Villain : Nonchalant Greedy-Chapter 14: A win For the Newbies

Clem dropped to the ground, exhausted. A bit of dust clung to his scalp, but he quickly pulled himself together. Huff! Slash! Bam! He rolled aside just in time to dodge a vicious strike.

The blow meant for him smashed into the rocky walls of the arena. His eyes widened in disbelief. Was this really just a first-year activity?

He rolled again. "Damn it! What is this madness? Stop it already—there's a copy of that idiot right there! Why are you chasing me?!"

Clem was barely holding his own against his opponent in the academy's new 3v3 event, "Prove Your Recklessness!"

He'd mocked the title earlier, thinking the matches would be like street fights—random punches and kicks.

But why the hell is that guy carrying an iron axe?!

The axe nearly clipped him again, but thankfully, one of Sarl's clones came to his rescue—Boom!—hitting the axe-wielder from behind and knocking him to the ground.

"Ugh! That hurts!" The clone didn't stop; it darted toward the second opponent, who was swinging a whip wildly out of fear.

The clone's speed and reflexes allowed it to slip through the attacks and land a solid blow to the student's gut, sending him flying out of the ring—vomiting everything he'd eaten.

"I'm never~ joining again—ugh bleurgh!"

The supervising instructor watched in disgust. He gestured for the medics to retrieve the vomiting student, but they hesitated, frozen in place. How were they supposed to approach that mess?

Sarl's clone moved again, this time toward the next opponent—grinning maniacally, mana surging in his hands. It meant he'd broken through his limits and advanced to Arcane Pulse.

Arsene watched in silence. How are they supposed to beat someone an entire promotion stage ahead? Sure, they outnumbered him, but his skill and raw power far surpassed theirs.

Sarl turned to the instructor, annoyed. "Aren't people in Arcane Pulse banned from participating?"

The instructor smirked. "As long as he's still a first-year, I don't care if he's in Stage Five. Fight. Don't be cowards—it's three against one. Technically four."

"Pfffft," Sarl scoffed.

His clone was struggling against the grinning lunatic. The guy was strong—despite being thin, short, and spiky-haired. Arsene could already tell from his physique that he was a Singular, but what kind?

That was Arsene's question now as he continued to watch the fight.

He had suspicions—but he needed more time to confirm them.

Sarl joined his clone. "Together, we can take him down!"

The opponent laughed wildly. "Ahahaha! Yes, join up! Come at me! Show me your recklessness—all of you! Step up!"

It was a bold claim—but given his strength, he had every right to be bold. Arsene turned to Clem. "Do you trust me, Clem?"

Clem lay on the ground, looking like he'd lost all his energy—but Arsene knew he was faking. He was just lazy. The type who wouldn't move unless things got really bad.

Or unless they were out of options—which, in Clem's mind, they definitely were. They couldn't beat someone in the second stage of Singularity Promotion: Arcane Pulse.

Arsene smiled coolly at him. "Get up and join Sarl. I've got a plan—but I need time. I'll take him down alone."

"Ugh, man, I don't thi—"

Clem was about to whine, but the cold smile on Arsene's face shut him up. Slowly, he rose to his feet.

"Fine, fine... Mr. Strategist. Just don't take forever!"

Arsene's eyes were locked on their opponent. "That depends on him."

Clem frowned at Arsene's strange comment but didn't question it. He joined Sarl and his clone, and the three of them began their coordinated assault. Strikes flew, kicks landed, but the opponent stayed one step ahead. His strength was brutal—and it was wearing them down.

Clem was panting, drenched in sweat and dust. "Ars... we can't hold out much longer. Now's the time—you won't beat him once we're all down."

All three—Sarl, his clone, and Clem—were at their limits. Exhausted. In pain. Their attacks lost precision and rhythm. They were being picked off one by one.

"Hah! One left," the opponent grinned. "Shame you didn't jump in with them, Arsene. Maybe then, you'd have had a chance. Just maybe.

Haha! Chance? Kidding. You never had one. Not when your opponent is me."

Arsene smirked. "You do realize it's over."

"What the hell are you babbling about? Over? You mean the fight? Sure—it's over... but not now.

It ended long ago. The moment I became your opponent, you were already doomed! This fight was over before it even started—AHAHA!"

Arsene stepped forward with a cold, chilling smile. "No, you fool. I meant your time limit."

With that, he delivered a blindingly fast straight punch to the face, followed by a sharp kick to the gut.

BOOM! Brutal, precise strikes—his opponent had no chance to react. He collapsed, stunned and wide-eyed in shock.

Arsene loomed over him. "Your time to use that singularity... is up. You've reverted to Stage One."

The fallen Singular chuckled weakly, holding his head. "Ughh... So that's it, huh? You were waiting for my singularity to expire. But you think the fight's done? Just because we're on the same stage?

You can't beat me even like this—I'm still stronger. Still more skilled. I won't ask how you figured me out... but let's see who wins this!!"

AAAGGHHH!!

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This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

Eventually, the match ended—with victory for the underdog team: The Newbies.

The opposing Singular was screaming and clutching his head... before collapsing, unconscious.

Arsene stood, breathing heavily. Blood dripped from his lip, bruises across his body—but nothing serious.

He lied to the instructor, claiming the screams were from Singular Rebound—a side effect of a magic-type singularity that temporarily simulates Arcane Pulse.

Technically, it was a minor subclass—lacking access to purified mana and without the real strength of a full promotion. The body couldn't handle even that small borrowed portion for long.

The explanation made sense. The instructor nodded. Magic-type Singularities were known for harsh side effects—but he hadn't realized they could be that harsh.

Arsene didn't want anyone to know he'd used his own Singularity to rot the enemy's mind. If that got out, restrictions would be placed on him—especially since his classification was still Grade 0.

Later, Clem and Sarl demanded an explanation—how had he figured out their opponent's Singularity?

Arsene explained that their strength levels were initially equal—but then his power suddenly surged without warning. That was the giveaway.

He gambled on that assumption—and won.

Clem suspected Arsene had used his Singularity to identify the opponent's—but Arsene hadn't been close enough, according to his own words during the last test.

Or so it seemed.

In truth... he was close.

A few drops of blood—not his own—still clung to his body.

The academy's first combat event was over.

Team Newbies won.

Team Overachievers fell.