Several cadets, including Zain, mistook the radiant golden aura emanating from Rin for a large fire coming from the direction of Karanzo's bonfire. However, they soon realized their mistake and were mesmerized by Rin's majestic glow, which left a beautiful trail in the air. Rin was in the cultivation phase, making her look like a precious gem in the darkness and drawing everyone's attention.
"Oi, oi, oi... What kind of sorcery is this?! How could she accomplish such a feat?!" exclaimed Zain, who had joined Karanzo's bonfire, followed by his friends. They were curious about the blonde girl sitting next to Karanzo, whose aura was as bright as her future. Moreover, with her stunning beauty, it was no surprise that people considered Karanzo lucky to be sitting next to her, which drew envious gazes from the others. Before long, a cadet informed them that the girl's name was Erina Nohana, also known as "The Flower," and that she was a smart student from class C in the Taiyo region.
Erina's reputation preceded her, and everyone knew that she was a hardworking student who never missed a class. Although the Shinra ninjas were trained in self-defense, Rin went the extra mile and attended additional cultivation classes, which reflected in her mindset and perseverance. Despite the whispers of the devil around her, she focused on achieving the best grades.
Approaching Karanzo with a sense of awe, Zain couldn't take his eyes off the girl with the bright golden aura shining in the distance. "Damn," he muttered under his breath, "I wish I could have an aura like hers, one that shines as bright as gold. It would be so cool when I go berserk in battle."
Startled by Zain's sudden appearance beside him, Karanzo stepped back in alarm. "Hey, what are you doing here?! Go back to your own bonfire!" he exclaimed.
Confused by Karanzo's angry reaction, Zain turned to him and asked, "What's your problem, Karanzo? Aren't we allies during the prison test? I just wanted to get a closer look at her," Zain said, reverting to his normal accent outside his Viking squad.
"Only in prison—not right now," Karanzo replied firmly.
Rin's golden aura slowly dissipated as the streaks on her face struggled to maintain it.
"Hey, stop it! You two broke her concentration!" Joel exclaimed.
"I know...! You don't have to scream either...! Just blame him!" Zain shouted back, throwing a protesting look at Karanzo.
"No, it's all your fault for causing a ruckus!" Karanzo replied curtly.
Rin slowly opened her eyes. "You guys are so noisy... I can't concentrate quietly," she griped.
"See, Karanzo? You need to lower your voice when others are cultivating. That's really rude," Zain lectured Karanzo, who decided not to argue with someone like Zain.
"Sorry, Rin. You can continue your cultivation practice," Karanzo said regretfully, hoping that Zain would also realize their mistake instead of lecturing him.
"Well, I'm done. Now it's your turn, Karanzo. Since we have all drunk the Elixir of Dream, I swear to God, it will be one hundred times easier for us to cultivate. Zain and the others can follow if they want to learn too."
"Wow, really?!" Zain immediately put himself in a meditative position near their bonfire without Karanzo's approval. "Thank you then. I haven't cultivated much in these few years, after all..."
Zain's large, muscular Viking companions, commonly known as the ‘Riot Squad’ in the academy, joined the crowd around the bonfire, causing Karanzo to feel uneasy. The Riot Squad was introduced by the cadets to the rowdy Vikings who usually hang out together during class breaks at the Academy. Along with Lugos' trio of brothers, Leif, and Skadj, there were also notable figures like Hjalmar and Don Craig.
Don Craig, the oldest member, and leader of the Riot Squad donned a leather vest embellished with intricate metalwork, as well as a fur cloak that draped over his shoulders. His arms were adorned with intricate Norse symbol tattoos, and he wielded a massive battle axe with a razor-sharp blade. Despite his intimidating appearance, Don had a warm smile and a boisterous laugh that could light up a room.
The atmosphere became more cramped and lively with jokes, bickering, compliments, and teasing directed at Erina, and Zain seemed to have no sense of responsibility in bringing his crew without Karanzo's approval. However, Karanzo remained silent when he saw Rin, who appeared eager to patiently teach them. He was prepared to use his shadow technique to knock out anyone who dared to disturb his sister.
