Celleste had her fair share of bad times Outside, and Tiberon before her isn't making things different. Why would he? He speaks calmly, looking at her like the people who found her.
She looks at him like she looked at them. Unafraid, quiet, and numb.
She respects those that help her, so she calms her heart and steadies her stance and her posture. She keeps looking at him with an indifferent expression, wondering what he will do or say next. She figures some explanations are often behind a lot of actions. At least that is what her teacher in the last 10 days forced into her head.
It went well, all things considered, but she definitely lacks some common sense.
“So, are you ready for me to take you to a hard moment?” Tiberon asks and points his finger forward. “Feel free to give up, or have fun if you feel like it. Though, it depends on your spirit, or what you will take.”
Celleste nods in confirmation to his question and remains skeptical about this Trial.
“Alright... You or others are no different. Every one of you is a beginner in their hopes, but not everyone grows the same. It's the same for everyone, even for us, the older Walkers. Whatever, let's go I suppose.” Tiberon laments his words and thinks he speaks more than usual, so he pushes his Gravity Domain out.
The bunker shakes in many waves that rush out of him, creating wild storm and waves that travels to every corner. Debris and dust flicker on the ground, and Celleste watches it go to her skin and face.
It is frightening, all so frightening to her, that she gets shimmers behind her back and sweat appears on her forehead. This recalls some memories... Not good. Not great. Not terrible.
She backs away almost instinctively to the opposite wall of the room, and it happened in a couple of seconds. She is terrified. “D-devil?” she mumbles, seeing and feeling something that she noticed a few times in the past. This encompassing dread, and feeling... It is traumatic and ridiculous.
Slowly, this pressure that Tiberon releases brushes past her face, hitting her legs, core, neck, or back. It frightens her Vectors too, and Arcanite flowing in her bloodstream screams in pain. Everything seems to hurt her.
It is pretty much the same reaction all of the other first-timers suffered, but some take it better than others. That is how enduring such pressure goes, and it is here to force her in different ways than previous first-timers. For her, it may be very uncomfortable, since her Emblem isn't defense-oriented. In fact, it is too offensive, making this pressure spread and envelopes her like a tight hand that clutches her whole.
Without her Emblem, or mindset to endure this, she almost falls to the ground, but she bites her lips, and tries to stand straight without doing anything. There is no Emblem activation, nor she considered it. She stands there, doing nothing to help her endure this better.
This goes on for dozens of seconds, and she starts to shiver and grunt in pain. After all, she still has some spine, and she tries to jump away, hoping to escape this pressure but to no avail.
Tiberon isn't making this easy on her at all and stands like a massive mountain over her sorry figure. It is around her every corner, every move, and over herself. He doesn't try what he did with William, but not everything about his Gravity Domain means something crazy. He feels it is better to hit her hard at first and make her understand the circumstances she is in because he knows how lacking this girl is.
He flickers his hand, and a more powerful wave goes right at her, hitting her to her front, and causing her to stagger against the wall.
“This is just a first touch, girl. Don't feel fearful. World Outside is much harsher, as you must know that more than some adults. Fight back.” He tries to appeal for her Emblem and flickers his finger again. Celleste forces her arms around her face, feeling that a monster is stomping on her once more. Fearful feelings still linger on, following her like the gaze of the Devil.
It is terrifying, and the quick motions of some memories shift in her head. Monsters chasing her, monsters hitting her, and pain. A lot of both. Lots of everything.
There are a couple of things that would help. Do nothing and it would move away. Escape. Fleeting. Killing? She has no idea what to choose now.
Seeing no path of escape, Celleste body is looking for it on its own. She is helpless, and even her mind is frantically trying to find some path of escaping, while her right arm is getting itchy. Her eyes see nothing, as she has no support style skills on her own. She has no idea what this Gravity Domain is. This feels exactly like the times when she lost her ways before the monsters.
