Rispalt was much bigger than the village he had spent his training in. A river split the town in two marking the separation between the school’s territory and the town’s. The main branch of Dirsil academy was located on the southern end of the town.

To the center was the market square, located just north of the academy near the river. Past the market was the church and guardhouse. Beyond that was the residential district.

Outside of the main village were large farmsteads. Spread out and well cared for. They could feed the entire town and then some, which was probably why the place seemed so prosperous.

Gamodren, acting as the shepherd, led the way as his curious sheep looked around in awe.

A bald boy, with one eye, followed his nose to the smell of something delicious.

“Not now Kyrion. We have to get there before eight.”

“But I’m out of food and it’s time for breakfast.” Kyrion complained.

Ceres started moving towards a stall, planning to use up her meager allowance.

“Don’t feed him. He needs to learn from this. I told him we’re on a tight schedule.” Gamodren put his hand over his face.

“B-but he’s so hungry.” Ceres started as she somehow found herself back with the group.

“He’s always hungry…We also don’t have much time.” Gamodren shook his head as he grabbed Kyrion and Ceres by their wrist.

Tiffany showed the most self-control as she pinched herself on the back of her hand. Now wasn’t the time to get an idea of what sort of goods this town could produce. Her previous occupation as an apprentice merchant tried to make itself known.

Kyrion was more or less dragged as they continued forward. The smell of food was making his stomach growl noticeably. He looked longingly at all the restaurants, and street vendors as Gamodren pulled him away.

Gamodren brought the kids through the city and past the market district. Over a bridge that arced over a river. Past a few dorm buildings and an empty plot of land. Finally, arriving at the front gate.

“Reason for entry?” Asked a tired-looking man with his dirty blonde hair cut short.

“Three students for the Trial by Dirsil entry test.” Gamodren stated.

“Cutting it a bit close aren’t we?” Asked the gatekeeper.

“The big one kept trying to stop for breakfast. The amount of time wasted stopping him is why we were almost late.” Gamodren lied.

“Uh huh. Forever late, never punctual Gamodren the pla… Oh right there are young ones here.” The gatekeeper pulled out some paperwork and handed it to the group’s babysitter.

Gamodren waved a hand over the pile, and everything was filled out.

“Should I give them the warrior’s challenge or the full test?” The gatekeeper motioned towards the group of melee-looking spirit masters.

“The full. They can handle it.” Gamodren crossed his arms.

“‘Fine, fine, three for the full test.” The gatekeeper gave each of the children a wristband.

“Is the test already prepared?” Gamodren asked.

“We can gather the people here today. It should only take an hour to get it ready. These tests are popular with the students after all. Some consider it a hazing ritual, others a test of mettle. It’s rare that students actually complete the test.”

Ceres looked at Kyrion. “I don’t know what this test thing is but I already hate it.”

Kyrion just nodded in response.

“Now go out there and strut your stuff.” Gamodren held a grin on his face.

The four were then separated as the kids were put into waiting rooms. A man with short black hair, and black glasses that hid his eyes, entered the room. Wearing a suit with black and white vertical stripes.

“This test is dangerous. The first round is a twenty vs one battle. Your opponents will be freshmen of the lowest class. Meaning that they are probably weak. Even so weak by our standards doesn’t mean that it will be easy. The round ends when you’re knocked unconscious, or surrender.” The man with black glasses said.

“What if I win?” Kyrion asked, looking at the guy skeptically.

“Hardly anyone wins this challenge. Though if the judges say you win, then you win.” The man shrugged.

“Ah so it’s best to end it quickly then.” Kyrion muttered.

“Boy aren’t you cocky. You shouldn’t take them lightly.” The man stated.

“Take off your glasses.” Kyrion said suddenly.

“Beg pardon?” The man said.

“Take them off and let me confirm something.”

“Fine, fine.” The man sighed, taking off the glasses and revealing very bushy eyebrows.

Kyrion noticed his left hand slowly moving towards them and stopped himself.

Under the eyebrows were a pair of silver eyes. Each one held countless tiny hexagons, bound together and trapped inside the irises.

