Birk, the head of the Nito Island Guild, sat in a room with the three examiners to discuss the earlier exams and the plans for the last one.
"What are your thoughts on this year's examinees?" Birk asked.
"They're quite interesting," Cheng said. "I have high hopes."
"There are two groups that were particularly interesting. The blue team and the green team," Kurt said. "I feel if they pass, the seas will be very interesting."
Birk smiled. "Then I look forward to seeing what they have in store." He handed them a piece of paper. "After much deliberation, I know what the final phase would be."
Kurt looked up from the paper, his lips pressed. "Isn't this a bit too much?"
Seton nodded. "If we do this, the supply of adventurers will be even lower."
"Fifty-four years ago, when I had just joined the guild. Only one team passed the exam." Birk asked. "But what really shook the whole guild, was the fact that the team had never done the exam before. That was the first time in nine years that a bunch of newbies had passed the exam."
"I had no idea," Seton mumbled.
"It's been long since I've seen an adventurer that was as high spirited as the captain of that team. It was like he was born an adventurer; his eyes craved adventure. Nowadays, people only want to join this profession for the title. I need to see the real spirit of adventure even if it means having no adventurers join the guild."
"I get what you mean chief," Kurt said. "Adventuring just isn't what it used to be before."
"This phase will show us the passion that these adventurers have. If they're worthy enough to hold the license that is granted to adventurers." He looked at each examiner. "So, any objections to the last phase."
"No," they said in unison.
He grinned. "Then let's go get our adventurers."
.....
The examinees were taken to the Nito arena, a huge arena located in the middle of the island, and all the seats in the arena had been filled to the brim.
Birk walked towards them with the other examiners behind him. "Hello, I am Birk. I am the head of this guild. I will be the examiner of the final exam. As you can see… people are here to watch you. This exam is a tournament. The first person to get knocked out of the ring, loses. Since you guys are four in total, we have grouped two teams to face off."
"Does that mean only two people will pass?" Paolo asked.
Birk nodded. "Each team will pick three of their members to participate. If you have two wins out of three, that team has an automatic pass."
"That's harsh," Luna mumbled.
"No wonder the pass rate is one percent," Aline said.
"So the groups facing against each other, team yellow against team green and team blue against team red."
Lichto smirked. "Looks like your road ends here newbie."
Paolo grinned. "We'll see about that, won't we?"
Lichto scoffed and turned away, not bothering to demean the boy.
"I'll give you guys three minutes to choose your fighters," Birk said. They all nodded and he climbed into the ring. "Welcome people of Nito Island. Today you will witness the last phase of the adventurer's exam. You will see how strong the people who are about to become adventurers are."
The crowd cheered and he smiled. "The first match is between a member of the blue and red team."
"So how are we doing this?" Shinzo asked.
"Octavius, Luna, I want the both of you helping me," Paolo said.
"You sure?" Luna asked.
Paolo grinned. "Of course, I trust you guys."
She smiled. "Then alright."
"Octavius, take the first fight."
He gave a thumbs up. "Yes captain."
"Blue team and red team, please bring your fighters."
Octavius waved, moving to the stage where a member of the blue team had already taken his place.
"Ah, they sent the shrimp. This should be easy."
Octavius rolled his eyes. "Don't underestimate your opponents."
Birk clapped. "Alright, take your positions." Octavius and his opponent stared each other down. "Now start."
His opponent summoned a huge golem made of rock, the ring vibrating as it stamped its feet. The golem charged towards Octavius, sending a barrage of punches in his direction. Octavius swiftly dodged each one, using his small size to his advantage.
Octavius snapped his fingers, a hammer falling into his hands. He jumped in the air as the golem's foot moved to crush him and used the hammer to smash the golem into pieces.
His opponent watched the golem crumble before his wide eyes,
Not wanting to lose, he summoned huge rocks and sent them flying towards Octavius who dodged them by moving his feet from side to side.
His opponent gritted his teeth, not fond of the situation,
He spread his arms wide, and a huge rock formed in the air, growing and growing until it was bigger than the ring. "You won't be able to survive this."
The rock made way towards Octavius, plunging downwards. Everyone in the room concluded the match was over, but Octavius proved them wrong by clenching his fist and punching the rock, utterly destroying it.
Everyone in the arena blinked, their bodies frozen still as the crumbled rocks rained down on the arena.
Octavius summoned a staff, swinging it around,
People cheered as Octavius' opponent lay limp in the wall, his body showing no signs of getting up.
Birk smiled. "The winner of the first round is the blue team."
The Cross Heart Adventurers cheered, Octavius walking off the ring. "I really deserve a year's supply of cake."
Paolo pat his head, a smile on his lips. "Yeah you do."
