"After that, I met you… Ain't one good day until then."
Wrapping his black scarf around his neck, Ezra shot a smile over at Aaron, who silently stared back.
The black-haired boy had spoken about his past in a very factual and broad way—the true depth of his torture remained hidden, like a wound that closed but never healed.
"Ezra…"
Aaron pursed his lips as he met the boy's multicolored eyes, an understanding coming between them both.
He doesn't want my pity.
Nodding his head slowly, he walked over and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, squeezing it lightly.
"I'll beat Raphael to a pulp for you. How'd you like that?"
Smiling, Ezra held out his hand to his one and only friend, the only person other than his sister that he could trust, even if he wasn't prepared to open up completely just yet.
Aaron Grimstall was different from Marco, Otto, or even Stein.
Their fists collided in a fistbump, and they laughed as they continued chatting, devising strategies for the soon-to-be fight.
Only when the clock chimed to eleven thirty did they part ways, a wave and a nod signifying their strengthened bond.
…
As the officials patted him down for contraband, he stared down the long hallway, the sound of intense cheering beyond that of what he had ever experienced before filling his mind.
This is it. No turning back now.
The man beside him quickly finished the inspection, giving him a thumbs up, and then started reciting the rules Aaron had familiarized himself with the night before.
"A contestant will be eliminated upon a severe injury or a loss of consciousness, one causing inability to continue fighting or to stand up within seconds. Mutilation is allowed only if the cut is clean, allowing the affected body part to be attached back, and only against opponents with a functioning mana core. All spells are allowed as the barrier will deflect everything, yet we ask that you refrain from Dark Magic as it has negative connotations with the spectators."
The man paused, reaching the end of the list.
"Any injuries sustained during this fight will be accounted for in your score and finalized rank per the Hunters' Guild Exam Standards—HES for short. If you have any further questions after your fight, please refer to the handbook, section 102.3, to find your contact person. That is all."
Listening seriously, Aaron remained stern-faced and silent like a seasoned fighter, a trained monster ready to be unleashed.
However, inside his mind, the nervous tension ate away at his spirit; the only reassurance he was getting was from a woman over a thousand years old.
『Do not think this will be easy, Aaron. Your opponent isn't normal.』
Waving his hand, the man beside him gave the signal for Aaron to enter the arena, the clock mounted on the wall reading eleven fifty-eight.
As the young challenger began to walk down the hallway, one could faintly hear a mumbling come from his lips.
"You think I think this will be easy…?"
He and Penelope continued to whisper to one another until he reached the end of the hallway, where the light descending from the open space ahead mixed with the darkness inside the building.
Stopping right before he would be shrouded in the sunlight, Aaron took a deep breath, activating all the necessary abilities simultaneously.
Foresight allowed him to precisely determine the conditions of the arena—a slight, dry humidity clinging to the sky with a less than one percent chance of rain.
Absolute Tranquility hid his presence from even the Sea Kings, his body looking like an empty shell to anyone who tried to gaze into him.
Mana Vision swarmed his gaze with thread after thread, yet moving his hand through the illusory strings, he erased most of the distracting ones that connected to the audience.
The last of his abilities, Doppelganger, was left unused, a pointless waste of mana in a fight where he would already be revealing a large majority of his tactics.
At his hip, Ocean's Bane was in the form of a sword, not a dagger, his training with the stiletto not quite at a point where he felt comfortable.
"You ready?"
Speaking towards the voices inside his head, he heard Penelope's quiet tone come first, her confidence overflowing.
『Always.』
Taking a step forward, his eyes widened as he heard the sound of the Naelith's laughter resurfacing after a long time, a sharp pain digging into his heart.
A-again?
Touching his lip, he once again felt dried blood seep out, the odd black solution different than anything he had seen before.
His vision blurred at the edges, and he stumbled against the wall, his head a whirl of dizziness and fog.
The sound of Penelope calling out to him made him jump, and the excruciating pain in his chest vanished like a dream, along with Naelith's perturbing voice.
"What was that…"
There was a pause from the woman before she spoke, her tone heavy with a terrifying realization.
