"Ali Saifeddine, Isis, step forward to begin the second test."

I stood up and took a deep breath, I was really nervous, the writing exam had gone horribly bad, so I had to win this fight. I know I shouldn't underestimate my opponents but I was fighting a fourth-level warrior every day for two years, it will be embarrassing to lose to a seventh-level warrior now.

"It seems they've called my name," I said to Ming Li with a smile

"good luck."

"Thanks, you too."

I stepped forward and looked around the hall to find my opponent, then I saw one of the students stepping forward as well.

'are you serious? why am I never lucky?'

It was a girl. Ming Li had told me earlier about the possibility of males and females fighting, but he said it was a slim chance, I mean fighting Amber was a thing she was strong but from where I am from hitting a girl is a shame.

I walked through the door to find myself in a massive arena divided into red and blue sides, with a person in a black robe standing in the middle. She was a girl with cold eyes, and her outfit was a bit stranger than the others, with a hat that made her look like a general in the army.

"Hey."

"Hmm?" I looked behind me towards the voice source. She was a girl with light brown skin and black hair that reached the end of her neck, wearing golden clothes and adorned with many bracelets and ornaments, the serpent in the front of the crown gave her a princess look, resembling the ancient Pharaohs we see in movies.

"How long are you going to stare at me?" the girl exclaimed in displeasure. "get out of my way."

"Oh, s-sorry."

I stepped aside nervously, I don't know why but my gut told me not to get near her.

"Hmph, peasants."

"P-Peasants?!"

'Did she...? No, she didn't say ordinary so maybe she is just insulting me.'

In the middle of my confusion in my place the girl or in this case we may call her the referee of the match probably said in an authoritative tone. 

"Ali Saifeddine, go to your position now."

"Y-yes sorry."

I walked nervously to the blue side since the red side was taken by that girl Isis, I don't know why I remember hearing this name in the past.

the two of us kept looking at each other, I started stretching as I was clearly the one nervous here while Isis glared at me with cold eyes before uttering one word, "Surrender."

I was taken aback by what she said to me, "E-excuse me?"

"I have no desire to waste my precious time on a worthless bug like you, and I certainly won't stoop to hurting you for no reason, so do us both a favour and leave I know you are scared so leave while I am nice."

Here something snapped in me, a fire a desire to hit a girl. like I said I don't want to but this girl is just too much, and she said I am scared of her? I just gave her a dismissive look before replying "I see."

"Good, now hurry up and surrender," the girl smiled and waved her hand dismissively.

I grin and say "But miss, if you are really strong maybe I should just fight you for experience."

"What?" Isis replied raising an eyebrow, "hey peasant do you even know who am I?".

"Uhhh, I remember they said Isis right?"

The girl became very angry and said, "You worthless scum, are you messing with me?"

Isis held her staff, from all of her accessories I thought yes her staff was golden with a blue jewel on the top.

"A magic warrior ha?" 

I grinned looking at her. My experience fighting with magic users was better than with martial artists because of my battles with Amber, even though she was a martial artist and not a magician.

"What is it? Do you already regret your decision? But that won't make me go easy on you."

As I was about to reply the referee girl snapped at us she clearly waited a lot for us to decide to fight or not, maybe she actually thought I would surrender.

"Silence, both of you and begin. One, two, three."

I quickly launched myself towards the girl to attack, I didn't care about anything other than giving her a good punch.

FWOOOSH.

Before I had time to react the girl made a powerful water attack, it was a water ball the size of a small bed. The attack hit me and I was thrown backwards hitting the floor but I didn't get out of the arena yet.

I spit some of the water in my mouth and stand again with a grin as realise something.

"You... you're at the end of the seventh stage, aren't you?"

"Have you finally realized how strong I am compared to a bug like you? I can't believe you are a bug and ignorant enough to dare and fight me when I..."

"Can you shut up?"

"What?" the girl replied furrowing her eyes.

I started focusing my energy on my feet and legs to launch myself forward a little faster.

"You ignorant bug ......... I'LL BREAK YOUR BONES TODAY!!!"

Here, Isis trembling in anger unleashed a barrage of large water attacks at me. It was a random chain with no pattern to follow, which just made me a little nervous again but I grinned, I remembered my training with Amber

'I guess I can make it, and if it hits me I will just stand up again.'

I rushed forward, ignoring any incoming attacks, it seemed like I was trying to get myself hurt more, well, it's not like I don't have my little trick.

