned around, facing Winand once again. Determination burned in my eyes as I prepared to continue my advance. However, Winand's smile caught my attention, filling me with a sense of unease. Something was amiss.

"...!"

Alarmed, I looked up.

"Water slicer."

Winand had already chanted another spell, and numerous water blades were fired at me.

"Damn it!"

It was a spell which created water blades by using pressure.

Time seemed to slow as I assessed the situation, my mind racing to find a solution. My sword was enveloped in a black aura as I parried the water slicer, managing to deflect some of the blades, but a few grazed me, resulting in blood gushing from the wounds.

The dust once again rose in the arena, and I found myself in a tattered state, battered but not broken. Winand wore a victorious smile as he started chanting yet another spell, his determination evident. I gritted my teeth, refusing to back down.

"I thought I could win without using any skills," I murmured, my voice filled with a mix of frustration and determination. "But I guess you are strong enough to force me to use them."

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