Waking up the next day I grab an early breakfast and go over the Memory Reports from the clones from yesterday. Looks like number 3 was able to give the two Institute people the slip after he puffed back into smoke. After they left I split from Lockness and made my way back to Dr Rath’s place.
Leaving the house I make my way to the sewer maintenance building where I exited earlier and after charging the mana crystal I head down to the sewer level. Exiting, I meet Bertinald and after a short greeting we move through the sewer to the elevator which I now know is called a “Hoist”.
I will say, it suddenly moving diagonally down was a surprise, “Where are you headed?” I ask Bertinald, “The examination rooms, it is where we will assess your Combat ability and your Adventurer Rank.”
“Is that different from the 15 ranks that relate to Powers?” “Yes, that style of ranking system is used worldwide for all sorts of grading. The Ranks you have been thinking of with Powers are either how many Powers a person can use or how powerful the Power is.”
“This Adventurer Rank is what your possible combat level is, there is also a sub rank of Low, Medium and High which tells us the difficulty and type of missions that you can take. For example, the Proctor for this exam has 15 Powers and on your Power chart he would be considered what you call AAA or Triple A rank. We would call it Power Rank 9.”
“However his Adventurer Rank and Sub Rank is around BBB or Triple B rank with a High sub rank. Meaning not only is he able to normally defeat multiple BB ranked people or creatures but can be sent on High ranked missions that might be more sensitive than normal.”
“What’s the actual wording for the rankings? When I look at them all I see is what I’ve told you, a ranking system used in fiction back home.”
“Well in short each Adventurer Rank is related to a known Adventurer in history who made massive achievements at their rank. Massive being Land-wide. I would recommend having a look at the Library, there have been many changes to the ranking system over time and you might benefit from reading on the past ranks.”
“Cool -” I am cut off as we arrive in the examination room, or rather a lobby area with several chairs and lounges with a long glass wall on the far side. Inside the room is Lockness, Master Carson, Hope, two priests who look like they are from Power and World and an older Trax.
Exiting the elevator we walk over to the group who turn to us, Master Carson steps forward and introductions are made “Michael Hayes, these are Priests of Power and World, Wellingpar and Heartwall, and this is Wellingpar Dernear, our Proctor for today.”
A round of handshakes and we are ready to go. “Before we start, if you three would accept the invite we can get started.”
A look of confusion passes between them and then they accept the invite.
You been invited into “Temp1” Party by Michael Hayes
Accept / Decline
Members:
Michael Hayes
Wellingpar Vrao
Heartwall Draymore
Wellingpar Dernear
Leave Party
All invitees have been accepted into “Temp1” Party
Use “Trust but Verify” ability? (Y/N)
Trust but Verify ability enabled.
Outcome:
Wellingpar Vrao: Trustworthy (99.95% accuracy)
Heartwall Draymore: Trustworthy (99.94% accuracy)
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Wellingpar Dernear: Trustworthy (99.93% accuracy)
Wellingpar, our Proctor asks “What is the purpose of this invite? All I can see is that we were accepted into a party.”
“It’s fine, just a precaution. I can promise there is nothing to be worried about. Just for my own peace of mind.” I reply smiling and rubbing the back of my head. “So, who’s going first?”
Lockness speaks up, “I’d like to go, and it gives you a chance to see how its done.”
“Fine with me.” Both Wellingpar and I reply at the same time. Wellingpar adds “For your benefit, Wellingpar and Heartwell are here as they catalogue the Powers being used and are able to alter the testing environment as needed. As you are an OutWolder the official catalogue will be changed but at least us present will know and be able to guide your process in the coming years.”
“Lockness, as you are at Power Rank of 9 or as Michael knows it, Triple C Rank you can use your full amount of Powers, as for me I will limit myself so this will be a challenge. Your Adventurer Rank will be determined by how well you do. You ready?”
“Ready whenever you are.” and at that Lockness and Wellingpar head for the elevator again and go further down. I walk over toward the glass, looking down it is a large domed area that has small mountain like rocks, a river, trees and rocks. As if this was lifted from a real place up on the surface.
