Rastik McGreedy, fat, sly, and ugly. That's what people think of him every time they heard his name.
But in fact, it's quite the opposite. Fat? No, he's quite muscular for his age. Rather than sly, he's quite straightforward than most people could think of. Ugly? no one can argue with that. It all depends on how people looked at him. But Master Will told Ned, he's quite the opposite whenever people taught of bad things about him.
Standing in front of everyone, in an elevated wooden platform, Lord Rastik McGreedy gave his speech. To his left, the Knight from the Griffith Kingdom and a mage. Together with some attendants.
Rumors says that Lord Rastik McGreedy has a beautiful daughter. But she wasn't allowed to go outside their residence. Aside from beauty, the rumor was proven to be correct. To his right was a lady, wearing extravagant clothes, which was too much for a daughter of a Town Lord. Brown hair, stout, and was holding a piece of cake. An after-party dessert, maybe. Not much to say. At her back, was another lady, a Knight from the academy. She seems to guard the daughter of Rastik. Wearing an armor, that reflected the cast of the sun, but not enough to cover her belly. Pale skin could be seen from afar. A cloak, themed sapphire blue, waves at her back. On her left shoulder, three lines were embossed.
"Welcome Participants!" McGreedy announced. He was speaking to a spherical glass, a Note Claim - Claims are utility items imbued with magic. Note Claim was a utility item that increases the loudness of the user's voice.
At the back were elders. Random clothes, different garments, different places. Most likely his supporters.
The way the Royal Knight looked, seems to be in a hurry, while the mage was fidgeting his hands.
"I am your Town Lord, and host for this year's Inter-Island Selection. Lord Rastik McGreedy!" He cried. Hoarse but loud. "7, 641 Islands. At the bottom of the Cassan Continent." He added in a low voice. "No Ekans this time." A couple of laughter could be heard. "7, 641 islands and O'rriadt were chosen for this selection. Surprised as I may, and lucky as we are. Pirates! Nobles! Merchants! And whoever had the strength to pass. This is the time for your sons, daughters, and heirs to show their strength and be selected to join the Griffith Academy. "
Participants ages from thirteen to sixteen are cheering, some are anxious, others feared, but most are excited. This was their only chance to join a prestigious Academy and fulfill their dreams. Be it Mages, Fighters, and Rouges, they all have one thing in common. To pass.
"People of O'rriadt, make me proud," Lord McGreedy cried. "Let the Selection Begin!"
The sound of drums reverberated throughout the squire.
Then, an attendant announced the venue and the rules of the Selection.
The participants were informed that the event will take place on an island called Hoglob. East of O'rriadt. An island mostly consisted of Grades E and D Magical creatures. According to lores, Hoglob Island was once a place inhabited by Goblins. But, for some unknown reasons, the Goblins were totally annihilated.
With the magical arrays already installed, Handlers—acting as coordinators, will perceive all the happenings inside the island. Trained fighters were also hidden, to make sure that all participants are guarded and kept alive.
The rules were simple. Do not kill other participants. Killing will disqualify the participant and their family will be banned from entering the Griffith Kingdom for 5 generations. Ages from 13 to 16 can only join. Weapons are allowed, provided weapons are Grade E to D. Tamed animals are also allowed provided their ranks are from E to D.
Next was the goals. The goals to be completed and needed to pass the Selection.
To pass the selection. Participants must earn 500 points. The first goal was to collect cores of Magical creatures. Grade E Cores is equal to 1 point. Grade D is 5 points, and grade C Cores are 20 points. Each team and solo participants were given an Inventory Claim called Magic Pouch. A temporary pouch to store the Cores that the participants gathered.
The second was a task called 'Capture the Sphere'. Each group or participant will be given a temporary Inventory Claim called Storing Sphere - a utility item that stores a small amount of mana. Capturing one sphere is equivalent to 100 points. The owned sphere, if broken, will cause the disqualification of that group or individual. Points earned will be divided according to the number of individuals per group.
The third goal was a tournament. Those who have passed the first and second events are then individualized and put to fight with each other.
Participants who topped the 20 slots will be admitted to the Griffith Academy.
"First and second goal was to be done in two days and at the same time. You gather materials while you defend your sphere." The attendant explained. "You will be given ample time to prepare, and finalize your team."
Strolling inside the square, Ned and Toni found a bench that was empty. There, they started to organize their items.
Toni and Coco played with one another, while Ned, closed his eyes, and started to pretend to meditate.
I can't just stare in the open. Ned thought. ICE, evaluate. A series of prompts echoed through Ned's head.
[Energy level is at 99%.]
Just by walking, my energy dropped by a percent. Ned's face shows discontent.
[Mana Points. 153 over 601.]
[Vanish Skill 5.]
[Vanish skill can be used 5 times for 30 seconds. During the nighttime, skill duration will increase by 60 seconds. Using Vanish skill will hide the host and deal double the damage of the weapon in hand when attacking the enemy's weak points.]
[Skills haven't been used for 12 hours will be dismissed.]
