21. The Reason For Surrender

[The winner, Reet!!]

The referee’s voice echoed across the training grounds.

William’s solar plexus. Reet’s fist stopped just inches before it.

That fist—William had witnessed it clearly.

Yes—he had caught it with certainty.

“Well, I suppose I’ve lost,” William said, scratching his head.

“Incredible!! He beat a Sage too!!”

“He defeated both a Holy Knight and a Sage!? This guy’s gotta be the strongest one here.”

The arena erupted at the victory of the Classless youth.

But the one in question couldn’t hear that roar.

Those eyes!

William’s eyes had tracked Reet’s fist clearly. If William could use “Fire Lance,” he should have been able to use “Fire Wall” as well. Just as Reet—using borrowed techniques—could instantly activate “Dragon’s Breath” right after “Sacred Blade,” William had the same right.

He might have cut it too close to fully activate it, but if he’d managed to cast it, he could have halved the destructive power of that punch.

If he had done that, the match might have gone either way.

And yet William had conceded of his own volition.

Reet didn’t understand what that meant.

“Too bad~”

William swept his forelock aside with a flick of his fingers, then extended the opposite hand.

“Complete loss.”

A refreshing smile.

Yet somehow it was deeply unsettling.

Reet couldn’t bring himself to grasp the offered hand immediately.

After hesitating a moment, he finally gripped it back.

It was cold.

Or more precisely, he felt that it was cold.

There was something about him—some bottomless depth lurking beneath the surface.

Then he released the handshake and turned on his heel.

But after walking a few steps, he stopped.

“Your ability really is amazing,” William said, leaving those words behind as he resumed walking.

And with that, Reet understood everything.

William knows my power!!

Everything fell into place with that realization. Back then, if things had continued as they were, Reet’s fist would have certainly connected with William. If that had happened, Reet could have copied whatever power William possessed.

To prevent that, William had conceded at precisely that moment.

And Reet had told no one about this ability except Sara. Reet knew better than anyone that Sara wasn’t the type to babble other people’s secrets. So it couldn’t have leaked from her.

Yet that guy knew.

Just who was he really?

Doubts about William’s true identity swirled inside Reet’s head.