The glass window and this lounge is situated high up in a ring around the top of the dome, as I stand leaning against a railing Carson leans next to me looking outward into the dome. “That Power, the one you had sent about the invite to the Party, is that a Trust or Intention detector?”
“Maybe”, “Do you feel you cannot trust us?”
Silence for a few moments before, “There was a time, when I first arrived and told of the Institute that I was terrified that I would get taken away any moment. Then, I told you of the meeting with Lord Head, well I was absolutely terrified. I need people I can trust, so I asked and received.”
“Hm, how do you think you’ll do?” “Well enough, I have been training all this time.”
As Lockness and Wellingpar walk out of the tunnel and into the centre of the dome he asks “If I may, what are your plans?”
“What thinking I’ll try to take over the world?”, “It has happened before, at least, they had tried to.”
Shaking my head I reply, “I am not thinking about that, I will be doing the one thing I wanted from day one, finding a way home. No matter what.” A slight smile creeps on my face “that is, if this whole thing is reality anyway.”
At that a Wellingpar’s voice rings out, must be their version of a PA system. “Lets begin, the rules for this is to use all your power to fight me, you can try to capture or try to injure but hold off any killing blows. When you use one of your Powers you can say them aloud or tell us about them afterwards. Are you ready?”
“I am” replies Lockness, moving my gaze down to Lockness I can see him holding a polearm, maybe a long mace which he didn't have before. I wonder what he has in store for us.
---
I move down the escalator with Wellingpar and soon arrive at the end of a tunnel with a large array of weapons available “Take what you need, unless you have your own?”
Nodding, I walk down the tunnel looking at all the different weapons available. I find a long polearm with a long blade on one side, a hammer on the other and a spike coming through the top. There are crystals embedded into the hammer's head and blade.
Walking through the tunnel we enter the landscape and walk to the centre area, looking up a little I can see the glass ring near the top. Normally this would be filled with friends and families but I’ve already passed my exam last year for the apprenticeship training. Once I pass this one, a formality at best, I will become an Adventurer.
I need to stop thinking, I’m about to fight the Proctor. I. need. to. focus.
“Lets begin, the rules for this is to use all your power to fight me, you can try to capture or try to injure but hold off any killing blows. When you use one of your Powers you can say them aloud or tell us about them afterwards. Are you ready?”
“I am”
He just stands there, hands to his side waiting for me to make a move. Let's do it, I bring up my right hand and point my index finger “Lightning!”
At once a lightning bolt streaks out of my finger, intercepted by a transparent wall of force that blocks it before it can reach, shooting another bolt just to the left of the force shield I reach out with my mind and feel the pull of the lightning.
My body turns to light and in a flash I am standing to the left of the flat force barrier, and in front of the unprotected proctor. Lightning flashes out of my extended finger again and again it is blocked, the force barrier extending to become a cocoon around him.
With my left hand, I swing the polearm, hammer first. The concussive force crystal inserted into the hammer’s head smashes into the clear force wall, cracking it but not breaking.
I grab the polearm with my right hand as it bounces back from the wall and spin it so the blade is facing him, as the force wall disappears and as the Proctor turns I swing downwards toward him. Ethereal shackles appear from his arms, wrapping around me and holding me in place.
The polearm's spike is still pointing upward at an angle, I pass lightning along the metal embossed in the wooden handle and out the spike, the lightning shoots above and I feel the pull again.
At once I escape the shackles and appear sideways in the air above the Proctor and body already moving to bring the blade down, aiming for his shoulder. Just as it is about to hit, the force wall reappears.
The blade sinks deep into it and just its tip fully penetrates, as I start falling back to the ground I channel the lightning again through the tip of the blade and the lightning connects.
A red glow emanates from his skin, another defensive skill?
As I land on the ground I lose the grip on my weapon, the polearms shaft sticking out the force wall out of reach, angled skyward. The force wall stops existing for a moment and the polearm falls, being caught in an ethereal hand, two arms made of mana have appeared from his back and stretched to grab the weapon.
What do I do now?