“Are you blind?” Kyrion asked.

“Nope. I have better vision than most. They just seem to distract those who look into them hence the glasses. Though I’m sure your asking for another reason?”

“You resemble someone who took my eye. Just making sure I get a good look at you.” Kyrion crossed his arms.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Have any questions related to the trial?” The man asked.

“I just wanna finish this and go get lu… I mean explore the town. Are weapons and powers allowed?”

“Of course. Why would you hold back?” The man said as he replaced his glasses.

“I really don’t want to. Gamodren said to strut my stuff. If these students can’t handle it then it’s their problem. What happens if I use too much power?” Kyrion asked.

“Ah guess they wouldn’t tell you. There are safety thresholds on the stadium that convert damage into stamina loss. Swords connect but don’t dig too deep unless you use all your stamina. At that point the wards will expel you before you can be hurt any further. I can’t wait to see how you turned out.” The man stated before vanishing from Kyrion’s sight.

Kyrion did some stretches before making his way to the large circular ring where he’d be fighting.

Kyrion watched as an army of twenty kids was arranged against him. He stood in the middle of the ring as they surrounded him on all sides. Using his mana senses, he discerned that none of them had entered rank three. And despite the cocky way they held themselves, he was much taller. This fight was not going to be fair. So he thought of a way to win, show off, and not make himself out to be a bully who picks on those weaker than him.

The same man with short black hair was now standing at the stadium’s edge. He hadn’t been there when the kids were coming. But now, there he was.

“We will now begin the First trial of Drisil! The challenger vs twenty of our students! Ready?” The man said, raising his hand.

After confirming that both sides were ready, the man took his hand and shouted. “Begin!”

Magic and other projectiles fill the air. While students charged toward Kyrion with reckless abandon.

Kyrion stomped on the ground, causing quite a few. “You have until the count of ten to surrender! I won’t hold back against anyone still here after that time!”

The force of the stomp had caused a few to fall prone from the force that spread outwards. Cracks in the stadium floor arched in multiple directions as a Kyrion now stood in a crater that spanned a ten-foot perfect square.

Some who knew his abilities would have known he used earth mana. Building the power into his foot and spreading it outwards. But, unfortunately, none of the students here could tell that Kyrion wasn’t going to let them from a glance.

“Ten!” Kyrion yelled.

A single student hopped out of the ring immediately. That show of force was enough to scare them.

The remaining nineteen approached him cautiously, moving towards his blindspot.

Kyrion began spinning the wind around him as though charging for an attack. Not holding back whatsoever. The sound of high speed and wind made itself known.

An overzealous kid created a giant ball of fire which he hurled at Kyrion. While impressive in appearance, it was pretty weak, and as it entered the swirling wind, it went out. The heat of the wind growing significantly.

“Nine.” The wind kept circling around him and gaining in speed.

A bolt of ice flew at Kyrion. It seemed to melt into nothing instantly, not even making it to his body.

“Eight.” Kyrion let a smile across his face as the students began to back away.

“His defenses are strong! So his attack must be weak! We just need to hold out and attack his blindspot!” Yelled a longsword-wielding student.

Kyrion sighed, which slowed his barrier a little as his concentration slipped.

“Seven!”

“He’s lost control! Charge!” Said the de facto leader.

Kyrion noticed the referee slap himself on the forehead. Preparing to stop the fight should something happen.

Five of the students who made contact with the still spinning barrier were sent flying outside the stadium. Slowly sinking into the grass outside of the stadium. Clothes and bodies were cut and singed slightly.

Four managed to slip in. however. The longsword user going through the front. He raised his arms for an overhand chop.

Kyrion grabbed the student holding the longsword and cleanly snapped his wrist with an ease that no one save Gamodren expected.

The kid lost consciousness as his body was shot out of the stadium by the ward. Landing safely on the grass as he started to whine.

“Six,” Kyrion said, bored.

“He damaged him through the wards….” Another student volunteered to not get hurt by running out of the ring.

A great club aimed for Kyrion’s head missed.

