A wide stage for sparring. Facing each other, Morgan and Deon drew their swords with fierce red eyes. Morgan also pulled out his sword, having smooth wrists as he had removed the handcuffs during his approach.

“If you defeat me, you pass.”

“Yes.”

Starting with Morgan blocking Deon’s fierce attacks, the battle between the two began.

Riche and Philip stood on opposite sides of the arena, watching the fight.

[Won’t they get seriously hurt?]

‘I should jump in right away if that happens.’

Riche held a star fragment in her hand and said.

Though it started with Deon’s excuse, it was undoubtedly a preliminary task.
Until the outcome is determined, no one could intervene in the duel between the two.

One move, another move.

Precise attacks and defenses. And conversation.

In line with the purpose of using the preliminary round as an excuse to converse, Deon continued to ask Morgan questions.

“You’re not dating, but you held hands?”

“Because of the handcuffs.”

Certainly a challenging opponent.

While Morgan thought it was overwhelming to block Deon’s attacks, he maintained a relaxed expression on his face.

[If I judge that you won’t keep your promise, I’ll step in myself.]

Communication with the chief echoed in his ears.

Although the qualification certificate could be obtained from another instructor, it wouldn’t be a good thing for news of losing to Deon to reach the chief.

Since the chief’s judgment is relative. Even if he couldn’t believe in himself who had failed the preliminary task once, as he had already experienced elimination in the qualification assessment.

‘What should I do.’

Morgan pondered while deflecting Deon’s sword. Neither Deon nor Morgan were sincerely engaging yet.

If they were to fight in earnest, they had to face it with the determination not to die.

It didn’t appeal to Morgan to do that in front of Derkedion or Riche.

Deon, wielding his sword against Morgan, also sensed the dilemma in Ian’s mind, which contained more information than the black horse.

‘Does this guy hesitate to look at me right now?’

Deon narrowed his eyes.

In fact, Deon’s mind was complex. His known sister, while kind to people, tended to avoid them once she crossed a certain line as it became burdensome.

Such Riche sticking close to Morgan Dial, whom she had hardly seen.

‘Riche can recognize abilities, right? Then did Morgan Dial recognize Gerwer?’

Even so, it was unforgivable. Just the handcuffs alone made it so. It could have been easily cut off. It seemed like nothing more than Gerwer’s piece of work.

… He really looks down on Roadwick. Deon asked Morgan.

“Did you let go of your sword last time because of that arrogance?”

“It wasn’t arrogance. It was because my skills were lacking.”

“Nonsense.”

At Deon’s sharpened sword compared to a while ago, Morgan, with force in his hands, let out a bitter smile briefly.

‘Really.’

That Deon let go of his sword last time was indeed because of his skill.

Deon wouldn’t believe it, but it was indeed because he had dropped the sword.

Moreover, at that moment, he felt a tingling pain in his wrist.

“In your past life in Retyom, you died at the age of 16. Due to the fate intertwined with Retyom, death will continue to chase you. The death at the age of 19 that Retyom will face will be the guide to the death you missed, making you seek it.”

The last day of the 16-year-old mentioned by Hikanka.

Because Ian Dwayne did not face the death of his past life due to the duke Gerwer being in the ice.

However, death had been relentlessly chasing Ian since then.
Even though the curse that my father bestowed upon me has disappeared, the night remained dreadful.

[Morgan Dial. Are you Ian Dwayne Gerwer?]

In a nightmare, deaths that seemed unreal whispered to Morgan. Try to run away. I won’t let you escape.

A close game of cat and mouse. Even if he ran, swatting away the fingertips of death reaching for him, death soon found him again.

“With such arrogance, do you think you can receive the qualification certificate?”

Deon’s ominous gaze. Anyway, he had no intention of giving in.

The sweat that had formed trickled down Morgan’s temple. Despite moving so intensely, not a single drop of sweat appeared. Indeed, Derkedion was formidable.

‘I can’t win this.’

Morgan made an awkward smiling expression. In that moment, Deon witnessed that smile. Underestimating me again. Deon swung his sword forcefully, knocking Morgan’s sword away.

“Oops!”

Riche, who had been watching the duel of the two without even breathing, let out an exclamation. The same scene as during the qualification assessment. Deon’s chillingly gleaming blade was aimed at Morgan, who had lost his sword.

But it didn’t end there. Deon’s sword rose again, as if he would strike Morgan down immediately.

[Oh! That’s right! Derkedion! Don’t go easy! We need to clearly distinguish between the winner and the loser!]

Pythos cheered for Deon, clenching his fists. Moreover, Morgan Dial had sent away a demon. There was no need to show mercy to the enemy.

Riche bit her lower lip. She still couldn’t intervene. The decision for the final task belonged to Deon, the examination instructor.

‘Please, Deon.’

Strangely, Morgan felt uneasy. Even though Morgan was the one who sent a demon to the Hwangnip Academy. Perhaps it was because of the appearance reminiscent of Ian, making him think of Ian. He hoped Morgan wouldn’t be seriously hurt.

‘It’s over.’

Morgan recalled the qualification assessment with a bitter smile. If Derkedion senior rings the bell. It would be natural to fail the task.

He wanted to leave immediately to perform the task of another instructor before Professor Declan reported his failure to the chief.

Hannivan, the head of Udik Academy. It was inevitable that Riche became his target.

‘I hope it won’t be too severe.’

The other instructor’s task that he had originally intended to see was to obtain thirty hearts of demons.

If the injuries were significant, it would be somewhat challenging to deal with the demons.

Deon’s sword descended.

“Oh, Oppa!”