Ding! [The Queen's Choice Trial is about to begin]
Shaana found herself seated on a throne with several people watching her intently.
"My queen, as the new sovereign on the throne, you must, by tradition, choose your royal guard from among these soldiers!" An elderly man knelt and shouted, his tone seemingly angry.
With the trial's title added to what the old man just said, Shaana understood that her entire trial rested entirely on this choice. She stood up and spoke with a dignified voice, "I will make my selection."
The old man, as if struck by lightning, looked at Shaana and then smiled broadly with adoration, "You have finally chosen to be reasonable, my Queen!"
She observed the teams, and there were about ten groups, but a few caught her attention.
The first team, like all the others, had only one member kneeling on the left with a visible face, while the others wore either masks or clothes. They were warriors in white armor, well-built with long white hair, emitting a sacred aura.
The second team was quite the opposite; they were dark and discreet, with unconventional weapons like whips and sickles.
The third team had armor of different colors, all scaled with horns on their helmets, exuding a sense of power that no other team possessed.
And finally, the last team that caught Shaana's eye was a ragtag group. The first member, the only one with a visible face, wore a crown on his head and bloody bandages on his body. He had white hair, and his eyes exuded ambition. The second, with a veiled face, wore blood-red armor and carried a sword with a sheath adorned with several precious stones. The third had armor as dark as an abyss, reflecting nothing as if it were not metal, and held a scale in one hand, and the last was entirely veiled, but a greenish armor could be glimpsed.
"Queen Shaana, allow me to present to you the teams: the Saints, the Shadows, Dragon Hunters, and a team known for foretelling bad omens," he said, casting a dark glance at the last team.
The saint knight with the uncovered face stood up and saluted Shaana, "Queen Shaana, I am Rael, representing my team built to eradicate all evil and heresy from this world!"
Shaana nodded and gestured to the second team. The shadow knight with the uncovered face stood up in turn, "We are the royal blade, operating in the shadows; we are elusive."
"Not bad, this sense of empowerment," she thought, gesturing to the third team.
"I am Buldr, the captain, and each of us seeks the pinnacle of power! We each have a connection to a chromatic dragon."
Dragon!! That mythical creature is supposed to be the supreme being. It is said that the King-tier creature ruling the Amazon forest is a lizard with a lineage of awakened dragons!
She swallowed hard, thinking about the strength of a real dragon.
The man with long white hair stood up and looked Shaana in the eyes, smiling, "I am Alekto, the Sovereign of Hearts, bearer of the Conquest Crown. Where I tread, passions awaken, desires come to life, weaving empires in the most intimate corners of the soul. I am the force that shapes destinies, guiding hearts towards greatness and eternal bliss."
Shaana shuddered. "Unlike the others, he looks me in the eyes! My status doesn't matter to him," she thought as she pondered her choice and asked a question.
"Why are you called the team that foretells bad omens?"
"Ahahaha, Lady Shaana, that's a very good question," he paused, straightened his back, spread his arms, and raised his voice, "because no victory is achieved without the toll of blood and tears. Look at my bandages, soaked in sacrifice, my hands marked by battle. Every drop spilled, every pain endured, is the price paid to protect those who have bowed their heads before the Crown of Conquest. In the shadows of sacrifice, the path to greatness emerges, where the noblest hearts find refuge."
Shaana always believed in her instincts since childhood, and here her instinct told her that the first two teams were the wrong path for her. The dragon team would help her survive outside the bastion, and the last unusual team would best leverage her semi-stigma, which, in exchange for her physical and mental endurance, could accelerate the regeneration of a person countless times.
"Very well," she returned to the throne and looked at the teams.
Ding! [Please make your choice]
"I choose the team of bad omens!"
Ding! [Nonexistent team]
"What!" Shaana looked at the old man and then at the knight with the crown. "What is the name of your team?"
Alekto looked at the queen and bowed, "We are the Knights of the Apocalypse, my dear Shaana."
Ding! [Choice made: Knights of the Apocalypse]
Shaana saw the world turn white, then..
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Name - Shaana Mitri
Stigma:
Name - Witch of The Apocalypse
Type - Special
Rank - White
- Crown of Conquest (White) -
Shaana summons the crown of conquest on her head, allowing her to heal:
- Single target - corresponding mana expenditure
- Group Target - Expenditure of mana and endurance
Statistics : lvl1
- Spiritual Strength: 5
- Physical Strength: 1
Mana Exercise: -
[Bronze promotion condition: lvl 10 + ???]
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***
Nikito suddenly found himself immersed in thick darkness, the only light coming from a faint glow emanating from a flickering oil lamp placed on a worn wooden table. Around him, cards were laid out meticulously, each representing a unique and mysterious world.
Ding! [Personality Choice Trial! Please take only one card in hand]
He was surprised by the invitation and being naturally cautious, he carefully observed each card.
The first card was made of yellowed parchment, its frayed edges bearing witness to the numerous adventures it had been through. In the center, an enigmatic symbol engraved in gold shimmered faintly. Enigmatic words were inscribed in cursive letters, almost seeming to vibrate with a life of their own.
The next card was of striking contrast, made of smooth, silvery material, almost like liquid metal frozen in time. Complex and elegant runes stretched across its surface.
Another card, smaller than the previous ones, was entirely black, but it seemed to shine with an inner glow, revealing strange constellations and memories of Nikito he had never seen before.
On a neighboring card, strange symbols emitted an aura of magic,
each line and curve seeming to dance in a golden glow. The words were inscribed in elaborate calligraphy.
"They're all so flashy..." Nikito bit his lip, feeling inclined towards something more understated due to his nature, rejecting anything too ostentatious.
After a few minutes of observing and analyzing every detail of the cards, he came across one card that he examined with particular attention.
The card was strikingly simple, its deep black contrasting with a captivating central spiral, and from that spiral, moving silhouettes seemed to dance in the darkness.
He observed it for a moment longer and then looked away to observe the rest.
After several rounds of observing each card, his gaze couldn't help but return to the understated card that didn't catch the eye.
He reached out his hand and retracted it before touching the card: "I don't know..."
He remained in this position for a few seconds before ruffling his hair and complaining, "Stop overthinking it, Nikito. I have no clue what I'm doing; there are absolutely no hints!"
He grabbed the card, and at that moment, it transformed into a spiral where he was sucked in.
***
In a completely black world, Nikito stood up and observed the four walls made of rotating shadow, which enclosed him, but strangely he felt neither discomfort nor had any problem seeing despite the lack of a light source.
"Here, you will be safe from all eyes," a childish voice echoed.
Nikito squinted, "Who are you?"
"You," the voice sounded mischievous.
Nikito became even more suspicious.
"What do you m..."
"What do you m..."
The childish voice spoke at the same time as him.
"There's no more time... I am your Shadow; become stronger, and we can talk more and not feel alone anymore. For now, I'll lend you my room," the childish voice faded away, and an invitation appeared.
Ding! [Card Choice: Friends of the Shadow]
And the darkness engulfed him.
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Name - Nikito Ayuzawa
Stigma:
Name - Shadow Friends
Type - Elemental
Rank - White
- Shadow Room (White)-
Allows to have a room of 2m² in the shadows, all shadows in which he enters lead to this room, he cannot bring anything living, and the exit is the same as the one he entered
Statistics:
- Spiritual Strength: 4
- Physical Strength: 3
Mana Exercise: -
[Bronze promotion condition: lvl 10 + ??? ]
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