Chapter 13

Ivella Elea’ad.

After leaving the arena, she bit her lips tightly. Her turquoise eyes, visible through her flowing hair, burned fiercely.

Her angry gaze soon turned toward the arena.

‘…Himel Deorg.’

A grand noble of the Rubens Empire.

Himel, the eldest son of Count Deorg’s family.

He was a prodigy who had shown exceptional talent in swordsmanship since childhood and was officially knighted around this time last year.

And he was also Ivella’s older brother.

Though they had different mothers.

“I won’t waste words.”

In the arena, now empty except for the two of them.

Himel looked at Ivella with a gaze full of contempt and spoke.

“Know your place and quietly forfeit. It’s for the sake of our family.”

Ivella was the illegitimate child of Count Deorg.

She inherited the Count’s blood and talent, but due to the opposition of the Countess and the vassals, she couldn’t even carry the family name, making her a tragic figure.

Thus, she used her mother’s surname, ‘Elea’ad.

‘Heir and illegitimate child.’

The difference in their status was like heaven and earth.

But what if, by any chance, Ivella were to injure or defeat Himel? It would be a stain on the Deorg family name.

Ivella couldn’t possibly do anything to harm the family. If she did, the repercussions would reach her mother, who was left alone in their hometown.

‘That’s why I hoped we wouldn’t face each other…’

Unfortunately, her wish didn’t come true.

As a result, Ivella chose a humiliating defeat for her mother’s sake. Barely suppressing her anger, she quickly regained her composure.

‘But this is it.’

After this exam, Ivella and Himel’s exams won’t overlap anymore. So, if she performs well in the remaining exams, she should be able to pass without much difficulty.

Having made up her mind, Ivella turned to leave.

She didn’t want to stay in the same space as Himel any longer. But at that moment, someone suddenly caught her attention.

“Ulan Bator, to Zone 12!”

With the assistant supervisor’s shout.

A man with reddish-brown hair headed toward the arena. A young man with a large build and rare red eyes.

His quite masculine face drew some attention, but what really caught her eye was something else.

‘Huh? Why is he shirtless?’

Unlike the other examinees, Ulan had completely removed his upper garment. Soon, whispers from other students reached her ears.

“What’s up with that guy?”

“Why is he walking around shirtless?”

“Is he a barbarian from the frontier?”

“Nah, no way.”

“If he were a barbarian, he’d have been filtered out in the written exam.”

“Then why is he shirtless?”

The chain of doubts and speculations continued.

Among them, the mention of barbarians made Ivella nod reflexively. It fit Ulan’s image perfectly.

‘Anyway…’

The more she looked, the more she noticed his well-built body.

Solid muscles. Especially his back muscles were insane.

Like a wild horse. That’s why her gaze kept drifting there. Then, belatedly, she became aware of her own actions.

‘Ahem! W-well, it’s none of my business.’

Feeling embarrassed, she let out a fake cough.

And she turned to leave again.

Or at least, she tried to.

But then, another group caught her attention. The boys who had entered the arena before Ulan.

‘Those guys…’

Himel’s gang. The sons of lower-ranking officials who followed Himel around, causing trouble.

Their sly smiles suggested they were up to something. And at that moment, the arena’s iron gate slammed shut with a loud clang.

Creak! Clang!

As soon as the entrance disappeared.

Eleven boys, excluding Ulan, gathered in one spot. Each of them held a weapon, all aimed at Ulan.

The scene made their intentions obvious.

Ivella frowned.

‘…Despicable bastards.’

The warrior of Zone 12, Ulan Bator.

That man looked like he could fight well. After all, muscles like that were built through real combat experience.

‘So, they’re planning to take him out first.’

Ivella’s brow furrowed.

Her displeasure was evident on her face. Meanwhile, the other examinees were also shocked.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

“Are they teaming up now?”

“Supervisor! Is this allowed?”

Questions poured in from all sides.

Soon, an answer came.

“It doesn’t matter. Whether they form an alliance or not, it’s still happening within the arena.”

Ethan had a nonchalant expression.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

The examinees hid their orbs on their bodies. Like in the previous exam, most hid them in their pockets or underwear.

But Ulan’s method was a bit different.

He put the orb directly into his mouth.

Gulp!

And swallowed it whole.

This scene made Ivella, and even the other examinees, widen their eyes in shock. Even Ethan, who had been wearing a bored expression, was the same.

“Hahaha! That guy’s completely insane.”

Ethan burst into laughter.

The term ‘insane’ fit perfectly.

No one expected him to actually swallow the orb.

“S-supervisor!”

“What do we do in this case?”

“Shouldn’t the rules be changed…?”

“No, the rules remain unchanged.”

Ethan cut them off sharply.

With a sly smile, he added.

“The orb must be broken to count as a defeat. If you want to win, break the orb. Even if you have to stab through that lunatic’s stomach!”

At this, the examinees were stunned.

Of course. Most of them were sheltered flowers with little real combat experience. They had never committed murder.

But not everyone was stunned.

Some examinees, especially those in Himel’s gang, had murderous intent in their eyes.

As if they would do anything to break the orb.

‘This was a bad decision.’

Her turquoise eyes flickered slightly.

But at that moment.

A strange scene caught Ivella’s eye.

It was Ulan, grinning.

‘He’s smiling? In this situation?’

Could he not have grasped the situation yet?

Ivella was stunned. Even with her exceptional swordsmanship talent, she couldn’t guarantee victory against eleven opponents.

But Ulan was different.