Lichto frowned at his teammate's unresponsive form,
"Okay then, let's get to the next fight. The green team versus the yellow team."
Luca stepped into the ring, facing a member of the Milton Adventurers. He remained otherwise disinterested in his opponent, Milton showing him a condescending smirk.
"Five minutes, just give me five to beat you."
"Never underestimate your opponent. Number one rule of combat."
Milton chuckled. "So do you think you can beat me?"
Luca didn't answer the question, just scowled. "I won't think I will only act, I have a goal and this is my first step to achieving it. I won't lose to anybody."
"Alright, take your positions." Luca and Milton positioned themselves. "Now start."
They charged towards each other, but Luca was faster. No one in the ring expected his speed, his hand covering Milton's stomach. In an instant, a large explosion sent Milton flying out of the ring. Half the ring had been destroyed apart from the side Luca stood on, his blue eyes glowing brightly.
The crowd cheered at the instant KO, the adventurer showing skill they had not expected.
"This kid is a monster," someone in the crowd mumbled.
"As expected of someone from the Pyro Clan."
"The green team wins. The next fight is with the red and blue team, but we have to wait a while for the ring to regenerate on its own."
Luca left the ring, pausing in front of Paolo. "I'm expecting a lot from you, Paolo."
Paolo smiled. "What happened to your fake smile, I thought you'd use it till the end."
Luca frowned, eyes furrowing. "You knew."
"I'm smarter than you think."
Luca crossed his arms, his blue eyes staring him down. "Then I'll be honest, I don't like you."
"I know."
"Good, I'll just tell you this, if you actually win this, I won't make it easy for you in the adventuring world. The God Clan members are a bunch of hooligans who shouldn't be allowed on sea, I'll do everything in my power to keep you from succeeding."
Paolo smiled as if expecting his response. "Didn't expect you to let me reach my goal peacefully, your eyes told me immediately I met you."
"Well I've warned you."
Paolo watched him walk away, his blue hair swaying alongside him.
"Looks like you got yourself an enemy," Shinzo said.
Paolo smiled. "More like a rival, I doubt he'd actually kill me unless he needed too."
"Now that the ring has been fixed," Birk announced. "It's time for the next match between the red and the blue team."
Luna chugged down her beer, ready to move to the now fixed ring. "Wish me luck."
Paolo waved at her. "I believe in you."
She walked into the ring, Birk clearing his throat her opponent stepped in front of her. "Get into your positions." They did as they were told. "Now begin."
What happened next had people's eyes widening. Before Luna could summon her wand, a surge of electricity erupted from the ground, blitzing through her body. Blood spewed from her lips, her body falling backwards and unable to move.
Paolo stared in horror at his crew mate. "Luna!"
Birk counted from ten, her effort to rise failing miserably. "The red team wins."
The red team laughed, their member kicking Luna's body repeatedly. Paolo gritted his teeth. "Stop."
"Why should I? She's so useless that she didn't even notice my trap magic that I had set immediately we got in the ring."
He landed another kick on her stomach, making his crew mates laugh more. His foot hovered over her hip, prepared to step on her when Aline, Octavius and Shinzo suddenly cornered him.
Aline's sword grazed his neck, blood dripping on it; Octavius' stun gun sat on his chest, his fingers ready to press the maximum button at any time; and Shinzo's fists hovered a few inches away from his face.
Aline pressed her sword harder into his neck, her gray eyes merciless. "If you take one more step, just one step… We'll kill you."
The whole stadium fell into silence, the member of Lichto's crew knowing not to move. The blood lust oozing from the Cross Heart Adventurers was enough for him to pee his pants, his body freezing over.
Paolo climbed the ring, picking up the petrified Luna. "You guys leave him be."
They obeyed their captain, pulling away from the adventurer, but not before giving him one last glare.
"C-coward," the adventurer managed to stammer.
Paolo smiled sadistically, his head tilted. "Just because I told them to leave doesn't mean I can't hurt you." His eyes glowed deadly golden, his blood lust spewing from his pores. "Hurt my crew member again and I'll kill you."
A cold breeze went through the stadium, the four adventurers climbing out of the ring.
"I'm sorry."
They all looked at Luna, her body shaking as she sobbed in Paolo's arms. "I didn't even last a minute in there. I was just a hindrance even though you put so much faith in me."
"Luna, you weren't a hindrance," Aline said.
Octavius nodded vigorously. "Those guys are just bastards."
Paolo dropped her carefully on the ground, stroking her cheeks softly. "No matter what Luna, you are my comrade. As your captain, no matter what happens I will believe in my crew because they are family and family is the most important thing."
Luna smiled through her tears. "You really are the best, captain."