“No! I don't need to escape!” she shouts in her mind. “Fight... I have better ways now! A proper one!” she decides and holds her hands close, and notices her right arm shivering. The Emblem on her forearm faces away when she holds her palms above her face.
She activates it without any word but the notion is all she needs.
Vector flickers around her right arm and a rising tide of black and white Vectors goes all over herself. It is more vivid than before, and it essentially fights against the pressure. Celleste feels it right away, and the pressure is declining.
Then, she sways her right arm before her, letting the Vectors manifest into her hands and how it should, but it is heavier and harder than usual as if Vectors don't follow her direction. Still, most do, and a flow of many dark Vectors goes into a sturdy, and fine-flowing great sword that is longer than her body height.
Unlike any sort of person beforehand, she bears no hope to excel in endurance, and she knows it. But Vectors have excellent moldable properties, and one has to accommodate for that. She knows she doesn't excel in defense, but it isn't as if she has nothing at all. Her sword eases the pressure on its own, while the flowing waves of white surround her right arm as well.
Though dense-looking, the sword is mostly black and appears like waves coming up and down, cycling in very dense-looking Vectors.
This flow around her and the sword should take the brunt of the pressure, or so she hopes.
Tiberon flickers his hand again, smiling and wondering how Celleste will fare when she actually knows her choices. He hit her like a storm. The dark or white Vectors sway like her figure, but she stands and her greatsword stays in her hand. It is there to make this whole endurance fight better, albeit it may be quite a miserable experience.
So, she doesn't do what she couldn't, and this newly found decision to fight calms her mind. A new idea enters her head along with lessened pressure, but that finger flick does hurt her indeed, but it comes in tides. Every flick of that finger also follows a snap like clap.
Even William tried to do the same but failed because he isn't the best at it.
That is the speed. The ability to dodge the notion of those gravitational slams will be possible if her speed is enough. Mitigating them will work too, but could it work? Gravity is a strange element, and Annihilation does work against it, but what she has again? Shadow is her black part, while the white is a strange one since she has no idea what the white part does, but she sure knows it.
It is a weird element called Force, and it is no natural elements such as wind, flame, or light. In fact, it is also hard to note such an element, as every Walker with such an element has Force of different properties or strengths. They are more meaningful, and only Walkers of talents and power could get them.
Celleste thinks that any sort of move with quick movements will do for now. She has no idea about the massive goldmine over her Emblem, but not as if it can change.
Having some idea of her powers would be enough, albeit she is the worst among the first-timers in this regard. She hasn't managed enough in her System status, her time with Mindless Eyes is a misery and she was late to summon her System. It happened 3 days ago: the slowest among this batch.
Before that, her 10-day training was about the way of her Emblem, since the System doesn't need to be active for Emblem to go on. Mindless Eyes can still affect the head, albeit the System is more effective in this. Yet, the 3 days is enough time to come up with her Skills. She finds them unfamiliar and unlike her. The Shadow part is a soft, and empty one, but not necessarily so. Vectors can shape anything to her will, and the vision of the sword is her Core Mold, like the Claw that is William's.
Her greatsword is in her hand to hold onto, and she knows it very well by now.
Though William also excels in speed, reflexes, and quick fights, Celleste is on another level from him by a couple of factors.
Those are Skills that she manages under her current care.
Shadow Empowerment. She can let the Shadow Vectors flow over her body, and literary squeeze herself to move quicker and stronger than normal.
It is an incredibly strong offensive and support kind of Skill since it is using already strengthening properties of her other Skill. That is Body Enchantment, which is an Arcanite-type of Skill that is empowering the body with much stronger effects. It is something that a lot of Walkers can have, but in her case, it is doubling as a fusion Skill, which adds two Skills to bigger efficiency. It is a strength-based buff, which affects the muscles the most.
Because of it, the Body Enchantment is better than one would guess. The fusion of those two ends up making her body strong and Shadow Empoverement strengthens her Body Enchantment. That can be arms or logs, or letting the Shadow Empoverement envelop her whole. It doesn't work with her greatsword, but it doesn't have to.
