In the vast kingdom of Tvar, the levels that separated the people weren't just limited to status and nobility. But they extended to milestones that every aspiring warrior wished to cross, and they went by the names of novice, apprentice, acolyte, journeyman, master, grand master, archon, and avatar. However, beyond these levels, there was an even more powerful realm, the demigod realm, which very few had ever heard of, let alone reach.
Those below the rank of Master were known as "initiates," while those above were granted prestigious titles such as "assassin," "tracker," or "shaman," depending on their area of focus.
Novices were those who had yet to develop their skills and thus held little power. Apprentices, on the other hand, had honed their craft and could infuse their weapons with magical skills to aid them in battle. Acolytes were those who had advanced even further, harnessing a power called "Soul essence". And no longer did they need to rely on enchanting their weapons; they could directly infuse their bodies with powerful skills and magical abilities.
The Iron Legion and Wizarding Academies held vastly differing views on what defined each level of mastery. Despite their differences, however, the underlying system remained constant. They also held unique terms for the potent power that surged through the veins of those who had attained mastery. The Iron Legion referred to it as "inner fire," a blazing energy that coursed through one's very being. The Wizarding Academy called it "elemental energy," a force as old as the elements themselves. To the common folk, it was simply known as "energy" or "spiritual power,"
Those who wore black cloaks were typically apprentices, while those who donned purple cloaks were all acolytes. However, these were not hard and fast rules, as the only requirement for advancement was to emerge victorious over one's opponent, regardless of your current rank.
Asrar and his companions stood with the other challengers, watching as master Aelwen activated the energy field that surrounded a stage. This stage was a small platform surrounded by a mysterious energy field that could only be activated with a special gem that the masters held.
On the platform, three male students lay sprawled in front of the training dummy, groaning and moaning in pain after they had been beaten mercilessly by it. The dummy was ready to deliver another blow before it stopped and retreated several steps back.
The energy field right then opened up, and some guards, at the orders of Aelwen, helped the young men out of there.
"Here! Open your eyes; I can see that you did not faint like your companions." Master Aelwen retrieved a token from a pouch hanging from her waist and presented it to one of the youths. He had been pretending to be unconscious, ashamed to be defeated in the presence of all and particularly in the presence of their beloved master Aelwen. But after being called out, he became even more abashed and hastily concealed the token before moving to the rear of the company and abandoning his two comrades to the guards.
Asrar's eyes followed Master Aelwen's movements as she handed out tokens to the defeated teams. The dummy had proven its strength time and time again, defeating countless teams, and even causing one all-girls team to concede defeat before the battle had begun.
"Alright, onto the next team." Master Aelwen's sharp eyes scanned the gathered crowd, disappointed by their lack of courage. With a shake of her head, she let out a deep sigh. "If none of you s are willing to step forward, then I shall have to choose one myself." Her words hung in the air. Yet Just as Master Aelwen was about to talk again, three young men emerged from the crowd.
"We shall be next, Master Aelwen." It was Eadric's team. Asrar could sense their eagerness as they selected a strapping youth with bulging muscles to be their third teammate, his fingers tightly wrapped around a glinting short sword. Master Aelwen's expression remained inscrutable as she nodded her head.
The entire congregation of green-cloaked students focused their unwavering attention, since if there was anyone who could triumph over the training dummy, it was none other than this team
-It seems like even Eadric isn't completely sure of defeating it; otherwise, he wouldn't wait until now-
The trio spread out and faced the dummy, each with their own weapon in hand: two swords and one short sword.
"Begin." Following those words from Master Aelwen, the training dummy was the first to stir, its joints groaning and whirring as it sprang into action with uncanny agility. Asrar gazed upon the wondrous creation in amazement, marveling at the ingenuity and magic that had brought it to life. Truly, the people of this world were not lacking in imagination or skill.