The other cadets in the distance heard the excitement as they looked at Karanzo's bonfire, crowded with cadets who appeared to be one step ahead in cultivation. Rin felt energized and motivated to teach them the fast technique to increase their auras that Han Luoyi had taught her. This technique, called Spirit Cohesion, required more than ten people to balance each other's auras. The stronger ones gave their aura to the weaker ones, making them stronger in turn, thus becoming coherent as the stronger auras adjusted to each other.
Karanzo's friends from the same class, Drew, Noct, Mark, and Lee joined in, and more cadets from neighboring groups followed suit. Initially, they needed help but soon realized that working together under Rin's guidance was much more effective. With the next exam approaching in an hour, they all prepared to implement an overnight speeding system by assuming a meditation position toward Karanzo's bonfire. They filled in the gaps instead of indulging in useless chatter and gibberish. Before long, between fifty and eighty cadets had gathered around the bonfire, while the others focused on their respective bonfires.
The cadets began by relaxing their bodies, closing their eyes, and inhaling through their noses before exhaling slowly. To prevent distractions, they concentrated fully and tried to refocus with their breath, causing thoughts of daily life to disappear and dismissing any other thoughts that may arise. They repeated this for a few minutes until their bodies were completely relaxed, allowing positive energy to enter their bodies while all stress and disturbing thoughts were expelled.
After one hour, several cadets released their auras, though most of them were still dim. As time went on, more auras filled the field with various colors, Karanzo's turquoise aura, which had slightly dimmed earlier, became more intense, as did the other cadets' auras.
From a distance in the field at the Monster Holding Area, Hyoh felt relieved looking at the cadets using Spirit Cohesion to cultivate. They all appeared to be taking the exam seriously, unlike the previous batch. Since Malazen's future is in their hands, Hyoh hoped they would pass the next difficult test successfully and safely. He turned to the reddish moon in the sky, contemplating the trials of this generation. ("They're incredible to have made it this far... Don't you regret it, Swordmaster Theodin?")
*
The bonfires flickered as the cadets focused on honing their auras, their bodies tensed with effort. Two hours passed, and the once peaceful field was now filled with a cacophony of clashing energies and fighting spirits. Hyoh watched with satisfaction, knowing that this intense training would ensure their survival in the coming battles.
Each cadet fought fiercely, driven by the fear of being left behind and the desire to not lose to their comrades. Hyoh saw their rivalry as a positive force, a motivator to push them to their limits and prevent unpreparedness. As the cadets trained, their karmic value; the spiritual law of cause and effect, dictated their destinies. The past choices they had made would shape their present and future, and every action had a corresponding consequence. The value of their karma would determine their path through the Constellation Gate.
The cadets' aura reflected their karma, amplifying the light of their soul energy. Those who had mastered the Soul Charge and were able to open the Constellation Gate already felt the results of their cultivation for hours.
In the distance, a radiant light shone on the field near the forest, dazzling the cadets who were deeply focused on their cultivation. They couldn't resist the urge to investigate the source of the light and wondered who was behind it. Then, a cadet exclaimed, “It's Fenrius...!!! His aura is like a giant flame!!!”
The brightness of Fenrius' aura was unlike anything the cadets had ever seen before. Even Rin, Karanzo, and Joel stopped their cultivation and watched as the other cadets (including the Riot Squad) ran toward the source of the blinding light. 'How could someone who had never cultivated and always slept in the fortress have such a bright and strong aura?' they said curiously.
Aleister was also intrigued by Fenrius' aura and ran toward him, putting on his glasses for long-distance viewing and pulling out his notebook to take notes. He speculated that Fenrius' cultivation was already in another realm, making him impervious to magic attacks and possibly even able to release a third-circle aura.
"Did you hear that, Karanzo?" asked Joel frantically.