As with almost all weapons of this kind, she can swing her sword with power outside of the norm, thanks to her two Skills.
Then comes her greatsword itself, which is the name of her Emblem itself, but not really. Emblems have their unique ways, and naming schemes form through the System. In her case, it is Sword Echo, which is a name she doesn't think is important at all. Most stuff in her System is something she can live without, as she isn't used to this life yet. She rather focuses on what she wants to use and there hasn't been a lot of care put into everything, unlike what most Rank 1 Walkers do.
Celleste has no idea what Echo means, and the greatsword is molded in her hands on its own. It feels empty, but it isn't that. It is strong, and heavy depending on her use of Feel of the Shadows, which is the top-tier way of her elemental affinity. William has the same kind of Skill with the Feel of Annihilation.
It is strong and flexible, and Celleste takes some care about it, although the Force is yet something that she knows. For that, she needs more experience, fights, and uses everything she could, rather than a few things. Fugirung the Force would also help, but it isn't something she knows yet.
And to do the best she could, there are almost none to help her with it since no one knows she has Force along with her Shadow. Such dual elemental affinity isn't normal, and it is rare to see.
Celleste doesn't think much of anything, and her Force is whatever it can be, but Shadows is up to her devices. It isn't making this sword what it is, as Force and Shadow already combine together, as this isn't the Dual Emblem, but a Dual Element in a vision of the Vectors. That means less brutal time, as Dual Emblems are so few in number, one could count them on one hand. That includes the past too, and William has exactly that duality.
For Celleste, her Emblem is unique in her elemental duality, since if she had no Force, the Shadow wouldn't create a sword on its own. She would have a much more average Emblem, and her potential wouldn't fare much.
Though, she has not only that, her vision of her Emblem already resembles the sword, so her power was meant to be strong.
She steadies her posture and holds the greatsword before her. Shadow Vectors gushes out of the greatsword after each flick of Tiberon's fingers, and like the rain coming from the side, the Shadow Vectors come back to her cycling
She doesn't feel fear anymore, and that is surprising since she looked like a weakling on the brink of a panic attack a while ago. Now, she can fight. For example, the flicks that Tiberon does, aren't that effective against her anymore. Through this, Tiberon isn't using the same amount of strength as he did with William. He waits for Celleste to get the hang of herself, and then he will move along.
So, he flickers his hands like a charm, sending Gravity Slams at her with certain effectiveness. Many slams reach and go against her, and she starts to dodge them after noticing that her movement is back. She starts dodging them left and right, not even detecting them as William does with his Velvet Eyes.
She doesn't need to, since she feels the surroundings, rather than sees them. The change and threat in the space around her shakes and quiver, and it is thanks to her Sword Echo, rather than anything else. She feels the flow of Gravity Vectors around her like a dropless of water, and it is a Skill on its own, but she has no idea bout it.
The Gravity is stronger in the Gravity Slams, making it noticeable, rather than the basic pressure of the Gravity Domain. She feels the air and ground in 10 feet radius around her, which allows her to react and dodge them in a split second. She either sidesteps, jumps away, or slashes with her greatsword to go against gravity.
It works. All of it.
Though, she doesn't really fare that well against the pressure if it hits her straight to her core. Tiberon manifests some keen hits since he is getting frustrated by his lack of successful attacks. He decides to turn his Gravity Slams up a notch, so he increased the power, delay between them, and also their speed.
This ends up making Celleste unable to dodge all of them, and every hit makes her legs wobbly, and she grunts in pain.
Yet, Celleste keeps on moving and starts to circle around Tiberon. She is sure there is more to come, and getting the hang of her feelings and powers. She tries to see through the Gravity, as she glares at his action and hand, but it's to no avail. She isn't knowing what to defeat, but she can run around. That is fitting, she thinks. Running and fleeting isn't a synonym for cowardice in her heart.
She would rather do that than suffer.
