Chapter 4: The three tests
"What a long queue! I wonder if we ever get in today," said Cael
"Can you two actually get in? I mean you are not taking tests."
"We can spectate I think," said Lucia
The lively atmosphere is interrupted by a sound. Ding Dong! A bell is ringing and that means the tests begins now. The participants need to past three tests before moving to the preliminary selection. The preliminary selection is split into 32 division. The winner of each division is qualified for the main tournament. The main tournament starts three months from now in the capital of Verit. The three previously champions are invited as guests for the grand finals. Fight to the death is allowed in the main tournament if both parties agrees.
If someone kills their opponent accidently or without both parties agreeing he or she is automatically qualified.
After waiting for three hours, it's finally Cael's turn.
Lucia and Ves went to the spectator's stand and she said "Good luck!"
"Next!" "Name and age"
"Cael Lavend and I'm seventeen."
"Come over here." the supervisor said
Caelum went to the supervisor and sees a big black stone in a cubic form.
The black stone is already damaged by sword cuts, magic, punches ,spears pierces.
"This is a black titanium stone and it's the hardest object in the world"
"You pass the first test if you even damage it a little. However you only got one attempt."
"Let's start the test now."
This is not the hardest stone according to my master the hardest stone in the world is a white diamond stone.
I should use thirty percent of my strength. Cael concentrate his chi on his right fist. He went to the stone and strikes right in the center. BANG! He left an extremely deep fist mark on the black cubic stone.
Impossible how can he manage to inflict such damage?
The spectators saw what happend and clapped and loud cheers could be heard.
"Cael Vectrum passes the first test. You can move to the next stage. Wait behind the stone doors."
Are they starting to suspect me? Well, whatever.
"Cael is really strong sis," said Ves
"Yes, I wonder if I can learn it too. I'm going to ask him after he passes the tests."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The applause could be heard outside the arena. Vince still waiting for his turn.
"Someone strong is inside. It's a shame I couldn't see it."
"Maybe he is one who fought you yesterday night," said ellen
"Why do you think so?"
"He fought evenly with you so he must be quite strong."
"Aren't you going participate, Ellen?"
"I don't care about fame nor money. Why should I?"
"You could ride a cool sky dragon," said Vince while laughing
She is fearful to heights and her face flushed.
"You making fun off me?" said Ellen while pouting
I love making your cute face flush.
"Nah, I'm seriously about it Ellen. Why don't you participate it? It should be fun."
"I think about it. I still got two weeks time."
"Oh, it's finally my turn."
"Well, I taking seat over there." Ellen went to the specator seats and saw familiar faces.
Aren't they there too yesterday? That boy is one of the freed slaves and that girl is his sister.
He is here too.
She chooses the seat above them.
I can eavesdrop them from here.
"Name and age?" asks the supervisor
"Vince Faye and I'm eighteen."
"See this black cube? Damage it and you pass the test. You only get one attempt."
Vince looks at the deep fist mark and thought "I can probaly do better."
He is wearing his white gauntlets now and looks at the black cubic stone.
He uses his paladin skill "harden" to increase defence on his fist. He land his punch next to Cael's fist mark. CRACK! The fist mark he created is deeper then Cael's.
The crowd applaused and cheered. Lucia and Ves remember him from yesterday and are also cheering.
"Between him and Cael who do you think stronger" asks Ves
"My heart said Cael but my brain said him because I watched yesterday fight and Cael's hand is paralyzed by him."
"You haven't watch the first part of the fight where Vince is forced back." Ellen thought
The supervisor weirdly stared at Vince and thought "Another one?"
"You past the test go through to the left stone door and wait there for the next test."
Vince went through the stone door and he see about thirty people waiting.
Vince glanced through all the people and see Cael sitting on the ground meditating.
Everyone is nervous, but only this guy is sitting and meditating.
He takes a empty spot and sit there as well waiting for the next test. More and more people are joining them. The supervisor need to cut the queue in half because they are too many people wanting to participate. However the people that has cut they are given priority as first doing the tests tommorow. There are only ten people left that need to do the first test.
