After the encounter with the goblins at the ruins Gojo kept up his training in order to level up. He also took part in various quests from the adventurers guild like escorting merchants and gathering herbs. Occasionally he would go out of the city to the nearby forests to fight demon beasts.
Two whole years passed. The current levels of Gojo's stats were as follows :
Lapse blue technique : Level 8
Infinity : Level 8
Reverse red : Level 7
Six eyes : Level 7
Levitation : Level 3
Reverse curse technique : Level 7
Appraisal eyes : Level 4
Master in hand to hand combat
Black flash
After level seven it was very hard to get the level up. He had level up and acquire hollow purple soon enough. But before all that he had to get promoted to a higher rank in order to kill bigger monsters.
Fortunately for him, he didn't have to wait long. One day when he and Grisella returned from a quest they had just finished when the receptionist called them and gestured them to go towards her.
" Well, you two will be able to take part in the rank promotion examination this year it seems. Miss Lilian came back a week ago and she heard about the adventures of you two. She hot impressed and did a background check of the quests you took and recommended your names for the rank promotion examination to the guild master. " the receptionist said.
" If you wish to take part in the rank promotion examination, then fill up this application form. " she further said and handed each of them the forms.
The rank promotion examination was a very rare chance for the both of them. It was held every four years so they both decided to apply. It was two weeks from now.
For those two weeks they trained and enhanced their techniques. Finally the day of the examination came.
All the candidates who were to take part in the rank promotion examination gathered at a clearing located to the south of Geradin. In the clearing stood a large cabin surrounded by a fence made out of wood. A total of twenty four participants had gathered there for the examination.
As the candidates chatted among themselves, the door of the cabin opened and from inside came out two receptionists belonging to the adventurers guild. They were followed by a large man with browm hair wearing a light armour and carrying a large sword.
The large man spoke " I hope all of you came prepared for this examination. I am Lars, the guild master of the guild of Geradin. All of you will face a lot hurdles during the test. Wish you people success. "
According to the rules, three orbs of different colors would be placed at three different places. The adventurers will be divided into groups of three. The adventurer groups that manage to get any one of the orbs will get promoted from E rank to D rank.
All the participants wre given a map with the locations of the orbs demarcated. Obviously there will be traps all along the way. Arrangements were made so that no one gets killed during the examination.
As all the participants started forming their own groups, Gojo and Grisella looked around to see if there was anyone they familiar with but found no one. The other participants started leaving in groups of three people.
Then, the both of them noticed a short figure standing away from the participants wearing a green cape. On closer inspection they saw that it was a male wood elf standing there. They walked up to him.
" Will you join us ? We are short one member so if you wish you can join us. " said Gojo.
The wood elf looked around and nodded back at them.
Soon the three of them entered the forests. Due to the dense forests they often took wrong paths as they tried to reach the orbs. Gojo used levitation and the elf climbed up some trees to bring them back in the right path.
As they were going Gojo felt something wrong and then the wood elf grabbed the two of them.
" We almost stepped on a trap. We have to be more alert. " the elf said.
This was the first time he spoke to them. His voice was pretty feminine just like his appearance. Gojo noticed in the path ahead hidden beneath a lot of leaves, a net glistening in sunlight. Due to Gojo's six eyes and the high perception of the elf the trio managed to avoid many traps.
As they advanced along the path they took, they came across two treasure boxes. Both looked identical. Before he could prevent her, Grisella rushed and grabbed one of the boxes. It turned out to be a mimic and it attacked her.
Grisella tried to get away from the mimic, but it used it's tongue to capture her. Gojo rushed towards the mimic and used reverse red at it. However it dodged his attack. Gojo then used lapse blue to twist the tongue and tear it apart.
As soon as it's tongue got torn, the mimic immediately attacked Gojo. It grew another tongue and tried to get him but he ran at the top speed towards it. Grabbing hold of the tongue he used reverse red to blow it into pieces. After defeating the mimic all three of them turned their attention towards the other box.
As soon as they were about to grab the other box a figure in black appeared through the bushes and grabbed it. The figure disappeared in the bushes behind them. The three of them followed the figure.
After chasing the figure for sometime the figure stopped in front of a tree. Now they could see a teenager in black clothes standing in front of them. They advanced to acquire the box. However it was an ambush.
Out of the nearby bushes emerged a mage and sword warrior and the battle commenced. Gojo moved fast and caught up to the black clothed teenager and knocked him out. The elf managed to overpower the mage while Grisella defeated the sword warrior.
Now with a box in their hands they returned to the cabin. The three of them were later promoted to rank D. However Gojo and Grisella didn't get to know more about the elf adventurer who assisted them during the examination.