As the hours passed, the forest echoed with the clash of steel and the roar of elemental magic, each student pushing themselves to their limits in pursuit of victory. Elders watched from the shadows, their eyes keen and watchful.
With keen interest as Lassim intervened to save Sirium from his attackers, their expressions mixed in both shock and curiosity as they witnessed the display of his twin elemental spirits.
"This is unprecedented," murmured one elder, his brow furrowed in consternation. "To think that a student would possess not one, but two elemental spirits..."
"It's unheard of," agreed another, viewing from another position nearby above the trees, his eyes narrowing as he had watched the scene unfold before him. "We must report this to Vice Headmaster Evelyn immediately."
With a sense of urgency, the elders quickly relayed the information to the Vice Headmaster through their bracelets, their voices low as they discussed the implications of what they had witnessed.
Meanwhile, in her chambers, Evelyn received the message with a sense of intrigue, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully as she processed the information.
"So, the rumors were true," she murmured to herself, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "It seems we have a special new student in our midst."
She glanced at the forest through her spirit sense, always spread throughout the mountain at all times, her gaze focusing on the figure of Lassim as he continued his journey deeper into the heart of the forest. She was already closely inspecting Lassim prior to the elders contacting her.
"He shows promise," she mused, her interest piqued by the display of his twin elemental spirits.
"But his sense of justice may prove to be a hindrance."
Nevertheless, Vice Headmaster Evelyn made a mental note to keep a close eye on his progress, her curiosity about him growing with each passing moment.
"If he proves himself worthy," she thought, a plan forming in her mind, "perhaps I will recommend him as a personal disciple to the headmaster. But he is still much too weak at this time. He needs to grow stronger if he hopes to succeed in this academy."
The wheels of her mind turning, "Perhaps I should include that in the rewards this time..."
Pondering her idea, Vice Headmaster Evelyn turned her attention back to her duties, her thoughts consumed by the possibilities that lay ahead for the young student known as Lassim Vanthar.
As the battle raged on in the forest, Lassim found himself immersed in the heat of combat, his senses honed to a razor's edge as he faced off against the elemental beasts that prowled the mountainside.
Despite the danger that diving deeper into the forest risked, Lassim pressed on, his determination strong as he fought with all his might to secure his place in the rankings.
But as the hours ticked by and the sun began to dip below the horizon, Lassim's focus wavered for just a moment, he was checked his jade bracelet for the nearly final rankings and to see the remaining time.
/////
---First Trial Ranking---
1. Lustria Alisone - 124 pts
2. Lassim Vanthar - 123 pts
3. Rygar Wildheart - 117 pts
4. Camie Morcan - 116
...
11. Sirium Giffard - 108 pts
...
----------------------
Time Remaining: 00:10:34
/////
Seeing Sirium's ranking so high gave him a bit of surprise. The image of Sirium, battered and bruised but unbowed, flashed through his mind.
Lassim gave a small smirk, "Seems like my new friend is slightly more powerful than I expected if he's this strong when unhindered by Sun warblers picking at his leftovers."
With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Lassim realized that something was wrong as the forest surrounding him had gone exceedingly quiet. No longer did he hear the sounds of the birds or other forest creatures and no longer did he feel the elemental fluctuations of battles happening nearby.
He had wandered into territory that was far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
Before he could react, a shadowy figure emerged from the underbrush, its form sleek and deadly as it prowled towards him with predatory grace.
Lassim's heart raced as he recognized the creature for what it was—a Night Mind Tiger, one of the most fearsome predators to roam the mountainside.
Its sleek, ebony fur seemed to absorb the surrounding darkness, rendering it nearly invisible in the shadows of the forest.
However, it was not just its physical prowess that sent a chill down Lassim's spine. No, the true terror lay in the creature's eyes and ability to manipulate shadows—piercing orbs of purple light that seemed to radiate with an otherworldly level of intelligence uncommon for wild beasts. With a mere glance, the Night Mind Tiger was known to ensnare its prey, weaving illusions from the shifting shadows to ensnare the mind.