Two men are talking in the arena nearby the VIP seat.
"What are you actually planning with the berserker inside this cage?" said Raas
"You will see soon just wait," said the tall man wearing black clothes.
"All the participants have gone through the test. Three hundred and fifty one failed. Only sixty passed for the first day." reported the supervisor to the arenamaster
"Let's begin with the second test then." said the arenamaster
"Go call them!" shouted the supervisor to the guards
The guards hastily went to the stone door and said "You all can go outside now, the second test will begin soon."
"Finally!" said the participants
The participants walk outside and they ordered to stand in a straight row.
Ves,Lucia and Ellen are still in the spectator area watching. The spectator is now full and they won't allow more people to come in.
"The second test will begin shortly after my explanation. Next to me is a necromancer and he will summon skeletons to fight you. You will pair in fifteen groups of two and each of the group need to kill twenty-five skeletons to advance. If you feel your live is in danger you can forfeit by throwing your both hands in the air but doing that means your partner will fail as well."
"Only six groups can pass this test. The fastest groups who finish this test will qualify for the final test. If you take longer then fifteen minutes killing the skeletons you also will fail."
"I will form the groups now. It's based on your results of the first test."
"Group 1:Vince and Layla, Group 2:Cael and Jerome,Group 3:Nicolai and Daniel, Group 4:Aaron and Lexus ........Group 15: Balther and Goron"
"Each group has formed now. Anyone group want to be first?"
"I want to be first," said Cael
Everyone is turning their eyes on him. His partner is obviously nervous and he was angry on Cael.
What is that idiot doing? It's obviously a disadvantage to be the first group going. We can analyze which fighting method or magic are the most effective on the skeletons if we went later.
"Good! Group two is starting, summon the skeletons!"
The necromancer chants some spell and summons twenty-five skeletons.
"3...2.....1 start!" shout the supervisor
"Hey you, run at the corner so the skeletons won't attack you. Just don't throw you hands in the air if you get attacked. Let me handle it."
"What are you saying?"
"If you want to pass the test just do what I told you."
Jerome is still hesitating when the three skeletons are already moving towards him. Jerome is one of the top students in the warrior school. He is well versed in close combat and dealing enemies in groups.
He feels belittled when Cael starts talking to him like that.
WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
He unsheated his short blade and hacks the skeleton in front of him. The skeleton staggers back but receive a little damage. The two other skeletons starts to attack him. He kicks the left one and elbow the right one. Suddenly a fourth one joins and slash him from behind with his fingers.
Jerome turns back and cuts the fourth one. The other three skeletons stood up and start to surrounding him. He use "round slash" a warrior skill to slice the three skeletons surrounding in half. The fourth skeleton stood up as well and grab his body from behind.
The three skeletons that are cut in half started to ressurect and starts to attack him. He receive punches and slashes from the skeletons.
It hurts! I can't move and can't do anything. I am going forfeit.
Suddenly a person appeared and he crushed the skeletons heads with his palm. The skeletons doesn't revive when their heads are getting destroyed.
A coldly voice said, "I told you should to the corner and not get in my way."
Jerome turns around and see piles of bones on the ground. Cael already dealt with the other skeletons.
How the hell?
"Group two passed the test in seven minutes!"
"Honestly trash like you should go back home. If I'm a little slower, I would have fail this test. Why did that supervisor pairing trash with me?"
Jerome stared angrily at Cael and punch his face with full power. Cael stagger four steps back and smiled "Why didn't you have THAT much fighting spirit earlier?"
Jerome looks at him and said "Shut up, I hate you looking down on me. I was nervous in my first battle but I won't make that mistake again."
"They got an argument?" said Lucia
"Looks like it," said Ves
"Our fight yesterday is still not finished yet," said Vince
"So you reconigze me after all?"
"I recognize your palm techniques."
