I walked out of the elevator and entered the hotel lobby after getting ready for the day. I got a text from Fujo to meet him at the outlook where him and his friends were. I decided to head there and get the day started.
"Whoa!" Esta exclaimed as she tripped down the stairs.
I looked back and noticed Esta on the ground then noticed Freya hurrying down the stairs after her to check up on Esta. I walked over to them and offered my hand to Esta. She looked up at me and smiled with an embarrassed look on her face then took my hand and I helped her up.
"Good morning, Shiryo." Freya smiled at me.
"Y-Yeah...Good morning. Ehh heh heh.." Esta smiled and rubbed the back of her head.
"Good morning ladies. Seems like you're excited about something, Esta." I smiled.
"Yeah! I'm pumped for the next parts of the Entrance Exams! I'm gonna blow everyone out of the water!" Esta nodded and placed her hands on her hips with a determined smile on her face.
"I believe in you. You're the most determined woman I've seen in a while." I smiled.
Esta giggled and blushed, flustered by my words.
"What are you plans today before the exams?" Freya asked.
"Oh I was gonna meet up with my brother and his friends. You two can join if you'd like." I said.
"Yeah! I wanna meet your brother!" Esta said excitedly.
"That'll be a good way to start off the day. Let's go!" Freya smiled.
I nodded and walked ahead, leading the two to my brother and his friends. As we walked together, we looked at our current rankings to see where we were. I was still around the Tier 7 placing, Freya was still around the Tier 9 mark and Esta was still in Tier 10. This, of course, made her want to work even harder. Freya and I gave her words of encouragement and her morale was boosted.
We met up with Fujo and his friends then we greeted him and Fujo smirked at me then wrapped his arm around my neck.
"Oh I see you, lil bro. You come to the city and already picking up chicks? Heh, should've known you would've found yourself some girlfriends." Fujo smirked.
Esta and Freya blushed at his remark. They began explaining quickly on how we were just friends and how we just met.
Fujo laughed at their reactions and let me go. "I know you all are just friends, I'm just teasing. The name's Fujo Inatani, I'm Shiryo's older brother by marriage."
"Oh you're his step brother?" Esta asked.
"Yeah. My dad married his mom and we've been really cool with one another since the first day." Fujo smiled.
"That's really cool!" Esta smiled.
"So gonna introduce your buddies?" I asked.
"Right. Blake and Erin, this is my brother Shiryo. Shiryo this is my buddies Blake and Erin. They are also new recruits for the Royal Army." Fujo said and smiled.
"It's nice to meet you two." I smiled.
"Nice to meet you too." Blake smiled and shook my hand.
"Likewise." Erin giggled softly and shook my hand.
"You all ready to get this day started?" Fujo asked.
"Yeah let's do this!" Esta smiled happily.
The six of us walked off into the city and got our day started off with some breakfast. We walked into a restaurant and my brother paid for the table and the meal. We sat down at a table together and began to chat with one another. Fujo began telling embarrassing stories about me when I was young, causing Freya and Esta to laugh and tease me. I rolled my eyes and got on my phone to see how Shira and the others were doing.
As I was texting Shira, she informed me that she was heading to the city as well to join Fujo in being a knight. That was very different from the Shira in the future who was an adventurer. Seems like I changed something in history and knowing that, I knew she would be more safe.
"Oh Fujo, do you have any tips on how to become stronger? Today is the Lifting and Striking Strength portion of the Exams and uhm...I'm as strong as your average human. I want to prove to myself and everyone that I have what it takes!" Esta said.
"Usually someone would say your strength would come from within, but that is simply an idealist speaking. Your strength comes from the concentration to a singular point, striking strength anyway. Lifting Strength is just how much you can lift, but with the understanding of your aura, you can modify your physical strength and lift things that you normally wouldn't be able to." Fujo explained.
"There's a Technique called Physical Augmentation that helps enhance your physical attributes of yourself by channelling your aura to a specific focal point, so you can potentially boost your strength, speed, defense, stamina, and so on so forth on the physical side anyway." I explained and added to Fujo's statement.
"Oh! Can you teach it to me?" Esta asked.
"Yeah of course. When does your exam start?" Fujo asked.
"12 PM." I said.
"Okay, we should have enough time." Fujo said as he checked the time on his phone.
The waiter came and wrote down our orders then walked off to get the orders. We waited about 10 minutes before getting our food and enjoying the breakfast. After we had our breakfast, Fujo paid the check then we got up and left the restaurant then went to the local gym. Fujo bought a private training room for the next hour and the lessons started.
