My Second Chance In Life In Another World

CHAPTER 63: THE MASKED SWORDSMAN

LEONARDO'S POV

Let's go back in time a bit to when Will had just entered the fighting ground.

I was waiting in the bushes for what Will had mentioned earlier - a bullying incident. The sun had already set, and there was still no sign of Alad or Will. Honestly, if it weren't for the girl waiting beside me, I might have bailed before sunset.

"They're not coming," Fia said, scanning the surroundings.

"Yeah, maybe Will was just lying to us?" I joked.

"No! Will would never do that!" Fia retorted, quite worked up about my jest.

"I'm sorry; it was just a joke," I said.

Why does Fia get so worked up when talking about him? I can't help but feel a little jealous.

"Maybe something didn't go according to plan, and Alad found out," Fia contemplated, considering various possibilities.

"If that's what happened, it means they're in danger right now. Let's not think about that possibility. I know Alad, and he won't stoop that low," I assured her.

I had known Alad since our first year. Yes, he was arrogant and hot-tempered, but he was also competent in what he did. He often helped train our classmates who struggled with their training. He did it in a way that might make him appear as the bad guy, but I knew he couldn't express himself properly.

That's how I saw Alad. So when I heard that he was bullying someone, I found it hard to believe. I needed to check it myself, and if Will was lying, I'd have to deal with him severely.

"I can't wait any longer here. I'll search for Will first and ask what happened," Fia said, standing up, ready to leave.

"Wait, I'll join you; I also need to talk to Will," I said.

She nodded, and as we began to leave, someone suddenly jumped from a tree near the bushes we had hidden in earlier and landed in front of us.

"Who are you?" Fia asked, getting on her guard.

The person in front of us wore a mask that covered his entire head. I could guess he was a man based on his body proportion. The masked guy didn't answer Fia and just stood there silently without uttering a single word.

"I'll ask again, who are you?" Fia inquired, now readying herself to attack if he made even a single move.

The masked guy still didn't answer and just stood silently.

"Maybe he has no business with us; let's go. We have matters to attend to," I suggested, then started to walk past him. But he suddenly unsheathed his sword, making me jump backward.

"What are you doing? Are you looking for a fight?" I questioned, unsheathing my sword too.

I waited for his response, but he didn't reply and just stood there, holding his sword ready to attack at any moment. What's wrong with this guy?

"It seems like I can't pass if I don't beat you, right?" I inquired.

He nodded.

So, he didn't want his voice to be heard, which is why he wasn't speaking.

"Are you out of your mind? Are you really challenging the Ace swordsman and the rank one magician of this school?" I asked. But he didn't reply.

"I don't have time to put up with your farce right now. I have matters to attend to, so please leave, or I'll fight you seriously," Fia stated firmly, making it clear that she was busy, and if he didn't stop, she would really get serious.

The masked guy didn't reply again and just stood silently.

"It seems like you really want to get hurt that much," I said, readying myself.

"I warned you," Fia said before preparing to cast a spell.

"Rock bullet!" Fia shouted, and suddenly, a clump of rock the same size as a water ball but with a pointy end appeared and headed towards the masked guy.

He's dead. When Fia gets serious, you need to run or apologize quickly, or else brace yourself for the beating that comes after. I've seen it with my own eyes in the past, and that's also the moment I fell in love with her.

The rock bullet sped toward the masked guy, but to our surprise, it got sliced in half and fell to the ground. What just happened? Did this masked guy really slice through Fia's rock bullet? Who is this guy? He might be a problem.

"It looks like you have the skill to back your arrogance in challenging us," I said before rushing toward him.

"Sharp nail!" I shouted, activating my skill, doubling my speed and aiming at his body. Suddenly, his sword blocked mine. How strong is this guy? My speed had doubled, and he was still able to block it. Is he a saint-class swordsman?

After blocking my attack, he attempted to kick my sword to disarm me, but I immediately sensed it and jumped backward.

"Just who are you?" I asked, bewildered by this mysterious masked man.

In response to my question, he just stood there silently.

****

WILL'S POV

After my first win, I defeated thirty more opponents who came after. It was challenging because of my current body's condition. In the first ten matches, I managed to win without taking any damage, but the opponents who followed gave me cuts and bruises. Luckily, none of the wounds were too deep. Maybe if I were in peak condition, I wouldn't have gotten these cuts and bruises, as so far, my opponents weren't that strong, and they were all desperate to win, making their movements predictable.

"Now for the 32nd match, let's welcome the fourth-year student, Jabal!" Alad announced, and Jabal entered the arena.

"Now, the 32nd match begins!" Alad declared, and the fight started.

My body felt incredibly heavy, and I wasn't sure if I could last through the remaining 18 matches, but I had to; otherwise, Crestia and I wouldn't be able to escape this place.

Jabal didn't make a single move after the match began. Perhaps he observed that all the previous matches had ended with opponents attacking me. He was on his guard, and I didn't like it. He wasn't desperate and was thinking straight, which would make this tough.

"Hey! Why aren't you both moving?" someone in the audience shouted.

I didn't make a move, taking advantage of the chance to rest. Perhaps he realized it and started to attack me.

He didn't activate any skills, simply using basic slashes. I kept parrying his attacks and sometimes dodged, but I knew he was waiting for an opening. If that's what he wanted, I would give it to him.

After parrying his last slash, I pretended to be off balance. He noticed quickly and tried to seize the opportunity. When he stopped the basic slashes and began to activate a skill, I activated mine first.

"Shit!" He cursed, realizing he had fallen into my trap.

"Single shot!" I shouted, doubling my strength and hitting him directly in the body. He fell to the ground.

As I tried to kick his sword away, he suddenly dodged and slashed my left leg.

"I won't fall that easily!" he said, still on the ground, smiling.

But before he could stand, I used my right leg to kick his face, knocking him out.

I had avoided causing him significant harm by trying to use only one skill and kicking his sword. However, this cost me a painful wound on my left leg.

"The winner of the 32nd match is none other than Will again!" Alad announced.

As the audience cheered, I felt a sharp pain in my leg, but I couldn't afford to show weakness. Crestia and I needed to escape, and I had more opponents to face.