I leaned against the balcony of the outlook and stared into the distance, watching the train run by. I noticed Fujo stand beside me and also looked out into the open.
"You know...Within a few short days, I'm already about to become an adventurer and travel the vast universe. It is said that today...will be the easiest day and that it will only take about two or three hours and because of that, I wanna ask something of you." I said.
"What's that?" Fujo asked.
"Freya texted me that Gideon plans to fight me today. I want you to referee the fight. I have no idea how far Gideon plans to go, but...I don't want to hurt him too badly." I said.
"This'll be your first actual fight. Are you sure?" Fujo asked.
"Yeah. I'm sure." I nodded.
Fujo ruffled my hair. "Alright. But you owe me."
"Pshh...alright." I smiled.
I checked the time and decided to head off to the Adventurer's Academy. I walked in and met up with Esta and the others. Freya grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side.
"You didn't answer my text, are you really going to fight him?" Freya asked.
"Yes. It's either now or never. If I refuse to fight him, he will call me weak. I'd rather fight and him and gain his respect than run away. The actual battlefield and an exam are two different things. For all I know, he could be holding back." I said then looked at Gideon. I looked back at Freya. "Besides the official announcement said they were going to use our Durability scores as stamina since they work pretty much the same in the exams. After this, I know he's going to want to fight. Has he set a location?"
"Yeah, there's an arena here at the academy. Gide plans to use that arena if he has permission by the director." Freya answered.
"Alright. This shouldn't take no more than two or three hours since we are all getting our IQ scanned and the system has to process who is qualified and who isn't." I said.
Freya nodded then the director got on the intercom.
"Alright, everyone! Today is the last day and we have only one test! The easiest test in the exam is the IQ scanner. It's only going to take a minute as the machine will scan your IQ and Battle IQ then add the sum and divide them by two. After that your official Tier will be recorded and from there we will hand out the licenses to those who made the cut! With that said let the exam begin!" The director said.
Everyone went into their groups and began to get their IQs scanned. Most averaged a basic Tier 10-A IQ since most of the peers didn't have much battle experience. Esta went into the room and the Scanner Robot scanned her IQ and Battle IQ.
"IQ, 1,279. Battle IQ, 1,078. IQ scanned. 1,179 IQ Overall. Overall Tier: Tier 9-B. Overall score: 1415." The Scanner Robot said.
"Yes!" Esta said then got out the room and walked out of the room with confidence.
"Good job!~" Freya smiled and high fived Esta.
"Thank you!~" Esta smiled.
Takame walked into the room and under went the same process as Esta.
"IQ, 2,300. Battle IQ, 1,379. 1,840 IQ Overall. Overall Tier: Tier 8-A. Overall Score: 3,210." The Scanner Robot said.
"Wow, her tier went up because of her IQ and the Stamina scores." Esta said.
"She's very durable and intelligent." Freya nodded. "Well it's my turn."
Freya walked into the room and the Scanner Robot began to scan her IQ.
"IQ, 2,120. Battle IQ, 2,678. 2,399 IQ Overall. Overall Tier: Tier 8-B. Overall Score: 2,952." The Scanner Robot said.
Freya walked out the room and smiled at Esta. "I could've been Tier 8-A but my Stamina and Durability scores were a tad too low."
"It's alright, your battle IQ got you into a higher tier!~" Esta smiled.
"Yeah." Freya smiled and nodded.
Gideon walked into the room and the Scanner Robot began to scan his IQ.
"IQ, 3,003. Battle IQ, 4,219. 3,611 IQ Overall. Overall Tier: Tier 7-C. Overall Score: 5,583." The Scanner Robot said.
"He's really smart huh." Esta said.
"Yeah. He is. He was number one in our old academy." Freya said.
I walked in the room and looked at the robot. I closed my eyes and tried to hide my real IQ the best I could. The Scanner Robot began to scan my IQ.
"IQ, 5,129. Battle IQ..." The Scanner Robot said.
"Hm...I guess keeping your experience wasn't a very good idea was it? Because your Battle IQ is over 9,000,001. Here. I will do an Illusive Memory trick in you sonthe Robot won't expose you." Alethea said.
"...5,000." The Scanner Robot said.
"Why did the Scanner Robot hesitate..?" The director asked himself.
"You are the smartest man here, but we can't have everyone knowing how smart you truly are." Alethea said.
"5,065 IQ Overall. Overall Tier: Tier 7-B. Overall Score: 7,488." The Scanner Robot said.
