Moments after the guild representative announced the start of my exam against Antoris. To my surprise it seemed he had no intention of giving me any chance in the first place as he shot from his stance with a single precise slash toward me.
Antoris’s sheer speed was by far leagues above everyone I had saw in the Ranking exam, However, his speed and precision was nothing more than child’s play to what my Esoteric Restrictions provided me.
I had devised for the most part my enhanced agility and physical strength would be plenty and perhaps that is why Antoris decided to test me himself in the ranking exam, or that decision was simply made to ease the crowds concerns in my favour. Regardless, it did not matter. All I had to do was focus on my goal of reaching gold rank.
My Idle thought passed in an instant as I let Antoris’s blade cut through the air mere inches from my body, to give the illusion I was shocked and trying my best.
Although my gaze remained unmoved as my blade met his at the last second. The impact between the two blades created a flash of sparks that initiated a series of attacks from Antoris that I made no attempt to stop.
Instead, my actions were completely inefficient but just enough for me to appear to be testing myself.
That said, Antoris was still superior to anyone else I had seen today and strangely enough a part of me wondered if Antoris was holding back himself, after all I expected an Apostle of a Monarch to be much stronger than what I was seeing. Regardless I didn’t dig much into the question as our blades clashed once again in a series of sparks that left Antoris to press his blade against mine.
"It’s Impressive you've been keeping up with me," he said while he twisted his wrist in a fluid motion to deliver a spell to my stomach with his palm. “I’m curious, why are you hiding your skills? Are you even trying? Or are you simply pretending to be weak. Don’t assume I am a fool, Xiao,” he added while I felt the impact of his spell to my stomach in the blink of an eye.
The blow didn't affect me as he intended, simply because I reinforced the area of impact with present Magical Energy, but it did send me sliding into the arena wall.
“That clanless monster is screwed,” One of the observers remarked with joy at this mere spectacle.
Still, I didn’t miss anything and played the role I needed to be seen as and pressed myself off the arena wall and met my opponents gaze with my flat expression.
Antoris wasn’t like those who chose to give their spells a verbal name during casting, and he clearly saw through my charade, but I had the feeling he already knew the reason why I was hiding my capabilities.
However, Antoris quickly made his next move and rushed toward me with his blade in his right hand while his left hand manifested a flare of silver ice that trailed with his approach.
I didn't waste any time and stepped forward to meet the incoming blade and brought forth a blast of wind to collide with his spell. “Vortex Rupture” I remarked with little effort but to simply blend in with others. The shockwave of energy I casted collided with his spell leaving us in a momentary deadlock. “You don’t seem to care if I’m hiding what I’m capable of or not… does your contract already mean nothing?” I mused as Antoris manifested several ice shards behind his back that aimed toward me at different angles.
"There are exceptions to every contract. If you weren’t aware, every Monarch has their own motivations, their own rules or did you think he allowed your existence into his domain because Reiner asked for it?” He said as his spell that collided with my vortex which was overpowered by a burst of his Magical energy and caused me to skid back from the impact.
Within a second the several ice shards around him all rushed toward me. However, my reactions were still more than capable of matching his attacks. I didn’t miss that each of his attacks increasingly became more difficult to deal with.
I had no doubt he was trying to push me, to show him more of my capabilities. My hand gripped the handle of the blade he had given me and cut through each incoming ice shard with ease.
Antoris didn’t let me just cut through them and burst from his position to unleash a series of attacks with his blade that I met each time with my own.
Momentary sparks from each of our attacks formed while the crowd still spurned my existence,
“What the hell is this? that clanless trash should be finished by now?!” One of the members of a clan yelled as a few beside him agreed.
“Stop messing around! Antoris Vosse, act like a proper Apostle of a Monarch. It's disgraceful that you're letting this drag on.”
The comment made Antoris’s sharp gaze to flick away from me as he immediately pinned the offender with it and caused him to become stiff. Antoris didn't say anything, but it seemed to have done what he wanted, and his attention turned back to me.
"It looks like I have no choice. Are you familiar with the subject, summoning magic, Kazu? In the next few seconds, I’m going to create a barrier that conceals everything inside with an illusion of my choosing. that being the exchange of blows we’ve been having," he said causing me to muse at such a simple way of explaining a spell that would fall under Ascension Attainment which was a lot more complex than that.
