It had been a month since Lennox learned how to create a shield. With his general ideas on how to do it, he practiced and made the technique efficient enough that it can be called a shield. At the same time, Nadia was teaching him basic hand-to-hand combat, focusing on boxing. Lennox was grateful for her guidance. She emphasized that while fire attacks were important, close combat skills were valuable, especially because elemental attacks are mostly at a distance.
One day, Lennox was walking through the academy hall and saw several Nexarc students gathered in the courtyard, their eyes fixed on the bulletin board. Pinned to it were the details of the upcoming trial, a challenge designed to test their endurance and establish their ranking within the academy. These Trials of Endurance were a tradition that stirred a mix of fear and determination among the students. Lennox observed from a distance, thinking that it would be a good opportunity for him to prove himself and strengthen his body further. He had been feeling his body growing stronger as he practiced, and he believed this trial could help him improve even more.
The morning sun cast a vibrant glow, filling the air with excitement as Lennox and the other Nexarc participants made their way to the designated trial area. The academy grounds buzzed with activity, students wearing determined expressions, their distinctive bloodline veins glinting in the sunlight. Watchful instructors stood by, their eyes sharp and attentive.
"Welcome, all 1st Grade Nexarc!" shouted an instructor, their voice carrying far and wide. "Today marks the trial of your first assessment."
"For today's trial, we have the Endure challenge," another instructor announced, their tone slightly teasing. "I'm sure you know what that means."
"We don't have much to say," the instructor continued. "Besides. I wish you good luck. Give it your all to secure a good placement. This moment will propel you further on your Nexarc journey."
Lennox pondered, thinking, 'My physical abilities might not be the best, but they should be sufficient for a decent placement.' his heart raced with a mix of anticipation and nerves as everyone approached the starting line of a giant obstacle course. The course sprawled out before them an intricate maze of walls, balance beams, hurdles, and tunnels that required not only agility but also raw physical strength. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as everyone stood there, captivated by the challenge.
Lennox prepared himself, stretching his muscles in anticipation for the physical trial ahead. In a relaxed and ready position, he took a deep breath.
"Go!"
The signal was given, and Lennox sprang into action. He moved with grace, leaping over obstacles, scaling walls with determination, and maneuvering through tight spaces with agility. The course pushed his endurance to the limit, making him fight through fatigue and embrace the burning sensation in his muscles.
On the sidelines, the other Nexarc varied in speed, some moving slowly while others moved quickly. Lennox's eyes lit up as he spotted a set of swinging ropes suspended above a muddy pit. Approaching them, he synchronized his movements with the swinging motion of the ropes. Gripping them firmly, he swung, his body moving in perfect harmony with the pendulum-like motion. With calculated precision, he navigated the swinging ropes, landing safely on the other side of the pit.
Behind him, near the swing ropes, a troublesome teenager occasionally kicked and pushed some of the Nexarc off balance, laughing maliciously. The fallen Nexarc were furious, wanting to chase him down, but he swiftly moved through the swinging ropes, staying out of their reach.
As Lennox progressed through the course, his muscles strained, and fatigue began to take its toll. His breath grew heavy, and his body begged for rest. He reminded himself, "Gotta breathe slower," whispering the words to himself as he tried to control his breathing, taking slow, deep breaths.
Ahead, he saw a massive rotating obstacle that demanded precise timing and agility. Despite the painful sensations coursing through his body, he navigated the rotating challenge with a mix of grace and determination.
Instructors observed Lennox's performance and acknowledged his skills. "This new guy, Lennox, is doing pretty well," they remarked. "He moves swiftly and has impressive endurance. There were moments when it seemed like he might slow down, but he managed to regain control of his breath and momentum."
While some instructors might have hatred toward Lennox, they had to give him credit for his resilience. Despite any curses or challenges he faced, he demonstrated a strong ability to ignore distractions and keep moving forward in his life.
Approaching a tall wall, Lennox noticed several others, known as Nexarcs, climbing up. Some of them fell, screaming on their way down, but surprisingly, they landed on the ground without injury and quickly got back up.
"Man, this wall is really high," Lennox thought, eyeing the towering structure. He glanced down at his hands, reminding himself, "I need to control my strength, not pull too hard." He said it aloud as a reminder, aware that if he exerted too much force, he might exhaust his arm strength.
Climbing up the gray wall, Lennox found small stones protruding for grip. Carefully, he tested each one, gauging if it could support his weight. Using his fingers, he pulled himself up from one stone to another, repeating the process. He occasionally used his foot to anchor himself on a lower stone, ensuring a secure grip.
