My SSS-Rank Grim Reaper System-Chapter 54: So Easy It Could Be Boring?

Alex returned to the waiting area, removing the dirty armband from his first battle.

Grim (80cm form) was curled on his shoulder, apparently satisfied with the victory.

"First. Victory. Easy."

"Too easy," Alex murmured. "But it was Round One. It’ll get harder."

He scanned the area—other competitors resting, some watching ongoing battles through windows overlooking the arena.

In the stands, he saw Raven and Emily applauding. Raven gave him a thumbs up.

He smiled under his hood.

"NEXT BATTLE!" the referee shouted. "COMPETITOR 31, SARAH, VERSUS COMPETITOR 18, MARCUS!"

Not his fight yet. He had time.

Alex sat on a bench, watching other matches through the windows.

Most were competent but not exceptional. Levels 35-42 mostly, basic strategies, decent coordination with companions.

Nothing he couldn’t handle.

Then he saw a battle that made him stop.

A competitor with three companions—Golem, Elemental, and Wolf—coordinating them perfectly.

[Dorian Ashcroft - Level 48]

That was the summoner he’d noticed earlier.

He watched as Dorian commanded his three companions simultaneously—Golem tanking, Elemental providing support fire, Wolf flanking.

His opponent, a level 40 warrior, was overwhelmed in five minutes.

"Impressive," Alex murmured.

If they both advanced, they’d probably face each other in the semifinals.

That would be... challenging.

"Master. Worried?" Grim asked.

"No, even though they’re strong, I know we’d win easily if we fought seriously. Just... observing."

"Yes. Very. Difficult. We can. Win. Together."

"I know."

---

"COMPETITOR 47, NIGHT, VERSUS COMPETITOR 29, LYRA!"

Alex entered the arena again.

His opponent was already waiting—a woman in her 30s, mage’s robe, staff carved with glowing runes. Beside her, a Fire Serpent the size of a boa constrictor, scales glowing red-orange.

[Lyra - Level 38]

[Fire Serpent - Level 39]

Stronger than his first opponent. But still manageable.

"Good luck," Lyra said, smiling.

"Same to you."

The referee raised his hand. "BEGIN!"

Lyra wasted no time—launched [Fireball] immediately.

Alex rolled to the side, the fireball exploding where he’d been standing.

The Fire Serpent slithered forward, moving fast, fangs dripping burning venom.

Grim leaped from Alex’s shoulder, landing between him and the serpent.

[Intermediate Form: 1.5m]

He grew quickly, his small scythe expanding with him.

The serpent struck—fangs clashing against the scythe’s handle.

CLANG.

Grim pushed back, forcing the serpent to retreat.

Alex used the distraction to close distance with Lyra.

The mage retreated, launching another [Fireball]—

Alex cut through it—literally—his sword slicing through the fire energy, dispersing it.

A trick he’d learned practicing with Raven. Basic elemental magic could be interrupted with proper timing.

Lyra’s eyes widened. "How—?"

He didn’t give her time to process.

He closed distance, pressed with his sword.

Lyra wasn’t a close-quarters fighter—each of Alex’s strikes forced her further onto the defensive.

Meanwhile, Grim and the Fire Serpent were evenly matched—the serpent fast but Grim stronger, neither gaining a clear advantage.

"Ignis!" Lyra shouted, calling her serpent.

The serpent tried to disengage, slithering toward its master—

Grim didn’t let it. He grabbed the serpent’s tail with his bony hand.

"Don’t. Flee!"

He pulled, slamming the serpent into the ground.

SLAM.

The serpent shrieked, stunned.

Lyra, seeing her companion injured and no time to cast, raised her hands.

"I surrender!"

"WINNER: NIGHT!"

The crowd applauded—a more impressive battle than the first.

Alex helped Lyra up while Grim released the serpent (which slithered quickly back to its master).

"Good fight," Lyra said, rubbing her wrist. "That cut through my Fireball... where’d you learn that?"

"Practice," Alex replied vaguely.

"Mmm. Well, good luck in Round Three. You’re going to need it."

Alex nodded, returning to the waiting area.

Six minutes total.

He still hadn’t used magic. Still hadn’t revealed anything supernatural.

Just solid coordination with Grim and good combat fundamentals.

Exactly according to plan.

---

During the twenty-minute break between rounds, Alex met up with Raven and Emily in the refreshment area.

"Two for two," Raven said, offering him water. "How do you feel?"

"Good. They haven’t been very challenging yet."

"They won’t be until quarterfinals," Emily pointed out. "Average level is 40. Those who reach quarters will be closer to 43-45."

"I know." Alex drank water deeply. "Seen anything interesting?"

"That summoner—Dorian—is real," Raven said. "Three companions, perfectly controlled. If you face him, it’ll be tough."

"And the champion? Toran?"

"Just crushed his opponent in Round Two. Four minutes." Emily grimaced. "Level 52, Earth Dragon level 54. He’s... intimidating."

Alex nodded. Toran would probably be his final opponent if he made it that far.

And the question then would be—fight to win, or deliberately lose to avoid attention?

A decision for later.

"How’s Grim doing?" Raven asked.

As if answering, Grim (80cm on Alex’s shoulder) spoke.

"Bored. Opponents. Weak. Want. Challenge."

"Patience," Alex said. "It’ll come."

---

"COMPETITOR 47, NIGHT, VERSUS COMPETITOR 12, HELENA!"

The third round.

His opponent was a summoner—a woman in her 40s, experienced by the way she carried her gear. Two companions: a massive War Bear (level 41) and a Storm Hawk (level 38).

