Reincarnated as an E rank? lets see how far I can go!

The stadium buzzed with energy. The anticipation was thick in the air, every spectator eager for the fights to begin.

I leaned forward in my seat, eyes glued to the massive screen floating above the arena. This was it—the first battle of the day.

A voice boomed over the speakers.

[Let the Great Festival Battles begin!]

A deafening roar erupted from the crowd as two figures stepped into the arena.

C-Rank Battle: Mage vs. Assassin

The announcer's voice carried across the stadium.

"On the left, representing the Silver Blades Guild, we have Mira Vaughn, a C-rank Mage, type: element, class: wind!"

A girl with short silver hair raised her staff, a gust of wind swirling around her feet. Her eyes were sharp, focused.

"And on the right, from the Iron Dagger Syndicate, we have Kai Juno, a C-rank Assassin, class: dagger!"

A lean figure clad in black twirled two daggers in his hands, his movements swift and fluid.

A mage vs. an assassin. A battle of speed against magic.

The moment the bell rang, Mira launched a crescent-shaped wind slash toward Kai. He dodged effortlessly, his body weaving through the attack like a shadow.

I narrowed my eyes, focusing.

Kai's footwork… his dagger technique…

He was fast, but more than that, his movement was unpredictable.

I memorized everything. Every step, every feint, every slash.

Within a minute, the battle ended.

Kai had closed the distance and knocked Mira unconscious with the blunt end of his dagger. A flawless victory.

[Winner: Kai Juno!]

The cheers echoed throughout the stadium, but I wasn't paying attention anymore.

Instead, I stared at my hand.

I clenched my fingers, feeling a strange sensation course through my body. I had just learned his dagger techniques.

This was getting interesting.

—

Next Battle: C-Rank Tank vs. B-Rank Mage

The matchups progressed, each battle more intense than the last.

A C-rank tank stood his ground against a B-rank mage, enduring fireballs with sheer brute force before countering with a devastating punch that sent the mage flying.

Then came a B-rank Assassin vs. B-rank Healer.

The healer wasn't just healing—he had a speed buff, making him faster than his opponent expected. He dodged, countered, and outmaneuvered the assassin before landing a heavy blow with his staff.

I learned that too.

With each battle, I gained more skills. More techniques. More knowledge.

I wasn't just watching.

I was absorbing.

—

I took a break between fights, walking through the festival grounds.

Stalls lined the pathways, selling everything from enchanted weapons to rare potions. Some booths had mini-games where attendees could test their reflexes, while others displayed artifacts recovered from high-tier dungeons.

I grabbed a drink from a vendor and turned back toward the main arena.

And that's when I felt it.

A presence.

Someone was watching me.

I turned my head slightly, scanning the crowd.

Then I saw him.

Leaning against a pillar near one of the food stalls.

The same A-rank hunter from the training grounds.

The one who had said, "I'll keep an eye on you."

His gaze met mine, and he smirked.

I tensed.

What was he doing here?

Was he here to watch the festival? Or… was he here to watch me?

The crowd moved between us, and in that brief moment of distraction—he was gone.

My heart pounded.

Something about him felt off.

Why was an A-rank paying so much attention to an E-rank nobody like me?

—

I shook off the uneasy feeling and returned to my seat just in time for the B-rank finals.

A sword-wielding assassin faced off against a fire mage, their battle lighting up the arena with bursts of flames and blinding sword slashes.

The crowd cheered. The energy was electric.

But my mind was elsewhere.

That A-rank…

What did he know about me?

And why did it feel like this festival was about to become far more than just entertainment?

As the final match concluded, the announcer spoke once more.

[And now, ladies and gentlemen, we move on to the A-rank battles!]

The stadium exploded with cheers.

I took a deep breath.

This was what I had been waiting for.

The battles that would push my abilities even further.

And maybe…

I would find some answers along the way.

—