“Is this a form of Vectors or a natural Element? It's nature... Some rules must apply to him. I guess fleeting is fine, since he didn't tell a thing about some fight, and my fighting spirit remains so I can go on. Right? When I move, the following pressure is lower when I am stationary. My Shadows are working against that, so let's continue to do that. My swords can also cut through it, but it seems harder on my body.” she wonders and deducts what she learned, which makes things much easier for her than she would ever know.
It is a disaster for Tiberon, who hopes for Celleste to do something different, but her choice isn't going along with that. Thus, he increases his power 3 more times, but it doesn't do shit.
Dissatisfaction lurks on his face, and time tickles by with Celleste circling him around the edges of the bunker. She uses the walls as a platform, and her shadow vectors keep lurking around her legs the most. The ones in her feet are densest, making her almost float around, as she runs like a top-tier athlete.
Passing the 10th-minute mark doesn't mean that much, so Tiberon at least makes it a little fair for him. He pushes the pressure to the limits as he did with William, hoping to let the circling Celleste take him head-on. Although, he doesn't want to make this so fierce as he did with him, since Celleste has no Annihilation and stubbornness of one with such an element. That is the exception to his "rules" so to speak.
The pressure disappears in a flash and Tiberon hopes to manifest some Mold of his. Celleste is so surprised by the sudden stop, that she couldn't handle this change at all. She bumps into some debris and falls face-first toward the ground where she travels until she hits the wall.
“You alright?” Tiberon says, noticing some wounds on her forehead.
Celleste grunts and gets up. “I am clumsy... No, I mean I am sorry,” she says apologetically. “Uhm, is it over? Does it go to 10 minutes as it did with others? Pressure is gone...”
“Is it already past 10 minutes?” Tiberon asks in wonder, oblivious to the timer in his pocket that he is aware of. “Your perception of time is kind of off, but your focus is excellent. Mobility, reflexes, and speed are off the chart, and your way with that greatsword seems savage enough, as it can mold on its own. Does it have forms too?”
“Forms? What is that?” Celleste asks in wonder, scratching her forehead with her palm.
“Don't have any? Well, your molds may differ later, or not. It demands on you alone, so that is fine. I didn't even have a chance to follow up with my rules to force you to the corner, but how about giving it a try?” Tiberon says half a truth since he doesn't want to hit a bleeding opponent. He is looking for excuses to make himself feel better, so he wouldn't look like a bully.
In fact, he indeed couldn't fault it, since Celleste is quick, but she would take his stronger attacks head-on for sure. He would make it happen. She may be much quicker than he assumed, but against the power of his Emblem, and his stakes, she wouldn't manage to dodge them.
He still doesn't know how she managed to keep going for so long, since there is no indication of how. Her greatsword?
Shadows are known to be soft, so he wonders how exactly she took his hits without much trouble. Of course, he noticed how her occasional slashes cleaved his Gravity Slams. She never did anything more than that with it. She didn't attack him and just run around him while taking his Gravity Slams that went at her like a champ.
Sometimes, she struggled against them and stumbled, or staggered, but she never stooped.
That is impressive, as far as he knows. It means a certain stability, and her movement under this pressure and attack is incredible.
Celleste couldn't change her strategy much. She hasn't even used her greatsword for something better than a shield and weapon. She remained to flee with it in her hands, making a circle as it is the most common way to figure out any enemy.
She knew it, and her feelings over 10 feet away ended up helping her the most, as it is the extension of her body. In feelings alone, however.
“So is it over? I don't care about some tests, and don't know what you mean by trying something.”
“Is that so?” Tiberon sights. “Then... fine. I won't do that.”
“Great. I think I was the last, I am right, sir?” She asks and handles her Greatsword to the ground. After checking the wound on her forehead on the camera's screen, she figures she doesn't look that fine. Thankfully, it is a small wound, appearing as nothing important, so she dismisses it for a scratch.
