The Transmigrated Author

{Rel's POV}

[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Main Stage]

Valencia's sword lay abandoned a few feet in front of me, a flash of betrayal in its polished steel.

Disarming her wasn't some noble gesture - against a character like her, any advantage, however small, was a godsend.

The fight was already a one-sided beatdown, where I was just barely dodging her lightning-infused strikes.

But within this unjust reality, I felt a little hopeful. Maybe, just maybe, this fight could go my way.

huuuuu...

My lungs felt like collapsing, and the pain of each breath was burning through my chest.

[HP: 35 / 98]

[Mana Percentage: 19%]

Blood was pouring out from me in many forms... Everything was a blur right before my eyes, the world reduced to the pounding of my heart and the fear clawing its way up my throat.

It's either in these last few minutes I lose or I win.

Nothing in between.

My foot, guided by pure instinct, swept the katana out from under her reach, sending it skittering across the platform with a metallic screech.

Now, I have the upper hand... a bow against Valencia bare-knuckled, she was stripped down to the most basic form of combat.

Three minutes.

That's all that had passed since she unleashed her Elemental Zone.

Her mana had to be strained. At most, she could manage two more minutes in that amplified state, judging by her condition.

It was noticeable, the subtle change in how she moved – the slight hesitation, the traces of fatigue in her eyes.

She'd improved, no doubt, but those limits still existed.

And every second I could buy myself… every second counted.

***

"Fight without your bow," Valencia demanded, her voice a sharp difference to her battered appearance. "This isn't fair."

Rel knew the proposal was a trap. Even with her looks he wouldn't be swayed.

Even with his bow, the advantage was hers. She knew Aura and Rel did not, Aura in this situation was best suited when it came to close combat.

He'd been a fool to think he could learn it; the whole idea of power from the soul was too improbable.

"No," he said simply. Every word was a battle in itself against the exhaustion wracking his body.

"hmph..."

Valencia's brow furrowed before she charged.

DASH!

TAK!, TAK!, TAK!

Rel unleashed a volley of arrows, a desperate attempt to keep her at bay.

WHAM!

But she was just as unstoppable as before, her aura-infused hands swatting away the projectiles as she closed the distance.

He braced himself. The bow was still an advantage, yet she was forcing his hand.

As she hurtled towards him, Rel's eyes narrowed, searching for the opening she expected him to create, the predictable dodge that would lead her into his trap.

Valencia closed the distance in a flash.

Her aura-charged fists swung towards Rel's face, but he reacted with incredible speed.

CLASH!

Rel had blocked her first blow with his bow.

He kicked, aiming to sweep her legs, but she anticipated the move, leaping effortlessly into the air.

His momentum betrayed him.

BANG!

As she came back down, she landed a punishing blow – a straight punch to his jaw.

It felt like a lightning bolt, the shock of the impact amplified by her chain reaction ability.

He stumbled backward, dazed, tasting blood.

[Critical Hit!]

[HP [19/98]

[Mana Percentage: 12%]

"fuck..." The curse erupted from him as he staggered, landing close to Valencia's fallen sword.

He staggered back, the critical hit echoing through his aching body.

Seizing her chance, Valencia bolted towards her fallen sword.

In a blur of motion, he spun his body, delivering a vicious roundhouse kick that connected with her as she landed.

bang...

The impact connected, a solid blow, but not the critical hit he desperately needed.

Valencia stumbled, but only slightly. In her eyes, she noticed his strength was weakening.

Rel scrambled to his feet, firing a quick volley of arrows.

But Valencia wasn't the same opponent he'd faced at the start.

She danced through their path, reflexes that far exceeded Rel's.

Closing in, she unleashed another aura-charged punch, aiming for his chest. Yet, the weakness she perceived was a facade.

Rel barely managed to block the attack with his bow.

Then, in a quick follow-up, she slammed her other fist into the ground.

RUMBLE... RUMBLE... RUMBLE...

A tremor erupted beneath his feet, followed by a blast of electricity that forced him to move backwards.

At that moment, Valencia retrieved her fallen sword.

Valencia capitalized on her advantage, her movements lightning-fast.

SWING!

She swung her sword, the blade crackling with her elemental attribute as a blinding arc of lightning slashed towards Rel.

He barely reacted in time, ducking the attack with a desperate lunge.

Instantly, Valencia was in the air, anticipating his evasion.

Her sword, now devoid of its aura, was aimed directly at him.

Her intent was clear – to force a surrender, to break his spirit by overwhelming him.

Rel didn't know what to do or how to react.

But he raised his bow to become a shield, blocking the sword at the last moment.

crack...

He heard a sickening crack as Valencia's strength began to overwhelm his weapon.

CRack...

She wanted to break it.

CRACk...

it was inevitable.

CRACK!

The bow snapped in two, and at the same time, Valencia's sword struck Rel's shoulder.

He rolled away, the pain a fiery jolt.

Quickly scrambling to his feet, he distanced himself from Valencia.

Fifteen meters now separated them...

SHAWWWWW!

And with perfect, terrible timing, her Elemental Zone collapsed.

The lighting around the platform dissolved, leaving the arena in stunned silence.

Valencia sank to one knee, plunging her sword into the ground, the only thing keeping her upright.

A wave of exhaustion washed over Rel, followed by a jolt of fear.

The bow... the bow... was gone...

His bow was broken, useless shards of metal littering the ground.

His only hope was a single, lonesome arrow lying near his feet.

This was it, this was his win.

"...!"

But in the end, his body betrayed him.

Exhaustion clawed at his bones, a weight pushing him down.

He couldn't move properly, every step sending jolts of pain through his bloodied body.

[Evasiveness Has Reached Its Limit!]

[Tenacity Has Reached Its Limit!]

[Mana: 0.8%]

[Warning! If your mana reaches 0% you will completely fall into mana exhaustion!]

As he struggled to stand he cursed at the system messages...

a bitter realization washed over him.

Tenacity was gone... no wonder his stamina hadn't completely given out.

His body had been reflexively used mana to replace his missing stamina.

COUGH!...COUGH!...

A violent cough wracked his body, splattering the floor with blood.

Now, with his tenacity gone, true pain crashed over him in a brutal wave.

It was as if he was only now registering the full extent of his injuries.

***

{Valencia's POV}

Dammit... is this it?

Defeated by an archer... and him, of all people?

I couldn't even lift my head. The shame was almost unbearable.

I really lost.

There was no mana left... I tried to force a movement into my muscles, but it was useless.

It was mana exhaustion that had frozen me in place.

My pride felt like broken glass in my gut.

Then, cutting through the haze of pain and despair, came a sound I never expected.

"I... I... forfeit."

Did I hear that right?

My head jerked up.

There he stood, He barely resembled the agile archer who had tortured me for an eternity.

Bruises, blood, and sheer exhaustion were all over his face.

But he was standing, raising his hand in a gesture of surrender.

Why... Did he do that?

He could've won...

____________________

Authors Notes:

- Rel's ability Tenacity can convert mana into stamina for prolonged battles.

- Rel was playing for time, waiting until Valencia's elemental zone disappeared