Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Unexpected Enemy Chapter 62: Unexpected Enemy After Milly’s match concluded, the arena prepared for the second round-a clash between the second-year students of Solara Magic Academy and Braveheart Knight Academy.

I stayed seated with my friends, planning to watch until the very end.

The other Braveheart students were equally eager, their anticipation palpable as they waited for the next battle to begin.

The arena, damaged during Milly and Aisha’s intense fight, had already repaired itself.

This was thanks to the arena’s magical mechanisms, which allowed it to self-restore after battles.

Now, the space looked as pristine as it had been at the start of the day.

With everything set, Professor Lowen stepped forward and announced the rosters for the second match.

— Second-Year Match: Solara Magic Academy Weaver Ether Nyssa Braveheart Knight Academy Darian von Auditore Fiora von Valtieri Ema — As both teams entered the arena, I couldn’t help but focus on Braveheart’s side.

Darian and Fiora were names that had circulated among the academy’s students-they were considered prodigies.

Darian von Auditore came from the renowned Auditore noble family, famed for their legendary assassin techniques.

He wielded dual daggers, a fighting style that reminded me of Elan’s twin-blade assassin techniques.

Then there was Fiora von Valtieri, a scion of the Valtieri family, known for their exceptional spearmanship.

With Darian, she formed a duo that was hard to rival, and both were among the best in Braveheart’s second year.

Beside me, Julius seemed proud, a hint of admiration in his eyes as he watched Darian and Fiora take their positions.

From what I’d heard, they respected Julius as a senior and a role model.

On the other side of the arena stood Solara’s team.

Among them, one figure stood out immediately-Nyssa.

As the professor introduced the participants, I could feel a dark aura emanating from her.

She wore a black magical cloak and hood, clutching a staff that seemed to pulse with an ominous energy.

She was nothing like her teammates.

A shiver ran down my spine.

Something felt wrong about this match.

“Let the battle begin!” Professor Lowen declared.

The Braveheart team wasted no time, launching an all-out offensive.

Their strategy was aggressive, leaving no room for defense.

Darian dashed forward, his movements fluid and lethal.

He activated his skill, [Auditore Assassin Skill: Breath of Death], a single-strike assassination technique that delivered a perfectly timed stab to the heart or throat.

Fiora followed closely, leaping high into the air with [Valtieri Spearmanship: Lion’s Leap], aiming to drive her spear downward with devastating force.

Their teammate Ema joined the assault, her sword dancing in rhythm with Darian and Fiora’s attacks.

But then, something chilling happened.

Nyssa, standing alone, faced their onslaught with an unsettling calm.

She didn’t flinch.

Instead, she raised her staff, murmured an incantation, and cast [High Dark Magic: Void Sanctuary].

A dark spatial zone expanded around her, slowing time and rendering her untouchable.

The Braveheart team’s relentless attacks came to a halt as if frozen in place.

The spectators gasped in shock.

Even the professors couldn’t hide their disbelief.

Dark Magic was forbidden, a power steeped in danger and taboo.

Yet, Nyssa wielded it effortlessly.

With her opponents immobilized, Nyssa smiled coldly.

She unleashed another spell-a wave of dark energy that tore through Darian, Fiora, and Ema.

The arena fell silent as everyone watched in horror.

Nyssa didn’t just defeat them; she dismantled them with cruel precision, leaving them broken and helpless before finally releasing her hold.

The match ended abruptly.

Braveheart’s team lay injured on the ground, their wounds severe enough to require immediate medical attention.

The once-energetic stadium was now eerily quiet.

I turned to Julius, whose face was a mask of fury.

He looked ready to jump into the arena, but his teammates held him back, urging him to stay calm.

Beside me, Envi’s voice echoed in my mind, his tone heavy with unease.

“Nao, that was Dark Magic, wasn’t it?

How is she able to use it?” “I don’t know… Who is she, really?” I muttered, my gaze fixed on Nyssa.

As if sensing my thoughts, she looked directly at me, her lips curling into a cold smile.

“Damn it,” I whispered, my heart pounding.

“She’s connected to the Shadows-I’m sure of it.

I need to tell Amelia.” …

After the unsettling second-year match, I approached Amelia to share my concerns about Nyssa.

She confessed that she, too, had felt something ominous about the girl.

“Be careful, Naoki,” she warned.

That night, I met with Amelia and Sander to discuss Nyssa’s strange power.

“What do you know about her?” I asked Sander, hoping for some insight.

To my surprise, Sander shook his head.

“Nothing,” he admitted.

“I’ve been at Solara Magic Academy for three years, and I’ve never seen or heard of a student named Nyssa-let alone one who wields Dark Magic.” This revelation sent a chill down my spine.

It felt like someone was deliberately interfering with the tournament, possibly to create chaos.

We agreed to tread carefully around Nyssa.

I also mentioned that Instructor Morgan had been conspicuously absent all day, adding to our unease.

To ease our minds, we decided to patrol the academy grounds that night.

Yet, no Shadows appeared, and there were no signs of any suspicious activity.

