Aden was up even before the sun rose helping his father settle his affairs with the Ascender's Guild. Behind him was a cart stacked with enough swords to arm half the Ascender's in the zone. Despite his sweaty appearance, Aden had little difficulty pulling the cart along the half mile path to the headquarters of the Ascender's Guild. Since he had first heard the stories about the Ascender's adventures in the dungeons and the horrifying tales of demons, he had been determined to become an Ascender and thus trained himself daily no matter how difficult it was coupled with helping his father in the forge room. His father's voice brought his attention up and he stopped pulling the heavy cart.
"Alright Aden, here is good. The Arm's Inspector will soon be here to collect the swords for the Ascender's and sort them out. You need to go prepare yourself for the Vocational Test later this morning." With an encouraging nod from his father, Aden ran off to clean himself up and prepare for the Vocational Test. After glancing in the mirror, and flexing his muscles, he ran downstairs to scarf down a quick breakfast before heading off with his mother to the Flaming Dungeon Zone Institution, where the Vocational Test would be held.
As they approached the institute, they were greeted with the marvelous sight of nearly every human in the zone gathered, and with those of age, in a long line awaiting entrance to the testing site. Glancing around, Aden could not help but look for those who were sure to have a distinct advantage in the test, the aristocratic McKenna family. The McKenna family were famous Ascender's in the zone, as they were innately gifted not only with control over fire, but the ability to weaponize it and resonate with the element. After looking around for a few minutes, he started to grow disappointed as he wanted to measure himself to the prodigies that hailed from the family. However, just as we about to lament to his mother of his concerns, he saw them. The air that preceded the McKenna family began to grow hazy from the heat that emanated from those accompanying the test taker, and it seemed as if flames would burst into being at whoever met his eyes.
Aden gasped, "It's Conley McKenna! The Flaming Swordsman! Mother, he's made it all the way past the 90th floor and its said that he challenged the 95th floors Dark Fiery Serpent and lived! Why is he here in the tester's line?"
Lightly knocking him on the head, Hadyn responded, "You don't actually think he's taking the test do you? He's of course here to escort his younger brother to take the test and see how he does.
Surprised, Aden's eyes turned big as saucers. Of course he knew of Conley's little brother, Aodh. It was said that when he was born he was wreathed in fire and the fire constellation's in the sky burned as bright in the day as they did at night. If the rumor's were true, Aodh was bound to be the prodigy of all prodigies! Instead of becoming cowed by the prospective talent who was nearing him, Aden's gaze turned fiery. Just because one was said to be born in fire didn't mean he couldn't make up for it! After all, he grew up in the forge room with his father and could be said to have been forged of fire.
At this moment, Aodh met his gaze. Instead of being aloof like the young master's in the past, he met Aden's gaze and appreciated the fieriness within although he was confused why he was looking at him with such a gaze. Wasn't he Master Forger's son? There was no need for competition between them. To enlighten his confusion, he walked up to greet Aden.
"I am Aodh McKenna, prospective Ascender."
"And I am Aden Smith, also prospective Ascender." Aden greeted him back with the firmest of handshakes. At first Aodh's eyes went round in wonder then sparks seemed to fly as their gazes met. It was a matter of manly pride to secure the highest element affinity in the Vocational Test, and as they were born and raised in the Flaming Dungeon Zone, 99% of the test takers had an affinity towards fire. After their somewhat construed manly greeting, they grinned at each other and turned their attention towards the stifling pressure they just felt. It was the Headmaster of the Flaming Dungeon Zone Institute!
"Greeting to the residents and testers of the Flaming Dungeon Zone! I am Borvo McKenna, Headmaster of this institute and Proctor for this Vocational Test. As an introduction to the test, it is custom to tell about the history of dungeon in the zone you are testing in! We are here today, and only here today, because of the sacrifice of our great ancestors. Once, long ago, the world was nearly annihilated by the destruction wrought between two civilizations- Humankind and Demonkind! The start of that wretched war began with the onslaught of demons upon our scattered villages and towns, trying to make their way to our great cities! The demons had discovered a horrifying truth- their strength would soar upon consumption of a human on a similar level as themselves and thus decided to collectively ambush humanity. However, a cultivator, driven to madness by a desire for vengeance discovered an equally horrifying truth- humans could consume demons as well for the same result! Thus began a war that lasted for centuries between the two civilizations and it nearly destroyed the world! Thus, the two supreme experts, one of man, one of demon, called a temporary truce. They realized there would never be peace between the two people, thus resolved to burn their life's essence to split the world and let their descendants figure the rest out! The world now is split into a total of six pieces, 3 for demonkind and 3 for humankind. The world that we are in now is those who are ordinary and not yet Cultivators. Those who wish to become one must ascend the Dungeon to the 100th floor, break the barrier, and enter the world beyond! Although demons will sporadically break out into this world from a Dungeon Eruption, the real fight is not here, the real fight is in the world beyond! The World of Cultivators! Thus, future students, strive to do your utmost and help in the fight against extinction, strive to learn, and strive to ascend! Now, with all that being said, let us proceed to the testing orbs!"
With the conclusion of the Headmaster's speech, two large, black iron gates swung open causing the ivy along the massive stone walls to rustle in the tempest that was created. What was revealed were an extraordinary amount of building ranging in sizes from strangely small to the oppressively large main building in the center. It towered so high into the sky that it seemed as if it might very well be the dungeon they had all heard about. Following the crowd, Aden strode forward into the institute, shaking himself out of the stupor he had upon hearing the Headmaster's speech. Those below the age of 10 were not permitted to hear Origin Story of the dungeons. Thus, it was his first time hearing it and needless to say, he was greatly shocked that such experts existed. He knew that to ascend the dungeon meant to visit a world beyond and that those who ascended would be granted strength beyond belief, but he was astonished that strength of that level could belong to a human.
Instead of focusing on something that happened who knew how long ago, Aden decided to focus on the task at hand. The Vocational Test! If he wanted to become an Ascender, an affinity in an element was not enough. He also had to have an affinity in a weapon. As expected, when he reached the end of the stone and elbowed his way through the jostling crowd while dragging his mother behind him, he saw two great orbs.
Whispering, he turned to his mother, "So those are the two great affinity orbs of legend? One test for elemental affinity and the weapon affinity?"
"Yes, you knew that already. You are simply trying to pry for more information about how it grades you, little rascal! Well, I did promise to tell you once we get to this point. The greater orbs will not shine brilliantly for a little pipsqueak like you. Only those who can ascend past the 90th floor have the right to blind the crowd with its brilliance. As for those just setting upon their path like you, in the center of the Greater Elemental Affinity Orb, the elements symbol will appear. Then, out of 11 levels there are 5 grades. Each level represents 10 floors of the dungeon. The 1st level is actually the preliminary level. You must get to the 2nd level to qualify to enter the dungeon. The same works with the Greater Weapons Affinity Orb. As for grades, they are perfect, peak, high, mid, and low. The highest that I have ever seen in the last 20 years for this Vocational Testing was a Perfect Level One for elemental affinity and he also had a Peak Level One Sword. I am talking about your idol, the Flaming Swordsman, 5 years ago. At only age 15, he seems poised to burst through the 100th floor and join the World of Cultivators. It seems his little brother may break that record today. Well worry not! Just try for a good score and do your best!" Hadyn concluded with some encouragement towards her son.
Aden looked at his mother somewhat sourly before turning his focus to the Greater Orbs. The Vocational Testing had officially begun!