Extra To Protagonist-Chapter 26: Battle Royale (2)

A sharp crack echoed through the air as Merlin vanished from his spot.

Seraphina's breath hitched.

'Fast—!'

Before she could react, a sudden gust of wind howled past her. Her instincts screamed at her, but it was already too late—

CLANG!

Adrian barely managed to block. His axe trembled as it met Merlin's rapier, the impact forcing him to skid backward.

'Shit—!'

Ice exploded beneath Seraphina's feet as she launched herself forward, her body twisting mid-air. She conjured a jagged ice spear in her hand and hurled it at Merlin's head.

Merlin didn't even turn to look.

He tilted his head slightly, letting the spear graze past his cheek before it embedded itself into the ground behind him.

Then he spoke.

"...That's all?"

Adrian clenched his teeth.

'He's toying with us.'

Without hesitation, he swung his axe downward, a burst of water surging behind the attack.

BANG!

The ground shattered under the force—

But Merlin was already gone.

A blur of movement—then Adrian felt something cold press against his throat.

Merlin's rapier.

"...Too slow," Merlin muttered.

Adrian barely had time to react before—

CRACK!

A massive ice wall erupted between them.

Merlin clicked his tongue as he dashed backward, watching the thick barrier form.

Seraphina landed beside Adrian, her hands outstretched as cold mist billowed from her fingers.

"Stay sharp," she murmured.

Adrian exhaled, steadying himself. "Like I have a choice."

On the other side of the ice wall, Merlin exhaled slowly, gripping his rapier.

Then, ever so slightly—

He smiled.

'Not bad. They are better than I had anticipated. I guess this much is expected from the team of the protagonist huh?'

Looks like things were finally getting interesting.

The ice wall cracked slightly, mist curling along its edges as Seraphina reinforced it with another layer of frost.

Adrian exhaled sharply. "That was way too close."

Seraphina didn't respond. Her eyes remained locked on the barrier, waiting for movement.

Then—

CRACK.

The entire wall seemed to be cracking down like a glass wall.

Adrian's eyes widened. "Wait, did you—?"

Seraphina's expression darkened. "That's not my doing.."

SHATTER!

A chunk of the ice collapsed, revealing nothing but an empty field.

Adrian and Seraphina both tensed.

'Where is he—?!'

A gust of wind roared from behind them.

Adrian turned just in time to see Merlin—standing directly behind Seraphina.

His rapier was already moving.

CLANG!

'W-What the hell is that speed—'

Seraphina barely managed to raise an ice blade in time, blocking the thrust at the last second. Her arm numbed from the impact, but she grit her teeth and retaliated—forming jagged ice spikes beneath Merlin's feet.

"Too slow."

Merlin's voice was calm—almost lazy.

His foot flickered out of existence for a split second, his body twisting unnaturally as he avoided the ice spikes with minimal movement.

[Trickster's Reflex.]

A skill designed for unpredictable dodging—his body automatically adjusted to avoid lethal strikes.

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Adrian lunged, swinging his axe in a wide arc.

Merlin leaned back at an impossible angle, the axe barely missing his chest as he subtly brushed his hand against Adrian.

[Courier's Mark.]

A subtle pulse of mana spread outward as Merlin left a mark on Adrian.

Adrian had no idea.

Seraphina, however, was already moving—her eyes narrowing as she summoned a sharp, spear-like icicle and thrust it toward Merlin's head.

Merlin smirked.

FWOOSH!

His body warped, disappearing in an instant as he used both his wind and space affinity to boost his speed even further.

He reappeared midair, several meters away.

Adrian froze. "Wait—how the hell—is he so fast?!"

Seraphina's gaze snapped toward Merlin's new position.

"What the hell is with that speed...?"

Merlin casually spun his rapier, landing lightly on the frozen ground.

"I'm just that guy," he said, flashing a grin.

Seraphina's mind raced.

'Space magic... but not high-tier...it can't be that high...That means—he's using some kind of tricks—'

To her, Merlin wasn't just teleporting—it seemed like he was jumping to locations.

However, she was pretty wrong.

Her blood ran cold as she felt a sudden uneasiness.

"...Adrian, move!"

But Adrian had already felt it. Merlin had activated the skill to teleport back to Adrian.

Adrian felt a sharp pull—an invisible force yanking his body forward. Like he was fighting against space itself.

He spun right into Merlin's waiting blade.

CRACK.

Merlin's rapier pierced through Adrian's side. Making it appear like a shattered glass panel.

Adrian's breath hitched as pain flared through his torso. He barely managed to stumble backward, trying to clutch the imaginary wound like a dumbass...

Seraphina lashed out, sending a wave of ice shards toward Merlin.

Merlin vanished again using his affinities.

This time, he reappeared above her. He was moving so fast it was nearly impossible for them to follow.

His foot slammed down.

BAM!

Seraphina barely managed to block with an ice barrier, but the force sent her skidding across the frozen ground.

Merlin landed smoothly, stretching his neck.

"Man," he sighed. "I was expecting a bit more."

Seraphina slowly stood, her breathing uneven.

Adrian coughed, gripping his axe. "I don't know what the hell you are using...but it's bullshit."

Merlin grinned.

"Thanks."

—

The arena erupted into chaos.

"Did you see that?! He has multiple affinities?! A deviant?!"

"Holy shit, that's fucking aura... he's playing with them like it's nothing...!"

"Who the fuck is this Merlin Everhart?! Is he a genius?!"

Victoria sat back, an amused smile on her lips as she listened to the crowd's frantic shouts. Her eyes, however, never left the massive screen broadcasting the battle.

Her brother was still fighting.

Still winning.

'Just how many secrets are you hiding, little brother?'

—

The teacher's room was silent.

Or at least, it should have been.

"Bahahahaha!"

Morgana nearly doubled over, gripping her stomach as laughter shook her entire body.

"He's toying with them!" She wiped away an imaginary tear, her grin widening.

"..."

The rest of the instructors watched in silence. The fight was reaching its climax—but then, something new happened.

Someone else had appeared.

"Who the hell is that?"

Aldric's voice cut through the quiet as the screen zoomed in on a black-haired figure approaching Merlin's battle.

—

'...Hm?'

A chill ran down Merlin's spine.

It wasn't fear.

More like... that strange sensation of being watched.

'Whatever. I need to finish this first.'

He raised his hand.

A whip of water formed, twisting and curling as it stretched outward.

Adrian stiffened.

"W-Water too?! Are you kidding me?!"

Seraphina's breath hitched, her ice-cold composure shaking for the first time.

Adrian, meanwhile, stood there—frozen like a lake in midwinter. His lips trembled, curving into a hollow smile.

Merlin's voice was calm.

Too calm.

"Let's end this."

CRACK.

The whip lashed forward.

Seraphina reacted instantly, summoning a wall of ice—but she was too slow.

The attack was mere inches from striking when—

CLANG!

Merlin's water whip collided with two daggers mid-air.

He clicked his tongue. "Ah, seriously?"

His gaze shifted to the newcomer—a figure standing at the end of his whip, darkness seeping from his very being.

'Average entrance for a main character.'

Nathan stood firm, twin daggers gleaming in his hands.

Seraphina and Adrian were behind him now—Adrian still trembling, Seraphina gripping her sword tighter.

Nathan took a slow breath.

"Merlin," he started, his voice shaking. "Please. Just give up. We don't have to fight."

His daggers lowered slightly, his stance loosening.

Merlin?

He just smiled.