i reincarnated in to my Novel

Lucas clenched his fists, his sharp gaze fixed on Ethan. The bruises from his earlier training throbbed faintly, but he ignored them. His focus was on the opponent standing across from him, calm and confident.

Ethan tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

Ethan: "You've been glaring at me for a while now. Something on your mind, Lucas? Or are you just nervous?"

Lucas scoffed, stepping forward.

Lucas: "Cut the act. I don't know what you and Dakota are playing at, but there's something about you… all of you. It doesn't add up."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening.

Ethan: "What's there to figure out? We're just here for the challenge, same as you."

Lucas: "Don't lie to me."

His words carried a weight that made Ethan pause. Lucas couldn't shake the feeling—a strange, nagging familiarity. It wasn't just Ethan. Emily, Mila, Alex, and Michael—they all felt like puzzle pieces that almost, but not quite, fit into his memory.

I've met them before… haven't I?

Shaking off his unease, Lucas shifted into a fighting stance.

Lucas: "Enough talking. Let's see if you can back up that smug attitude."

Ethan chuckled, rolling his shoulders.

Ethan: "You'll regret asking for that."

Lucas lunged forward, his speed surprising Ethan. His first strike was a sharp jab aimed at Ethan's face, but Ethan leaned back just in time, the punch grazing his cheek. Lucas followed up with a low kick, forcing Ethan to retreat further.

Ethan: "Not bad, but you'll have to do better than that."

Ethan countered with a quick punch to Lucas's ribs, but Lucas blocked, twisting his body to minimize the impact. The two exchanged a rapid series of blows—punches, kicks, and feints—each trying to outmaneuver the other.

For a moment, Lucas gained the upper hand. He landed a clean hit on Ethan's shoulder, causing him to stagger. But Ethan recovered quickly, smirking as if the hit had barely fazed him.

Ethan: "You've got some skill, I'll give you that. But let's see how long you can keep up."

Ethan's movements became faster, more precise. He dodged Lucas's next attack with ease, slipping behind him and delivering a sharp kick to his back. Lucas stumbled forward but managed to stay on his feet, quickly spinning around to face Ethan again.

As the fight continued, Lucas couldn't ignore the growing sense of familiarity.

It's not just Ethan's fighting style, he thought, dodging a punch aimed at his head. It's the way he moves, the way he reacts. It's like I've seen it all before. But how?

Ethan's voice broke through his thoughts.

Ethan: "Zoning out already? You're making this too easy, Lucas."

Lucas gritted his teeth, pushing his thoughts aside. He couldn't afford to get distracted, not now.

Lucas surged forward, throwing a series of quick punches aimed at Ethan's torso. Ethan blocked most of them but was forced to retreat, giving Lucas the opening he needed. He feinted a high kick, then swept low, finally managing to knock Ethan off balance.

Ethan hit the ground but rolled back onto his feet almost instantly, his smirk replaced by a focused glare.

Ethan: "Alright, no more holding back."

Ethan moved faster than Lucas anticipated, closing the distance between them in a blink. He delivered a brutal combination of strikes—an elbow to the ribs, followed by a knee to the stomach—that left Lucas gasping for air.

Ethan didn't let up, landing a spinning kick that sent Lucas sprawling to the ground.

Lying on the ground, Lucas struggled to catch his breath. His vision blurred for a moment, and memories—fragmented and fleeting—flashed through his mind.

Why do they feel so familiar? Not just Ethan… Michael, Emily, all of them. Even this place… this school. It's like I've been here before, but that doesn't make sense.

Ethan loomed over him, his expression unreadable.

Ethan: "You done? Or do you want to embarrass yourself some more?"

Lucas glared up at him, his pride refusing to let him admit defeat. He forced himself to his feet, ignoring the pain coursing through his body.

Lucas: "You haven't won yet."

Ethan sighed, shaking his head.

Ethan: "You're stubborn, I'll give you that. But this is over."

Lucas launched himself at Ethan with everything he had, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks. Ethan blocked most of them, but Lucas's sheer determination allowed a few hits to slip through.

For a brief moment, it seemed like Lucas might turn the tide. But Ethan's experience and precision proved too much. He ducked under a wild punch, countering with a devastating uppercut that sent Lucas crashing to the ground.

Lucas tried to get up again, but his body refused to cooperate.

Ethan: "You've got spirit, Lucas. I'll give you that. But you're not in my league."

Lucas lay on the ground, breathing heavily, his body aching from the fight. Ethan turned and walked away without offering a hand or a word of acknowledgment, leaving Lucas to stew in his defeat.

As he stared up at the sky, Lucas's thoughts returned to the strange familiarity he couldn't shake.

Dakota… Ethan… all of them. Who are they really? And why does it feel like I've known them my whole life?

Lucas: this is really mysterious, why am I felling like this, just what is happening. What is this? Hmm after this challenge ends, I need to ask Dakota what is going on. He always has an answer And always knows everything, so he is the best person to ask, but so far we only have one relic, well when Henry's group and our members retrieve it. Oh and it looks like Michael defeatd jack... Pretty easily. Wow that Michael guy seems strong... And familiar. Ah man this sucks, not knowing why I'm feeling like this. Can't wait to get this challenge over with so I can ask Dakota, hopefully he'll tell me something, and hopefully it will be the truth. Or can I get an answer now?

But no answers came. Only the cold, hard truth of his defeat.