“Last? Nah, but how disappointing it is, but fitting, I suppose.” Tiberon laughs, figuring that he won't get a chance to force his time against her as he hopes. He is sure he would get more out of her, and perhaps discover more information about her Emblem, but all things considered, this is a success. “I am giving you 83 like your Awakening reading. Quite fitting, isn't it?” he says, half smiling, half laughing.
“What? There is a score like that? Why a score? What for?”
“Don't worry about it. Though, there have been those with higher scores than you, because you kept fleeting, and didn't impress me enough.”
“Why would I do that?” She argues as if hurt. “All I had to do was flee because of your rules you said, and attacking someone at Rank 8 is a waste of time. I am not stupid. I grew up well in the hellhole itself,” she argues, appearing confident in her lacking skills.
Hearing her words, Tiberon can't fault her for saying that, or even feel how true is that. Once again, he is completely helpless against a little kid, which makes it quite hilarious for him.
So, he ignores all his thoughts and gestures to Celleste to get out of the bunker, as it isn't over. There is still one last first time, which he will have to look at because he has to.
Celleste walks away, still doubting the Trial's effectiveness, but it seems it is the end. She should be glad she refused his offer since Tiberon was literary ready to hit her like a truck, force her to the knees, and clutch her like a little beast. It would be unsightly, forceful, and savage, but he would squeeze some potential out of her without any troubles. But that didn't happen, and Tiberon ceases away any pressure from his Domain, and awaits the last kid.
This upcoming one isn't surprising, and it is an injured youth who limps on his left leg. He appears to not look that good.
“Oh, you? Well, waiting for you to do something may be a reach.” Tiberon says, and the youth has not much chance but to try his best anyway.
He does, and it ends up in nasty failure. Unconscious, with pain over his head and inability to even move, he fails miserably without even a flick of a finger coming his way. His Cycles long outstretch his ability, and he couldn't do much, even though he ends up being the last. He has most rest behind him, but it doesn't help when one has reached his limits.
Tiberon isn't that insane to attack an unconscious kid, so he stops right here and drags him out of the bunker.
2nd Trial is over, with the following 8 who have enough to stand against Tiberon and his little play. Their endurance and heart are firm enough, along with Skills, strategies, and powers to go along with their hearts.
Some are better with that than others, but whose fault that is? No ones?
Tiberon for sure can make some things difficult, but the youths are no different. Many found various ways to go against his gravity. His bias and element can be obvious advantages or disadvantages, but only if he wants to, which few individuals won't like to see. He expects some scolds to come to him later, but because of his carefree, yet focused attitude, it won't change a thing.
The following 8 are: Sharie, Onga, Louise, Stark, Rozzante, William, Celleste, Kiryu
Out in the hallway, the butler makes due space and allows Tiberon to walk forwards. He tosses the youth onto the sofa, close to Celleste, who waits beside the wall and is no longer close to Sharie. Celleste appears fine, and long without any Shadow around her or the greatsword. Apart from some bump on her forehead that is barely noticeable, she seems fine, since the hair around her forehead makes it better. Though, her pale skin makes it somewhat more noticeable than it should be.
Clapping his hand, Tiberon announces the end of this charade.
“That's about the 2nd Trial, kids. 2nd part of the Trial is done, and that is the end for today's day. There is no point in continuing with this any longer since some of you are more tired than others, and we don't want to create too large disparities before the 3rd. We want it to be fair for all, so tomorrow morning, you will go into section 2 of the Travel Pavilion in Eastern Island. At 9 AM, at worst, understood?” he announces, making no room for argument.
There is no Agatha around him, so that's most likely why he has to be firm.
8 youths, with varying experiences and standing, hear their success well. Some feel quite happy for a breather, while others are serious to take on the last Trial. William is among those who are more than glad for a break since he is beaten the most out of everyone who succeeded. That is including Sharie, of course. She isn't that injured, but she sure seems tired.
