Jay stood in the middle of the school’s gymnasium, surrounded by shouting students and flashing phones.
He had just finished a nap. A very good nap.
Now he was in a duel.
How? Excellent question.
20 Minutes Earlier...
"Jay Arkwell! I, Rento Kael, rank #7 in the school, challenge you to a formal duel!"
Jay blinked up from his lunch tray. "Can I finish my pudding first?"
"No!" Rento snapped. "You humiliated Lance, solved the Crystal, and fooled the Council President. I won’t allow you to keep strutting around with that smug, lazy face!"
Jay took a long, slow spoonful of pudding. "This is strawberry. You can’t rush strawberry."
Jay wore a borrowed gym shirt. His name was misspelled. "Jey Arkwheel."
Rento, meanwhile, stood across the ring wearing his custom combat uniform: gleaming pauldrons, elemental gauntlets, and enchanted boots that hissed with power.
The crowd was electric. Cameras were rolling. Even teachers had gathered.
At the front sat Alicia Renvale, arms folded, gaze locked on Jay like she was trying to decode a puzzle without all the pieces.
Jay raised a hand lazily. freew\ebno\vel..(c)om
"Uh... Just for the record, I don’t want to do this."
Rento powered up with a dramatic fist glow. "Then surrender, Faker!"
> [System Notice: Duel Challenge Accepted Automatically. Ranking System Initialized.]
• Victory Reward: 999x Physical Stat EXP
• Consequence of Loss: Public Shame (Also lunch detention)
Jay sighed. "Let’s get this over with."
Rento shot forward in a flash of lightning.
"[Thunder Fang Rush]!"
He closed the distance in a blur. Fist pulled back, crackling with mana.
> [Host in Danger. Auto-Evasion Skill Active: 999x Reflex Multiplier Engaged.]
To everyone watching—it looked like Rento was about to land a clean hit.
The sneeze carried him just far enough.
Momentum unbalanced, Rento flew forward.
Jay, reacting with half-asleep instincts, raised a hand—
—and accidentally karate chopped Rento right in the throat.
Rento collapsed like a sack of magical potatoes.
"He countered mid-sneeze! That’s peak control!"
"Is he using an ancient martial art? Sneeze Style?"
"Unorthodox. Brilliant. Terrifying."
Jay looked around in confusion. "Wait. He fainted?"
A medic rushed in. "He’s fine! But he’s unconscious and... crying a little."
> [Victory Confirmed.]
[999x Physical XP Gained | Strength +20 | Agility +30 | Perception +15]
[Reputation Up: +100 | Title Earned: Accidental Assassin]
Jay checked his sleeve. "I got snot on my shirt."
Jay walked toward the exit, hood up, trying to disappear.
But the halls were whispering again.
"Legend says he trained in a temple on a mountain of boredom..."
"He defeated Rento with a sneeze. What’s next? A yawn combo?"
"President Alicia’s watching him. Is she scared? Or... interested?"
—and nearly bumped into Alicia herself.
She stood there, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
"Jay Arkwell," she said quietly.
"Please no more duels," Jay begged.
She ignored that. "I don’t buy it. There’s no way this is coincidence."
Jay tried to smile. "Maybe I’m just lucky."
Her eyes narrowed. "I don’t believe in luck that consistent."
She stepped closer, voice cold: "Who are you really?"
Jay opened his mouth to reply—
[Hidden System Function Unlocked – "Elite Surveillance Detected." Activating Cover Protocol: Random Distraction.]
The hallway lights flickered. A water pipe exploded nearby.
A random fire alarm blared.
Jay stared at the chaos.
"...Okay, even I didn’t do that."