“Oh, did I mention that those who fail to destroy the orb will be killed automatically? You have an hour to complete the objective, otherwise you will fail to move on. Those who die will be replaced with more newbies during the first trial.”
Dracolius’s words were clear, and reminded the newbies of the horrors of Heaven’s Spire. It had been a few minutes, perhaps an hour since they entered, and they were already being threatened with death.
But this would eventually be an every-day occurrence.
“You can begin whenever you wish,” Dracolius announced. “I have to remind you that the time limit is an hour. The countdown will be displayed on your orbs, and on your status windows during the test.”
[Name: Arthur Solace]
[Title: Destroyer Of Schools]
[Physical Age: 19] 𝙚𝙤𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒐𝙧𝙜
[Skills: Judgment Regeneration, Mana Step, Heavenly Sin Manipulation]
[Countdown for Mana Test: 00:59:57]
‘Let’s get this over with,’ thought Arthur. He calmly walked forward, ahead of everyone who simply inspected the orbs with curiosity. The crimson-eyed man became the center of attention, marching forward as a pioneer.
Dracolius revealed a faint smile for unknown reasons.
Arthur approached his orb, placing his hand over it. The texture of the orb was coarse, and it produced a faint sound each time Arthur brushed his hand over it. The part on which Arthur’s name was etched was smooth.
Without much hesitation, the crimson-eyed man began flooding the orb with his mana.
A crimson glow exuded from his hand, encompassing the orb as it shook violently under Arthur’s pressure. In reality, the orb was quite weak to magical pressure, and would easily shatter under harsh conditions.
This test wasn’t to separate the prodigies and regular newbies. It was simply to determine whether one was competent, and whether they even had the slightest possibility of growing to a significant level.
Most newbies would pass.
At least, Arthur thought so.
After a few seconds of intense pressure, the orb released a faint light broke, shattering into several pieces. The pieces fell to the floor, and Arthur withdrew his mana. He then threw a glance at Dracolius before approaching the portal.
But he didn’t enter.
He sat near the portal, deciding to spectate as the other newbies attempted the test. He wished to dig as much information about potential competition as possible, and viewing their hatchling stages was the best method.
Watching Arthur easily complete the test, the others stepped up.
Harry, instead of immediately attempting the test, approached the crimson-eyed man. “I might be presumptuous, but could I ask for advice? I realize you’re familiar with this. Would you possibly help out?”
Arthur narrowed his eyes. However, gazing into Harry’s eyes, the crimson-eyed realized he didn’t have any ill-intentions involving him. “Target the area between the orb’s core and the external coating. The mantle, one might say.”
“Thank you!” Harry responded enthusiastically. “Could I reveal this information to my comrades?”
Arthur let out a chuckle. “You don’t have to ask.”
Harry nodded in satisfaction before leaving the area. A few minutes later, the entirety of Stars of Tomorrow had passed the test. Harry made a deal with the other newbies, convincing them to join his group in exchange for information on how to pass.
‘That bastard,’ thought Arthur, letting out faint laughter. Not only had the man abandoned his pride to scavenge information, but he also sold it to others for a massive profit. From 6, the Stars of Tomorrow had grown to 43 members.
Harry was what one would call a proper Protagonist.
‘Now, that guy…’ thought Arthur, observing Randy, who stood silently without making a single sound. He seemed to have given up hope, but that was far from the truth. Arthur suspected he was trying to find a coping mechanism, given that he failed.
But he still had something in his sleeve.
Randy cast a glance at Arthur, who didn’t avert his eyes. After a long stare down, the former was forced to lower his gaze, unable to resist the aura of the crimson eyes that belonged to Arthur.
The muscular man walked forward, approaching the orb on which his name was etched.
“Arghh!” Randy shouted, pulling his fist back before punching the orb as hard as he could. The orb didn’t budge. However, the bones in his fist shook, and blood sprayed from the bruise and wound that had formed.
Randy gritted his teeth, but didn’t give up.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
“Hey, guy… You have to have mana to pass this test,” a scrawny man approached Randy, disgust vivid on his face. “Manaless freaks can’t pass. It’s called “Mana Test” for a reason, big guy.”
“When did Dracolius ever say you needed to shatter the orb using mana?” Randy retorted, baring his fangs at the scrawny man.
“You do you, buddy.”
The scrawny man and his comrades laughed, watching as the pitiful muscular man punched the orb several times, unable to cause a single dent to appear. It was difficult…
‘What Randy said… it’s true,’ thought Arthur, finally having realized the meaning behind Dracolius’s words. He specifically mentioned the word “mana test,” and so did the message from the Tower Administration.
However, Dracolius also mentioned that the objective was to destroy the orb…
Not through a certain means.
He hadn’t specified that.
‘If he manages to do it, it would be like finding a loophole,’ thought Arthur. ‘Not a loophole, but something no one else had ever figured out. Well, no one reported it in my former life, so I can only assume…’
The fact that he didn’t have mana didn’t prevent him from using the system and creating skills, as skills could be inherent or simply techniques forged into a certain format. Using a skill, it’d be quite simple to destroy the orb.
‘I’m all for it,’ thought Arthur, approaching Randy.
“If you’re here to say some shit, go back.”
“I’m not,” replied Arthur.
“Then what are you here for? You think I’m an easy target?”
“Have you learnt a fist style or a sword style?”
“What…”
“Have you?”
“Yes…”
“Then use it,” said Arthur. “Connect the style with your status window, and convert it into a skill. Then, use it on the orb.”
Although Randy wanted to question Arthur’s motives, the former wasn’t in any position to argue. Without hesitation, he concentrated on the status window, linking it with the style he’d strived to perfect his entire life.
[New skill has been registered.]
[Skill: Grevino Sword Style has been created.]
“Use it.”
As Arthur’s words reverberated in his ears, Randy let out a scream as he swung his greatsword at the orb, using the skill, [Grevino Sword Style] and unleashing the movements he had practiced thousands of times.
It was like he’d regained access to a finger he seemed to have lost prior to the creation of the skill.
Bam!
Crack!
The orb shattered.