[Helena - Level 40]

[War Bear - Level 41]

[Storm Hawk - Level 38]

Two against two. This would require real strategy.

"BEGIN!"

Helena didn’t rush. She commanded her companions with precise gestures.

"Brutus—forward! Tempest—high!"

The Bear charged directly at Alex, massive and powerful.

The Hawk climbed, circling in the air, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Alex assessed quickly. The Bear was the main threat—slow but devastating. The Hawk was a harasser—fast, opportunistic attacks.

"Grim—take the Hawk. I’ll handle the Bear."

"Understood!"

Grim grew to 1.5m form, leaped high—surprisingly high for his size—intercepting the Hawk.

The Hawk shrieked in surprise, claws clashing against Grim’s scythe.

Meanwhile, Alex faced the Bear.

The beast was massive—three meters on hind legs, claws like knives.

It roared, swiping with its paw.

Alex didn’t block—he’d have been crushed. Instead, he dodged, rolling under the strike.

He cut the tendon on the Bear’s leg as he passed.

[Bear HP: 6,000 → 5,400/6,000]

The Bear roared in pain, spinning—

Slower now. Injured leg limiting movement.

Alex pressed the advantage. Strike after strike, staying on the Bear’s injured side where it was slower.

Above, Grim and the Hawk were in aerial combat—Grim using his scythe to block dive attacks, countering with precise cuts.

The Hawk was fast but Grim was more precise.

[Shadow Scythe - Mini]

A small slash of dark energy struck the Hawk’s wing.

The bird shrieked, losing altitude.

Grim capitalized—grabbed the Hawk from the air, held it tight.

"Got it!"

"Tempest!" Helena shouted, worried.

Distraction.

Alex capitalized—charged past the Bear (which was too injured and slow to intercept), closing in on Helena.

Sword at her throat.

"Surrender?"

Helena looked at her injured Bear, her captured Hawk.

She sighed. "I surrender."

"WINNER: NIGHT!"

The crowd cheered—that had been a real battle, more entertaining than the previous two.

Alex helped Helena up. Grim gently released the Hawk (the bird flew quickly back to its master).

"Excellent strategy," Helena said. "Divide and conquer. Well executed."

"Thanks. Your companions are impressive."

"Not enough today." She smiled. "Good luck in the quarterfinals. Opponents only get tougher from here."

---

Ten minutes total for Round Three.

Longer than the previous ones, but still controlled.

Alex sat down, breathing deeply. Three battles, all victories, without using anything more than basic combat and coordination.

Grim shrank to 80cm, curling in his lap.

"That. Was. Better. Hawk. Fast."

"You did well."

"We. Did. Well. Together."

"Together," Alex agreed.

He looked at the tournament brackets on the wall.

From 64 competitors, now 16 remained.

Quarterfinals would be tomorrow.

And his next opponent would be...

[Competitor 23 - Lyssa Stormwind - Level 43]

[Companion: Griffin - Level 45]

Alex had seen her fight—a skilled warrior with a spear, a majestic Griffin.

That would be a real battle.

He’d have to use more power. Not much—still no magic, still no Fragment.

But more than he’d shown so far.

---

[THAT NIGHT - APARTMENT]

"Three victories," Raven said, pouring tea. "How do you feel?"

"Good. The early rounds were warm-up." Alex accepted the cup. "But tomorrow will be different. Quarterfinals—levels 43+. They’ll have real experience."

"Will you change strategy?" Emily asked.

"A bit. More aggression. Grim Awakened form if necessary—but only briefly. I don’t want to reveal how strong he really is."

"And if someone recognizes you?" Raven asked.

"Then I surrender immediately and we leave the city that night." Alex drank his tea. "Not worth the risk."

Grim, curled on his cushion, spoke.

"Master. Worries. Too much. Enjoy. Tournament."

Despite the tension, Alex smiled.

"You’re right. I should enjoy it. It’s just... fun."

"Exactly. Fun. Together."

"Together."

That night, Alex slept well.

No nightmares.

No whispers from the Fragment.

Just... peace.

And dreams of tomorrow.

---

[NEXT DAY]

The arena was fuller than the day before.

Quarterfinals always drew a bigger crowd—the battles were better, the competitors more skilled.

Alex arrived early, checked the brackets.

Eight battles today. His was the third.

Time to observe first.

[Battle 1: Toran vs Unknown Competitor]

The local champion demolished his opponent in six minutes.

Brutal. Efficient. Dominant.

Toran was the real deal.

[Battle 2: Dorian Ashcroft vs Level 44 Warrior]

The summoner with three companions controlled the pace completely.

His opponent never had a chance—Golem tanked all damage, Elemental harassed from range, Wolf flanked constantly.

Victory in eight minutes.

The crowd murmured—a favorite to reach the finals against Toran.

Then came Alex’s turn.

"COMPETITOR 47, NIGHT, VERSUS COMPETITOR 23, LYSSA STORMWIND!"

Alex stood, adjusted his hood, entered the arena.

Lyssa was already waiting—full plate armor, spear and shield, blonde hair braided.

Beside her, a majestic Griffin—half eagle, half lion, golden wings gleaming in the sun.

[Lyssa Stormwind - Level 43]

[Griffin - Level 45]

She studied him as he approached.

"So you’re ’Night’. I’ve been waiting for this match."

"Why?"

"Because you’ve been crushing it. Three battles, all clean victories. I want to see how good you really are."

Alex nodded. "I guess we’ll find out."

The referee confirmed both were ready.

The crowd fell silent, anticipating.

"BEGIN!"

And the battle began.

---