Coming to the place where Group A's tournament was taking place — the same group that Michael was part of — he saw an arena surrounded by wooden walls, and in fact, the entire stadium around the arena was made of wood.
Then, a guy walked up to Michael and started speaking in a mocking tone, "Would you look at that? It's the one who got Level 4. I heard you lost to Ralph without landing a single hit on him."
Ralph, who was nearby and heard his name, began to listen in.
"That means you're just a weakling!" said the guy.
"And what makes you so sure I'm weak for you?" Michael asked.
"Hah! Because you lost to a weakling!" the guy answered.
That didn't sit well with Ralph, and he decided to step in.
"Everyone in this tournament is a weakling to me — there's no one here worthy of fighting me!" the guy declared.
At that moment, Ralph tapped the guy on the shoulder and gripped it tightly.
"Shut your damn mouth, Zigrane! I've had enough of you!" said Ralph, visibly angry at the guy named Zigrane.
"Oh! So the very same weakling Ralph has come to see me," Zigrane replied, sneering with an ironic grin.
"I've gotten way stronger since last time!" Ralph said.
"So what? Should I remind you how many times I completely defeated you in the last tournament?" Zigrane replied.
Ralph got even more irritated at first but then calmed down and smiled, "Since you want to bring that up, should I remind you how you were completely defeated during the main stage of the last tournament… by him?"
Zigrane's expression changed.
"That was the last tournament. I've gotten much stronger since then!" Zigrane snapped.
"Well, we'll see. I heard he's participating in this tournament too — and what's more, people are calling him the favorite to win the tournament," Ralph said, still smiling.
Michael was listening to their conversation, feeling a little confused. "Whatever happened between those two?" he thought.
"Hey there, Michael! Oops, I mean — weakling!" said Spinner, grinning as he walked up to Michael.
"Oh, you're here too, Spinner? Where's Renald?" Michael asked.
"Renald's in a different group, so his matches are in another arena," Spinner replied.
The tournament's commentator was none other than the old man who was also the village elder.
"Well, my dear friends, the time has come for the second qualifying stage of the tournament! I hope the participants show us all their strength to move on to the next stage!" said the old man. "Now, I ask the first participants to prepare for the arena."
Michael went to get ready for his match.
"And now! Entering the arena are participant number 2, Michael Blazeheart, and number 136, Zigrane Vaynran!" the elder announced.
"So you're my first opponent," said Michael seriously.
"Oh! It's the same weakling who lost to Ralph!" Zigrane mocked.
"Celebrating your win a bit early, aren't you?" said Michael.
"Ugh! Someone shut him up already! He's really getting on my nerves," thought Ralph as he watched Zigrane.
"Go ahead, start your attack. I'll even let you have the first move!" said Zigrane mockingly.
Michael decided not to waste the opportunity and went in for an attack — but just when he thought he had hit Zigrane, the guy vanished from view. A moment later, he was standing behind Michael.
"What? Where did he go?" Michael thought.
"Hah! How boring! You're so slow," Zigrane said, yawning.
Hearing him behind him, Michael tried to strike Zigrane at full speed quickly — but again, Zigrane dodged and reappeared behind him.
"Oh! I've got an idea!" said Zigrane as Michael tried to hit him again. And while dodging, Zigrane kept teasing him: "Let's... try... challenge… just like… with Ralph!... Try to… hit me… within… a minute…"
But then Zigrane froze in place, and his mood shifted because this time, instead of turning around before punching, Michael delivered an elbow strike straight into Zigrane's stomach.
Ralph and Spinner, who were watching the fight, burst into laughter at the scene, and Michael cracked a smile too.
"What were you saying earlier? That I had to hit you within a minute? Well, what now?" Michael said, still smiling.
But suddenly, Zigrane landed a heavy punch to the back of Michael's head, sending him flying.
"You humiliated me in front of everyone! You'll regret that!" said Zigrane with a sly grin — though he was clearly furious for losing his bet even before the fight had begun.
"Damn, narcissist!" thought Ralph. "Although, am I really that much better? The only difference is the reason why we do this. He does it for fun, and I…"
After that, Zigrane began repeatedly striking Michael hard from behind.
"Damn! Why does Zigrane always vanish the moment I try to land a hit?" Michael wondered. "Wait! I get it now!"
"What's with that look on your face? Like you just figured something out?" asked Zigrane with the same smirk.
"You… You're a speed mage?" Michael asked.
For a moment, everything around went silent. Then Zigrane suddenly burst out laughing.
"It took you this long to figure it out? Yeah, I'm a speed mage, and that little fact won't help you now! A few more hits like this, and you won't even be able to move!"
Zigrane continued to beat Michael using his speed magic. Michael didn't know how to counter such attacks, and after a few more blows, he collapsed, unable to get up.
"Looks like I lost. I can't even stand anymore…" thought Michael.
"3, 2, 1! And the winner of this match is participant number 136 — Zigrane Vaynran!" the elder announced.
Zigrane started walking off the arena.
"I'm not surprised," said Ralph, watching the end of the match.
"Why haven't I mastered magic yet?" Michael wondered, thinking that was the reason he had lost.