"Hahahaha, you fool, Why are you rushing towards the attacks like that?"

I grinned as I kept pushing forward despite her mockery.

'It seems she is underestimating me. maybe because I am in the middle of the seventh stage and she is at the end, but still ...'

I focused my delete element into my fists and punched the first water ball, it seemed like a stupid thing that could break my arm but my fist pushed through the ball and it just disappeared, which made Isis and the referee both shocked.

"H-HUH?!!!!!!"

my grin went wider as I kept pushing through the attacks deleting them one by one until the distance between me and Isis became like 8 meters.

"N-no, s-stop!"

Isis started another wave of attacks desperate to keep me away, she was confused about why and how her attacks were just disappearing like nothing, this thought kept her mind busy from calming down and analysing the fight or finding a better attack.

Of course, her attacks didn't stop me from going forward at all I just kept deleting her attacks one by one, her attempt didn't even buy her time, by a few seconds I was just in front of her like two to three meters away.

"N-no, I WON'T LOSE TO A BUG LIKE YOU!!!"

the girl yelled angrily and used a skill somewhat familiar to me, hugging her arms and spreading them wide to create a water wall to push me back, as Amber did to me that day.

"You brought back painful memories." 

I punch the water wall, breaking through it easily.

"WHAT IS THIS?!!! WHY AREN'T MY ATTACKS WORKING?!!!" the girl said in panic, unable to comprehend what had happened as my fist aimed at her face.

Isis was clearly in a state of panic unable to comprehend what happened she was also stressed she was losing to someone technically weaker than her but she didn't realise that my fist was going to her face until now.

The girl closed her eyes, expecting the incoming blow, but all I did was a light flick on her forehead, making her fall from surprise.

"Ouch," the girl let out a funny cute sound as she hit the ground.

'I just couldn't hit her at the last second.'

I glance at the referee who immediately recovered from the shock and announced.

"The match is over, and the winner is Ali Saifeddine."

I turned back at Isis to see her giving me death stares.

"Are you okay Isis?"

I extended my arm with a gentle smile to help her stand up. But she slapped my hand away and got up on her own without even looking at me. I didn't really take it to heart as this was my reaction every time I 

"Yeah, I remembered I wanted to ask you, Are you like a pharaoh or something?"

The girl stopped for a moment after hearing my words, then turned around, the veins on her face were about to explode from anger before she snapped at me.

"Remember my words, you insolent bug. I will definitely get my revenge on you and repay you for today's humiliation tenfold."

As Isis left the place the referee yelled at me as well.

"Student Saifeddine if you don't leave now you will be eliminated."

"S-Sorry."

I followed Isis outside to find another spacious room. I looked around to find the girl I defeated sitting in the middle of a group of boys and girls wearing the same light yellow clothes yet fewer jewels and accessories.

As soon as one of them noticed me, he said muttered something, and the rest immediately gazed at me with hate.

'I think it's better to keep some distance between us.'

I sat in the furthest possible place from that angry group, and then began to wait for the start of the third test. Unlike the previous room, this time a giant screen appeared at the front showing the students' fights.

'So only the students that got here can watch the rest of the fights?'

I leaned back on the seat enjoying the fights between different elements and weapons, but I never really knew anyone until.

"It's him."

My new friend Ming Li stepped forward in the next fight, facing him was a guy with cold blue eyes and white short hair, carrying a spear, while Ming Li carried a familiar Chinese broadsword.

"Ming Li vs Mayad Dragonscale, Begin!"

As the fight began Ming Li's element appeared to be fire as the sword was ignited, while his opponent covered his body with something similar to a rock armour, he had an earth element apparently.

Ming Li seemed nervous and scared of this guy, so apparently in intimidation, he started waving his sword sending fire crescent-like attacks towards Mayad. Unfortunately, it was not very effective as the fire disappeared immediately as it touched the rocks covering Mayad's body.

Ming Li knew there is only one way to try, it was risky but elemental attacks wouldn't be beneficial. Mayad on the other hand was walking strong yet steady steps towards Ming Li. Ming Li took a deep breath and channelled a huge amount of fire into his blade then engaged towards Mayad before Jumping high and bringing the sword down at Mayad's head with a loud scream.

"AHHHHHH!!!"

In response Mayad raised his spear in the air to easily block the attack, then he spun his spear and gave Ming Li a powerful blow to his side, covering his spear with his element, which increased the weight of the attack.

