Akura took the lead and walked straight toward the exit.
The remaining team members followed closely behind.
Since there was no time conflict between the group match and the individual match, they figured they might as well participate in the individual round too—just to warm up.
However, at that very moment,
a team from Karlo City suddenly stepped forward and blocked Akura's path.
Akura frowned, but still stopped.
Her gaze swept over the people in front of her. When she noticed the emblem on their chests, her expression immediately darkened.
"What do you people from Karlo City want?"
The captain of the Karlo team was a young man with chestnut-colored long hair. His eyes were sharp like a hawk's, scanning Akura's body as if she were prey, and he couldn't help licking the corner of his mouth.
"Akura… do you want to become my prey?"
Akura's expression sank even further. The two lackeys behind her rushed forward at once.
But just as they were about to erupt and start hurling insults, Akura raised her hand to stop them.
With a wary look, she stared at the long-haired young man ahead.
"Lory Blade. If you came here just to humiliate me, then congratulations—you've already succeeded."
"But whatever lies between us, I don't want you dragging other people into it."
Lory gave a wicked smile, madness flashing in his eyes. He raised his index finger and waved it lazily in front of Akura and her group.
"No, no, no, Akura. You're not that important to me."
"And I didn't come here for you either."
After saying that, his gaze passed over Akura and landed on the two lackeys behind her. He deliberately put on a look of mock sympathy.
"You two… how pitiful."
"Getting tangled up with someone as ill-omened as Akura—looks like you're in for some serious bad luck this time!"
The two lackeys behind Akura immediately bristled. They glared at Lory, grinding their teeth in anger.
"You bastard! How dare you bully Captain Akura?"
"If we weren't here for the Ranked Match, I'd challenge you right now!"
"Lory from Karlo City, right? I'll remember you! After this Ranked Match, I'll teach you a proper lesson!"
At that moment, the instructor from Mylanne High School walked over with a frown.
He gave Lory a long, hard look, then shifted his gaze toward a one-eyed teacher standing in the shadows.
"Joseph, what happened last time really was a misunderstanding."
"We already apologized to you."
"Do you really have to keep pressing the issue this time?"
The one-eyed teacher sneered and stepped out of the shadows on his own.
"You people from Mylanne City are all brainless idiots. I honestly don't understand how, after making such a mistake, you still have the nerve to participate in the Ranked Match. Absolutely shameless!"
"I'll represent everyone and give your students a proper lesson—and it'll be free of charge."
With that, the one-eyed teacher snapped his fingers.
The next instant, Lory and his group withdrew on their own.
However, the expression of Mylanne High School's instructor did not ease in the slightest.
His fists clenched tightly, and an unprecedented mix of humiliation and rage appeared on his face.
"Akura, and all of you students—during the upcoming Ranked Match, you must be extremely careful."
"Above all, you need to strengthen your mental resolve. Do not let any outside influences shake you."
"As for the rest, you don't need to care. Mylanne City may be foolish—but we owe nothing to anyone!"
Standing at the very back of the team, Caelan silently watched everything unfold.
He didn't know what kind of grudge existed between Mylanne City and Karlo City—but honestly, he didn't care.
Either way, it was all just a one-hit kill and earning gold coins. Why make such a big deal out of it??
Besides, those were old grudges. What did they have to do with this current team anyway?
Akura nodded.
"I understand, teacher."
"From here on, please place your trust in us."
"Everyone—follow me through the teleportation gate and enter the Ranked Match!"
…
The Individual Match was divided into a preliminary round and a semifinal round.
The preliminary round consisted of three stages, with half the participants eliminated at each stage.
This time, over thirty teams participated. Counting all individual contestants, there were roughly four hundred competitors in total.
That meant that after the preliminary round ended, only fifty people would advance to the semifinal round.
Watching his students enter the teleportation gate one after another, the instructor couldn't help but pray silently.
"Great God of Victory, Wenlan—please protect these children and keep them safe."
On the other side,
After experiencing a brief period of weightlessness, Caelan finally set foot on solid ground again.
He instinctively scanned his surroundings and discovered that he was standing on an enormous arena—easily the size of two football fields!
Opposite him stood a contestant bearing the emblem of Lannis City.
"Heh, someone from Mylanne City, huh?"
"Kid, looks like you're in for a rough time today!"
Caelan frowned. He could clearly feel the hostility directed at him. But…
A mere level-46 scrub—who gave him the courage to challenge me?
"I don't bother talking to trash."
"You have one chance to forfeit."
The Lannis City contestant: "???"
The next instant, countless flashes of sword light flooded his vision.
Caelan calmly sheathed his sword, and a countdown prompt appeared before him.
[Matching next opponent. Countdown: 10… 9… 8…]
What kind of strength do you think you have, showing off in front of me?
Only a few seconds later, another figure appeared before Caelan.
This one was from Ironcrest City.
But… why was this guy also staring at him with such blatant hostility?
Ah, whatever. Why think so much?
Caelan raised his sword again and casually swung it.
In the next moment, the opponent was neatly sliced into several pieces.
…
All things considered, not even a full minute passed.
Caelan's figure reappeared in the same lounge as before.
Seeing Caelan suddenly return, the instructor let out a deep sigh of relief.
Before Caelan could even speak, the instructor stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder in consolation.
"Caelan, you don't need to take it to heart."
"Even if you lost, it wouldn't matter."
"These cowardly people don't dare swing their blades at the strong. They only know how to pour all their resentment onto Mylanne City."
"I know you tried your best. It's fine even if you lost."
Caelan blinked.
"But… I won."