I walked out of the room and looked at everyone. The exams were finally done. We all went to the academy gym to wait for our Adventurer's License to be made. As we waited, the Director came out and walked on the stage.
"Greetings Adventurers! I am pleased to announce that you all have finished the Entrance Exams and for those who wish to heighten their abilities, you are free to join our paid classes for extra lessons! You all have worked very hard for this moment and the results show! Now onto those who passed their exams. We will start with the Top 5 on the list! Number 5, Esta Yelbella!" The director said.
Esta stood up and happily hurried down the isle then tripped and faceplanted on the ground.
"And there's the old Esta." I chuckled.
Esta got up quickly and rubbed her face. She hurried up the stairs then got her Adventurer's License. She smiled and went back to her seat.
"Number 4 is Freya Yelbella." The director said.
Freya stood up and some of the guys were cheering for her. Freya walked up to the stage and got her license then went back to her seat.
"Number 3 is Takame Iku." The director said.
Takame stood up and shyly walked onto the stage then got her license. She quickly went back to her seat.
"Number 2 is Gideon Owen." The director said.
Gideon stood up and walked to the stage then got his card and went back to his seat.
"Number 1 is Shiryo Ragnarok." The director said.
I stood up and walked to the stage. Gideon's and my roles were reversed. He was number 1 and I was in second. I got my license and looked at it then closed my eyes. I smiled and headed back to my seat. The others who passed got their license as well and after everything was passed out the Director made an announcement.
"Be sure to be safe out there on your Adventures. You will never know who or what is truly out there." The director said.
"Director!" Gideon stood up.
"Yes?" The director asked and looked at Gideon.
"If I may, I would like to host an official battle today. Me against Shiryo!" Gideon said.
The people in the gym began to murmur and gossip amongst themselves. The director looked at Gideon and at me then smirked.
"I will allow it. In fact I'll be more than happy to broadcast the battle to even the Royal Castle of Gesian. Allow the Princess to see a good show." The director said then adjusted his mask.
I looked at the Director and knew he was plotting something. The director was a lot more bold now than he was back then. I couldn't really tell what he was plotting, but I had to find out.
"Good, I would like to host it right now. I need to finish this business now. Any later and my mind won't stop thinking about it." Gideon said.
"Fair enough." The director said. He clapped his hands and we all warped to the academy's arena and those who weren't fighting was sitting in the audience section.
I landed on one knee then stood up and looked around. There was a big screen above us showing the battle to the entire audience. This would be where Gideon showcases what he can really do and how he truly thinks in battle.
Fujo watched and glared. "What problem does this guy have against my brother..?"
An announcer got on the mic and expressed his enthusiasm to see a fight in the arena again. "Welcome adventurers! For the first time in a long time there is a fight in the Gesian Academy Arena! Prepare to have your socks blown off because I know this will be a good one!"
"What is your problem with me Gideon? Is it because you can't be number one? Is that the issue?" I asked.
"Hmph. I spent my entire life training and working to be the top. Like hell will I ever accept such defeat from a loser like you! I know your weakness. Your body can't handle such techniques and because of that, I'll make you use every trick in the book and blow you away in a single blow." Gideon said.
"Is that so?" I asked and placed my hands in my pockets then my eyes shined. "Well...newsflash, Gideon, I have been holding back as well and I won't let you win at all."
The buzzer sounded off and the words begin showed up on the screen.
Gideon dashed to me and summoned his sword then thrusted his sword at me. I dodged the attack then punched his stomach then he groaned. I struck him with a pressure strike and caused him to roll backwards. Gideon recovered on one knee then looked up at me. He vanished and appeared in front of me at high speeds. He swung his sword at me and I dodged him again then used my Motion Paradox to strike him 300 times in one second. Gideon groaned and coughed then groaned when I struck him with a tornado roundhouse kick. His body spun horizontally and he crashed into the ground.
I grunted softly and felt my body becoming a bit tense. I noticed Gideon getting up and he chuckled softly, wiping his lip.
"Yeah...just like that. I know you want to end this fight as quickly as possible, but after seeing Esta use her little technique...I decided to learn it myself. My defenses are boosted so such to where I can endure as many hits as it takes to wear you down." Gideon smirked.
"He learned the Physical Augmentation..?" Esta asked in shock.
"Gideon has a knack of learning techniques he deems good enough for him." Freya said.
"You can't overuse these abilities. You need a different approach. You have a way higher stamina than him. If he wants to make this a battle of endurance them make it that." Alethea said.