"Can you finish faster me then?" said Cael with a mocking smile
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
"I am not your partner so don't provoke me."
Suddenly a monsterous scream could be heard. CRACK! The stone door of the right side is destroyed. A monster appeared! He is about two meter tall and is full with muscles. He got red hair and sharp teeths.
"It's a berserker!" said the supervisor
"What is a level eight monster doing here?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"My medicine already wears off?" said Raas
"What is going here?" said the arenamaster when running to Raas
"I didn't ask you to capture a berserker. Are you crazy?"
"But he asked me to do it and he paid ten times the price," said Raas while pointing at the tall man in black clothes
"Who are you?"
"Constantine Lapzulli." said the man
"The head from the Lapzulli clan? Are you involved in yesterday incident as well?"
"That right, I ordered him to free the slaves and damaging the aren,a" said Constatine while pointing on Vince
"Why are you doing this?"
"You don't have do know." He takes a pouche out of his pocket and throw it in front of the arenamaster. "This is yours, If you pretend nothing had happend."
The arenamaster look at the contents of the purse. It's filled with gemstones and gold. It's enough to repair the damage of the arena and it's compensate the loss of the slaves as well.
"If you want to live, you should just get out."
"What do you mean?"
"I have someone sealed the entire place with magic so no one can't get out."
"The arena master quickly runs off without saying anything."
"Should we go as well or do you still want watch this show?" ask Raas?
"Let's go then." Raas and Constantine left the arena and they meet a girl outside.
"Is the whole arena sealed off?" said Constantine
"Yes master but the seal only last for two hours." responded the girl
"It should be enough time for the berserker killing those two boys."
Constantine has observed both Vince and Cael and is sure that a level eight monster is strong enough to deal with those two.
The others participants are much weaker then those two.
"Why did you lie to the arenamaster that Vince is the one following you orders when he doesn't even know you." ask Raas
"Because that boy is a threat to me. Do you know his really identity?"
"He is ......" whispered Constantine to Raas
"Impossible!" answered Raas
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Evacuate all the spectators" ordered the supervisor to his guards
The berserker is rampaging in the arena and already killed several spectators. Everyone is on panic and they run and screamed.
"The arena is sealed?" said the supervisor
"Lets us out, Let us out." shouted the spectators and participants.
"The entire arena is sealed by a magic barrier, we are stuck inside now." said the supervisor
Some people are screaming and crying others are searching for a way to escape. There some others trying to fight the berserker but the berserker killed them instantly.
Cael is running towards Lucia and Ves. "Are you alright, why aren't you escaping?"
"We can't the arena is sealed by a magic barrier."
"Sealed? So the only way to survive is to break the barrier or kill that monster."
"There is no way to break the barrier. It's a level ten seal barrier, it will last two hours. Not even Valentina can break this barrier with her strongest spell." Ellen said
"Who are you and what did you now about this seal?"
"She is my classmate and a paladin" interrupt Vince
"There is no time for talk, the only way to survive is to kill this berserker." said Vince
"Seems like a good plan"
"I distract him while you attacked him." said Vince to Cael
"Can you hold him long enough?"
"Ellen, you cast supportive spells to help me."
"You two should go to the opposite side of the berserker"
The berserker has already killed twenty six participants and fifty spectators. He went over to the guards and start to attacking them. Someone throws a stone to the berserker. It's Jerome
"Hey you! Come." The berserker is provoked and runs towards him. He swings his musclar arm towards Jerome. Jerome dodged and respond with sword slash on his chest. However the sword breaks instantly into two and Jerome is kicked by the berserker flying twenty meters back.
His ribs are broken and he has trouble breathing. The berserker jumps in the air and want to crush Jerome with his foot.
So, I'm going to die here hehe.
Suddenly he got pulled back by someone and the berserker landed on ground. The area where he land is instantly destroyed and the impact is so big that it throw other spectators and participants nearby the area fifty meter backwards.