Eadric's companion was the first to surge forward, his long sword gleaming as he executed a sweeping arc that forced the training dummy to recoil several paces. In the blink of an eye, Eadric launched himself forward with lightning speed, using a charge skill that threatened to bowl over the lifeless foe. But the training dummy was no easy opponent, and with a nimble leap, it vaulted into the air, executing a breathtaking flip that carried it toward the third combatant.
The youth wielding the short sword displayed no shortage of courage, as he fearlessly plunged forward to deliver a swift strike to the descending dummy. But the lifeless foe was not so easily vanquished, and with a swift motion of its arms, it repelled the blow and retaliated with a sweeping kick that sent the brave youth hurtling backwards through the air.
"It has acolyte level strength; thankfully it won't be using any skills in this trial!" The man with the long sword murmured while slowly approaching from another side.
The team had now surrounded the training dummy, but they could not afford to be careless.
As the training dummy's strength stood at the acolyte level, the Eadric team remained ever vigilant, alert for any sudden maneuvers it might attempt. Suddenly, without warning, the lifeless foe darted forward with lightning speed, setting its sights on the youth with the short sword, whom it deemed the least formidable. But the young man remained composed, deftly sidestepping the attack before thrusting his gloved palms forward in a protective gesture. In an instant, a shimmering force field emerged from his gloves, deflecting the dummy's blow and allowing him to counter with a swift jab of his own blade.
"Bang" He narrowly missed the target's eyes, where its core was, and instead got the short sword lodged in its left arm joints.
Cursing under his breath, the young man attempted to withdraw, but the training dummy quickly pivoted to the right and lashed out with its powerful right foot, striking the youth with bone-jarring force and sending him reeling backwards. Strangely it couldn't stand on its left foot and fell down. however Undeterred, the lifeless foe retrieved the short sword that had been lodged in its arm joints and regained its footing, poised to resume the attack.
A glint flashed through Asrar's eyes at this sight.
All of this happened in a split second, leaving the crowd no time to process what they were seeing. After all this was the longest fight they had seen until now.
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Just as the training dummy prepared to deal the final blow, a blur of movement caught its attention. With his charge skill, Eadrick charged forward, his sword held aglow with a radiant blue energy. With a fierce battle cry, he delivered a powerful thrust, and a burst of energy erupted from his weapon, slamming into the lifeless foe with devastating force and sending it flying.
"Wait, he's an acolyte?" One of the bystanders cried out loud.
"What!"
"...."
"No, it appears to be a skill engraved in the sword. But to actually manifest a wave of energy, he's already approaching that level." Elspeth, standing nearby, explained with a serious expression in her face.
She was standing right beside Asrar when she turned and waved her hand at him and Elysia, but the latter pursed her lips and looked away.
As the dummy stumbled from Eadric's attack, it tried to regain its balance, but the young man with the long sword charged toward it with great determination. He swung his weapon with a speed that seemed impossible, before unleashing a flurry of blows with his weapon, each strike faster and more precise than the last.
"They all have skills and two of them, no less," whispered Elysia, her voice betraying anxiety. "Unfortunately, we have none in our possession, and my ring, potent as it may be, is not giving by the academy. If they catch wind of it, they will take it from us." Asrar was taken aback by Elysia's words,
-Indeed, but how did they not figure out that it was a magic ring? Or did they turn a blind eye since she's a duke's daughter?-
As Asrar looked back at the scene of the battle, he saw that the fight was reaching its final moments. Eadric and his companions were wounded but continued to push forward, their blades flashing with determination. Despite the training dummy's quick movements, it was clear that the energy source that powered it was running low. The stone set in the dummy's eye flickered weakly
After what felt like an eternity of battling, the trio's energy had almost depleted. Eadric braced himself for a blow from his opponent, but to his surprise, the training dummy suddenly froze in its tracks. A deafening silence filled the place as the once relentless opponent stood motionless. Suddenly, a deep, crack echoed through the air, and the dummy's eyes began to shatter. Two stones fell to the ground, their impact reverberating through the stage.
The trio were shocked, but they all sighed in relief.