"Yeah, that guy apparently has an aura too," replied Karanzo.
Hyoh, who had been almost asleep and was leaning against the pillar of the monument, was startled awake by the commotion. He looked at his stopwatch and realized that the next test was about to start. As he prepared to move, a Ravenguard approached him and said, "King, it's about time..." Hyoh nodded in reply.
Ischel, Kirana, and Yuria were also surprised by the cadets running past them in a frenzy. Kirana looked at Ischel in confusion and asked, "What's going on?"
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"I'm not sure. It's possible that someone's extraordinary aura caught their attention," replied Ischel.
"It's Fenrius," Yuria interjected confidently—her statement surprising Kirana and Ischel. "It must be Fenrius."
As they ran closer to the source of the light, they noticed it becoming hotter and brighter. Eventually, they found a man sitting in a meditative pose within the light. The aura surrounding him was akin to a blazing fire, emanating warmth that could be felt even from a distance. The man's very presence was like that of the sun, with the light growing more intense the closer they came.
Upon arriving, their excitement turned to disappointment as they saw Fenrius sitting amidst a giant fire, cooking and eating the meat of a large bear. The cadets gawked at Fenrius, who was covered in sweat as he devoured the scorching flesh without pause. Even during cultivation practice, Fenrius managed to indulge in a hearty meal. With the Spiritual Exam just around the corner, everyone wondered why he was eating now. They all shared the same thought: 'Fenrius was a weirdo.' Without them realizing that he is breaking his fast in a week for this moment.
Zain exclaimed in shock, "By the twelve flagons and seven nymphs! Turns out it wasn't an aura after all, but a GIANT FIRE!"
Leif added, "Didn't his tongue burn when he ate it?! It's like he's eating fire!"
"Hey, Fenrius! Could ya show us some respect for once while cultivatin', ya crazy bastard!” grumbled Don Craig at Fenrius, who continued to ignore them while busily eating.
Fenrius continued to enjoy his meal, unfazed by their presence. With the next test starting soon, he was in a hurry to finish his food.
The cadets watched in awe as Fenrius devoured the bear meat one by one in an instant. After no more meat, he then grabbed the bucket of water next to him, drinking it with his mouth still full of food. After finishing the water, he put the empty bucket back on the ground and took a deep breath. To their amazement, he exhaled a burst of smoke and flames from his mouth, like a fire-breathing dragon. The cadets' feelings of astonishment turned to fear as they saw Fenrius' draconic eyes and the flames emanating from his mouth.
Fenrius left without a word, leaving Zain stunned as the eccentric cadet calmly walked past him. However, Zain scowled when he remembered that Fenrius had forgotten their meeting during the previous exam in prison. Despite this, he understood that, in the eyes of the Vikings who valued freedom without rules, Fenrius was indeed superior in terms of barbarity. But when it came to good looks, Zain was confident that he was the most alpha male of them all.
Fenrius staggered like a drunken man, preparing to run another marathon, despite his goal being Maldrakar Hell. The big meal had slightly shifted his body type from ectomorph to mesomorph. Aleister broke his glasses in half and, with a bit of emotion, erased the data about Fenrius from his notebook, causing his paper to become wrinkled and full of scribbles. Crows crossed the sky as Hyoh, from a distance, could be seen giving a hand signal and clapping to gather all the cadets before him. The Spiritual Exam had begun!
***
On that particular evening, all the cadets were occupied with preparing for their upcoming exams, ensuring that their weapons and combat equipment were in optimal condition. They lined up neatly in the field, following Instructor Hyoh's every move as he paced back and forth, creating an eerie atmosphere. The crows cawed in horror as they flew toward Mount Tartaros, disturbing the peace of the night. The tall trees swayed unsteadily from the wind, and the cadets could sense the creatures lurking in the forest eagerly anticipating their arrival into the darkness untouched by moonlight.