"Why did you save me? Didn't you hate me?" said Jerome to Cael
"I don't hate you. Just survive." said Cael
Vince is now attacking the berserker and he already activated his level 6 gem armor. However the berserker swings are to fast. He is forced to block his attacks. Ellen is now casting "white armor" on Vince to increase his defense and "divine blessing" so he get healed any damage the berserker have done.
Cael is now attacking the Berserker with his "Yang palms". All his palms are infused with chi but it only slightly damaged the berserker. He jumps in the air and use "dragon stomp" his kick aimed to the berserker head. The berserker knows that this attack is strong and he jumps in the air to dodged it.
Shit, I missed it. He use his previously attack again?
Cael knows that this attack is much stronger then previously one because he jumped much higher.
"Hey you, cast defensive spells on me," said Cael to vince
"What you are doing?"
"I'm going meet his attack head on?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Shut up and start casting"
Vince start to cast "white armor","divine blessing" on him. Those spells can't be self cast so that's why Ellen is casting on him. His supportive spells are two levels above Ellen's.
Cael concentrate and jump into the air. He use "Aero punch" an air attack his fist meets the berserker kick and they fleeting are in midair for a few seconds. Cael is pushed back by the force and landed on the ground. His fist is hurting right now. The berserker lands on the ground softly without breaking the earth because his force is dispersed by Cael.
"Lighting spear" Vince throw his spear with all his might and it pierces the berserker chest forcing him ten meters back.
"GRAAAA!" The berserker screamed. He removes the spear and run towards Vince, but his movement is slower because he receive damage from Cael's air attack.
I got only mana left for only one lightning spear.
It's like Cael read his thoughts and said "Give that lightning spear to me I throw it!"
Before Vince responded he received an attack from the berserker it's a fist punch.
The spectators and the other participants that are watching this are starting to help distracting the berserker. Initially they are scared but after watching those two fighting the berserker they all thought
"Those two are risking their lives for us! We are all going to be killed anyway if those two died. Why not putting some resistance?."
The berserker is slowed and distracted by the attacks and spells.
Vince cast his lightning spear and give it to Cael. "Aim for his heart!"
"I'm aiming for his head and I'm not throwing the spear."
"What?"
Cael takes the spear and run towards the berserker. This time he concentrate his chi on the feets and jumps into the air. Now he concentrate all his remaining chi on both of his hands. He moves both of his hands into the air and use all his strength to thrust the spear inside the berserker head.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The berserker screamed in pain. The scream is so loud that everyone in the red district can heard it.
"Not enough!"
"Heart destroying palm!" Cael use his strongest palm move to shatter the internal organs of the berserker. It won't work normally but since he is weakenend it should be enough. BAM! The berserker is forced backward until it hits a wall causing it to collapse.
"Did we finish it?" said Vince
"Looks like it."
Cael and Vince are both exhausted they can't fight anymore.
In the midst of the panic there is someone who is acting calm. It's the necromancer from earlier he received an instruction from Constatine.
"Resurrect the berserker if they manage to slaughter it."
The necromancer chants some incantations and makes some weird gestures.
The crowd cheered after watching the berserker getting defeated by Cael.
Lucia and Ves rushing to join Cael and the other after they defeated the berserker.
I'm so useless they are fighting this monster while I'm watching in the corner.
"Cael! Are you alright?"
"Yeah, don't worry." said Cael
"You are the one from yesterday right?"
"That's right my name is Vince."
"Thank you for helping my brother," said Lucia
"Many thanks for helping me," said Ves
"GRAAAA!" The berserker stood up again. His entire body is green and his power is increased.
"What the fuck? How is this guy still alive?" said Cael
"It's necromancer magic. Someone resurrect him back alive again. Not only that but he seems be stronger." said Ellen
The supervisor and the guards are attacking the undead berserker but they immediately get killed in one sweep.
Should I open my remaining chi channels? My master warned me about it. If I forcefull open it without sufficient internal energy I will die. But looking at the situation, we will die anyway.
Suddenly the magical barrier that sealed the arena breaks open!