The sound of applause echoed across the training hall, drawing everyone's attention to the beautiful master Aelwen as she clapped her hands twice in appreciation. She gazed at the trio with approval, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Well done, young ones. Is this your second year in this academy?" she asked, a hint of pride in her voice. "Keep it up," she added, handing them a new token before instructing them to step back from the platform.
Before they went out from the platform, though,Eadric gave Elysia a condescending glare, like he was telling her she should've chosen his team. though the redhead just ignored him, much to his frustration.
Nonetheless, the triumphant trio stood tall and beamed with pride, their hard-earned victory a symbol of their growing prowess. Master Aelwen's words only added to their elation, filling their hearts with the warmth of success. The other male students looked on, their eyes shimmering with envy,which was to be expected as their instructor, though very strict, was naturally beautiful with her blonde hair and her blue eyes.
"A bunch of peacocks; look at them puffing their chest like that." Baldwinn said, though the others didn't hear him Elysia chuckled, and Asrar smiled a little bit before his face turned grave.
"You two, the loss of merit points is not an option for us." Asrar spoke slowly. "I don't know about you, but I'm not planning to slowly accumulate merit points. Every trial is an opportunity, and we must grasp it" His teammates nodded in agreement, but they were uncertain of how they could triumph over the adversary without any skills of their own.
After Eadric's team's victory, many rose up again, but in their recklessness, they were defeated just as easily as the others.
-It seems like only one team is good. Why do we even have green cloaks? The academy is just greedy.-
Master Alewen couldn't help but sigh as she reflected secretly.
Quinn's team also tried their luck, and despite having the powerful charge skill engraved in his boots, they too suffered a loss, surprisingly holding on for over a minute before falling to the relentless blows of the training dummy.
Despite his defeat, the troublemaker, Quinn, grinned in a self-satisfied manner, having managed to withstand the training dummy's assault for over a minute. His fellow students glared at him with contempt, their animosity palpable in the air. Quinn's cockiness only served to deepen their dislike for him.
"Tch! You guys try to win!" he sneered at the group, his eyes scanning each of them. With a mischievous smirk, he turned to face Asrar and his companions. "If by some miracle you manage to emerge victorious, I shall grant you this fine short sword," he said, brandishing the blade with a flourish. "It has been borrowed from the academy for the next six months. For unenlightened people, this is at least two hundred merit points I'm holding in my hand," he added, tracing the intricate silver etchings that adorned the sword's plain-looking blade.
Everyone was stunned for a moment before cursing the man for his shamelessness. After all, he himself had lost the battle against the training dummy.
To the surprise of all, a figure among them nodded in agreement. "I accept! Master Aelwen, I implore you to oversee this wager," he said, bowing respectfully towards the enigmatic Master Aelwen. Though she had been standing aloof, observing the scene with keen interest, she was caught off guard by the sudden attention. Quickly regaining her composure, she replied with a calm and measured tone, "Very well. I'll have the twp parties state their terms."
Quinn was quite surprised; even Baldwinn and Elysia were taken aback, and the crowd's attention and doubt made her uneasy.
"Ha ha ha!" Quinn cackled wickedly, eyes glinting with mischief. "I shall not be the only one to lose something, oh no. You must offer me something of equal worth," he declared, looking pointedly at Asrar. But to his surprise, the latter merely shook his head. "We have nothing of comparable value," he retorted. "Also, this wager is heavily in your favor, as our odds of triumphing are slim. Choose something else." The group nodded in agreement, but then, unexpectedly, one of Quinn's companion's spoke up. "In that case, you must bow your heads to Young Lord Eadric...." he said, before Quinn quickly silenced him. However his words hung in the air
"Eadric?"
"Did he just say Eadric?"
"What does he have to do with it?"
Everyone was surprised as hushed whispers permeated the place.
In the corner of the crowd, Eadric kept his cool while secretly cursing Quinn.
Asrar was also surprised; he didn't think their childish plan would be slipped out like that. But he didn't care about exposing them.
