Author's Note: This will be the last chapter of Volume III before I make the End of Volume chapter tomorrow. This chapter will probably be one of the longest chapters I have ever made, if not the longest so far, so better be prepared.
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Hello!
Today is the day! Today is the day when I take part in the Proving! Huh, do I feel scared? Of course not... is what any kind of random person with muscles for brains would say. It is pretty natural to be scared during such an event.
Actually, I would consider a person who isn't scared when they are participating in a test that could affect their lives as someone who is unnaturally calm. But, even though I am scared, I believe that I will pass the first test with flying colors. Wow, aren't I overconfident? Not really, as all of the lessons Glaive has taught us had to have something to do with the tests, right?
I made sure to listen very well when classes were in session and I made sure to practice all of my moves after all of it was done when I arrived back home. Oh yeah, and after my suspension was over and I finally got back, there was an announcement concerning the Proving's tests.
Since there were so many of us, that number being 100, there will be 3 tests that we will have to pass. If you fail a test, you aren't automatically out of the running yet. The judges will be marking you based on your performance across all of the tests and will add the scores together. If your combined score is high enough, then you pass. If not then... let's not talk about that.
I remember another amazing quote filled with wisdom. 'Once you start to think that you will lose, then your loss will have already become inevitable'. Thinking negatively will affect your chances at winning so, it is better to just have confidence, but not too much though. All right, pep talk over. Time for the first test!
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"Hello, ladies and gentlemen! As you all know, you have gathered here today to watch an event that is practically a tradition now, the Proving! 100 children from around the continent will enter, while only 40 will be successful! Now, time for the very first test! Your first test will be testing your speed and reflexes! You will be trying to catch... Nibhogs!"
What the hell are Nibhogs?!
No, wait. He said that this is a test of speed and reflexes, right? Does that mean that I will have to try to catch things that are like super fast!? Um, well, I guess all of my training is actually going to pay off here.
"We will be releasing 70 Nibhogs into the stadium! You will have to catch one of them and bring them back to one of the instructors that are circling around the stadium. You will all have 20 minutes to do this. So, I wish all of you kids good luck!"
So, 20 minutes to catch a Nibhog and bring it back to one of the instructors. This should be pretty easy if I just focus a lot.
"Ha, just like last time."
"I'll definitely catch one this time."
"I've been training a lot for this moment."
Wait, this is the same as the last Proving?! I don't remember this particular test when I watched it a few years ago. No way. Does that mean that they alternate between tests? Like, the Proving before the one I watched had this one? That means that the ones who failed before will always have the advantage. Makes sense as it would be bad if only the successful knew how to win.
"Now, go!"
I then heard some cages open and the sounds of lots of small creatures scuttling around on the ground. I even felt some brush up against my leg. These things are so small?! And, it seems like they have slimy skin as well!?
No panicking allowed here. Take a few deep breaths and try to focus on where their locations could be. I then start running towards where I think they are and grab one. Uh, this is pretty gross.
No, wait, hey!
It just slipped right through my hands. I can see why many usually prepare for this particular test now.
"And, 15 children have already brought the Nibhogs back. Using their abilities, they were able to think of creative ways to catch these slippery creatures!"
We can use our abilities?! I thought he said that this was testing our speed and reflexes!? Oh well, I might as well use mine as well. I gather the shadows of everyone else present in the stadium and them all into countless small hands. I send these hands into every direction and made them turn into a sphere around anything they encounter.
This will help me efficiently grab Nibhogs without their slimy skin interfering and will also help me get rid of the competition by trapping any kid who gets hit with them. I will release them once I pass this test, of course.
"Oh! And the young Zetranos has just spread black hands everywhere to catch them! What mastery! He is also effectively stopping others from passing the test at the same time! Just marvelous!"
Yes, say more things about my greatness! Never mind. Just focus on passing! I get one of the Nibhogs trapped in my shadow hands and bring them back to one of the instructors. Looks like I was able to pass the very first test.
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Since I was able to pass, I just went back to the resting rooms inside of the stadium, just below the guest seats. I was able to pass pretty easily so, hopefully, the next test will be just as easy. After waiting for a few minutes, I heard the announcer again.
"Alright, time's up! For those of you who weren't able to pass the first test, don't worry as you will be competing against each other in the next test. The ones who passed don't need to participate in the second test as it is just a selection to see who will be taking part in the third test with the passers of the first test."
Oh, so the second test is just to see who are the best of the ones who didn't pass. The best ones will participate in the third test with everyone who passed the first test. I am grateful to the one who decided the rules as it lets me rest more.
"In addition, to those who have passed, please prepare yourselves. Bring all of your best equipment, as long as it is not something that belongs to anyone else. You can use a family member's equipment if you have their permission and the permission of the instructors."
I see.
Then, I'll just shift back home for something I forgot. If I can have any kind of equipment as long as it is mine then, I might as well wear something that is both suitable for battle, as the announcer said that I will need to prepare myself, and something that looks nice. After almost no deliberation, I have decided on what I will wear.
The clothes that Luscia gave me on my birthday. She said that it has all of the colors I said were my favorites so, I am pretty sure that it is a masterpiece. She also said that there was a cape that I can attach to the back so, cool factor, check.
She mentioned that because she knows that I might encounter trouble, she even asked people to put charms on it that would make it resistant to both physical and magical damage. It has battle capabilities so, check. I just need to figure out how to actually wear this first. As for my weapon, Aether should suffice as it is technically mine.
Um, Luscia said that the cape is attached by putting it onto this strap, right? Okay, then, I do this... there! This is the very first time I am wearing the clothes that Luscia gave me. It feels like it does adjust to the user's size as I am pretty sure I have grown since that time. It feels so soft and smooth on the inside. It is hard to think that this thing could probably rival actual armor.
Oh wait, admiration can wait! I need to get back to the stadium! I shift through shadows before I reach one of the entrances.
"And now, time for the third test! This will be a sparring match between everyone who has made it this far! The first match will be between Sir Grocio's eldest son, Uroshi Grocio versus the descendant of the 1st Hero, Alexander Noxien Zetranos!"
Uroshi was the guy who revealed that Kyra was a demon, right? It looks like it is time for me to teach this guy a lesson he really needs. I walk out of the entrance, making sure to look as cool as possible by walking slowly in the wind. Yes, this will definitely get the attention of everyone, especially the ones watching from across the continent.
"So, you decided to show up in those stupid looking clothes? I must warn you though, my ability lets me heal any wounds you may inflict on me in mere minutes. I will win this match."
"First of all, these clothes were made by a beloved friend of mine. Secondly, vengeance will be mine. Lastly, everyone knows you have that power of healing so, how about you run back home and heal from the loss you will suffer right now."
The Art of Comebacks, written by Brutal Kyra. I learned a lot from her. Thank you for all of your lessons. I swear I will restore your honor by beating this guy up!
"Match start!-"
"All right guys. Time to crash this party."
At that moment, I heard the voice of a man. The voice was blood-curdling and it sent shivers down my spine. It made you think of someone who has a much higher authority than you, someone you could never defeat.
I didn't know that the voice belonged to someone I would need to fight in order to fulfill my mission. I didn't know that he would be the reason behind massive problems of he world in the future. The only thing I knew at that moment was that the owner of that voice had unimaginable power. It almost felt like he held more power than even the gods, something I thought was impossible.
It turned out though that it was entirely possible though, as it was the power of his subordinates that caused the chaos and mayhem that followed mere moments after the arrival of his voice that signalled one of the worst tragedies the world had seen since the Great Races War.