Xasha stood on the platform outside the lightning territory. There were a few people with him. The most familiar were Emily and Ryan. Ryan flashed him a grin. "Careful boss, if I pass this trail before you, your number ten slot is mine."
"Shut your dog mouth," Xasha barked at him in indignation. "I have to pass this damn trail," Xasha said under his breath.
Ryan and Emily were to the side, laughing at his expense. Not caring about his rage or harsh words. The others on the platform had complicated expressions. To think their leader could be so humble as to not mind a bit of teasing from his subordinates.
"That number ten spot is mine," a brave fellow joined in on the fun. He was Aster, a member of Dana's strike team.
"You too?" Xasha turned and glanced at him disdainfully. "You all can stop dreaming about taking my spot. All of you better take a good look at my face cuz from now on, you will see nothing but my rare end."
Everyone burst out laughing. Even Boman, who was the overseer of this trial, couldn't contain himself. He sobered up and spoke," this is the trial by lightning. You will all have to-"
"Shut your mouth and open the gate. We've all been here before," Xasha barked at him.
Boman nodded and opened the gate. Everyone disappeared a second later, leaving Boman standing alone. He sighed, then smiled lightly. Xasha only got like this when his fighting spirit had been invoked. He wondered if he could pass the trail this time or if he will really drop from the top ten.
The group flitted through the lightning territory with top speed. Above them was a sea of clouds, below them was a ground stuck by so much lighting that it either melted into lava or hardened into metal. Between was a rain of lightning bolts falling from the sky, pelting the bodies of Xasha and the group.
Despite this, they sped to through the territory with no hesitation. They finally came to a stop above a white lake with a blue ring. There was electricity running along the body of said lake like it was a barrel of snakes. Xasha did not hesitate and dove straight into the center of the lake, naked. The others shuddered at his determination, then grit their teeth and tossed away their clothes before diving inside the lake too.
The objective of this trial was to endure. One was to dive to the bottom of the lake, then allow the liquid lightning to assault their bodies for 10 days straight. They are to release all defenses and let the lightning temper their bones, making it as hard as metal.
This was easier said than done, as nice as anyone may put it. In reality, it was being shocked by billions of volts of electricity for two weeks straight. Torture could not describe what Xasha and the others were going through.
Time ticked past and ten days, which seemed like ten years, finally came. A small crowd gathered outside the forcefield on the assessment platform, as if waiting for someone. Soon, three silhouettes emerged, with their bodies weakened and bloodied.
"Congratulations!" the crowd shouted as they approached the Silhouettes. "Lord Fitzroy and supreme Elders, we knew these trials can't hinder you in the slightest."
Fitzroy, who was bleeding from almost every inch of his body, snarled at their comments. He glanced up at the ranking board hung above the platform. Saw Xasha's name in tenth place and huffed in frustration.
He didn't pay any attention to his wounds or his attendants as he disappeared from the platform. The elders followed. "Roy, that descendant of yours, is he not just a malignant star? How can he create such dangerous places, set up such atrocious trials, and house such dangerous Fantasma inside his own province?"
"Elder Eruption, I think he's more of a guiding star than anything else. He set these trails up to create cultivators strong enough to transcend this place. Even he who designed them can't march through unimpeded, so what do we have to be ashamed of. He's barely holding on to the top ten of his own list. I wonder what kind of leader would do such a thing?"
" He is admitting to the world that he is inferior," the other elder commented.
"Exactly, Elder Ice Age. He is a selfless leader, the kind of leader I want to be. One that puts his pride aside and does what is best for his people. I have learned a lot from that boy I think you two old things will learn soon enough what I see in him."
All three sat in the garden, having their wounds healed by members of the healing department. A shadow entered the garden, and half knelt before the two elders before approaching. "Greetings, supreme elders. I have news."
"Speak boy," Elder Ice Age said impatiently.
"It's really too embarrassing. You see, of our entire Devos Army and raid team, only a fraction could pass the second assessment. This is only a fraction of those who passed the first. I can't help but feel pained at the optics. It shows we are inferior to the Stardust Province. Morale among the troops is low, very low," Lusha reported.
The two elders looked at Fitzroy with a meaningful gaze. He acknowledged their gazes but remained calm. "I do not care about optics. I care about resolve. If this much is enough to shake their resolve, I might as well disband the army right now and they can all become fruit farmers."
He stood to his feet. "This is not just a trail. This is training, training that builds character measures one's loyalty and strengthens one's willpower. If my men are only this much, I rather leave them here than take them to Estia to be slaughtered. Tell them, if they don't have the resolve to dust off and get up after failing, they should quit now and go tend the fields."
Lusha couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked to the elders but was surprised to see them nodding in agreement. Lusha looked down and said, "I will deliver your message." Then disappeared.
Outside the lighting lake, Boman stood and watched as one after another, men emerged from the lake victoriously celebrating their triumph. Despite their disfigurement, they were ecstatic. Most lost all their hair and skin but acted as if it was nothing. Healers were behind Boman, receiving the men as they left the lake one after the other.
Everyone had now left the lake, except one person; Xasha. Everyone looked to the lake and wondered aloud. "Is he really trying to do it? He must have lost his mind."
"Boman, get him out of there!" The injured Ryan blurted out.
"This is his decision. If I find that he's in any danger, I will pull him- hmm, what's this?"
"What is it?" Ryan pushed away the healer and flew up to Boman. He sent his perception into the lake and found Xasha. "Unbelievable."