"Alright to use Physical Augmentation, you must focus your aura into a single point in your body in this case since it is dealing with strength, you focus your power onto your arms." Fujo said then channelled his aura into his arms. A punching bag appeared in front of him and he punched it then a bell rang.
"Whoa..! 6,832." Freya said in awe.
"Wow!" Esta's eyes sparkled as she looked at the number on the screen.
"This technique is all about concentration. Concentrate your aura into a point and release that power you've built up." Fujo said.
Esta nodded then walked up to the punching bag then got in her battle stance. She closed her eyes and her aura surrounded her body. "Concentrate onto one point on your body.." She said to herself and her aura began to shift to her arms.
"That's it, Esta. You've got it now punch the bag!" I said.
Esta opened her eyes and bellowed then punched the punching bag. The bell rang and she looked at the screen and her eyes widened with glee.
"That's it. You've learned Physical Augmentation." Fujo smiled.
Her score was 901, Tier 9-C right on the dot. Esta cheered and hopped up and down and made happy sounds.
"Now this only boosts your physical power by only 20% from your base strength. If you wish for a greater result, you'll have to train your body to reach such results. Now do it again." Fujo smiled.
Esta nodded then started the process once again then struck the bag. She kept striking the bag and although she wasn't getting stronger, she was consistent. I was proud of the consistency of her score. When she concentrated, she could achieve more than she could ever imagine.
"So much progress within just a single lesson. I can tell she's very intelligent as she's able to process this information quickly." Freya smiled.
"Yeah...I am actually proud." I chuckled.
"Let's give them one more to write home about! Give it your all!" Fujo smiled.
"Yeah!" Esta said then got in her battle stance and closed her eyes then she concentrated her aura into her arms. She opened her eyes then her aura grew stronger around her arm. She looked at the bag and bellowed then went for a punch. She punched the bag then the bag broke off the chain and the bell rang.
1,780, Tier 9-A. With max concentration she nearly doubled her score and even destroyed the target. Esta celebrated happily and hopped up and down happily.
"Look out Gideon...Esta isn't going to be a liability anymore with this new technique she learned." I chuckled.
"Looks like that's all the time we have, but I'll buy this room just for you and your friends just in case you need it." Fujo said.
"Right. You're still coming to the exams right?" I asked.
"Of course. I gotta see what you're made of." Fujo smiled.
I nodded and smiled then we left the room to head to the Adventurer's Academy. Fujo and his friends went into the visiting area and watched the exams from there. I, along with Esta and Freya, went where the other future adventurers were.
Gideon looked at us and scoffed. "Seems like you're all buddy buddy with my cousin too."
"Heh, what can I say? The charm's working well." I said.
Freya blushed and rolled her eyes. "Gideon, why do you feel the need to taunt him? Haven't you had enough when he proved to be vastly better than you?"
"No one can be better than Number 1. He's got assistance from his Crest. Crests are like the win for free button, if he can't prove himself without his Crest then he's weaker than me." Gideon said.
"Alright, for this one...I won't even use my Crest." I smirked.
Gideon glared and turned his head. He walked off and placed his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, we will see how far you get without your stupid abilities."
I watched him and crossed my arms. I looked at Freya and she shrugged. We all got into our sections then the direction got on the intercom.
"Welcome future adventurers! This will be the Lifting and Striking Strength portion of the exams! We will be scaling lifting in a way that's fair to everyone. We've all heard of Beyblade correct? Well for the lifting portion of the exam, you will pull this cable which will automatically record your lifting strength. With that said, good luck everyone!" The director said.
The exams started and one by one everyone began to start their Lifting Strength portion. Most of the people averaged around Tier 10-B and Tier 10-A strengths. Some even were strong enough to get to high Tier 9-C.
It was Esta's turn to take the exam and she walked into the room then looked at the cable pulling machine then placed her hand on the handle. She closed her eyes and concentrated her aura to her arms then opened her eyes. She bellowed and pulled the cable then the bell rang.
Gideon looked at the screen and was quite surprised. "What the...967..?"
"Ahem...if you need the translation, that's around 627 Kilograms of force she just accomplished." I said, sounding very proud of Esta.
"Hmph. I'm impressed, but it's still pretty piss poor for my standards." Gideon said.
"How did you think I do?~" Esta asked Freya and smiled then gave her two high fives.
"You did amazing! You surely shocked everyone~" Freya smiled.
"Yes!" Esta giggled.
Freya walked to the room and took her turn on the machine. She placed her hand on the handle then focused. She stomped her foot down and gave a yell as she pulled on the cable. The rope cracked on the ground and her peers were impressed.