As Lennox climbed, he moved faster, gaining confidence. However, amidst his ascent, he heard multiple screams and loud thuds below. Glancing down, he witnessed a teenager who had previously kicked a Nexarc off a swinging rope, now repeating his actions on the wall, kicking others and laughing hysterically. Lennox couldn't fathom why the teen found pleasure in slowing down others' progress.
Finally, after a few minutes of intense effort, Lennox reached the top of the wall. He realized he had to sprint towards some hurdles ahead. Observing a few Nexarcs still in front of him, Lennox hatched a mischievous plan. With a cunning and wicked smile on his face, he summoned his last reserves of stamina and sprinted up behind the other Nexarcs.
As the Nexarc noticed Lennox sprinting towards them, panic rippled through the group.
"What is the Emberflayer doing?" one Nexarc cried out in fear.
"Run! It looks like Lennox has gone crazy!" another shouted, their voices filled with terror.
While Lennox continued his pursuit, the instructors watched with growing concern.
"What is Lennox doing?" one of them asked, their brows furrowed in worry.
"It looks like he's about to attack them," another replied.
"Should we intervene?" someone else questioned.
"Don't you dare intervene," Nadia whi was listening the side snapped, her voice sharp and firm. "Unless you want to face my wrath."
The instructors backed away, realizing they couldn't challenge Nadia The Fire Blood. In her mind, she understood Lennox's motive. 'Hope you enjoy this, because they deserve it,' she thought, her gaze steady.
Meanwhile, amidst the chaos, laughter echoed from a distance. Lennox, observing the confusion he had caused, noticed some Nexarc bumping into each other as they fled. An idea sparked in his mind.
"Hehe! I'm coming to get you and take your power!" Lennox declared with a slightly eerie tone, his laughter ringing out, sending shivers down the spines of those who heard him.
The Nexarc glanced back at Lennox, fear in their eyes. "He's a demon! Run!" they screamed, sprinting faster. In their haste, they pushed each other, causing a chaotic domino effect. Soon, they were all tangled on the ground, hindering each other while Lennox smoothly moved past them.
"Haha, suckers!" Lennox chuckled inwardly, accelerating. On the side, Nadia watched, her laughter chiming softly, her amusement bewildering the other instructors as she had never been seen laughing before or around anyone because of her procaly reputation of being the current strongest in the acaemy.
Approaching the hurdles, some Nexarc attempting to jump them noticed Lennox closing in and panicked, tripping over the obstacles in their haste. With a burst of energy, Lennox vaulted over the final hurdle and dashed toward the finish line. he felt a surge of exhilaration as he crossed the finish line, met with cheers and applause from both students and instructors who had gathered to witness the trial.
The arena buzzed with tension as the final trial concluded, leaving a hushed silence in its wake. Lennox stood amidst the fading energies of their accomplishment, his heart pounding with a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation. Instructors exchanged nods and glances, their expressions unreadable as they withdrew to deliberate on the results of the Trials of Endurance.
Whispers circulated among the gathered students, each eagerly speculating on who had excelled and who had stumbled.
Time seemed to stretch as the instructors' deliberations continued, Lennox nerves heightened by the weight of the moment. Everyone exchanged glances with fellow students, acknowledging the camaraderie that had formed amidst the trials.
At last, the head instructor stepped forward, their presence commanding attention. The arena fell silent, all eyes fixed on the instructor's lips as they began to announce the results one by one, revealing the rankings of the students who had participated in the trial.
"Second Place, Theo Sangre!"
Lennox's heart raced, and his hands clenched at their sides as he waited for his own name to be called. The seconds stretched into moments, and just as doubt began to creep in, the instructor's voice carried across the arena.
"And for their exemplary performance, demonstrating mastery over diverse bloodline abilities and exceptional adaptability..."
The moment hung suspended in time, a breathless pause before the name was spoken.
"Lennox he Ranks among the top within this trial."
Lennox name reverberated through the arena, met with applause and cheers from instructors, fellow students, his eyes shone with a mixture of relief and accomplishment as everyone realized the depth of his growth and the recognition he had earned.
With a grateful smile, Lennox took a deep breath, and walked upon the stage to receive the reward for coming in first place.
"This is a Pyroclasm cloak" The instruction handed Lennox a black soft cloth cloak"It add defense against fire attacks"
'It give better defense...but it feels so soft'Lennox thought as the cloak felt soft as cotton.