"Everyone, listen up," Hyoh ordered. "This Spiritual Test is about survival, and one hour there will be equivalent to a whole day of hardship. You can work in groups or individually. First and foremost, you must walk along the path through the forest toward the demon mountain over there," he pointed toward the distant mountain of Tartaros.
Several cadets pulled out small notebooks to record Hyoh's words, which could be useful as a guide in the future. Those who had already heard the leaked information from Aleister were no longer surprised since they knew from the start that the majority of the monsters on the island came from the mountain. To sum up, there's no worse island area than the test of guts on Demon Mountain!
Hyoh continued, "After walking along the path through the forest toward the demon mountain, you will come across large graves and hermitages at the foot of the mountain. The fifth lowest hermitage is where you will begin. As you continue to follow the path up the mountain, you will encounter hermitages in descending order, starting from the fourth, third, second, and finally the first, located at the top of the mountain. Each hermitage has a different level of Spiritual Pressure and difficulty when dealing with Physical and Spiritual monsters. If you find that your consciousness is no longer able to accept the spiritual pressure, I advise you to immediately retreat to the previous hermitage. If you manage to survive until dawn in the hermitage, you will have passed the test."
Several cadets, including Thanistor in the front row, nodded in agreement, and Hyoh assumed that his explanation was easy to understand, given the spiritual lessons that the academy had provided them. Of course, he did not want to reveal what the monsters on the mountain looked like, as the cadets needed to be prepared for any surprises. There had been many incidents where previous cadets were careless, too brave, and overconfident, leading to their downfall in the pits of their predecessors, either alone or together.
Now, all that was needed was a small push for Hyoh to increase the cadets' spirits. "The higher the hermitage you survive in until dawn, the greater the reward you will receive from Swordmaster Theodin after this test. Now is the time to demonstrate the results of your hard work so far and display it to your peers and the academy. Are there any questions?"
"Excuse me, Instructor," interrupted the dark-skinned bald man who everyone was glancing at. "I am Gantala of Torun. I was a Monk, and staying in a hermitage is nothing new to me. What if there are cadets with low auras who get possessed later? Do we have the right to attack or help them, especially in my position where I can purify them?"
Gantala Mukhtar, cadet number 181 from the Torun Mountains located in the northern end of Malazen (Drought and Plague Desert), wears a plain gray robe with no embellishments except for a strand of beads that serve as a reminder of his spiritual practices and beliefs. The monks of this region are known to harness the power of chakras - mystical energy centers that exist within the human aura. The chakras are believed to hold tremendous occult power, which Zen masters draw upon during meditation to store within themselves, and later used to perform miracles.
"Leave them be," replied Hyoh. "Mind your own safety if you don't want to die. If they get possessed, it means that their spiritual abilities are questionable, and if that's the case, then they wouldn't be worthy of passing the test. Trust me, your spiritual ability is needed for the next test. Is there anything else you want to ask?"
They fell silent until someone said, "No, Instructor."
"Well, without further ado, prepare a torch! Let's begin the test."
One by one, the cadets entered the darkness of the silent forest. The entrance was like several tree trunks that led to a dark passageway made of two old trees leaning against each other. The path was narrow and lined with winding trunks. If they weren't careful, they could trip, but it wasn't a problem for the cadets who could see in the dark after tasting the Draught of Agony. The entrance behind them looked like a tiny light hole. Soon, silence began to be felt. Large leaves covered the sky, and the moon was no longer visible. The silence also allowed the forest life to hear the sound of their feet pounding on the grass and tree trunks, attracting creatures lurking silently in the darkness.
In the deserted center square, beneath the Red Moon, only Instructors Hyoh and Yuria, aside from the hunting monsters, scattered food waste, and the bonfires. Yuria had managed to earn her freedom by hunting the rarest monster on the island, and she is sitting next to a bonfire with Instructor while several Ravenguards still stand guard at the Monster Holding Area.
"Yuria of Ashenvale... Are you aiming to join Nightblade?" asked Hyoh.
"Yes, after I pass the upcoming test. Is there something wrong?" Yuria replied.
