With the jeering at Kairos roaring across the room, those from the Snowdrifts glare hatefully at the scoffers while things heat up in the examination room.
But at this time, the leaders of Snowdrifts, Edward and gang, unexpectedly joined in the laughter. Jim, especially, couldn’t help but say, “Boss, nice bounce!”
The four were completely unfazed by the apparent failure of Kairos’ attempt. Knowing, full well, that he can easily recover with a triumph that is nigh impossible to comprehend.
Kairos himself was not upset about providing some form of amusement to his friends, and seemingly unfazed by the overreaction of the crowd, he walked towards the testing block for another attempt with so much composure that the deriders stopped out of confusion.
Before his second strike, Kairos did a quick mental calculation of his true strength.
“Using my energy infusion abilities and Aisa’s energy controlling technique, my attack without a weapon will reach 11 Stars. Peak Double S.
Add in dragon magic that can pull in mana from the air, 12 Stars is possible.
An attack value at Entry Triple S.”
He shook his head. Without knowing when Kairos has already reached a level above most practitioners on Gaia. He has no choice but to think up the best method to portray a reasonable level of strength that would not cause an uproar.
With his true power, even if he could somehow suppress the others’ curiosity, Principal Gai will surely hound him down to know how he did it.
A decision quickly forms in his mind, but, just as he reached the testing block, the lady instructor blocked him with an arm.
He looked at her with questioning eyes, to which she indifferently said, “No retakes. Go back to your line.”
The student crowd began to rouse with cries of unfairness. Kairos’ fame had piqued their interest, and not surprisingly, all of them wants to know his strength.
But surprisingly, Kairos did not protest, only giving the instructor a nod as he turned back.
The students watched in disappointment when Kairos so easily agreed to give up his chance to test his strength.
Those nobles could not understand that he did not mind the least. Failing the strength assessment only means extra training added to his module. For people from the common background, they worry more about food for the next day or the clothes on their back, but working hard is hardly mentionable.
But before he returned to his position, Calculus suddenly shouted, “Wait! Instructor, give him his turn to test. Kairos did not technically make an attempt yet.”
The instructor gave the nod immediately and called Kairos back since the young heir of the Devilheart family has already spoken.
Kairos’ supporters were not the only ones curious about his strength, Calculus, in particular, considered himself as a rival and is dying to know the difference between them.
At first, Calculus had stayed quiet, hoping that Kairos would argue with the instructor for a turn. It would be a specular show and an opportunity for ridiculing his enemy. Yet Kairos’ cold responses are beyond his understanding.
“Wouldn’t most other people be angry?!”
In the end, it is because of Calculus that Kairos received his turn, as though it did not matter to the latter either way. With an unreadable expression, Kairos returned to the block and raised his fist without any fancy preparations.
Those that watched felt their hearts leap into their mouths. Is his attack truly going to be this simple?
However, instead of striking the testing block, he paused a moment to take a look at Calculus.
As expected, the young noble is staring at him, wide-eyed with interest, but Kairos still did not let loose his punch.
“Hurry and attack!” A few of the students that could not hold back their curiosity urged him, but he only directed a smile at Calculus.
The young noble’s face reddens with anger, and he shouted, “Kairos, don’t be a coward and attack! You probably cannot beat my score anyway.”
“Ahh, so that’s the reason you begged the instructor to give me another turn. I was fine with the extra training, you know?”
“I don’t care about you failing or not. Just strike the block, if you’re not a coward.”
“Okay then,” Kairos merely replied with these two words and let his fist fly.
The crowd pushed forward for a better look.
“Wait!” Calculus shouted again, halting Kairos whose fist had almost connected with the metal.
Everyone turned and look at him, and he embarrassedly said through gritted teeth, “Instructor, you forgot the barrier.”
In truth, the instructor did remember but merely chose not to cast a barrier in an attempt to trivialise Kairos. She felt there is no danger involved, since it is impossible for a young boy from a commoner’s background to attack so fiercely, barehanded, that the onlookers will also be embroiled.
As long as the attack is not an area-affecting kind, virtually no barrier is required.