[Vanish skill time remaining. 5 hours, 45 minutes, and 33 seconds.]
Vanish huh, can't use it though since the sun is high up. Well, better than nothing. Another thing, the Butterfly. Looks like only me can draw the sword.
"Toni are you—"
Ned was about to ask her when a random kid approached them, looking anxious.
"Hey Sharp!" Narrow eyes, he stared Ned for quite some time.
"Sharp! Hey!"
Was he talking to me? Ned thought.
Toni was also surprised to see some random kid talking to them. Medium height, black long hair, and slim, slightly bigger than Ned. A bow and arrow were tacked on his back. A typical oriental looking kid.
Ned was friendly to the people he knew. He's a Hollow same goes to his face when talking to some unknown kid. Hollow look, he asked. "You talking to me?"
The kid was surprised to see that someone the same age as him, looked deep and unfathomable. But he must utter the courage. "Yes, yes." He added. "I'm Xi from Chinok Island." With hands-on his sides, he slightly leans forward.
"What do you want, why call me sharp?"
"Well," finger scratching his temple, Xi explained. "Sharp eyes, sharp face, sharp nose, sharp mouth, and sharp look. If your not sharp then who are you?"
Lips lifted high, Toni smiled a bit.
This kid. Ned thought, "I'm Ned, what do you want?"
"Well, you see, I've been asking people if they could join my crew. But so far, no one was inter..."
"Not interested." Ned stopped Xi before he could finish.
"Wait!" Xi cried. "Let me join your crew."
So that's it. It's not that he's looking for a crew, he's looking to join a crew. Ned wondered. "We're full. What can you even do?"
Xi gripped his bow, nock an arrow and for a moment he stared at a distance. Air swooshed, the arrow cut everything on its path. It was only air though. At a distance, Ned saw a man in Wanted Poster hit in the eye. "Bullseye!" Xi exclaimed. "I can shoot an arrow."
Not bad. Ned thought. "If you can shoot an arrow, why is it that no one wanted you?"
"Well, I'm really bad with magic." Xi looked at the ground. Worry filled his eyes. "No matter how good I am at shooting things, Magic always prevails."
"Not really," Ned said. He could sympathize with Xi since he himself was a Hollow for a long time. "Okay you're in, and I'm not sharp I'm Ned—"
Surprised, Xi's heart beat faster, eyes bulged, jumped and hugged Ned. As tight as he could. "Ned! You're Ned! Thank you, Ned!"
"That's enough! If you want to join no hugging." Pushing Xi far away from him. And introduced Toni. "She's Toni."
Xi composed himself raised his hands and patted his chest. "I'm Xi of Chinok Island." Slightly leaned forward.
"Uhmm..hi...I'm Toni of O'rriadt." She answered.
For a minute or two Xi didn't stop talking to Ned or Toni. Even if no one is answering him, he kept on talking.
They were then asked to inject their mana on the Storing Sphere and register their team officially. Since Ned was a Hollow, he asked Toni to inject her's. The team of Ned, Toni, Coco, and Xi was then formed.
Then, Lord Rastik McGreedy announced to the participants to gather.
"Gather everyone!" Speaking in a Note Claim. Lord Rastik McGreedy announced the Royal Knight who will oversee the Event and a mage that will transport them to Hoglob Island. "I present to you! He will be overseeing the Selection. Awakened Royal Knight and Diamond Level Hunter! Sir Edwin Tulor Godefroy. And his companion. Royal Mage and Gold Level Hunter! Park Han Fu!"
"Diamond!"
"What!"
"That guy is a Diamond Level?"
Clamor after clamor, participants didn't believe that a Diamond Level would go to an Island, thousands of distance away from the Kingdom. Normally, Gold Level Hunters are the ones overseeing events for the Kingdom. Diamond levels are Hunters who hunt monsters ordinary hunters couldn't do. They were busy all the time. But this time. A Diamond Level did oversee an event.
"Everyone! Listen. Sir Godefroy will give his encouraging speech! So listen!" McGreedy exclaimed. Raising his hands he opened his palm to give way to the Royal Knight.
Sir Godefroy paced slowly going in the middle of the wooden platform.
Sound of silence could be heard.
"Uh." Then he left.
Very... encouraging. The participants murmured.
Then the Royal Mage floated, hovering in the middle of the plaza, he conjured a spell. Magic with precise control that let him float.
"Wind Magic!" One of the participants shouted.
For a moment. Air hummed, the temperature rose. Then a portal was opened in the middle of the plaza.
"Everyone!" Royal Mage Park Han Fu shouted, still floating midair. "Enter with your team and this will teleport you to a random location of Hoglob Island!"
One by one, team by team, participants entered the portal.
It was Ned's team turn. Aside from Xi, who's very excited to enter, Toni and Ned walked to the portal with ease. Swooshing, humming, cracking could be heard inside the portal. Afterward, Ned and the rest appeared in a place, so dark and humid. Humidly terrifying.
They were not in an island at all. No trees, no mountains, or rivers. Just, countless darkness.