Quinn interjected quickly, trying to salvage the situation. "Given the slim odds, we would be satisfied with a humble bow from you and your companions," he suggested. He berated himself for his foolishness, realizing he had spoken out of turn and made a reckless wager without due consideration. Now, he could be losing everything for naught. To shift the crowd's focus he offered a wager off the top of his head.
-Fortunately, they're just new comers, I don't believe they'll succeed-
Asrar nodded his head and gestured for Baldwinn and Elysia to follow him toward the stage.
"You must not act so recklessly again without our consent. While a mere bow may seem trivial, I would never want to lower myself to such a loathsome creature," Elysia exclaimed, her frustration evident. Baldwin, in agreement, nodded in unison with her words.
Without any arms to defend themselves, the trio turned their attention to the wall of weaponry standing nearby. A vast array of implements lay in rows, gleaming and sharp, ready for use. However these were only normal weapons that couldn't be compared to the ones paid with merit points.
"Do not worry, our chances are not as slim as you may think." His words surprised the two, and they thought about how he was skilled in the art of strategy and planning, which filled them with a sense of optimism.
Following Asrar's instructions, they equipped themselves and proceeded toward the platform.
"Begin" The training dummy's core had long been altered, and its eyes glowed with energy.
Standing in front of it, Baldwinn had a big round shield, Asrar behind him had two short swords, and lastly behind them, Elysia held a hammer.
Bizarre expressions flitted across the faces of the onlookers as they beheld the weaponry that Asrar's team clutched in their hands. Quinn, who was originally feeling a sense of unease, suddenly burst out into raucous laughter.
"Hahaha!" Quinn roared with laughter, his voice echoing throughout the area. "For a moment, I was apprehensive, thinking you possessed some form of strategy. But look and behold, a hammer?" he chortled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Please, Lady Elysia, do you intend to repair the training dummy with your hammer? How chivalrous of you!"
Elysia's face was ablaze with anger, growing as red as her hair, and she longed to pound this impudent fellow's face with her hammer. But they were enclosed in the energy field, hence she could only shoot fierce glares at Asrar.
Asrar smiled wryly and nodded his head, "Everyone, just like we agreed" The training dummy wasted no time and dashed forward at breakneck speed. Baldwinn remained silent but seemed to trust in Asrar's plan as he charged forward with a fierce roar, meeting the dummy's first blow with his shield.
"Bang"
Baldwinn seemed like he had some weight to him and didn't retreat as he shielded his body in front of the dummy's fast onslaughts.
However, after a couple of attacks, Baldwinn's shield began to crumble under the weight of the training dummy's relentless strikes. With a roar, he cried out to his companions, "Hurry! I can't hold out much longer!" Just then, Asrar sprang into action, sprinting from behind Baldwin as he closed in with two short swords in hand. To the surprise of the crowd, he used Baldwinn's back as a springboard, launching himself swiftly into the fray.
Baldwinn leaned forward, bracing for impact and wincing in pain as Asrar kicked off his back, soaring towards the training dummy. The dummy sensed the airborne figure and quickly turned around to face the incoming attack. With lightning-fast reflexes, it launched a kick at Asrar.
The latter was kicked with tremendous force, and he flew high into the air, his body writhing in pain. He felt his bones cracking under the impact of the blow. Through gritted teeth, he let out a yell, "Elysia!"
The young lady was already on her feet and running toward the training dummy, whose arm joints were stuck with two short swords.
-It really stopped moving, like Asrar had said-
She didn't hesitate anymore and sprung to its side, and with quick strikes, she started hammering the short swords lodged in the immobile training dummy while the students staring at this scene stood petrified at their spot, their mouths agape.
Eadric was solemn, Elspeth was surprised for the first time, and master Aelwen had her mouth open.
Amongst the stunned crowd, Quinn was the most surprised of them all, shouting, "Why does it stand idle while she hammers it?"
Bang, bang, bang
Other than the hammering sound, an eerie stillness enveloped the area.