With no leads, we called it a night, resolving to rest up for the third-year match tomorrow.

…

The next day, just as the third-year match was about to start, the arena was thrown into chaos by an unexpected event.

Professor Lowen stood at the center, announcing the lineup: — Third-Year Match: Solara Magic Academy: Arden, Sander, Windy Braveheart Knight Academy: Julius von Starlight, Termina von Stormheim, Naoki von Blackmore — The air was tense as both teams gathered at the edge of the arena.

Professor Lowen was about to begin when an alarming report came in: Arden, a key participant for Solara Magic Academy’s team, was missing.

Whispers spread like wildfire through the crowd.

No one seemed to know where Arden had gone, and it was clear that the professors were just as puzzled.

Without Arden, Solara’s team was reduced to two members-Sander and Windy-against our full roster of three.

Unease rippled through the audience, and murmurs of confusion filled the arena.

Just as the situation reached a boiling point, a calm yet sinister voice cut through the noise.

“I’ll take Arden’s place,” Nyssa declared, stepping out from the crowd with an eerie composure.

All eyes turned toward her.

The black-cloaked figure from yesterday’s match walked forward as if the chaos didn’t faze her in the slightest.

Her dark aura was suffocating, and the mere sight of her made my stomach churn.

Sander and Windy visibly tensed.

They exchanged nervous glances, their faces pale.

I didn’t blame them-after witnessing the terror Nyssa unleashed the day before, the idea of her joining their team must have felt like a double-edged sword.

The proposal sent a wave of protest through the Braveheart Knight Academy students.

Cries of indignation echoed in the stands, voices rising in unison to reject the idea of allowing her to participate.

“Dark Magic users shouldn’t even be here!” someone shouted.

“This isn’t fair!” another yelled.

Among the uproar, Julius took a step forward, silencing the protests with a sharp motion.

He unsheathed his sword, its gleaming blade pointed directly at Nyssa.

“I accept,” he declared coldly.

His golden eyes burned with a fierce determination.

“I’ll avenge my juniors and teach a commoner like you some manners.” The crowd fell silent, stunned by his boldness.

Professor Lowen and Aldin exchanged uncertain glances.

It was clear they weren’t entirely comfortable with the decision, but Julius’s resolve left them little choice.

After a moment of hesitation, they nodded in agreement.

— The Revised Lineup With Nyssa now substituting for Arden, the match was set: Solara Magic Academy: Sander, Windy, Nyssa Braveheart Knight Academy: Julius von Starlight, Termina von Stormheim, Naoki von Blackmore — As the six of us stepped into the arena, the air seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment.

Then, Nyssa moved.

A suffocating wave of murderous intent washed over the arena, freezing everyone in place.

It was an oppressive, all-encompassing darkness that seemed to crush the very air from our lungs.

I struggled to stay on my feet, my heart pounding in my chest.

Dark Magic radiated from her like a storm, wild and untamed.

For the first time, I saw Julius hesitate.

His confident posture wavered, if only for a split second.

Beside him, Termina gripped her glaive tightly, her knuckles white from the strain.

“This is bad, Envi,” I muttered under my breath, barely able to keep the tremor out of my voice.

“No kidding,” Envi replied grimly.

“That aura… it’s unnatural.

She’s not just powerful-she’s dangerous.” Dangerous was an understatement.

Nyssa wasn’t just exuding power; it was as if her very presence was a declaration of her dominance.

I stole a glance at Sander and Windy on the opposite side of the arena.

Both of them looked shaken, their confidence visibly cracked.

Windy, usually so cheerful, was now biting her lip nervously.

Sander stood rigid, his hand on his sword hilt, but even he looked unsure.

Who could blame them?

Partnering with someone like Nyssa must have felt like inviting disaster into their ranks.

The match hadn’t even properly started, yet it already felt as though we were caught in the jaws of something far bigger than ourselves.

Nyssa stood at the center of it all, her dark aura swirling like a living shadow.

She didn’t look at Julius, Termina, or even me.

Instead, her gaze wandered lazily across the arena, as if we were mere insects beneath her notice.

I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing.

“Don’t let her intimidate you, Naoki,” I told myself.

But it was easier said than done.

Julius, however, seemed to recover his composure.

He raised his sword, his eyes narrowing.

“The plan has changed, I’ll fight Nyssa, Naoki you fight Sander,” he said firmly, his voice cutting through the oppressive atmosphere.

“No matter what kind of magic she uses, she’s not invincible, and i’m confident I can beat him with Starlight swordsmanship.” His words carried a little bit of conviction, I knew that Starlight swordsmanship used light magic elements and it was very effective against Dark Magic, although not as effective as divine magic.

Actually, I was a little hesitant, but I agreed with Julius’s change of plan.

Beside him, Termina nodded, her usual fiery determination flickering back to life.

I took a deep breath, focusing on the task ahead.

This wasn’t just about winning a match anymore.

Something about Nyssa-her presence, her power-felt wrong.

Sinister.

This match was no longer a test of skill or strategy.

It was a battle for survival.

And deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever Nyssa truly was, she had no intention of playing fair.

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