The Mysterious Black Magician

"Down? Kiko is down?" One of Kiko's friends asked incredulously.

"What nonsense is this!"

"It can not be! It's impossible for this to happen! "

Kiko's friends couldn't accept what they saw. Honestly, they were not the only ones who couldn't believe it. Kiko's fall surprised almost all spectators. Everyone was stunned staring at the stage. Most of them think that the fight will be easy for Kiko because of his abilities, as well as the mana capacity he has. This development surprised them.

Even before Kiko could fire the flame he was

accumulating in his hand, something appeared behind him. 

Suddenly, there was a murmur in the audience as they watched the thing appear behind Kiko which was the reason for his collapse.

"What is that? "

"Monster?"

"Wait! Is that a Noble Rat? "

"Right, that's a Noble Rat! Though it has a different color."

"Right right!"

Just as viewers say, the one standing behind Kiko is from the monster species often seen in canals and tunnels, the Evil Rat. However, what is behind Kiko is its evolved form, or better known as the Noble Rat. It already belongs to the wanderer class. This means that it does not settle in a single location as it often does. It roamed around looking for better food. Anyway, Noble Rat belongs to the rank D+ monster. Honestly, it was considered the weakest rank in the wanderer category.

"Eh! What-- how… How did a Noble Rat get in there? " Bob asked curiously. It was both funny and disturbing that a monster suddenly appeared on the stage. But for Bob, Kiko's fall could only be seen as a funny situation.

"Haha. No one knows I guess. Anyway, what will happen in the fight?" Chloe asked. Due to the sudden appearance of the Noble Rat, the fight might be postponed.

Although the Noble Rat belongs to the lowest rank in the wanderer class monster categories, its strength cannot be ignored. It could harm innocent people in the venue.

Like Chloe, everyone's concern was also the same. Suddenly, Chloe and Bob heard a faint laugh. "Hehe!" It was from Yana. "Don't worry. That monster is not real," Yana said. Upon hearing her; Bob and Chloe gawked.

"Eh?!"

"Not real?"

Chloe was shocked to hear it and Bob repeated Yana's words. Yana nodded. "Yes. That monster is not real. My brother created that from his Modifying Ability."

"M-Modifying ability?!" Chloe asked in confirmation.

"Mhm!" Yana responded with a nod.

"Eh! Is that true, Yana?" Bob asked.

"She was right," Rea herself replied to confirm what Yana said. "Using his modifying ability….." Rea then explained Yman's ability. Bob and Chloe listened intently to what she was saying. After a few seconds of explaining, Rea finally said, "And those things are what he calls Fire Dolls."

The two could hardly believe what they heard. But fire element? This is really shocking. Although Yman was no doubt a person with Hollow Cell symptoms, he was known as a manaless student. This means that he could not manipulate his own mana and just borrowing from Sistela. Almost no difference with a normal person. Moreover, Yman has no affinity with any element based on their knowledge. But now he can use the fire element!? It's really shocking.

"I see, so that's why the color of that Noble Rat is crimson like the color of the drones that Yman used in his fight with Miss Josie Finn," said Chloe after hearing Rea's explanation.

"So are his chakrams," Bob added.

After knowing about it, the two were even more amazed at Yman. The person who was previously said to be the weakest by all has found a way to improve himself. And now, he was able to smack the guy who was said to be the strongest male student in the academy. Ironic isn't it? Bob and Chloe believed so.

"It's good that he became my friend!" Bob shouted.

Yana and Chloe laughed a little. Rea nodded with a proud face.

"Uhm, Miss Rea, why do you look so proud?" Bob pointed out when he noticed the expression on Rea's face. 

"Uh? Eh! I-I'm not!" She said with a flush of redness.

Bob and Chloe looked at her suspiciously while Yana widened her eyes as she smiled from ear to ear. 

"Hmm… sus…" Bob mumbled as he squinted his eyes.

Rea straightened her back. "Look, the enemy is still conscious." She pointed to the stage. Partly, to distract them.

Regardless,

With Kiko's strength capacity, it's easy for him to defeat a monster like Noble Rat that is only ranked D+. However, what happened was a sneak attack.

Kiko was unaware of its sudden appearance behind him. So he couldn't defend himself.

Kiko's trembling eyes widened as he looked up behind him. He saw the Noble Rat staring down, straight to Kiko's eyes. He didn't like the position. It seemed as though the rat was looking down at him.

"Tsk! Grr!"

Kiko gritted his teeth loudly while he was clenching his hands that were resting on the floor.

'It can't be!'

'I can't lose!'

'I can't lose!'

I can't LOSE! ''

Red veins floated in Kiko's eyes as he repeated those words.

Kiko was just lucky because the Noble Rat's attack hits the collar, or the System Deity's form when in the resonance state. There wasn't even slight damage on the collar. It was not easy to break because it was made of a special metal, the Gram metal. Thanks to the collar, Kiko's consciousness remained even after being hit by a strong impact on his nape. But, the attack still caused damage to Kiko.

His knees became weak and he had difficulty standing. He also tried to fight the dizziness to not faint.

The only thing Kiko couldn't accept was to be beaten this way! It was so embarrassing for him. Kiko became more agitated when he heard Bob's loud laugh.

"HAHAHA! Good job Mr. Rat! Defeat that idiot!"

Damn it! He would surely kill that gorilla! Kiko wanted to beat Bob. Regardless, why is there a monster here?! Kiko wanted to retort but he didn't have the leeway to do it now.

At that instance, all the color left Kiko's face when he saw the rat raise its claws.

No matter what… he can't lose! Kiko shouted. Not to the rat! And much more not to Yman!