Kyrion countered with an open palm to the boy’s chin that immediately sent him out of the stadium through the wards.

“Oops.” He hadn’t meant to hit the kid that hard.

That student was immediately attended to and placed on a gurney brought for the kid with a broken wrist.

Another two engaged as Kyrion continued to concentrate his spinning his wall of wind.

“Five!” Kyrion ducked.

A quarterstaff aimed at his neck missed, knocking into a student wielding daggers.

Kyrion slapped the quarterstaff wielder in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

“Fou..” Kyrion was hit by a flying boulder to the head. It left him a bit dazed and was pretty dangerous.

“I’m sorry! Didn’t mean to hit your head!” The earth user said.

“Fi…our?” Kyrion growled as the confusion quickly left him.

Another boulder came flying at Kyrion. This time Kyrion grabbed hold of the wheezing quarterstaff wielder and threw him into the big flying rock. The impact forced the quarterstaff user out of bounds while knocking the boulder off its course.

“Three?” Fire came at him again though ice and rocks came with it this time.

Kyrion created a ball of water to catch the projectiles before freezing them in place.

“Two.” The boy scratched his chin.

A few students decided to give up at that announcement while the rest attempted an all-out charge.

The referee prepared to step in if things got too dangerous.

“One.” Kyrion exhaled as a wave of powerful wind was set free from his grasp and sent everyone careening out of the arena, including the referee. His expression looked bored, though it would be hard to tell what he thought as he was bald, lacked an eye, and contained no eyebrows.

----------------------------------------

The judges were in deep discussion.

“I’d say excessive force on the kid with the longsword. Though I get the feeling that his multitasking was the cause, since that palm strike could have accidentally turned lethal had the wards not been there.” Said an old man with very thick glasses and a long white beard.

“Water, Wind, Regeneration, and great physical strength. Just what sort of monster did Gamodren train?” Said a thin man with a brown goatee.

“Monsters.” Said an older girl with short red hair. Who just entered the booth.

“All three of them beat their opponents with ease. Though I’ve been told, Kyrion took his sweet time.” The girl eyed the lone contestant in an empty arena.

“He was pretty quick. So I guess his teaching method is viable… Doesn’t mean that it isn’t questionable.” The old man sighed.

“I know. Though that student was already slated to come in as a low priority candidate. His performance was rather lacking.” Said the red-haired girl.

“I don’t remember a bald, one-eyed giant coming to attend here.” Said the thin man.

“He wasn’t bald or tall. When he was chosen.” The red-haired girl replied.

“Ah so he must have had a growth spurt when reaching rank four. That would explain some of the power difference he showed. He must be a practitioner already.”

“Still a fledgling. Apparently he’s been holding onto his final spirit.”

“So he’s that strong before the first major empowerment, and he knows to hold off on it. How old is he.”

“Technically eleven. Physically and mentaly nine. There is a two year gap in his growth, possibly three if you count the time he spent in a coma at the academy and prior to.” She placed a clipboard on the table and walked away.

“You sure know alot about that student. Is he trying to recruit him?”

“No. Not yet at least. I know because he’s my kid brother.” The girl disappeared.

“Ah those monsters, had yet another one squirreled away for the winter.” The goateed man stroked it with thin fingers.

“Can you not refer to them as monsters?” Said a black-haired man sitting in a corner. A pair of black glasses cover his eyes.

“I mean don’t we want monsters?” The man asked.

“We want strong individuals.” The black-haired man stated.

“The student’s have gone to calling the strongest in each tier things like Demon Generals, Divine Guardians and stuff along those lines. They have gone to calling Gamodren’s class the Four Dragons. Or the Four D's. I’m just trying to stay hip.”

“Still to train three students that well in such a short time. He really is the headmaster’s son.” Said the one with a beard.

The black-haired man sighed before leaving the room without so much as a goodbye.

“They already gave him a nickname, The One-Eyed Berserker.”

“Thats a bit blunt for a nickname.” The old man groomed his beard.

“Doubt it will stay like that for too long. So far he’s only shown brute strength and overwhelming force.”