Up above the area Vanessa watch as Rapt struggled against the 16 scorpions. Seeing him getting blown away by one of the scorpions, she thought that it would be followed by his death. Doing as told by the gods, she watched as they closed in to finish him off. 'Such a shame he seemed to have great potential', she thought as observed what would be Rapt second and final death. After that thought a low snarl was heard, freezing the scorpions in their tracks.
Then she saw Rapt move faster than she thought he could, slamming his killing claw into the closet scorpion's head. She saw his tenacity with each kill as new wounds open and old ones widen. Even when his left claw was almost tearing off, he continued with his offense. After finishing the last scorpion, he stood on its corpse before passing out leaving Vanessa confused on what to do.
The decision of what to do was stripped from her as the others appeared around Rapt.
"What was that?" Cherish asked
"I don't know it, but it seems like he did the impossible. He used Ki without having mana in his body. I'm even more surprised that he survived as this should theoretically riddle him with random mutations." Teka stated, being the expert on mana and its numerous reactions to different catalysts. This was because of the special title she was born with 'loved by mana', a title being a skill that one would have at birth. These types of skills could not be leveled up as they were already in their completed form.
As Teka and Cherish were talking Bados and Trench were focusing on the unconscious Rapt. "Well, this damn weakling just became interesting. I hope this wasn't a fluke" Trench said smiling for the first time.
"I don't think it is. Now let me heal him before he dies again." Bados said before waving his hand instantly healing Rapt's body.
Vanessa flew down towards the others before asking," what now? The rest of the trials will have to wait, right?"
"No, they will continue. The other two don't require him to be conscious." Bados stated, watching Rapt intently. 'If this isn't a fluke and is a sample of what's to come. The price might be well worth it', he thought.
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On Planet Ambu before mana had started to bring changes to the planet, they were very technologically sophisticated until the hazards that had been conquered by their technology started evolving due to mana. Due to misuse and greed by different governments around the world, the entire world went through a violent reckoning. It started with diseases becoming more deadly and resistant to the medicine leading to the death of millions until the medicine was developed to counter the new forms of diseases.
Next, came the trees and plant life started growing out of control with even some of them gaining some type of sentience although limited. The rapidly changing ecosystems destroyed the infrastructures causing massive damage to the population and bringing society to a new low compared to the previous heights they had reached before.
As the society struggled to maintain some semblance of structure, the animals started changing. They became stronger, smarter, and more unified compared to their normal counterparts. Some areas would become dead zones as the beasts became unstoppable by normal means and collapsed the already failing society completely. While trying to survive, the race known as the Furyans, notice that members of those born after the fall were different from their ancestors. They were stronger, faster, and more resilient. They developed some forms of control over the elements in special cases. This was the beginning of what was called year 1 AM (After Mana) as the whole world and its inhabitants had been modified by the mana.
Around Year 10 AM, The people of the old society saw how their society started to change. personal strength became the most important aspect of their lives. The strongest would strive to pass on their genes with other strong Furyans to give birth stronger generations. The first to accomplish this desire was the Halyard family starting with the birth of Walker Halyard in year 25 AM. He was raised for combat, strategy, and to lead by the elders that had survived. They gathered the elders and expert of all the other family together to instill their knowledge into Walker creating a pillar. The halyard family became known for being powerful and versatile earth mages, who used their power to create the first Furyan domain after the Great Mana Calamity. Under the leadership and guidance of the Halyard family, the Halyard kingdom was created in Year 50 AM under the lead of the first King Walker Halyard.
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In 41 AM when walker was 16, his main duty was to repel the beasts that had laid claim to the surrounding lands at the behest of his family's elders. The other's built protective walls using the earth mages as those with elemental powers were now called. These mages were held at a higher standard as weapons were produced by the fire mages, fish and farms managed by the water mages, and hunters were the wind mages. Each group was diversified with certain elements coming together to create synergy between their powers to bring the best potential out of the materials.
Walker had developed a myriad of techniques that made him the true embodiment of the phrase: 'a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.' Some of the known skill he had were: [seismic pulse], [seismic sprint], and [seismic wall]. Though at the time they weren't categorized by the system.
Walker patrolled the village using [seismic pulse] and he felt the panicked vibrations of his fellow kinsman being pursued by what seemed to be the large cougar beast that claimed these parts. Walker began to sprint toward the vibration using [seismic sprint] turning to ground spring-like pushing his speed past his normal limits. He rushed out of the village towards his kinsman. After letting them pass as the large 2 meters tall cougar beast and Walker came to a halt.
"Go back to your lands, beast" Walker said to the cougar as it began to pace around him in frustration of missing out on three easy meals. Silence stretched on before the cougar shot a fireball towards Walker causing him to raise a stone wall to block it. He instantly started preparing a spear as he waited for the continuation of the attack. After he completed the spear made from hard and dense stone the fireball crashed on the wall. But as soon as the fireball hit the wall the cougar rushed at him from his right in a surprise attack.
Walker only felt the beast coming after the vibrations from the fireball ceased at the last minute leaving just enough time for him to shield himself. Even with using his Shield, the force of the charge still crashed on his body sending him flying. When he stood up the cougar was upon him again slashing towards him with his claws, but this time he shifted the earth to create distance between the two of them. Seeing its prey escape again the cougar shot two fireballs towards him and rushed in for a close ranged attack again. Learning from his earlier mistake Walker raised to walls to divert the flames from his direction instead of blocking them completely. This helped him keep his vision focused on his opponent and blocked an attack. When the cougar clawed at him this time, he used his sponge earth technique to absorb to force as he blocked again before turning the ground under the cougar quicksand-like. The cougar thrashed hard to try an escape, leading to it sinking quicker until only its head remained. The last thing it saw was the spear from Walker and everything going black. The entire village had once again witnessed the strength of the Halyard family, reinforcing their rule over the village. Only three out of the five had made it back, these three would be the first to be trained by Walker. They would later become important figure in the villages.
This battle brought new light to the power of the Halyard mages and through more battles to protect the village. Walker became a skilled and fearless battle-tempered warrior/leader and as his power grew the other survivors gradually gravitated to his village. Eventually, it became populated enough to be considered a kingdom under his rule. One visit in 50 Am changed everything for the Furyan race as Walker became the first Furyan blessed by a god. This granted the stat interface to all Furyans on the planet bringing on another change to the society and solidified him as the first King of the Halyard kingdom.