In the center of Europe, a massive storm that never ceased. The winds and rain whipped around while lighting crackled. This storm was the location of Zeus' Legacy.
The crater that surrounds the storm was almost filled to the brim with water. This edge is also where a barrier begins to stop all other races from entering.
The carrier landed near the edge, and all the disciple exited the craft. Charmeine looked out among the crowd and smiled. All of these young men and women might not be the same as her race, but she loved and cared for them as they were her students. She was proud of how far they had come in their training.
"Today is the day we have been training towards. I may not walk with any of you beyond this point. You must move forward on your own using your strength. Good luck; my children."
Everyone had looks of excitement and curiosity. Alice stepped forward and turned to face her fellow disciple. "Storm Sect, let us venture into the storm!" After yelling to the crowd, Alice leaped off the ground and over the edge of the crater. Being an earthling, the golden barrier didn't block her from entering. Seeing her head into the storm fearlessly everyone soon followed.
Most of the disciples used a movement technique or the wind mana to move across the water-filled crater. Some unfortunate ones had to swim towards the center.
Hiro using wind mana to hold himself up and lightning mana boost him forward. For the first few kilometers towards the epicenter, the winds were only 150 kilometers an hour. After about fifteen kilometers in the speeds got up to 300 kilometers an hour.
Only a few students remained at this point. All of the others were plunged into the waters or tossed out of the storm.
Alice was having the most relaxed time with just blocking the wind with her wind barrier. Hiro used his mana to push the wind coming at him to flow around him, creating a vacuum effect propelling himself forward. The other remaining ones tried to use the wind in some shape or fashion but by the thirty kilometers in only three remained.
Alice, Hiro, and a Core Builder very proficient in wind arts made it to the center of the storm where it was calm. A large rock formed an island in the middle of the water. From a distance, the three could see something on top of the stone.
The three disciples raced over and climbed to the top. Surprisingly the Core Builder made it to the top first, followed by Alice, and then Hiro. Arriving at the top, a man in a pure-white toga, golden hair, and matching beard was waiting for the three of them.
"Congratulations, warriors." The man said proudly while looking over the three of them.
"Who are you, Senior?" Alice asked, sincerely.
"I'm not Zeus if that is what you're asking."
"Then what is your name, Sir?" the Core Builder asked.
The powerful being puffed out his chest pretending to be insulted. "Who ask for someone's name without giving theirs first?"
"Forgive us. My name is Alice Suzuki."
"Erik Lindström."
"Hiro Nakamura."
"Nice to meet you, young warriors. My master, Zeus, called me Keravnós. He wielded me during every battle and entrusted me with finding his successor here on earth. He also charged me with maintaining the thin barrier holding around the planets in this system."
The three looked at each other and knew this man must be an artifact spirit. They then wondered how great this Spirit must be to influence such a large area. With such a powerful being before them, each of them had their thoughts on what would the successor get from such a powerful spirit.
"Warriors you have already passed the elemental test and must now only answer one question to become disciples of Zeus."
The Core Builder interrupted Keravnós, and asked impatiently, "But you said we could become his successor."
"Becoming his Disciple and Successor are two different things." This sudden news had all of their dreams shattered. "One must become a disciple before attempting to become his successor."
"Sorry to interrupt, Senior Spirit Keravnós." Erik tried to apologize and flatter Keravnós at the same time.
"Now, I shall ask you all the same question. Your answers will determine if you become a disciple." The Spirit paused as he looked at each of them. "Do any of you wish to leave now?"
The three unanimously answered, "No."
"If a man lied about stealing food for his starving family? What would you do?" asked the Spirit.
The three pondered for a moment. Hiro wondered what type of answer he was looking for from them. Out of nowhere, a wind picked up and encircled each of them.
"Why are we each being surrounded by wind, Sir?" Hiro asked.
"So you cannot hear each other's answer," replied the Spirit smiling at Hiro's question.
After thinking about the question, Erik spoke first. Considering that a high-level warrior needs to be forgiving, Erik said, "I would forgive him because the man did it for his family."
The Spirit stared at the man and replied, "Is that what you would do or is that what you wanted me to hear?"
Erik shook from fear as the Spirit saw straight through his answer. "I apologize Senior Spirit..." before he could finish apologizing, Erik was lifted by the wind and cast back into the storm.
"A man who lies is not a man of justice. My master would not approve of such a disciple."
Alice and Hiro turned pale. They couldn't hear what Erik say, but they did see him tossed like a sack of potatoes back into the storm. If they did not give a proper answer than they too might be tossed out.
After thinking about the question, Alice stepped forward to give her an answer. Standing tall and unwavering, she said, "I would trial the man for his crimes. Through a trial, we would judge him."
The Spirit frowned and asked Alice, "How would you judge him?" With the Spirit emphasizing the word you.
Alice stood there, not knowing how to respond without all the facts. Her shoulders slumped, and she broke eye contact with the Spirit. An answer eventually left her lips. "I don't know. I can't convict anyone without all the facts."
"So, you would let him get away with it?" The Spirit shook his head. He then looked at the distraught girl in front of him. By Keravnós response, she knew she was to be tossed. After a few seconds going by, she was still standing there. She looked up, and the golden-haired Spirit smiled. "Girl, you don't have the heart to be his successor, but he would never deny an honest person like you his discipleship. You are now officially a disciple of Zeus."