The Atlas training camp has finally been restored. With the return of the Gwenevier and Mr Perfect, all the graduates from the academy can finally be trained and become Mages. But Lance and his friends are different, they had already been trained so this was their last day of training.
After being set free, Lance spends most of his time mastering his Dark form. Him and the Hyena develop a close friendship, so Lance gave him the name Hyena.
Lance never knew the Hyena's real name and when he asked, the dark creature refused to tell. So Lance just decided to call him Hyena.
As Gwenevier is busy training the newbies, Lance and the rest of his comrades come out of their cabins wearing their new uniforms. These weren't just any uniforms, they were made by the Crest family, and are imbued with magic symbols that repel magical attacks.
The New Mages in training stare enviously at Lance and the others because they looked good. Mr Perfect then arrives with a chest containing the badges they would wear to validate them as real mages, as he is about to present them however. He notices the resentment in the eyes of some of Mages in training.
Mr Perfect: Wait, It would seem some people don't feel you're not ready for this position. (Mr Perfect said to Lance and the others)
Gwenevier Topaz: Who cares what they feel, this bunch have been through a lot. They are more than ready. (Gwenevier tells Mr Perfect)
Lance Grey: Miss Gwenevier, If I may ask. Can we show them the results of our training? (Lance asks confidently)
Lora Magma: Why? We don't owe them anything.
Lora Magma: It's not that, I just want everyone to know that we're not special. That our strength is a result of hard work and dedication. (Lance said inspiringly)
Lora Magma: (Sighs) Ok then. Let's show them what a fully trained Mage can do! (Lora said confidently)
Sebastian Tempest: I'm in... But how are we going to do that exactly, will we fight each other? (Sebastian asks)
Nina Willow: I don't want us to fight. (Nina replied nervously)
John Crest: (Chuckles) Probably because Lance would kill us all. (John joked)
Sebastian Tempest: Shut up John, Lance would never do that! (Sebastian yelled, and then the two begin to argue)
Rex Striker: Guys. How about a race. (Rex suggested)
Lance Grey: That's a good idea. What are the rules? (Lance asks)
Rex Striker: Anything goes, no rules! (Rex said with a confident smile)
John Crest: Doesn't Lance power give him an unfair advantage? (John asks, while still being a jerk)
Lora Magma: Maybe against you, but I personally think I can beat him. (Lora said, confident in her abilities)
Gwenevier Topaz: That's the attitude I like to see. Let's get this race started! (Gwenevier yelled excitedly)
The race is about to start and all the Mages line up at the starting line. With the Mages in training watching from not too far away.
Lance Grey: Hyena, give me power! (Lance yelled, before transforming into Dark Lance)
Lance didn't have to say that to transform, but the Hyena always stayed some distance away from him. But still always watching while in an invisible state. But if Lance calls for him, he rushes to his side and merges with him, turning them into the Dark Lance. Although no one can really see it happen.
Rex Striker: Impressive, but you're not the only one who can transform anymore. Check this out... Defence Shield, To me! (Rex yelled as he summoned his Defense shield, the shield then forms a bubble around him, which shrinks becoming protective armor on his body, this Shield Armor is transparent like glass, and had a face on its chest.
Shield Armor: Defense! I am defending you, Bro! (The Armor yelled on Rex's body)
After seeing this the Hyena took control of Lance's body, his stare becoming menacing.
Hyena: Are you mocking us! (Hyena asks sternly, speaking through Lance)
But suddenly the Dark Lance grabbed his head, shaking it vigorously.
Dark Lance: Stop that, Hyena! (Lance said with his mind)... Sorry about that (Lance said, apologizing to Sebastian for the outburst)
At this point in time almost everyone knew about Lance's weird ability, which made him act a little crazy. So nobody blamed him for outburst.
Rex Striker: No need, I did kinda steal your look. But everything else is original. (Rex said, flaunting his Soul Armor)
Dark Lance: Original or not. You're still gonna lose. (Lance tells him with a smile, revealing his razor sharp teeth)
Rex Striker: We'll see about that. (Rex replied with a smile of his own)
The race starts and Dark Lance instantly took the lead by running through the forest at an insanely fast speed. Lora wasn't bluffing about having a way to beat Lance, because she forced fire from her hands to propel herself upward, flying through the air like a rocket, slowly catching up to Dark Lance.
Rex on the other hand is far behind, his Shield Armor is only good for defense not speed, a lesson he is just starting to learn. With no other choice Rex Summoned the Ghost Train, having mastered the Soul weapon, he rides atop it like a surfer catching a wave. The speed of the Ghost Train is enough to catch up with Lora and Lance, but it's not enough to overtake them.
Meanwhile John and Nina have been running for a while now, and are not any closer to the others.
