I Don't Need To Log Out

Arlon didn't answer. Instead, he activated Eyes of K*T**.

Time slowed.

The movements of the battle stretched out before him like frames in a perfectly controlled sequence.

He could see the way Mirek's feet were positioned, the minute shifts in his muscles as he prepared his next attack.

Arlon scanned his opponent, watching every detail unfold in slow motion.

Mirek (Level 102)

HP: 35,000

Skill: Divine Aura, Auto-Barrier, Light Step

Weak Points: Lower Right Rib, Left Shoulder (Old Injury)

Arlon's eyes flicked to Mirek's shoulder. The way he moved—powerful, but slightly off-balance—suggested the old injury still affected his mobility.

More importantly, he was fast.

Even though Arlon could easily keep up, he recognized that against most opponents, Mirek's combination of speed, barrier-based defense, and offensive holy magic would be overwhelming.

Mirek twisted his wrist, and a staff appeared in his hand, materializing from thin air in a flash of golden light. Without hesitation, he swung it downward, the tip glowing with divine energy.

Arlon dodged effortlessly, stepping to the side and letting the weapon pass through empty air.

But before he could counter, Mirek's other hand moved, palm open.

A burst of golden light exploded at point-blank range.

A delayed spell—he had used his swing as a feint.

Smart.

The explosion sent Arlon skidding backward, the impact strong enough to rattle even the reinforced arena floor.

Mirek was already moving again, closing the gap instantly. He wasn't giving Arlon time to counter.

His combat style was aggressive and relentless—unlike any priest Arlon had ever faced.

The audience gasped.

"He's pushing Arlon back?"

"No way. How strong is Mirek?"

Arlon, still in slowed perception, calmly adjusted his footing.

Mirek was powerful, yes. But there was a flaw.

Every movement he made, every attack he threw—it was all backed by divine magic. He relied entirely on his skills.

Which meant...

If I disrupt his flow, he loses everything.

Obviously, Arlon could easily won if he didn't want this fight to go on. His main objective was to learn more about how priests fought, and also to show it to Carole.

Mirek lunged forward, swinging his staff in an arc meant to control the space around him. A blinding trail of golden energy followed behind, creating an unavoidable wall of light.

Or so he thought.

Arlon moved.

Without hesitation, he stepped through the light.

For a brief second, he vanished into the radiance, his form blending with the golden glow—then, he was behind Mirek, completely unharmed.

Mirek's eyes widened in shock.

Arlon didn't give him time to react.

With a single, fluid motion, he brought the flat of his blade up and struck Mirek's shoulder, targeting the old injury.

Mirek staggered, his body jerking from the unexpected pain. His auto-barrier flickered—but before it could fully activate, Arlon pressed the advantage.

He kicked Mirek's leg out from under him.

Mirek barely had time to process what was happening before Arlon's blade stopped just short of his throat.

Silence.

The golden glow around Mirek dimmed. His auto-barrier was still active, but Arlon had already proven it wouldn't save him.

If this had been a real battle, the fight would be over.

Mirek clenched his jaw, then let out a breath. "Tch… I surrender."

Orlen, watching from the side, nodded. "Winner: Arlon."

The barrier around the arena faded, signaling the end of the duel.

For a few seconds, no one spoke.

Then—

"That was insane!" a student shouted.

A wave of excited murmurs filled the stands. Even those who had expected Arlon to win hadn't expected him to dismantle Mirek so effortlessly.

"Does this mean Mei is Arlon's now?"

"Idiot, she is a living being, she doesn't belong to anyone."

"You know what I mean! Mirek needs to step back now."

"He dug his own grave."

Mirek, still kneeling, exhaled sharply and looked up at Arlon.

"You really are something else," he muttered, half-annoyed, half-impressed.

Arlon finally deactivated Eyes of K*T**. Time resumed its normal flow, and he sheathed his sword.

"You're strong," Arlon said simply.

Mirek let out a short laugh. "Not strong enough." He stood up, rolling his shoulder as if testing it. "Still... I get it now. Why Mei's so interested in you."

Arlon gave him a blank stare. "Interested in what?"

Mirek smirked. "Never mind." He turned to Orlen, giving a nod. "Thanks for overseeing."

With the match concluded, the students exploded into chatter.

Zack pumped a fist into the air. "Hell yeah! That was awesome!"

Mei sighed, rubbing her temples. "Great, now Arlon's fan club is gonna be even bigger."

Meanwhile, Carole, who had watched the match very carefully, tightened her grip on her sleeves.

She finally understood what Arlon meant earlier.

---

Mirek and Mei stepped away from the crowd, finding a quieter spot near the edge of the training grounds. The excited murmurs of students still echoed in the background, but here, it felt more personal.

Mirek exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I lost. So... I won't be going after you anymore."

Mei crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Are you an idiot or something? You should've given up even before the duel."

Mirek blinked. "Huh?"

Mei sighed. "I'm not a prize, Mirek. You don't win or lose me in a duel. What kind of logic is that?"

Mirek quickly waved his hands in protest. "No, no! That's not what I meant! I never saw you that way. I just... wanted to prove that I was stronger than Arlon."

Mei scoffed. "And look how that turned out."

Mirek winced, rubbing his shoulder. "Yeah... not exactly how I imagined it."

"You still don't get it, do you?" Mei shook her head. "I won't be interested in someone just because he's stronger than me or someone else. That's only one of the conditions I have for myself."

Mirek straightened up slightly, regaining some confidence. "I know that, but I'm sure I meet the other conditions." He gave her a smug grin.

Mei stared at him for a long second, then flatly replied, "You're not even close."

The smugness vanished instantly. "Ouch."

Mei sighed, this time more patient than annoyed. "Look, everyone has their own conditions for liking someone. But even then, feelings don't always follow logic. Sometimes, people end up liking someone who doesn't meet any of their conditions at all. It's not a checklist, Mirek."