The three rounds of the Monthly Dueli had e to an end.

  While the defeated disciples wailed in frustratioing their losses, the agony of squandered Sect Points, and the sting of overfidehe victors sat ba satisfa, pride etched across their faces.

  In the end, only thirteen disciples had triumphed in all three rounds.

  Reon, too, sat fortably in his spot and exhaled a quiet sigh, his thoughts ced with boredom.

  "Hah! There's no one worth fighting after Tian Ju,"

  His sed and third-round oppos were ranked outside the top 50—nothing special.

  Though, to be fair, even Tian Ju had been disappointingly weak.

  Still, reag Rank 18 ier Sect Disciple Rankings was something—for now, at least.

  Then—

  A powerful voice echoed across the arena, snapping him from his thoughts.

  "All winners, step forward to receive your rewards!"

  Whoosh!

  One by ohe victorious disciples leaped into the arena.

  Reon followed suit, his gaze shifting to the other twelve winners beside him.

  Nine of them were the op Disciples—faces he had seen before.

  Among the remaining three, two were familiar.

  Yang Lie.

  Yang Mi.

  His brows furrowed.

  "So, Yang Lie has already climbed to Rank 8... and Yang Mi is now Rank 5?"

  Both of them had defeated others to cim their positions.

  Their strength was undeniable.

  But then—

  Reon's eyes nded o unfamiliar figure.

  A sudden jolt of shock coursed through him.

  The man stood tall, exuding an air of unshakable fidence. His presence alone demanded respect, radiating an overwhelming aura of power—ohat surpassed even the op Disciples.

  Reon smirked.

  "So this is the thirteenth winner... And here I was, searg for him like hunting rabbits."

  His eyes narrowed.

  "The top disciple of the Outer Sect, huh? A mo this stage of the novel."

  But then, a question him.

  "How did he even appear as a winner?"

  "Why didn't I notice him fighting before?"

  Then, realization struck.

  "ht. As the stro Outer Sect disciple, this was one of his privileges. He never even has to fight.

  He's automatically decred the winner of every Monthly Dueli without so much as registering.

  But, of course, if anyone dares to doubt his strength… they're free to challenge him."

  Reon's lips curled into a knowing grin.

  "That is, if they've also won all three rounds."

  Perhaps he wasn't here to pete at all—just to amuse himself while scouting for potential rivals.

  As he was lost in thought, a sudden voice jolted him from his daze.

  "Alright, since everyone is here, the rewards shall now be distrib—"

  The announcer's voice tly cut off.

  "Who cares about that measly reward?" Zi interjected, his voice brimming with impatience. "I choose Yang Lie for my Special Round—I want a sword spar with him."

  Immediately, another voice joined in—louder and filled with raw aggression.

  "Hell yeah! Screw the reward. I want to fight Yang Lie too!"

  It was Rou Jin, Rank 4 of the Outer Sect—a bulky warrior with a notorious reputation for his brute strength.

  Reon's face darkened as he screamed inwardly.

  "Hey, you fuckers! What the hell are you talking about?! My reward! Screw your Special Round—I want my rewards now!"

  Then—

  Another decration came.

  But this time…

  Two voices.

  At the exact same moment.

  "I want to fight Xue Taiyang."

  Silence.

  Reon's heart stopped.

  "...What?"

  He wasn't sure if he had misheard.

  Him? Someoually wao challenge him?

  No—two people did?

  His head instinctively so his right.

  Who in their right mind would waste a rare opportunity in the Special Round just to fight Xue Taiyang—a so-called nobody?

  And then he saw the first person.

  His breath hitched.

  The very foundation of the novel's story. Without him, the events of this world would never have unfolded.

  A… he was here.

  Challenging him.

  Yes, he was the protagonist himself.

  Yang Lie.

  Reon's mind spiraled in fusion.

  "Why? Why would Yang Lie want to fight me? Shouldn't he be fighting... her?"

  "No, wait—he should have fought her i Monthly Dueli."

  "Go to hell with that! Why me?! I've been keeping a low profile ever since arriving in this world! He should be fighting stronger people!"

  A sinking feeling twisted in his gut.

  Then—

  He turo the sed person who had spoken.

  And his breath caught in his throat.

  Shock.

  Pure, unfiltered shock.

  Not just Reoire arena fell into stunned silence.

  Then, like wildfire, whispers spread among the disciples.

  "What... is this? Why are two of the most promising talents challenging a no-name?"

  "Yang Lie, the greatest genius of this year… aoo?"

  "Her? Shouldn't she be challenging the top disciple? The only one who could rival her?"

  "Yes! Yes! What in the world is happening here?!"

  .

  .

  In the arena, Reon's fists ched tightly.

  "Just... why?"

  She was a heroine.

  The very one who, in the inal story, was destio face Yang Lie.

  The duel that was meant to unfold i Monthly Dueli.

  But this time, it wasn't Yang Lie.

  It was him she had e to challenge.

  There's no tract between them, and he had never sought su enter.

  Yet here she was.

  The girl sloroached him, her every step deliberate and measured.

  Reon's gaze slowly lifted, log onto the figure standing before him.

  Her pierg gaze was also directed at Xue Taiyang.

  Her long pink hair cascaded gently in the breeze, while her sharp, intelligent eyes gleamed with amusement.

  At her waist, a saber rested—its presence silent, yet loud in its implication. A testament to her mastery of the bde.

  Her stance was unwavering.

  Noble.

  fident.

  She was undeniably a Heavenly Beauty.

  However, with a single gnce, Reon could tell——this was a woman who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals.

  There was no reason for her to approach him uhere was something far deeper behind her challenge.

  Something he couldn't yet grasp.

  Yes, she was Yi Ran.

  The very one who would ter be known as the Deceptive Saber Demoness.