It wasn’t resignation, but a smile of confidence.

Curious, Ivella decided to watch his match a bit longer.

“Start of battle!”

The shout signaling the start of the great duel.

And at that moment.

The reason for Ulan’s grin became clear.

Boom!

After stomping the ground.

Ulan charged like an enraged rhinoceros, instantly slamming into the first boy.

Crash! Thud!

The sound of something breaking.

The boy’s body flew through the air.

Like a ragdoll, he crashed into a corner. Without even a scream, he fainted. Naturally, his orb was shattered.

“……”

A sudden silence fell.

The remaining ten boys, and even the assistant supervisors, blinked in shock. They couldn’t process what had just happened.

And in that moment.

A second victim emerged.

This time, a boy with a decent build.

Too heavy to fly, so Ulan grabbed him by the collar.

“W-wait…!”

The boy, belatedly coming to his senses, shouted with a pale face. And that was the last thing he said in the arena.

Boom!

His heavy body slammed into the ground.

As he was thrown upside down, the orb in his pocket rolled out.

Crunch!

After crushing the orb, Ulan turned.

To find his next prey.

Then, an assistant supervisor, barely regaining composure, announced the result.

“L-Lian Arca!”

“Dalon Serti! Eliminated!”

Already two were out.

As the assistant supervisors’ shouts ceased, the boys in the arena hastily formed a formation.

“Everyone, stay calm!”

“Those two were just caught off guard!”

“On my signal, we all charge at once!”

“If we attack together… Ugh!”

But their plan was meaningless.

While they were busy talking, Ulan was already acting.

Thud! Crack! Crash!

Boys flew one after another.

As the numbers in the arena dwindled rapidly, the boys began to counterattack one by one.

Of course, it was already too late.

Boom! Crash!

Ulan charged like a bull, breaking their formation. Then, he grabbed the collar of the boy who had been giving orders earlier.

“Gah! L-let go! Ugh!”

Diyan Morteshi, one of Himel’s gang and the mastermind behind this alliance. Ulan used him as a shield to block attacks.

It was highly effective.

“Damn it! You bastard!”

“Let Diyan go!”

The boys hesitated to attack.

Especially Himel’s gang. And their hesitation was a direct path to defeat.

Thud! Crack! Crash!

Ulan’s fists shattered jaws and noses. None of the boys hit by his fists got back up.

A brutal, destructive attack that crushed everything in its path. Ivella watched the scene, dumbfounded.

‘…He’s strong.’

Incredibly so.

What if she were his opponent?

She pondered but quickly found the answer. Ivella would lose. No matter how she thought about it, there was no chance of winning.

Then.

The one-sided hunt came to an end.

“Gah! Gurgle!”

The last boy standing foamed at the mouth and collapsed. Now, only Ulan remained standing in the arena.

The arena fell silent in an instant.

Gulp!

The sound of swallowing was unusually loud. Then, Ethan burst into laughter. As if there was no need to think, he declared.

“Ulan Bator, S-Rank.”

No one objected.

Ulan’s fight was that primal, intuitive, and overwhelming. Ivella clenched her fist without realizing it.

‘The world is vast, after all.’

Who would have thought such a monster existed?

And he was around her age. For the first time in a while, a competitive spirit filled Ivella’s eyes.

‘Ulan, was it?’

Somehow, she felt they would meet again.

So, Ivella muttered Ulan’s name several times. She stole one last glance at his wild horse-like back muscles before turning away.

To head to the next exam.

4.

Right after the last boy fell.

Ethan’s voice reached Ulan’s ears.

“Ulan Bator, S-Rank.”

A single line announcing the result.

Ulan tossed Diyan, whom he had been using as a shield, aside. He had planned to break Diyan’s orb last, but it seemed to have shattered already.

Probably broke while being used as a shield.

After finishing his barbaric thoughts.

Ulan headed out.

Once again, gazes poured onto him. But this time, the looks were quite different from when he entered the arena.

Tension, fear, awe, and more.

A spirited warrior would feel a sense of pride and puff up their chest under such gazes.

But Ulan was indifferent.

He had received such looks many times in his past life.

Instead, he looked around.

‘Did Ivella leave?’

He scanned the arena’s surroundings, but her figure was already gone.

‘Too bad. I wanted to say hi.’

Ulan was on good terms with all seven heroes, but if he had to pick the closest, it would undoubtedly be Ivella.

They had known each other the longest among the seven heroes and had saved each other’s lives numerous times.

‘And above all…’

In his past life, Ivella was the only one who opposed Ulan’s decision to stay behind and buy time.

“Why do you have to stay behind!”

Her voice, unusually emotional.

“We can send the injured back and fight together! We can definitely win! There’s no need for you to sacrifice…!”

Ivella shouted vehemently.

But Ulan didn’t listen.

As a warrior, he had a gut feeling.

That staying behind was the best choice.

Realizing the decision couldn’t be undone, Ivella shouted with a face that looked like she might burst into tears at any moment.

“Hold on. Survive no matter what! Even if the cave collapses, I’ll come to save you!”

A comrade who worried about Ulan until the end.

That’s why he was even happier to see her.

Of course, in this life, they had no connection yet, but he still wanted to say hi.

‘But if she’s already gone, there’s nothing I can do.’

I’ll say hi after we enroll.

With Ivella’s skills, she should be able to pass the remaining exams without issue.

Having organized his thoughts.

Ulan headed to the next exam.

Southern Eagle Hall.

The exam site for ‘Monster Hunting.’

Chapter 5. Entrance Exam

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