Regardless I didn’t know what to expect from Communion Magic, after all that was the only way, he was able to create something like that. “… Huh… you could say I know a bit, but if you’re expecting me to also possess magic like that. you’re overestimating me,” I remarked and rolled my neck. “But sure, do whatever you want, I’ll join in on your fun little game, Antoris,"
Antoris could only give a smirk as the entire arena went completely still in a moment.
[Simple Art: Mirage Veil]
It took a second for the world around us to shift with a translucent barrier. The arena’s crowd moved much slower than before around us. Still, I found myself unmoved by the sight before me and Antoris, who was dead set on getting what he wanted, "If you fail to show me your capabilities here. Then I won’t hesitate to terminate your contract, and potentially have you executed for being a Xiao overstepping his boundaries. I am only giving you this one chance, Kazu Xiao,” he said with his voice echoing throughout his barrier.
I merely scoffed at his threat. I certainly didn’t expect to be pushed into a situation like this. Still, I was offered an easy solution to all this and if anything, I would present the bare minimum. Regardless I felt a little annoyed that Antoris went through the trouble to plan this all out. A skill I needed to learn as well to prevent these kind of situations.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
My final thoughts rolled around in my head before my Amber glare fell onto Antoris, “As much as I dislike this, I can only accept this outcome. Just make sure I get a complete explanation on why you are so desperate and willing to go through this to make me a member of the guild.”
Antoris smirked with an amused breath of air at my comment as his blade raised into position, the look on his face didn't seem to change in the slightest.
"Of course, as long as you can achieve what My Monarch needs," he said to which I could only let out a small sigh as he readied for his next move. “Let us begin,”
I didn’t hesitate to flash in front of him with my agility, that clearly caught him of guard from my much slower movements earlier. However, despite his momentary surprise he blocked my strike with his blade, although it wasn't without a force that sent him skidding back a few feet of distance.
Antoris pushed his glasses back into place before readying himself again and surpassing that speed with a simple flick of his blade. Unlike him I expected it, after all, he was an Apostle.
Several strikes came and each caused this barrier to echo as they collided with my blade. This time around Antoris seemed to have a more skilled approach, as he bent Magical Energy into spells of ice shards that were sharp enough to shred through limbs. A single graze could easily send searing pain throughout the body while freezing the wound on its own accord.
Even if I didn’t want to admit it his attacks were perhaps on par with Theitus.
I had no intention to indulge his ego and took it all in, every move he made, his speed, his precision and the very Magical Energy he manipulated.
Then I reacted accordingly, my blade twirled in my grip to suit my agility as I ducked under a barrage of ice shards and shot up with two precise slashes across his chest, then landed three kicks that could shatter bones. Although to Antoris my attacks were nulled by Magical Energy, but he felt every bit of the damage I inflicted, as he slid back a few feet and made sure he managed to heal. It was almost like he didn’t realize what had occurred until, he was already hit.
However, I followed up a mixture of kicks and slices from my blade while he had his moment. I didn’t expect he would let it happen again as his skillful defense reacted instantly and deflected some attacks and brushed off any attack that connected.
“I’ve yet to see any other spell than Wind and this absurd physical prowess. Is that all you have Xiao,” he stated and quickly turned the spar into his favor with a barrage of strikes that I met with equal force and precision.
We clashed against one another for what seemed like forever before Antoris brought forth a blizzard of his Ice shards and frost, that engulfed me and forced me to slide back till I lost sight of Antoris in a storm-like blizzard of shrapnel.
This gave him a moment to take advantage over my position and rush in with an obvious attack. Unfortunately for him, my Esoteric Restrictions sensed his every step.
I felt a bit amused as I readied myself to meet his attack fully prepared to retaliate with my own or so I thought.
It seemed Antoris predicted I would do something like that as the shards within this Blizzard had began to whirl around my body, ensnaring me in place and that gave him the perfect opening to deliver the finishing blow.
I didn’t bother trying to escape, I was quite done with the Ranking Exam. I accomplished in setting the bar I'd limit myself to and avoid anyone finding out my full capabilities, for the time being.
Antoris’s blade came down and halted mere inches away from my throat, which left both me and Antoris standing in place. The unmoved look on my face gazed upon the sharp eyes of Antoris.
“… Are we done Antoris? I've shown you plenty. Now, how about telling me why I'm here," I said to which he merely let out a sigh and at his will his blizzard subsided.