Paolo grinned. "I'm going to win this on your behalf Luna. If I can't protect my crews honor, then I don't deserve to be called your captain."
As they spoke, Birk announced the next match. The boy with black hair on Luca's team moved forward, bowing at his opponent as a sign of respect. The match begun, the adventurer twirling the golden staff in his hand. As he did this, a giant breeze blew through the arena, everyone holding onto something so they wouldn't fall.
The Milton Adventurer flew backwards, his body imprinting itself on the wall with the wind dying down dying down right after. The boy bowed again, pulling out of the ring before Birk announced his win.
"He's strong," Octavius said, the medics carrying the body from the ring. "That was some wind he blew."
"They've basically gotten their license," Aline said.
Paolo nodded, turning to look at Luca who scoffed and looked away much to his amusement.
"The next match is the final match between the red and the blue team. This final match will decide who will join the green team as adventurers."
People cheered as Paolo and Lichto climbed the stage. "Take your positions," Birk started, the two preparing their stances. "And begin."
Light spears suddenly attacked Paolo barely dodging them due to their immense speed.
Lichto grinned. "Do you like my power?"
Paolo didn't answer, crossing his hands,
Lichto threw another barrage of spears his way, but Paolo dodged them. The whole throw and dodge became a routine, Lichto deriving joy in watching Paolo run away.
Paolo clapped his hands, eyes glowing gold. His body became lighter, his ability to dodge attacks increasing tenfold. Lichto threw another bunch of spears at Paolo, but with the flick of his finger, the light turned back to the sender. Lichto barely dodged it, the spear crashing to the ground, a loud bang coming right after.
Lichto frowned. "What did you do?"
"I have gravity magic, so I was able to bend your light to my will."
Lichto clicked his tongue, the convenience of his magic annoying him. "I'll show you the power of the Lux Clan."
In an instant, Lichto made a sword of light which extended and cut Paolo on the shoulder. He hissed, blood staining his yellow beach shirt.
Lichto's body started glowing, his body now made of pure light. This put Paolo at a disadvantage, his speed out of this world.
Small wounds and gashes appeared all over Paolo's body, a burning sensation eating away at him every time a cut appeared on his body. He looked around, but could never tell the direct location of his opponent.
A slice to his feet had him falling on his knees, his breathing heavy as a laugh echoed from somewhere in the ring,
Every neuron in Paolo's brain got to work even though his body received serious damage. Out of the many possibilities in his brain, one stood above the rest and the adventurer grinned.
He took a deep breath, clamping his hands together. Lichto whose fists were about to make contact with Paolo's head suddenly froze to a halt. As if his body was being pulled down by a ton of bricks, his body fell to the ground, his light dimming. "What the hell is this?"
Paolo smiled cheekily. "I have made your body heavier, stopping you from being able to move." He punched his palm. "Now, I'll be avenging my crew member."
Lichto's eyes widened, Paolo fists connecting with his face, carrying him out of the ring to the wall.
The arena went wild, their cheers banging on the walls of the arena. The Cross Heart Adventurers celebrated, Luna taking a huge chug of beer, Octavius popping a piece of candy in his mouth and Shinzo and Aline hugging each other from the excitement, a temporary truce formed from their joy.
Birk smiled, walking to the middle of the ring. "And with the red team's win, the adventurer's exam has come to an end. I'd like to welcome the two captains to the ring."
Luca climbed the ring, Paolo pulling up beside him with a smile.
"I won."
Luca scoffed. "Shut up."
"The name of the adventure crews here today are the Blue Dawn Adventurers and the Cross Heart Adventurers and don't forget it."
The people cheered and reporters who had been watching the match at the corner of the room rushed towards them as they got off the ring.
A woman with her hair clipped to the back gets all up in Paolo's face, her notebook and pen in hand ready to squeeze him dry of information. "How does it feel like to be the very first rookie in fifty-four years to pass the exam?"
"How do you-"
"We're reporter's sweetie, so…"
Paolo laughed. "I'm just happy to have passed."
A photographer stepped forwards, his camera dangling from his neck. "We want a picture of your crew in the papers."
Luna grinned, Shinzo helping her stand up. "I am pretty photogenic."
Shinzo scoffed. "Obviously not as much as me."
"You're so stupid," Aline said.
"What was that you bimbo."
The two started fighting, Paolo laughing while Octavius took candy. After much prodding and insults, the Cross Heart Adventurers finally took their picture – to the relief of the poor photographer.
As the adventurers chatted happily, the photographer stared at the picture in his hands. Aline and Shinzo being the tallest stood behind the other three, the two pushing each other's face. Luna had an alcohol bottle in her mouth while Octavius had candy in his. Paolo remained the only sensible one in the picture, his smile reflecting his carefree nature.