John Crest: (Pants) This is hopeless. There's no way we can catch up to them on foot. (John admitted, giving up on the seemingly impossible task)
Nina Willow: I have an idea. (Nina said after thinking for a few moments)
Nina uses her mind control magic to summon a wild horse from the forest. The horse obediently comes over to her and she climbed on top of it's back. Nina tries to leave John behind but he stops her.
John Crest: Don't leave me! (John yelled, stopping Nina from riding off)
Nina Willow: Why not, this is a race. (Nina replied)
John Crest: True, but you're not going to win riding a horse. I propose a partnership. (Rex suggested)
John had the ability to greatly empower others, so Nina accepted his idea of a partnership.
Nina Willow: Okay then, get on. (Nina tells him, allowing him to ride with her)
John gets on the horse and immediately used his Crest magic to boost the speed and power of the horse. Allowing it to run at a speed that almost dismounts the two, but still they ride strong.
Meanwhile Sebastian still sits at the starting line, in a meditative like pose. He did not start the race with the others, and has just been meditating all this while. Gwenevier is about to interrupt him, but Perfect stops her.
Mr Perfect: Wait... Look he's gathering magical energy, he's a smart one. (Mr Perfect said, commending Sebastian)
Sebastian then stood up and starts running forward, with his body pulsating with energy as he ran at lightning speed. He is probably faster than all of them, because he catches up with Lance and the others pretty quickly, before taking the lead himself.
Everyone turns up their game in their bid to catch up with Sebastian. The finish line is at the mountain which Leon destroyed while fighting Dark Lance. And Sebastian is about to get there with Lance, Lora, and Rex hot on his tail.
John and Nina on the other hand are heading towards the wrong direction seemingly unable to control their fast horse. As Sebastian reaches the finish line first, he realises that something was very wrong. This wasn't the mountain they were supposed to run to, but they still came here anyway.
Turns out that Nina had used her powers to mentally trick them into seeing a false mountain, and going the wrong way. No rules remember.
At the real mountain stood the Mages in training, waiting to see who would claim victory. As Lance, Lora, Rex and Sebastian, realise they've been tricked. They raced towards the real finish line, but it may be too late for Nina and John were almost there. Dark Lance is now far behind, after running for so long he's now exhausted, but the voice of Hyena spoke in his head, giving him advice.
Hyena: Master! Why don't you use Lora's technique? Force the Dark Cloud out of your hands, to propel yourself forward. (The voice of Hyena advises)
Dark Lance: That's actually a great idea. (Dark Lance said before he propelled himself forward using the Dark Cloud, he is clumsy at first but gets the hang of it pretty quickly)
Nina and John are about to win, when Dark Lance jets forward with so much speed that he crashes into the mountain. Winning the race instead.
The race was fun but winning wasn't the point. Lance and the others have proved to the Mages in training that they were the real deal, and were ready to take on the world as professional Mages. That day they all received their Mage Badges with honor, and with no resentment this time. Lance and his friends were now officially, Mages.
That night Lance gathered his friends together, to finally reveal the truth about his power. Even John is in attendance.
Lora Magma: Lance why did you call us here? (Lora asks, a bit worried)
Lance Grey: Well, since we're all going on missions tomorrow.... I wanted to show you guys the secret to my power. (Lance tells them nervously)
Rex Striker: You don't have to Lance. We trust you completely. (Rex spoke up)
Lance Grey: I know, but you guys still need to see this... Hyena, please reveal yourself. (Lance commanded and the Dark Hyena then appeared, this time everyone can see him)
Everyone is obviously startled and move away from the dark creature. Ready to fight if need be.
Nina Willow: What is it? (Nina asks in a frightened tone)
Lance Grey: I call him, Hyena. He's apparently my Curse. (Lance explained casually)
Sebastian Tempest: A Curse! Are you going to kill Lance? (Sebastian asks abruptly)
Hyena: (Laughs) I would never kill my Master. I am his protector! (Hyena replied, answering Sebastian's question)
Lora Magma: You, I've met you before. You spoke to me after you destroyed the Soultaker. (Lora tells Hyena, as she remembered the first time she met the Dark Lance)
Hyena: Yes... You convinced me not to kill that human, and for that I am grateful. (Hyena tells her with a slight bow)
John Crest: If you're a Curse. Then who cursed Lance. (John asks)
Lance Grey: It was the Demon that killed my family, that cursed me. (Lance answered)
John Crest: If this Curse comes from a Demon. How do you know you can trust it? (John asks adamantly)
Lance Grey: Because he's been with me ever since I lost my parents. He's supported and protected me through most of my life... I honestly don't know if he's trustworthy, but I still choose to trust him... Or rather, I have faith in him. (Lance replied calmly)
Seeing Lance speak with such conviction. The Mages all decided to put some trust in Lance's strange companion. At least for now.
Next: Lance, John and The Mad Mask.