The supercilious instructor had previously tested quite a number of students without wasting her Ki for a barrier. Knowing happily that it was rather insulting for the examinee.
Recognising that Kairos is a person that her young master, Calculus, distains, she had extended her derision towards him.
Unfortunately, Calculus did not share the same thoughts as her. He might be arrogant, but he doesn't lack memory.
Their first battle actually ended in a draw; at that time when Kairos was at Peak F and he was already Entry D ranking. Calculus knows that such a powerful practitioner cannot be underestimated.
And as Kairos cultivation ranking increases, his Combat Strength continued to exceed his level. To be consistently stronger than your foundation is something that only a true martial genius could achieve.
A punch from such an individual is impossible to be normal. Therefore, even if no one believed in Kairos, Calculus will. An irony, due to the fact that they are enemies.
In fact, if it is not because of how fast Kairos executed his previous attack, Calculus would have given a warning.
“Cast the barrier, you fool!” He barked at the instructor.
Though the lady is in her 30s and the boy is only 13, she flinched from his rage and obediently created a powerful forcefield of Ki.
Kairos only slightly shook his head and returned to focus on his target. With his skill, if he does not want to hurt the others, there is no way his attack will affect them.
The young noble of the Devilheart family stood nearby silently, his face still red from the embarrassment of indirectly acknowledging the person he hates.
This time, without interruptions, Kairos struck with a punch that looked extremely normal, though the force and speed behind the strike are visibly superior to those before him.
*Boom*
A cloud of glittering dust, appearing from the block engulfed Kairos completely, following the sound blast.
Fortunately, the spherical barrier prevented the dust from spreading into the room, and for a second, everyone in the room appreciated Calculus’ suggestion.
When the dust finally settled, the instructor removed her barrier, and everyone broke ranks to come closer for a look.
“W..what… J..Just what is this?!” Someone exclaimed, pointing at the place Kairos struck.
At the flat of the metal where his fist connected, a perfectly spherical hole, the size of a watermelon was formed.
“Astral Cataclysm,” Jim spoke without much thought.
It was one of the complementing martial techniques of the ‘Origin’ that Aisa had taught Kairos.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
“Whoa, is that what this martial technique is called?”
“Amazing. This damage is incredible, shattering part of the testing metal into dust. Just what kind of technique is that?”
“Did he do that with just his fist? I didn’t detect even a strand of Ki from his attack?”
“Raw physical strength? How can physical power be contained so perfectly? Look, there isn’t any mark on the block that is out of shape.”
“It just means that his level of control is simply beyond belief. Even if I see it with my own eyes, it’s hard to think I’m not dreaming.”
“I concur, this amount of impact should have pushed the block back, yet it did not move an inch.”
“Guys, look! The block isn’t reforming… the runes on the surface are destroyed as well.”
“Then what is his ranking?”
“I saw a flash of bright Orange before the dust blocked our view,” A sharp-eyed individual said with a small, quiet, voice that reflected his own incredulity.
The testing block changes colour and shade to indicate the cultivation rank of the examinee, the colour reflected from his attack means that he has reached Entry B rank.
When the others heard this, the uproar that he wanted to avoid, occurred anyway. Unfortunately, there is no way for Kairos to hide his own cultivation ranking from the testing block.
“Just what is this? This is completely cheating. Didn’t he go home with Entry D rank? How is it he is Entry B now?”
“Who can tell me how did he skip C rank?”
“Did he eat some weird plants in the mountain and suddenly become strong?”
“Nonsense, if he forcefully upgraded his cultivation using some spiritual herb from the Mortal Realm, his foundation will be weakened. But judging from the power and control needed to make this spherical hole, I’ll say he has at least 3 Stars.”
“No, it’s definitely 4 Stars.”
The crowd’s estimation was rather accurate. Kairos had specifically suppressed his strength to be lower than his previous achievement of 5 Stars. Having an increase in Stars after entering a higher cultivation rank is simply too unbelievable.
After all, having 1 Star combat strength at Peak SSS rank and 1 Star combat strength at Entry F rank is entirely worlds apart.
However, even just becoming a B ranker is already too much for the other students to accept. By now, everyone knows that Kairos is at a level far ahead of his contemporaries.
