On the other side stood Jace Kazimura, hoodie on, daggers tucked, card marked with the glowing red E-Rank.

“Seriously? This guy’s my opponent?” Norman scoffed, cracking his neck. “I should’ve brought a blindfold.”

Jace’s heart pounded, but he didn’t flinch. “Might wanna keep your eyes open. I bite.”

The crowd roared at the tension.

Ding!

The signal to fight.

Norman blitzed forward—no hesitation. Jace barely had time to brace before a hammer the size of a car door came flying toward his face. He rolled to the side, the weapon crashing into the arena floor, sending stone shards flying.

Wham!Norman’s foot slammed into Jace’s ribs, lifting him off the ground and sending him tumbling like a ragdoll. The crowd winced in unison.

Jace coughed, blood mixing with dust. He got to one knee.

“Damn... that all you got?” he spat out.

“You’re funny,” Norman grinned, cracking his knuckles. “I like breaking funny people.”

Norman charged again. Jace managed to sidestep, slashing with his dagger—but it barely scratched Norman’s reinforced skin. The B-rank’s defense was built like armor.

Smack! A backhand sent Jace flying into the wall. His vision blurred.

Get up, he told himself. Natsuki’s watching. I can’t fail.

He rose slowly, arms shaking.

Norman frowned. “You’re still standing? You’re too stupid to stay down.”

Then came the final blow. Norman jumped and brought his hammer down in a full arc.

Jace crossed his arms to block.

CRASH!

Silence.

The dust settled.

Jace was on the ground, twitching. He couldn’t move. His dagger had snapped. Blood pooled beneath him.

Norman walked forward, eyes blazing with intent.

“Time to end this,” he muttered. “You're not even worth the kill, but orders are orders.”

He raised the hammer—

BOOM!

A blinding flash of golden light split the arena.

A gust of wind howled through the hall.

Everyone froze.

From the stands, a cloaked figure descended, silent and slow like a god descending to earth. His aura burned bright gold, pressing against every soul present. Even Norman dropped his weapon, sweat forming on his brow.

The man landed between Jace and Norman.

“Back away,” he said, voice calm but thunderous.

Norman stumbled back, breath caught in his throat. “W-who the hell are you?!”

The man didn’t answer. He turned to Jace, knelt, and placed two fingers on his chest. A soft pulse of energy flowed through him.

Then—darkness.

---

Later... Somewhere Safe

The sterile smell of antiseptic greeted Jace as he blinked his eyes open. White ceiling. Beeping machines. The weight of bandages wrapped around his torso.

“I see you’re awake.”

A doctor, an older woman with silver-rimmed glasses, smiled down at him.

Jace groaned, trying to sit up. “Where...?”

“You’re in a recovery ward,” she said. “You were brought in by someone with a high-level ID... but they didn’t stay. Just left these.”

She motioned to the small table beside him.

A bouquet of wildflowers rested in a glass vase, and beside it, a neatly folded piece of paper.

Jace reached out and unfolded the letter.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again. I’m proud of you anyway. —Natsuki.”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“She really cares, huh?” the doctor said gently.

Jace nodded. “Yeah... more than anyone.”

The doctor flipped a clipboard and tapped a page. “You’re lucky. Not just to be alive, but to have survived a B-Rank dungeon-grade opponent. You were outclassed, no doubt.”

Jace’s eyes widened. “Dungeon-grade?”

“Yes,” the doctor replied. “The tournament simulates real dungeon rankings. Your opponent mimicked the strength of a B-Class threat. It’s the kind of creature that wipes out unprepared parties.”

She looked him over. “For an E-Rank? You’ve got guts.”

Jace laid back, his body aching but his spirit untouched. He clenched the bedsheets with trembling fingers.

“I’m gonna get stronger,” he whispered. “Stronger than anyone expects.”