Volume 1 Chapter 5 Entrance Exam Mock Battle Starts
I had already made up my mind. In the game world of Instant Death Mob, there was no universe where I could beat the protagonist, Blaze. And right now, I was unarmed. Meanwhile, Blaze had a rare sword in his hands.
If I wanted even a chance to win... I had only one option: that technique.
"Found it. Here it is."
"Seriously? The field's expanding."
Before I knew it, a crowd of over a hundred people had gathered around the battlefield. Most were academy students, but I spotted a few adults mixed in—probably instructors.
"Is this the duel that's got the whole academy talking?"
"Wait, that's the guy who crushed the entrance exams! And he's fighting... that plain dude?"
"There is girl here too."
"Even if it's two-on-one, Blaze will crush them. No contest."
"The other two don't even have weapons. No swords, no staves."
"They look poor, but that girl is super cute. That guy, though? Meh."
"Looks won't help if they've got no skills."
"Still, this might be fun."
"Wanna bet on how long he lasts?"
"Three minutes."
"Five seconds."
"There's no way he hits a full minute."
The chatter buzzed like static. To them, this was just some free entertainment.
Ms. Lina, the receptionist, stepped forward.
"We will now begin the entrance exam for Mobu and Ms. Ran. Both sides—begin!"
"Haaaa!"
Blaze let out a loud, bizarre shout as he swung his sword. Holding the Ifrit Sword, a rare drop, he must've thought he could knock me out instantly.
"What's Mobu's plan?"
Ran tightened her grip on my hand.
I understood her concern. Blaze was ridiculously strong, buffed by the game's protagonist bias. And me? I was just a nameless NPC Mob. Logically, there was no way I could win.
But I wasn't going in blind.
I had played this game to the point of death—literally. I'd died playing it, and now I was here, reincarnated inside the game's world. I knew all its systems, tricks, and secrets. And in this battle arena, there was one infamous bug that every hardcore player knew.
A bug that gave players an unfair advantage. Everyone farmed XP here like mad, calling it the Divine Arena. When the devs finally patched it, players lost their minds. It was big enough to make gaming news headlines.
So now the question was: does that bug still exist here?
If it's been patched in this world too, then I'm toast. Blaze will flatten me, and I'll be injured enough to fail the entrance exam. No enrollment, no future.
But this is still the early game. The opening arc. There's a good chance the fix hasn't been applied yet.
I'm betting everything on that.
Back in my old world, I was just a cog in a black company machine. Now I'm stuck at the bottom again—as an Instant Death Mob. I've got nothing to lose.
So I'll risk it all. I'm going to win with that bug.
"Ran, listen."
I turned to her.
"Once I start running, the fight begins. Don't move from where you are. Just stay still."
"Huh...?"
She tilted her head, confused.
"I can use a little magic too," I said. "But don't use anything yet. Just watch me. When I raise my left arm, cast a basic Healing spell on me. That's all."
"Is that enough?"
Her face looked worried.
"This is a mock battle. I won't die even if I get hit... but I will get hurt. If I'm injured, I might not pass the exam."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"It's okay," I said. "I won't collapse. I won't leave you behind."
I gave her a soft headpat, and she suddenly hugged me.
"Got it. I believe in you, Mobu. So... be careful. For my sake too."
"Leave it to me."
We shared a quiet look. No more words were needed.
"Haaaa!"
"Still yelling, huh? Man, Blaze, could you not be so loud?"
The crowd burst into laughter, probably thinking I was just another cocky idiot with no power to back it up.
"While I was waiting for Ran, I kept an eye on the battlefield," I muttered. "I didn't come here to win with cheap tricks."
Blaze's face turned red. Yeah, that's our protagonist. Predictable.
"Let's go, Blaze!"
I sprinted toward him. He flinched, raising his sword high into a guard stance.
"That dude's charging in barehanded?"
"Buy a sword already! His clothes are practically falling apart."
"Is he just desperate now? He's gonna die in one hit."
"I'm winning this bet."
As if I was going to play fair.
At the last second, I pivoted and bolted in the opposite direction—full speed.
"Hey! That's not fair, Mobu!" Blaze shouted.
Exactly what I expected. He didn't even glance at Ran. He probably thought I was just trying to run away and save my skin.
"He's fleeing?"
"Okay, this fight's a joke."
The crowd roared with laughter.
Let them laugh.
I wasn't here to impress rich kids. I was here to win.
I used that opening move to freeze Blaze in place—to throw him off and buy myself some space. I ran toward the edge of the arena and pressed my palm to the glowing blue wall.
Then I started running alongside it.
"Don't run away!"
Blaze's voice echoed behind me. I ignored it. My plan was already underway.
As I kept my right hand on the wall, I silently counted the seconds.
Five... eight... ten.
"That's enough."
I lifted my left arm high into the air.
"Ran! Healing Wind!"
A soft green light surrounded me—Ran's healing magic. I felt its warmth wrap around my body.
"Perfect."
In the next instant, I spun around and charged straight at Blaze. My hand left the wall.
"""What!?"""
The audience gasped. Blaze noticed my sudden charge and raised his sword again, preparing a powerful overhead slash.
I was still unarmed.
"He's running at him again?! Is he insane?"
"Didn't he just use Healing Magic? Is that supposed to do something?"
"Healing doesn't give buffs. He's just clueless."
"Wait... that looked pretty strong for beginner-level magic. That girl's got serious potential."
I heard their voices, but I didn't stop.
"Sorry, Mobu! This is the end!"
Blaze's voice rang out as he brought the Ifrit Sword crashing down toward my forehead.
"That settles it..."
"What a fool."
"He's done for."
The flaming sword slammed right into the center of my brow.
If this were a real fight, my skull would've split open right then and there. Even in a mock match, it should've left me with serious injuries.
But instead—
The Ifrit Sword shattered.
Right there, in mid-swing.
The blade, forged from rare tamahagane, broke into sparkling fragments. It crumbled like candy. The red flames exploded outward, scattering like dying fireworks.
Notes:
• Blaze - Male. The protagonist of the game, born into the wealthy Rosinore family. He has blond hair and a heroic appearance. Blaze is kind and lacks arrogance despite his status. He is destined to become a hero and defeat the Demon King. His relationship with Mobu and Ran is complex, as they are not part of the main story.
• Ms. Lina - Female. The kind-looking elder sister at the academy's reception desk. She has a relaxed demeanor and a gentle smile. She oversees the entrance exams and allows Blaze's impromptu battle with Mobu and Ran, noting their shared hometown. She flips through documents casually, suggesting she is organized yet laid-back.
• Ran - Female. An orphan and a close friend of Mobu. She has long, dark hair and a gentle appearance. Ran is kind and trusting, often relying on Mobu for guidance. She survives the demon attack by hiding in the secret base with Mobu.
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