The students recognised his strength, believing that no one in their year can be a match with Kairos. They estimate that perhaps only the strongest 3rd-year student could prove a challenge for him.
To minimise problems like this, as well as to train the group, Kairos has instructed the gang to seal their Origin or Mana Infusion arts unless it is a matter of life and death.
With their abilities restricted, the group can only bring out merely a fifth of their actual strength.
In a way, it is also fortunate that the students do not know that Kairos could strike with more than five times the force. Otherwise, they will feel an unconquerable sense of defeat.
Of course, using his full force half of the testing hall will shatter, along with the testing block.
A silence befell the crowd as the reality of what Kairos did set in. This speed of cultivation yet preserving Four Stars is simply too farfetched. They tried to make sense of what made this possible, but their minds simply couldn’t wrap around the facts.
Even Luciette who shivered like a leaf after training until she is left without an ounce of energy thought that it is impossible for her to achieve such a result.
Just what did Kairos experienced that made him this strong? Was he fighting for his life the entire summer break?
It is possible for rapid growth to happen during life and death situations. A condition that is known to occur infrequently among top tiered fighters.
Suddenly a series of laughter erupted from the front of the crowd, interrupting everyone’s thoughts.
It was in deep contrast with the otherwise quiet room.
It couldn’t be helped that those who have not seen the Astral Cataclysm before were astounded into absolute quietness. But the laughter brought them out of their short reverie as they finally saw the state Kairos was in.
“Boss,” Jim, the one that first started laughing said, “I can’t see you at all. You’re completely glittering.”
“Boss, you’re quite pretty now,” Alan added on.
“BWAHAHA,” Tommy pounded his chest and laughed without reserve.
Before Edward could say anything, Kairos let a tinge of his aura flow out. The very force manifested from a fraction of his strength caused the silvery dust to tremble and elevate from his skin. Then with an inhuman control of his Ki, Kairos scattered the dust towards the three who teased him, their faces, changing in colour from the dust, until they look like silver statues. Edward who barely dodged the arrow now held his tummy in laughter.
But even through all these laughter and fun making, the lady instructor still has not come out of her shock. With her sharp eyes and years of experience, how could she not see that Kairos had contained his attack to a tiny area?
The boy had clearly reserved his power. If the force behind the punch is completely unleashed, who knows how big the sphere on the testing block would be? And how many Stars would it mean?
At this critical moment, where the room is mostly silent except for the laughter of the five boys, Principal Gai who had arrived much earlier in secret, suddenly cut through the crowd and stopped before Kairos.
He had come to observe Kairos’ growth in secret. The boy is a talent he sorely wishes to scout and had wanted to jump out when the instructor tried to stop Kairos’ second attempt, but hesitated, knowing that his presence could affect the truthfulness of the result. Now that the test is over, he did not have to hide anymore.
“Well done!” the Principal exclaimed, then without being asked he started explaining to everyone what just happened.
“This punch is far more complicated than it looks! Observe how it destroyed the metal block so completely, that the metal is unable to restore its form. Men, come in and change a new testing block!”
Unlike how the other students dented the metal, Kairos had smashed half of it into smithereens and completely destroyed the artefact.
At his request, 10 S rankers carried in a new testing block after taking the damaged one out.
Principal Gai nodded with satisfaction, and then continued, “That was a perfect display of strength and control. Unfortunately, this skill seems dependent on your physical strength, you will be unable to use this technique if your inner strength ever increases to the point where your flesh is unable to withstand.
Kairos, if you wish to train in both external and internal martial arts, your path from now on will be twice as long as the others.”
Gai had instantly understood with a glance, the fundamental concept behind the Astral Cataclysm, though not its entire workings. He could tell that if Kairos’ power ever become stronger than what his body could endure, the backlash from the technique could prove fatal, and had to warn the boy.
After saying this, the Principal took charge and gestured for the next student to step forward. Since it is Kairos’ teammate that stepped forward, he personally created a barrier for the student.
He had seen how the instructor tried to shame Kairos but secretly wanted to see the way this boy reacts. The Principal believed it was a perfect opportunity to find out the boy’s character.