『He's draining it… Your lifespan…』
Aaron's brow furrowed as he wiped his lip with his hand, grumbling.
"My lifespan?"
He waited for her response, which came soon after, a pit in his stomach growing ever-larger.
『The Naelith… He's saying you agreed to it… It's apart of that favor you owe him.』
The boy's expression paled, recalling the hasty contract he had made with the Apex of Life during the first part of the exam.
Looking towards the ground, he thought for a moment before speaking up.
"How much of my lifespan has it taken so far?"
For a long while, Penelope didn't respond, and the pressure that had been building since he had first felt the pain in Akari's hospital room now increased.
『Twenty years…』
Aaron's eyes widened, slowly but surely, his hand coming over his mouth in a mindless gesture of horror.
"No… That can't be…"
He stopped, thinking back to every day since he had first felt that strange tinge of pain in his heart.
Whether it be morning or night, evening or midafternoon, at one point or another, he had felt his heart skip a beat followed by the echo of laughter, sharp and chilling.
Closing his eyes, he clenched his fists tight, then opened them again, locking onto the light before him.
The noise of the announcer hyping up the crowd boomed through the dark hallway, making the boy's rage build.
"Naelith…"
He spoke directly to the creature.
"I swear to you that I will uphold my end of this bargain, but you have to do something for me."
The boy paused, and the sound of Penelope exhaling hard filled his mind.
"Let me save Eleanor before you kill me… That's all I ask…"
Gripping his sword in his hand, he glanced backwards, down the hallway, and noticed a tiny creature scurrying around as if trying to avoid his sight.
It seemed that Mr. Crab had crawled out of whatever hiding spot he was occupying while Aaron resided in the city, likely attracted by the grand show that was soon to follow.
What Aaron didn't know was that his tiny form had split into thousands of microscopic creatures, strategically placed around the arena as if to guard it, although, in fact, they were only there to spectate.
Even in a space far beyond the Sea of Mystery, at the northern-most tip of the world, the deepest point of all, an old man relaxed in his chains, a smile plastered across his face.
Watching the young boy slowly but steadily walk out of the hallway, and the golden sunlight wash over his face, the Old Man clapped his bound hands together loudly.
"And so it begins! You really must watch this, my friend! That old seven-headed fool won't descend in that time, so take a break and enjoy the show!"
For the first time in a very long while, the creature in the darkness beyond the Old Man opened its eyes, gazing into the reflection behind the mirror and watching Aaron Grimstall bask in the arena's glory while the pain of inevitable death loomed in the distance.
…
Entering the arena, Aaron's eyes immediately locked with Raphael's from across the battlefield, their muscles tensing as the announcer screamed over the radio.
"INTRODUCING AARON GRIMSTALL! THE FIRST RANKED HUNTER THROUGHOUT THE HUNTERS' EXAM AND THE MAN CHOSEN BY TWO MARSHALS!"
Looking up in slight confusion, the blond boy silently lamented that his offer by the swordsman had been leaked to the press.
Is nothing a secret anymore?
Frowning, he quickly verified that all his mental defenses were holding out even under the thousands of expectant gazes, the deity in his head remaining quiet and still.
Then, another screech came out of the speakers, and Aaron shifted his focus back to the announcer's booming voice.
"ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STADIUM, RAPHAEL VON STEINFESTE! THE FIRST ROUND FAVORITE AND THE MAGE WHO BEAT THE MAN IMMUNE TO MAGIC!"
The crowd went wild as the announcer finished, and thousands of voices came together to chant the countdown, signalling the start of the match.
"THREE!"
Throughout the world, there had never been an event capable of attracting and hosting so many people in the same place, but this tournament changed that, leaving a clear mark on the history of the world.
"TWO!"
In the highest box, three Sea Kings glared downward at the semi-invisible boy, his figure an odd blur to their sight, like the foam of clashing waves on a stormy sea.
"ONE!"
Aaron and Raphael tightened their grips, one around a sword handle and one around the slim body of his notorious staff, the last second before they would become enemies stretching on for what felt like eternity.
