Already inside Spectra, looking around, I could see lots of students gathered, talking, and making new friends.
Not caring about any of that, I kept walking toward the training field.
One goal was clear in my mind: get the 100 points the system offered for the mission.
It was too tempting to refuse.
Didn't matter if I'd get completely crushed or make a bad first impression on Seraphina.
It's always a thing in stories. The guy who ends up in another world avoids the main characters, doesn't want to get involved or piss them off.
I planned to do the same, but if there were rewards, then the story would have to change.
I needed the points to unlock more abilities.
Survival was the priority.
===
Arriving at Spectra's training field, I wasn't that surprised. It looked exactly like I'd described it in my novel.
The buzz of activity immediately grabbed my attention.
The place was a storm of energy. Since classes had just started, cadets of all levels were training hard, trying to improve their skills.
Suddenly, my eyes were drawn to one particular duel that stood out from the rest.
Arthur, standing with perfect form, was facing Kai, an opponent who looked intimidating with his height and muscles.
His gauntlets, glowing under the morning sun, clashed against Arthur's sword in a fight that mixed brute force and refined technique.
"How long are you planning to stay on the defensive, Arthur?"
Arthur, on the other hand, blocked Kai's strikes with ease.
"Don't get cocky."
Arthur swung his sword with smooth movements, pushing Kai back.
'Looks like they're about to get serious.'
Far from that scene, in a quieter part of the field, stood Seraphina.
Her solo sword training captured a sense of pure focus. Her red hair flowed with every move, contrasting with her green eyes that glowed with determination.
Her swordsmanship left nothing to be desired.
'Now that I'm here watching her train, I feel like I lost a bit of the drive I had.'
I watched from afar, hesitating.
I knew she wasn't the type to run from a fight.
Then, suddenly.
Moved by an impulse I didn't even fully understand.
I walked toward her, feeling the urgency to get this over with quickly.
She was alone. None of the other protagonists were nearby. This was my chance to try starting a challenge.
"Fight me."
My voice came out sounding arrogant, not on purpose, just from nerves. Do people always mask insecurity with arrogance? Or was it just me trying to hide how anxious I was?
Seraphina's response was a sharp look, sizing me up from head to toe.
"Why would I fight you?"
Her question dripped with disdain, which was expected.
"I just want to duel you."
I tried to adjust my tone, but it was already too late.
"No."
With one word, she tried to shut me down.
"Why not?"
"Why would I bother with someone like you?"
I knew I was invading her space, but the whole "Someone like you" thing... yeah, that hit a nerve.
Still, I held back, realizing this conversation was going nowhere. So, I went for provocation.
"Pfft! What's wrong? Afraid you'll lose?"
Her irritation was clear. But I didn't care anymore. The bad impression had already been made.
Even if I was in a new world, in a new body, I still had my pride.
She straightened her stance, eyes burning not just with focus, but with fury. The crowd nearby started to sense the tension, and the duel became inevitable.
"Tsk!"
She clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed.
Before I could react, Seraphina had already taken a battle stance, feet firm on the ground and eyes locked in, making it clear she was ready to fight right then and there.
As we got into position, I realized this wasn't just about earning the 100 points the system promised.
It was a chance to see how strong Evan's abilities really were.
She raised her sword toward me.
"Where's your sword?"
"I don't need it."
Evan's shadow manipulation was way easier to use than I imagined.
It felt way more natural to control something that moved like an extension of my body than swinging a sword.
"Don't lie. I saw you picking a sword during the weapon selection. How are you gonna fight without it?"
I shrugged, trying to look chill. Truth is, I'd already screwed everything up anyway.
"I'll wipe that arrogance off your face."
Before the fight started, Arthur showed up, drawn by the growing crowd. His usual bright energy lit up the space around him.
'What? His duel with Kai already ended?'
"Hey, what's going on here?"
Seraphina answered without taking her eyes off me.
"This guy wants a duel. Looks like he thinks he can beat me without even using a sword."
She was exaggerating a bit. Actually, a lot.
Winning without a sword did sound pretty arrogant.
I just wanted a duel.
Arthur looked at me, surprised, then smiled.
"Now I gotta see this. You sure about that?"
"Well, I just wanna fight."
Which seemed to piss her off even more.
Arthur laughed and stepped aside to give us space.
"Alright then."
Seraphina raised her sword, eyes locked on mine, while I got ready to use my shadows.
The crowd went silent as the tension grew.
"Ready?"
I asked, trying to sound confident.
"Always."
...
She came at me first, her sword cutting through the air in precise arcs.
I countered with my shadow powers, summoning black tendrils that twisted around me.
Clang!
The shadows crashed against her sword.
That's when I noticed her expression shift.
The confident, bold stance she had suddenly turned into surprise. For a brief second, I saw something deeper in her eyes.
Clank!
The metallic ring echoed again as my shadow tendrils clashed with her blade, pushing her back.
'I thought catching her off guard would give me the upper hand, but I wasn't ready for that kind of reaction.'
She looked frozen—not because of the attack itself, but because of the nature of the shadows I was using.
'Are my powers really that strange?' I wondered.
Her wide eyes were glued to the shadows, and she hesitated, like she was trying to process what she was seeing.
The confusion was clear on her face.
But I didn't think too hard about it.
In fact, I tried to take advantage of the moment.
I had to go all in right from the start.
'Since she doesn't know what my abilities are, she's probably caught off guard, and that's my small edge.'
I rushed toward her with everything I had while she was still on the defensive.