And what Kairos did make the Principal nod internally. There was no shouting, nor argument involved, but a quiet confidence that made him more confident in his decision to scout Kairos.
He chose to step forward and praising Kairos in public while giving him an advice filled with concern. And now, as the Principal of the elite academy, he personally creates the protection barrier for the test. All these for the purpose of earning partiality from the boy.
Unfortunately, though Kairos gave the Principal a smile, what the man is scheming could not escape his eyes. For any other boy of his age, being favoured by the Principal, a famous SS ranker, would have made the person beaming with pride.
But Kairos has already seen, battled, and even poisoned hundreds of SS rankers like the Principal. Being recognised by someone at this level of strength is impossible to make him swell with joy.
Instead, it was the Principal and the others that became flabbergasted with what happened next. As though a scene from the ancient myths had come to life.
One by one, Kairos’ team went forward for their examination, and one by one they displayed a cultivation at B rank. Additionally, not a single one among them have a weaker combat strength than their rank suggests, which those who were hasty in raising their level would be afflicted with. Their attacks easily Two Stars or above.
The Principal strongly regretted his decision to only invite Kairos. How could he have known that all of these young commoners could have such talents?
If he had invited them all, perhaps Kairos would have joined already.
The other students were shocked speechless.
Since when is B rank achieved so easily? Could it be that anyone close to Kairos will become so much stronger? I should’ve joined the Snowdrifts as well!
After his teammates, the 4 captains, Long, John, Silvers and Sasha, went next.
Surprisingly, they are also far stronger than anyone else in the room, already at C rank. They winked at Kairos when they went back to their position after the examination.
Kairos thought with a smile, “Looks like they received from the Dragonlord more than just a simple piece of news of the Devils sealed under this land.”
Afterwards, the rest of Snowdrifts went for their test, surprising the everyone by achieving a very high average rank, with most of them already between Mid and Peak E rank.
The other students could not understand this incident that happened before their eyes. Even the instructor who is wrecking her brains to no avail wants to pull her hair out. And, the Principal could only stare in silence. They finally understand that the Snowdrifts is far more formidable than they had given credits for.
How could the more fortunate ones know how hard these people trained? Those of the lowest ranks among the low-born can never forget their origins and the pain that poverty brought their families. When even the smallest chance is given to these people, who had grown up watching their family suffer, they fought tirelessly for a brighter future.
To help them, Kairos, knowingly, taught every member the Formless Stance allowing them to train it as their foundation technique before the break started.
The original Formless Sword Stance was made by a genius Sword Saint who had lost his mind and was both incomplete and too difficult to understand. But, after reaching Kairos’ hands, he customised the skill to be suitable for weapons other than the sword. Making it easy to be learned and allowed all the members of the Snowdrifts have a way to improve both their cultivation and their strength properly.
He also altered the technique to become increasingly powerful depending on the practitioner’s mastery. Ensuring that the technique would not turn obsolete too quickly.
It is easy to imagine adding such function, but those that heard what the Formless Stance could do understood the incredible work Kairos had done on it.
Being one of their only skills, it can’t be helped that the moment they received this framework technique, they treated it preciously. And when they started practising this technique they realised that it is higher tiered than what most noble houses have.
In a way, they had trained far more than Luciette did, although because they did it in a way that avoids getting injured, they progressed much slower compared to her.
After all, commoners do not have the cash to spare for doctors. If they fall sick, they could only hope to die quickly or recover naturally by themselves. Even though now their situation has turned for the better, it is hard to convince them to train the way nobles do.
Far too extravagant, they would think.
It is not to say that they completely do not have the funds for training pills. Before the start of the six months break, Kairos gave each of his members as many resources as he could spare. At that time, the Snowdrifts’ shop were far smaller than now, and each person only received a small portion of training materials, far lesser than what the average young noble has. But by using a hundred times of effort, they caught up to the nobles.
And those that lacked in talent, doubled in the effort, training 200 times, or even 300 times harder.
If they could forsake sleep, they would, if they could forsake rest, they gladly did so. They knew no other option, and somehow, that turned into their strength. Carving a path forward with their sweat and blood, even when there were no roads before them.