“Perhaps I did expect too much, I presumed with a speed like yours you possessed Magical Energy, but you gave up because you were bound by my spell that could have been nulled by an opposing force of Magical Energy,” he said causing me to scoff to myself.
What he concluded was good enough and I chose to leave it at that, in order to not reveal I possessed Magical Energy. Manipulating it into Physical Energy seemed to get the impression, I wanted.
“What you saw Antoris was my inert ability that increases my speed and strength in the blink of an eye, and like you I’m quite good at analyzing people. So, I could easily read your every move by pure instinct,” I remarked which left Antoris to muse over my comment.
"I see, truthfully I’m unaware of any ability of that nature, even as an Apostle, but you are right I have my decision and since we have a moment to ourselves in my barrier, I will tell you why I want you in the guild.” Antoris stated and stepped away from me with a precise sheath of his blade.
His posture was relaxed and unreadable as he spoke up once again.
"I’m sure you’ve gathered the guilds benefactors are delinquents, but they all possess a great deal of strength. The Monarch of Vectus, my lord, ordered me to prepare individuals of an S-ranked calibre. Although there is many reasons for this, one I can say for certain is because the recent events of a terrorist group. Regardless, if you help the guild, even a Xiao can be sanctioned by my Monarch," Antoris explained which left me to muse over it for a moment in both amusement and an unmoving expression.
"Huh, I see… fine Antoris, I’ll help you. I take it you’ve already pre-planned this conversation, so spit out the rest of it," I remarked leaving Antoris to smirk in a similar amusement at my deduction.
We were clearly both amused by one another, and neither of our glares or demeanours changed a bit.
"Indeed, there is a specific way to go about this, Xiao. I’m going to announce your rank as Platinum, for one reason, I want you to become the guilds fifth member of the big four although it won’t happen all in one day, but as you become more acquainted with the Guild. It will be quite easy for you to assume the position of being the fifth of the big four.” He stated and pushed up his glasses to the bridge of his nose. “The reason for that is simply because My Monarch had decided to claim his long awaited influence and form a Graced Clan to strengthen Vectus. and in doing so, Vectus will ultimately gain a more influential voice in The Assembly of Sovereigns,” Antoris explained even further, and I had to assume this had been in the works for some time.
Even if I didn’t quite understand what exactly that assembly was, I could easily read between the lines and deduce it was some gathering of their Monarchs, and yet the further I went into the matter I couldn’t help but to scoff at my own thoughts. "And? I take it this is all leading up to that terrorist group you mentioned,” I remarked while Antoris gave a small nod.
"Correct, The Monarchs of the other domains have ignored their existence, but these terrorists have recently become active in dungeons, entire parties and Clans have gone missing, and yet the other Monarchs don’t think the nuisance is worth dealing with. Vectus isn’t quite seen as its own Domain because we don’t have clans and such, we are a region that took on the duty to deal with Dungeons and mana beast out breaks across Aterius and because of that my Monarch lacks the influence to voice his concerns, however, that is why we will create a clan with the guild’s strongest individuals in order to form a graced clan. Then my monarch can raise our status as a Domain," He explained which made me look over him with my usual flat expression.
"I suppose that makes sense. It doesn’t affect my reasoning for being here. If that’s all Antoris then I don't see a reason to remain in this barrier. We should wrap this up,” I remarked with little interest but still I got what I needed out of this. I would assist him for the time being I had my own things to achieve.
“I was glad I was able to obtain someone as interesting as you, but that aside we are done. I will return us to the arena. Only a few minutes have passed there, so it might be a bit disorienting when we leave the barrier.” Antoris said as he raised his hand into the air but before we returned. “I find myself even more intrigued by you Kazu and I have to admit, the tremble in my core hasn’t subsided… if I may ask, what are your goals here, Kazu? if My Monarchs goal isn't a concern to you?" He asked while I met his gaze with mine.
"… My goals? My own are simple, you’re overestimating me again if you think otherwise…” I remarked leaving it at that, but he looked quite interested in my answer as he gave a small but nervous grin under my gaze.
In the next moment our surroundings shifted from the barrier Antoris summoned to the arena where we now stood opposite of each other.
I wasn't fazed in the slightest by the sudden shift of scenery. Instead, I was pleased that things went smoother than what could have happened. Regardless I waited for my Ranking to be assigned even somewhat eager to hear the reactions of the crowd.