I nodded then dashed towards Gideon then went for a barrage of strikes. Gideon blocked the attacks then palmed my stomach and I grunted softly. I grabbed his wrist then pulled him to me and struck him with a lariat then bellowed and sent him crashing towards a wall. Gideon got up and smirked. He looked at me and walked ahead. He dashed to me and was a lot faster than normal. I went to attack him then groaned as he struck me with his Flash Strike. He struck my body 150 times before kicking me away. I groaned then recovered off one hand then looked looked surprised when he appeared in front of me.
'His augmentation is at 30%...My body can't go any faster without my own augmentation...and the Crest of Deviation is too dangerous to use..' I thought to myself.
"Now you're finished!" Gideon laughed and rapidly struck my body with powerful blows. He knocked me in the air then surrounded his fist with black and red aura. "Black...Fissure!"
He struck my body with a palm and created a pulse like wave that blew me away. I crashed into a wall and a large smoke cloud formed. He exhaled and smirked. His eyes shined and he watched the smoke clear.
"Is Shiryo down for the count?! That was Gideon's famous Black Fissure attack! It is said that attack can cause internal damage and even paralyze a foe!" The announcer said.
The smoke cloud cleared and I was standing up then the Crest of Absence shined on my hand.
"What's this?! A Second Crest?!" The announcer said in shock.
"The Crest of Absence..?!" Gideon glared at me and clenched his fists.
I fell to one knee and felt weaker. When using the Crest of Absence, I sacrifice life force in place of the damage I would've taken to leave my body unfazed. It is a fair trade taken Ain is the God of the Void.
"Shiryo is still up! He completely tanked the Black Fissure!" The announcer said.
I slowly stood up and took a deep breath. I performed a hand gesture then Fujo looked surprised. "Ragnarok State...30%..." I said then my aura surged powerfully.
"30%?!" Fujo said.
"He just got so much stronger!" Esta said in awe.
"Where did this power come from..?" Gideon asked. "He shouldn't be able to stand because of his drawbacks!"
"That's where you're wrong..! Because with this, I'll gain all of my strength back!" I said then summoned an apple and infused it with recovery magic. I ate the apple and gained my life force back then looked at Gideon. "Ragnarok State...40%!"
Blue and purple surrounded my body along with my dark red aura. High winds blew and Gideon shielded his face from the debris that was flying around.
"Now...! Ragnarok...State...FIFTY PERCENT!" I bellowed and my aura grew even stronger.
"Shiryo!" Fujo yelled.
I dashed to Gideon then vanished. Gideon looked surprised then groaned as he was struck with a barrage of attacks then was sent flying in the air. I appeared above him and used Motion Paradox once more and struck him again with another barrage of attacks, sending him crashing back to the ground.
I held my hand out towards him and bellowed. A ball of Ragnarok Energy appeared in front of my hand. "Ragnabeam!" I fired a massive beam of energy at him and bellowed.
Gideon could barely stand up and looked up then noticed the beam and looked surprised. An explosion happen and the audience looked surprised. I groaned as my body forced me to exit my Ragnarok State and I began to descend to the ground. The smoke cleared and Gideon was down for the count. I panted as I laid on the ground then raised my fist in the air.
"And the winner is Shiryo!" The announcer yelled and the audience cheered loudly.
"He won!" Esta said excitedly.
Freya was surprised a bit as she looked at me. "He beat Gideon and Gideon was actually trying.."
"So strong.." Takame said and watched.
"He survived 50% of the Ragnarok State...Mom would be extremely proud.." Fujo smiled and stood up.
I closed my ehest and lowered my hand. I was exhausted, but glad that I won. It was history changing, and finally I'm one step closer to preventing Gideon from being an enemy. I soon passed out from exhaustion.
An hour passed and I opened my eyes to see myself in the infirmary on a hospital bed. I looked over and noticed Gideon laying in a hospital bed as well.
"Finally awake I see." Gideon said.
"Heh, I could say the same." I said.
"It seems I lost in an actual fight against you. I haven't lost against anyone in so long, but this lost feels different almost humbling. To be outmatched undeniably pisses me off, but...it kinda allows me to see where I can improve." Gideon said.
I looked at Gideon then smiled. Freya and Esta hurried into the room and noticed we were awake. They checked up on us and we assured them that we were fine. Takame shyly entered the room as well and came to check up on me. An eye formed from ink stared at me and I looked at the eye. The eye disappeared and I was more curious about the eye. The five of us chatted until the end of the night and this...is where our legacy as the Heroes of the Divine begins.