Rebirth of the Ruined Noble



I arrived at the grand ranking battle arena, its vastness taking my breath away. The stage before me stretched out, a colossal expanse measuring an impressive 30 meters in width and 50 meters in length. It was a battleground where the students could unleash their skills and engage in combat to their heart's content. 

The magnitude of the arena struck me once again, as I realized that there were seven other equally immense stages scattered throughout the auditorium, amplifying the sense of awe and anticipation.

Standing in front of me was Gene Clayton, a young man with a shock of clue-haired locks and an average physique. In his right hand, he tightly gripped a sword, while a single-handed shield adorned his other. His stance conveyed a readiness for battle, a glimmer of determination shining in his eyes.

As per the regulations, the academy had meticulously organized the battles, ensuring that challengers provided their lists of opponents to be challenged at least two hours prior to the fights. This systematic approach ensured fair matchups and gave time for the challenged individual to prepare.

For this particular battle, I had made a strategic choice—the spear. I recognized its advantages in this situation, the extended reach granting me an edge over my opponent. With the spear in hand, I could keep Gene at a distance, striking from afar while minimizing the risk of his swift swordplay.

We stood, eyeing each other across the stage, tension building in the air. The staff in charge of judging the battles raised their voices, commanding the attention of all within the arena.

"Rank-508, Eren Pendragon, versus rank-258, Gene Clayton. Begin!"

The battle ignited in a flurry of motion. Gene and I moved with agility and purpose.

His sword and my spear collided as the clash of weapons echoed through the arena.

Gene was slightly pushed back showing my superior strength.

I danced around the stage, leveraging the advantage of my spear's reach, striking with calculated precision and maintaining a safe distance.

Gene, armed with his sword and shield, attempted to close the gap, his shield serving as a stalwart defense.

He defended my stabs and slashes with his sturdy shield refusing to take any damage.

But he was unable to injure me either due to hiding behind the shield, he didn't even get a chance to counter attack me.

At first glance, he seemed to have the upper hand as none of my attacks were able to deal any kind of damage to him.

However, as the fight prolonged, the limitations of his strategy became evident. Hiding behind the shield hindered his mobility, restricting the range of his sword strikes. With each failed attempt to breach my defenses, his frustration grew.

His sword failed to reach me even when he tried to counter attack as I swifty jumped back avoiding direct combat.

I took advantage of Gene's predicament, exploiting the distance between us. Every time he lunged forward, seeking to unleash his sword's lethal potential, I sidestepped his attacks with ease, the spear extending like a serpent's strike. 

My strikes found their mark repeatedly, testing the limits of his defenses and wearing down his resolve.

As the battle wore on, Gene's movements became more desperate, his sword swings growing wild and erratic. 

Gene, relying on his shield for protection, attempted to advance and close the gap between us. However, his reliance on the shield became his downfall. As he hid behind its defensive cover, his sword failed to reach me, thwarted by the extended reach of my spear. There was a clear difference between the disparity in our strategies.

A defining moment arrived—a culmination of strategic precision and relentless perseverance. Gene realized the futility of hiding behind his shield, a shield that had become a burden. 

Realizing his disadvantage, Gene made a split-second decision. Abandoning his shield, he focused solely on his swordplay, aiming to find a way to breach my defenses. Yet, the calculated distance I maintained proved insurmountable. Every swing he made fell short, unable to bridge the gap between us.

Without my notice, I had gotten much faster and more agile. I was not able to notice the growth as I was accompanied by Zephyr in the training but in this fight with Gene, I could clearly see my improvements.

I could predict his sword movements ahead of time and my body moved on it's own to dodge the attack.

Simultaneously my brain thought of a counter attack and my muscles acted in response.

It was as if I had become a machine, the proficiency in my fight has increased beyond my expectations.

With very little movements, I was dodging his attacks and counter attacking at the same time too.

As the fight progressed, Gene's frustration grew palpable. He was helpless after noticing the clear gap between our abilities.

Not to mention the fatigue, which crept into his movements. His swings lost their initial fluidity. Meanwhile, I was still in good condition, without even a hint of exhaustion.

Losing to his exhaustion, Gene delayed picking up his sword after failing to reach me.

My eyes noticed his mistake.

Seizing the opportunity presented by Gene's waning energy, I launched a swift and relentless assault. 

Exploiting his momentary hesitation, my spear struck with precision and speed.

I avoided fatal areas and only went for leg and shoulder as my win was pretty much confirmed at this point.

With each precise thrust and feint, I whittled away at his stamina and resolve.

A resounding clash echoed through the arena as my spear found its mark once again. Gene's sword was knocked from his grasp, leaving him momentarily defenseless.

The match came to a standstill as the surroundings went silent.

"....I…Concede..."

Gene said as he closed his eyes with frustration. He had tried his best but it was bad luck that he was chosen by me.

Even if not for the exile, I was already strong enough to be in the Kshatriya class of the Freljord academy. He had little hopes of victory in the first place.

"Match ends. Victor, Eren Pendragon."

The staff announced as he heard Gene's confession.

I lowered my sword in response and extended my hand to Gene.

"It was a good match."

I said as Gene shook hands with me.

That was the least I could do.

---***---

Bonus Chapter ~ (For reaching 200 power stones per week)