1,380 Kilograms or Tier 9-B levels of strength. Freya was a pretty strong gal and she's certain regained my attention that she once had in the future. Freya walked back to Esta and high fived her.
"Hmph. My turn. Allow me to show you what true raw power looks like." Gideon said then walked ahead.
He walked into the room and placed his hand on the handle then pulled the cable with little to no effort and the rope cracked on the wall, chipping the wall a little. The bell rang and his score appeared on the screen.
2,109 kilograms, or Tier 9-B levels of lifting strength. Gideon was exceptionally strong, there was no doubt about it. He could tussle with some of the strongest men in the Royal Army.
"There. No Crest, just pure raw power." Gideon said.
I walked past him and walked into the room. I placed my hand on the handle then closed my eyes. I bulked up my arms and inhaled. I grunted and pulled on the cable, causing the rope to crack the wall. I exhaled and heard the bell ring. I did all I could without the help of a technique and my Crest. I managed to get a score of 3,992 kilograms or Tier 9-B levels of lifting strength.
I walked back to Gideon and looked at him. "Good enough for you?" I asked.
"Hmph." Gideon scoffed.
"Alright! The Lifting Strength portion is over! Now it's time for the Striking Strength! After this we will be done for the day!" The director said.
Like the Lifting Strength portion, everyone began to go in one by one. Most people didn't know about the Physical Augmentation technique so most ended up averaging an 850 at best. The Striking Strength doesn't depend on Lifting Strength so it was away for people to prove how much physical power they had.
Esta was up next and she walked into the room and stood in front of the punching bag. She got into her battle stance and closed her eyes and went into max concentration mode. She opened her eyes and her eyes shined. Her aura surrounded her arms and she began to focus more on keeping her aura within her arms and focused on striking the punching bag as hard as she could. "If I score high enough here...my Tier will raise up higher. Esta come on! Shiryo, Fujo, and Freya believes in you. Strike hard! Give it your all!" Esta hyped herself up and bellowed then punched the punching bag.
The punching bag broke off the chain and went crashing into the wall and the bell rang.
Gideon looked surprised once again and looked at her score. "1,821..? How did she manage a number like that...in only a day..?"
He was shocked by her growth since yesterday she was the lowest ranking person in the exams.
"When Esta concentrates and focuses on the task at hand...she can complete amazing things is what I learned about her. She is a hard worker and it's paid off with a new technique she learned." I said and watched her and Freya. The two celebrated and laughed.
"I refuse to believe that she has that much power within her like that. Because she concentrated also? That's the most bullshit thing I've heard in a long time." Gideon said.
Freya took her turn next and cracked her knuckles then smiled at the punching bag. She rolled her shoulders then punched the bag with a powerful right cross and blew the bag off the chains then the bell rang.
Her score was 2,124, Tier 8-C. Freya was no slacker when she's concentrated as well. Concentration is the main key to pure raw power regardless if using a technique or not.
Gideon took his turn next and slammed his fist against the punching bag, breaking it off the chains. He obtained a 3,988 and his turn was completed.
I took my turn and walked into the room and placed my hand on the punching bag. My arms still hurt from yesterday's Motion Paradox technique, but I knew if I didn't go all out, Gideon would be boasting about how he got a higher score and I didn't want to deal with that. I stomped my foot down and drew back my fist then punched the bag and grunted as my shoulder began to hurt. I closed one eye from the slight pain then watch the bag break off the chain the crash through the wall.
"8,899. Tier 7-B. His numbers also got higher, but I think I found his weakness.." Gideon smirked.
I rolled my shoulder and held it as I walked out of the room. Freya and Esta walked to me and checked up as they noticed I haven't fully healed. I told them I was fine and just needed more time to rest and could take it easy since the rest of the test doesn't require my arms.
Fujo noticed and looked at me. He also noticed Gideon's plotting smirk and stood up.
"That concludes the Lifting and Striking Strength portion of the exams and from there we can wrap it up! Good job future adventurers and tomorrow I hope we all can keep up the good work!" The director said then we were all dismissed. We all left the academy and I walked with Freya and Esta back to the hotel.
"Man, who knew this would happen to me when I struck the bag. Good thing I don't have to worry about hitting anything for a while." I said then smiled.
"Yeah, I'm sure after tonight you'll be fully rested." Freya nodded. "Hey we should hit up the restaurant tonight. The hotel has a diner so we can stop by there."
"Sounds good to me!~" Esta smiled.
"Yeah I'm pretty hungry so let's go." I smiled.
Gideon watched us and followed us secretly. Fujo kept an eye on Gideon and wondered what he was going to do to me.