Ming Li was pushed away very hard. Yet when he tried to get up clearly felt some pain from the hit.

"The match is over, and the winner is Mayad Dragonscale."

"H-Huh?!"

Ming Li found himself out of the arena already, it was tough I guess losing like that I decided to stand up and walk to the door waiting for Ming Li to at least try to console him a little.

The door opened, and Mayad advanced first. He was a little bit taller than me, with striking blue eyes and cold features that gave him a strange aura. The boy looked at me with an emotionless face, yet his eyes hid confusion before he glanced at Isis's place before he continued on his way without saying anything.

"Brother Ali?" said Ming Li, whose clothes seemed a little Wrinkled from the fight.

"It was a good fight," I said, smiling.

"Thank you," the boy replied seeming a little more relieved of the stress and frustration of the fight, then we went to sit together watch and analyse the fights, of course, he was so knowledgeable unlike me.

After a few fights, another student I knew entered.

The Shaolin trainee Chao Yu stepped forward and faced a boy of the same height. The opponent was covered in black clothes. he had a cool edgy outfit.

"Chao Yu versus Kurogane Ryu."

I looked at Ming Li, "You know them?"

"You don't?!"

Despite his shock, I shook my head, I mean did I have to know them?

Here Ming Li remembers my... story of training with my teacher away from cities and he said "well those two are not from The Middle World, yet they are famous of their talents people say they are competing on the first place in the academy."

"hmm? So it's like they are strong right?"

"Yes," said Ming Li, then sighed heavily and added, "It seems we are both unlucky."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Mayad Dragonscale and Isis, whom you fought, are also among the top students."

"Huh?! That girl as well?!"

"Yes, why?"

Ming Li was confused at my reaction.

"Oh please I won without breaking a sweat."

"HUH?! YOU WON?!!!!!"

"Yes, are you sure she is classified as them?"

"Of course, she's the only one with that name and also the legitimate princess of the Wolf Pyramid."

Here I froze as I realised what I had done, did I make the future queen of a whole country hate me? I mean I was trying to be nice. I glance back to see Isis and her friends, giving me death stares.

"Uhh Brother Li I think I am screwed."

Ming Li smiled and replied, "Don't exaggerate, a whole kingdom coming after you just for a competition at school?"

I finally calmed a little bit, but even though his words relieved me I decided to keep away from that Isis as long as I could.

"Wow?!"

"Did you see that?!"

The crowd started talking, amazed by the ongoing fight.

Ming Li and I turned our eyes towards the big screen where the battle was intense. Ryu's fast dagger attacks were breathtaking, but Chao Yu's staff defences were equally solid. Despite this, Ryu didn't seem to lose his strength or weaken his attacks; it was a fierce battle between Ryu's speed and Chao Yu's defence.

'Hmm?'

Ryu stopped attacking for a moment and jumped backwards 4 meters away, and then some black smoke started coming out of his dagger.

'Is that his element?'

The shadow element he was using spread fast and became thick covering his body before he was all surrounded by a cloud of black smoke, Chao Yu with his calm yet confident smile held his staff in both hands in defence ready for any tricks Ryu was hiding. But none of us was waiting for what was coming next, the smoke started flying in a long trail but it was not big enough to hide his body it was like his body had become that smoke now.

"Wow?!"

"Did he really disappear?!"

The crowd was noisy. It seemed as if the boy's body had split into shadows moving randomly until it surrounded Chao Yu, but he remained calm as usual.

The shadow began to spin rapidly around the young monk until it formed a dark ring around him, it seemed harmless smoke until Ryu's arm appeared from the smoke to attack Chao Yu, literally an assassination from the shadow.

Chao Yu barely managed to block the knife with his staff yet it disappeared in the shadows again, it was a chain of attacks that Chao Yu miraculously could react fast enough for it but the attacks kept increasing in speed and difficulty until....

"Ha!!!" the young monk yelled, and his body glowed intensely, filling the entire arena and the screen with white light.

"Hey, what's this?"

"We can't watch like this."

Comments of dissatisfaction filled the hall and continued for a while until the intense light faded from the screen, but what we saw was surprising enough to silence us all.

"The match is over, and the winner is Chao Yu."

Both Chao Yu and Kurogane Ryu were standing in front of each other, with Chao Yu pointing his staff at his opponent's head.