"ZERO!"
The two figures vanished, a blur of light enveloping the entire arena.
Vibrations spread along the barrier as the two boys clashed, Ocean's Bane against a spear of liquid light.
Sparks with the ferocity of a dragon's breath shot out at rapid speeds, the entire audience gasping at the sudden action.
Kicking outward, Aaron twisted his hip and slashed his sword in a full circle, attempting to cut Raphael's stomach.
Anticipating the strike, the young noble slammed his staff into the sandy floor, pushing down with his arms and launching himself in the air like a circus performer.
Floating above Aaron, he snapped his fingers together, a spell coming from his lips faster than the blond boy could react.
「Golden Halo」
The shining radiance reflected for a moment in Aaron's eyes before the Holy Magic tore through his skull.
Agony coursed through his body; however, he held on to consciousness, reaching out and grabbing the floating boy by the ankle.
The smell of burning skin and hair erupted through the battlefield, yet without even flinching, he pulled Raphael out of the sky, spinning his sword around and digging it into his opponent's leg.
Releasing a loud grunt, the white-haired noble slammed the but of his spear into Aaron's hand, forcing him to lose control of Ocean's Bane.
Leaping backwards while touching his face, he felt burn scars wrapping around the flesh, pieces of his skin still burning.
Dammit… That really hurt!
Summoning Penelope back to his grip, he paced around in a circle, watching the noble's moves without blinking.
I don't want to have to use any of my real attacks on him… Especially not in front of them…
Glancing up at the audience for a moment, he felt the intense glares of the Sea Kings bore into him, watching his every move.
They want a show? Hell, then I'll give them one!
Hearing the joints in his metallic leg click together, he smiled, noticing Raphael preparing for another assault.
"Good luck."
Whispering the words quietly, Aaron launched forward at a speed faster than sound, the boom that followed sending a shockwave throughout the stadium.
Transforming his blade into a dagger, he appeared in flashes, stabbing at various parts of the other boy's body without mercy.
One stab connected with Raphael's left arm, another with his hip, and finally one with his stomach.
As he prepared for another ambush, Aaron felt his instincts screaming at him to move, his entire body falling back on itself to dodge.
「Light's Radiance」
A beam of pure divinity erupted through the arena, barely sliding past Aaron's cheek and slicing off a strand of turquoise hair.
CLOSE!
Breathing heavily, he launched forward, the dagger in his hands switching to a shortsword, which he used to slash at his opponent.
Right before he appeared at Raphael's side, the blond boy dug his heel into the floor, springing upward with his false leg and gaining the high ground in the air.
Raphael's eyes immediately widened, his staff surging up to try and intercept the young Grimstall before he could finish his strike.
Yet, it was too late—Ocean's Bane was already sailing through the sky after the blond boy threw it with all his force.
Unable to avoid the attack, Raphael stretched his hand, and a small golden tattoo flared up with a brightness that made Aaron's head spin, burning away the bandages that had covered it before.
『Sun Shield』
His voice came out in a hurried wreck, a barrier resembling magma itself appearing between him and the blade.
High in the booth above, the three Sea Kings leaped from their seats, their jaws slack, and their eyes wide.
The magic of the King of Wishes had just been used, and their interactions with Belvedere were enough for them to know what it meant.
And as they watched Ocean's Bane streak in a magnificent arc and collide with the shield, Cauron Thorn spoke quietly.
"The successor has appeared…"
His eyes glazed over as the turquoise sword tore through the heavenly barrier forged from weak, yet unmistakable Divine Interference—something that no ordinary blade could possibly manage.
"W-what?"
Vaelmyr's startled speech came out quick, and the other Kings, as well as the Guild's president sitting with them, all shared his bewilderment.
In absolute confusion, they watched as a seemingly average sword shattered the barrier of a King's heir, erasing the Divine Interference without much trouble and slicing straight through Raphael's right arm.
The blade wielded by the God Slayer himself had once again, after nearly two thousand years, tasted the blood of the Divine, and it wasn't satiated yet.