As it drew closer, Lassim felt the weight of its gaze upon him, a hypnotic force that threatened to engulf his senses. He could sense the tendrils of darkness reaching out from the tiger's mind, twisting and warping reality into a nightmarish landscape of fear and confusion.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Lassim summoned forth his halberd, his grip tight and steady as he prepared to face off against the beast.
Miraculously the twin spirits in his halberd sent a shock through their connection, freeing his mind from the hypnosis.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still as Lassim and the Night Mind Tiger locked eyes, their gazes locked in a silent battle of wills.
The Night Mind Tiger suddenly lunged forward with blinding speed, its claws extended and glowing with a touch of the void as it bore down on him with lethal intent, thinking that it had already trapped Lassim in the shadow realm.
With barely had time to react, his muscles strained as he brought his halberd crashing down with all his might.
The blade connected with a resounding clang, the force of the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
Then, with a deafening roar, the Night Mind Tiger violently torn in half, ripped in twain by the force of the halberd's blow. It's halves collapsing to the forest floor.
Breathless, and amazed by his truly lightning quick reflexes that seemed impossible, Lassim stood victorious over his fallen foe, his heart pounding with adrenaline as he surveyed the scene before him.
In that moment, he knew that he had achieved something truly remarkable, something that would surely attract the attention of the academy. He had just slain an SI6 level beast as merely someone halfway through SI1.
Lightning elemental users were known to always be able to fight 2 levels ahead of them, but it seems the power of not only lightning but the combination of water included gave an exponential rise in power. Something completely out of this world and unbelievable to all spirit warriors.
'Surely this won't cause any trouble... right?' Lassim expressed cautiously with a wry mirth.
Regardless, he was had a sense of pride swelling in his chest, Lassim glanced down at his jade bracelet, his eyes widening in disbelief as he saw his ranking displayed before him. The SI6 Night Mind Tiger pushing his ranking through the roof!
///////
---Final Ranking---
1. Lassim Vanthar - 135 pts
2. Lustria Alisone - 124 pts
3. Rygar Wildheart - 117 pts
4. Camie Morcan - 116
...
11. Sirium Giffard - 108 pts
...
----------------------
Time Remaining: 00:00:03
///////
With 3 seconds to spare, he reached first place.
A triumphant smile spread across his face as he realized that he had claimed first place in the rankings, narrowly edging out Lustria by a mere eleven points.
But even as he celebrated his victory, Lassim knew that his journey was far from over. With each passing day, new challenges would arise, new obstacles to overcome.
Ecstatic with his rank, and as the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness descended upon the forest, the trial drew to a close. He made his way safely back to the academy's entrance courtyard.
Students emerged from the trees, their faces streaked with sweat and dirt, their bodies weary but triumphant.
Vice Headmaster Evelyn Nightshade stood waiting at the edge of the clearing, her gaze sweeping over the assembled students with a mixture of pride and satisfaction.
"Well done, young warriors," she declared, her voice ringing out with authority.
"Those of you remaining and uninjured have proven yourselves worthy of the title of Spirit Warriors. Your fellow injured classmates will instead rank at the bottom of this initial test. But remember, this is only the beginning of your journey. The challenges that lie ahead will test you in ways you cannot yet imagine. For those of you upset with your rank, please look forward to our next trail. More details will be given in your classes later. Remember, stay strong, stay vigilant, and never forget the experience fighting these low ranking wild beasts."
"Now, usually we casually provide the top 3 rankers with a prize that they accept from the collection house when they receive their academy martial attire, but I'd like to present the prize for the top 3 winners right away."
Stunning the new students, she continued.
"Behold," Vice Headmaster Evelyn declared, her voice ringing out with authority as she gestured towards a shimmering pedestal that materialized before the gathered students.
"The prizes for the top three winners of the ranking trial!"
As the students looked on in awe, the pedestal began to glow with a brilliant light, revealing three ornate chests adorned with intricate designs and glowing with elemental energy.