"No, nothing is wrong. I just wanted to remind you to focus on your test first," Hyoh advised.
"Instructor, why did you quit Nightblade? Weren't you the one who created the faction to fight the Chthonians with Emperor Sigmund Arda?" Yuria inquired.
"That's a long story," Hyoh sighed, looking down and contemplating. "Fighting amongst ourselves for Malazen's power is nothing more than a child's quarrel. Even Erigor and Lucia agree with me. I don't care which faction wins, as long as it doesn't interfere with the academy's interests."
Yuria acknowledged the veracity of Hyoh's words. Due to her singular focus on studying and training within the fortress, she had missed out on any news regarding the three factions over the past few years. Initially, Nightblade was merely a night reconnaissance group composed of ninjas hailing from the Taiyo region. However, after the Kaliyuga Explosion, senior assassins from the academy joined their ranks. As a result, the group's political influence grew, and it eventually became a faction after discovering the Moon Rune. Yuria's last encounter with them was around five years ago, during which the Nightblade faction was ruled by the last royal lineage, Sigmund Luminar.
Hyoh chose not to burden Yuria with Malazen's life and opted to remain silent unless prompted. They both fell silent for a time, and Yuria eventually turned her gaze toward the Monster Holding Area where a nurse in a black uniform was tending to the black rabbit, which was still breathing heavily. Hyoh suddenly felt compelled to speak up. "By the way, Yuria, the black rabbit is actually Instructress Lucia of Falenas' pet."
("Huh?! Instructress Lucia's pet?!") Yuria managed to hold back her shock, but her face gradually turned sour and she was left speechless, with her mouth slightly open as if trying to speak or ask a question but unable to form words.
Hyoh was perceptive enough to detect that Yuria looked displeased with the outcome of the battle. He explained, “That woman conducted a guinea pig experiment in her lab using Aether compounds. Day by day, the rabbit developed and grew smarter until it was able to escape from the lab. The rest, you have seen the results for yourself.” “Yeah, the rabbit fights very intelligently. It nearly cost me my life,” Yuria said, speaking the truth albeit reluctantly.
"First of all, I'm just glad that you're safe," said Hyoh as he looked over at the black rabbit in the distance using his observation skill. "And I must say, I'm impressed that you didn't kill it. If Lucia hears about this, she'll surely thank you and make you her favorite cadet."
Yuria forced a bitter smile, feeling sick at the thought of the Flask of Nightmare. Her favorite cadet? The woman nearly killed her during the second test. Yuria still remembered the taste of that disgusting black potion, and she had no desire to follow in the footsteps of a nurse who enjoyed making cursed potions for pleasure.
Despite Yuria being free from the death of this test, deep down in her heart, she hesitated to consider herself a success without Hyoh's help. She couldn't bear the thought of one cadet being favored over the others, and this trial had brought the cadets together in a way that made their former competition seem insignificant. Yuria's body wouldn't calm down, and although she was grateful for the instructor's guidance, she couldn't help but worry about her comrades.
Hyoh asked Yuria to follow him, leading her to a monument inscribed with ancient Elvenglyph letters. "Can you read this?" he inquired.
Approaching the monument, Yuria focused on reading the words, "Rest-Place -Demon-Spirit-Ifrit? The resting place of the demon spirit, Ifrit? That's the title?" she confirmed.
Hyoh nodded and explained, "Thousands of years ago, this island was built for Emperor Kaliyuga Temple and later became a place of demon worshipers. One of the powerful demons that the Emperor created was Ifrit, and he's the only one in charge of this place now—besides me and the Witch King."
Yuria tilted her head, indicating a lack of understanding, "Instructor, is there more to this?"
"Yes, it's also one of the tests," Hyoh confirmed. "The mountain is like a demon kingdom to them. If the cadets are smart, they won't anger the evil spirits, but I doubt they'll settle things peacefully. Whatever happens, they'll never forget this experience until their end," he said, gazing up at Mount Tartaros with a sense of foreboding.