With that said, Tiberon walks away as if everything is fine as is, and his presence is no longer needed. He is leaving this group of 8 alone, and even the butler disappears somewhere, stranding this ground in the middle of nowhere.
“Err... What are we supposed to do? Wait for the morning? ” Rozzante asks William, but more so everyone in this room.
Though, everyone is quiet, uncertain of where to go, or even where is the location of the 3rd Trial tomorrow. In fact, where is even the Travel Pavilion, or the Eastern Island?
“Heheheheh.” Laugher echoes in the hallway, revealing the distinct laugh of the only one, who could do so in such circumstance.
Stark, walks to the middle of the hall and speaks like a leader he feels he is. Without any speck of injury or too many problems with stamina, he feels confident.
“Listen up, folks. I know this place more than everyone in this room combined together, so let me get this straight with you. I will help you, while you will help me in the future. How about it? Good deal?” He says, appearing quite familiar with being the center of attention.
Though, unlike his expectation, some of the remaining 7 seem uninterested, and most opt to walk away instead. That is Onga, Kiryu, who walks away on their own. Sharie is there as well, but she is trying to catch up to Celleste, who is also walking away.
The only ones who remain are 3. That is Louise, for obvious friendship with Stark, and Rozzante with William who is hesitant to remain or walk away. He doesn't feel confident in anything with Stark. He chose a choice because he is curious about what he would tell. He may regret it, but who knows?
Seeing half of the people remaining, Stark is kind of speechless, while Louise appears behind his back.
“I told you so. Not many of those talents would be interested.”
“S-shut up...” he barks back, “One could at least hope, am I right?”
“Righ. Obviously right.” Louise nods in approval, turning to the 2 remaining boys on the sofa who are whispering something to each other.
“What about you two?” Stark asks.
They keep talking, whispering some secrets.
The first to speak is William. “I am sorry. I am not interested. My instructor is still somewhere, probably waiting for me to give me my last reputable pointers, so I will leave too. See you tomorrow.” he tells, hoping to be alone for the time being.
This leaves Rozzante with this group. Unlike Stark's vast expectations of forming a much larger team, that is at least someone.
Away, William walks into the hallway, hoping to come up with some plans for the night. He can sleep whenever, or anywhere, and this archipelago doesn't seem the worse. There are plains around the edges, so some sleeping with the sky as his ceiling wouldn't hurt.
He thinks of it at first, but he still lacks the way of some sense. He is hurt, and it isn't stopping. He needs some better rest, and 1 day may be enough, or not. He is unsure.
“I should get a proper change of clothes first. I can't have this uniform all the time. How poor of me... What will I do when someone will see me like this? Wounded and everything... They will think I am a thief, I bet. Yeah. I should change quickly first.” William decides, and it is with great resolve since he doesn't want to partake in any kind of group activity. Especially the one with Stark.
Though, he still promised Rozzante to regroup tomorrow, so that is something to consider. That will wait for tomorrow, or if fate wills it, they will meet today as well.
Walking for a couple of minutes, William finds the entrance of the skyscraper, where the remaining 4 people who opted to leave are. Some of them are taking their stuff from a safe place, which is behind the counter where some personnel is attention to guests of this building. They are unlike William, who traveled all the way to the upper floors with his back and all of his stuff.
William also sees some butlers and even some of the former students of the Academy around. They are there for whatever reason.
Seeing no choice, he walks to the entrance, hoping to get out on his own, since he has no need to retrieve a thing.
“Come on, Celleste.” Sharie with blond hair, and healthy color of blue eyes says. She appears to be arguing with Celleste about something, but she keeps on ignoring her instead. “I just feel it's fine if the girls stick together. Is it THAT bad of an offer?” she asks, asking for some form of friendship that she feels is fitting.
William would beg to differ about that since it appears one of them is unwilling, so why bother with any arguments? He doesn't understand such problems. If someone doesn't want to deal with others, why bother them? There are so many other reasons that one could find more important, so why be upset or try doing something that has no purpose?