"The third-place winner," Evelyn announced, "will receive a set of 40 spirit encouragement potions,."
With a wave of her hand, the lid of the first chest swung open, revealing rows of vials filled with shimmering liquid. Each vial pulsed with color, representing the elemental energies contained within—fire, water, earth, air, and more.
"These potions will grant you a greater speed in the spirit incubation stage," Evelyn explained, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Use them wisely, for they are precious gift."
The wild boy with the beast furs and predatory glare from before the trial, Lassim now recognizing as the 3rd ranker Rygar Wildheart, appeared and collected his goods from the chest and returned back to the crowd.
Next, she turned her attention to the second chest. "The second-place winner," she continued, "will receive a set of ancient scrolls containing a special set of night elemental secret martial techniques passed down through generations of our Myriad Secret Academy. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised miss Alisone. You might even recognize one of the creators." She explained with a wink.
The headmaster's wink sending several boys, already filled with adrenaline from fighting all day, in the crowd into overdrive. Her appeal was just too strong.
With a flourish of her hands, the lid of the chest opened, revealing a collection of beautifully crafted scrolls bound in silk and sealed with wax. Each scroll bore intricate calligraphy and illustrations depicting powerful night elemental bow-user type martial art techniques, from lightning-fast strikes to earth-shattering blows.
Alisone, with her short stature and her cute face, calmly approached the chest to receive her goods. As she turned around, she silently glanced at Lassim, noticing his gaze briefly and giving his a look of frustration, before returning to her previous spot among the crowd.
Finally, Evelyn turned to the third and final chest, her gaze lingering on Lassim as she spoke. "And last but certainly not least, the first-place winner will receive a prize of unparalleled rarity and power for he not only had the highest points but managed to defeat an SI6 Night Mind Tiger as only being a Spirit Incubation level 1 spirit warrior. Remarkable!"
The crowd showing shocked expressions with gasps throughout.
With a dramatic flourish, she opened the lid of the chest, revealing a single, shimmering orb nestled within—a sphere of pure elemental energy, pulsating with a radiant light.
"This," Evelyn proclaimed, her voice echoing with awe, "is the Heart of the Elements—an artifact of immense power said to contain the very essence of the elemental spirits themselves."
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd as the students beheld the wondrous prize before them, their eyes wide with wonder and anticipation about what it does. Most clearly never having heard of such a treasure before.
"With the Heart of the Elements," Evelyn continued, her voice tinged with reverence, "you will be able to channel expand and strengthen your inner heart world, building a stronger vein system connecting to your elemental spirits' weapon, and gain a natural mastery of unparalleled precision and control of your elements. It is a gift beyond measure, bestowed upon only the most worthy of warriors of our Myriad Spirit Academy."
As she spoke, Evelyn's eyes lingered on Lassim, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips. She had been watching him closely throughout the trial, impressed by his skill and determination.
And now, as the first-place winner, he stood poised to receive the greatest prize of all—a prize that would further unlock the depths of his potential as a spirit warrior.
Congratulations to all of our winners," Vice Headmaster Evelyn exclaimed, her voice filled with pride.
"You have proven yourselves to be among the finest spirit warriors in our academy newest batch of first years, and I have no doubt that you will continue to excel in the days and years to come."
She turned to address the entire gathering of students, her gaze sweeping over them with warmth and encouragement.
"Use this trial as motivation to push yourselves further, to strive for greatness in everything you do."
With a final smile, Evelyn raised her arm, gesturing towards the jade bracelets adorning each student's wrist.
"Check your bracelets," she urged. "You will find the location of your cultivation caves, where you will reside for the next seven years. Familiarize yourselves with your schedules, and be sure to arrive on time for your lessons tomorrow."
As the students dispersed to explore their new living quarters and prepare for the challenges that lay ahead, Evelyn watched them go with a sense of pride and anticipation. The ranking trial was just the beginning of their journey, and she couldn't wait to see what the future held in store for each and every one of them. Especially the young master Lassim Vanthar.