Kaiden and his group consisting of Greg, Echo, Rica, Bradley and Belthrox could be seen heading towards a huge circular building with a statue of a humanoid Valorus in front of it. They moved among the other cadets towards the building for the pre-awakening ceremony. They had finished their morning run earlier and gotten a lot of time to rest before the ceremony. From what they knew, it was going to be a duel to test all their capabilities and skills. They finished the other tests four days ago. This was the last obstacle before they awaken.
The atmosphere was filled with nervousness and tenseness as they entered the building which was as big as 2 stadiums combined. There was a huge platform at the center. The ceiling was an open area just like a stadium with stands for spectators numbering in 100,000+. There was also a transparent barrier surrounding the platform with the intention of keeping attacks from flying out from the area of battle if there should be one between awakened. But this was a fight between normal people, so it wasn't that important, but they still kept it activated. Anything could happen.
The building, which was the arena was filled with filled with 1st years, the SLB and the duel supervisors who turned out to be Captain Liam, Captain Lola, Liam's sister, Victor, General Rowan's grandson and Sir Reindolf.
After waiting for everyone to settle down, Captain Liam went up the stage to address the cadets.
"Good day to everyone!" He spoke, his unusually sweet voice resounding loudly in the arena. He had amplified his voice with elemental energy to make it loud and clear to all of them. There was no need for a microphone or speaker.
"I am Captain Liam Raphaels of the 3rd Division Special Corps. Today is the day for the pre-awakening ceremony of the 1st year cadets. As we've been doing since the institute was established, the cadets are going to have mock battles.
Cadets, this will test your speed, strength, perception, stamina, endurance, thinking capacity, wits and wills. This would be important to prepare you for tomorrow's program. Do your best. Fight like your life depends on it, because it actually does and win together.
I hope to see some good seeds among you. I might recommend you for the Special Corps. Good luck!" Captain Liam finished with a salute and vanished from the stage causing the cadets to wonder what his element was.
Next, Captain Lola went up the stage.
"Your battles will go like this. You have at most 10 minutes to finish your battles. If it takes more than that, it will be taken as a draw. The one to land more than 10 hits on his or her opponent will emerge as the winner. You cannot forfeit or surrender. This is a mock battle and a test, what would be the purpose of it if you surrender?
I am Captain Lola Raphaels, and I will be the referee for your battles. The rules are none except, you can't kill your opponent. Let the duels start!"
...
Two cadets stood on a vast stage as wide as a football pitch. One was a guy with white skin and short combed red hair. He had an Asian look, and his eyes were as red as his hair. He had an air of confidence and arrogance around him, a common trait of nobles. The other was a short guy with slightly long black hair and blue eyes. He had tanned skin and bushy eyebrows.
"I'm Nicholas Inferno and I will be your opponent. Rejoice for meeting me." The guy with red hair said with a face filled with pride and arrogance.
"I am Dilian Darkmoon. I'm flattered to entertain you." the other guy said with dull voice like he was bored out of his body, causing Nicholas' face to twitch in anger.
"You! You will reg..."
"Yh, yh. That's what they all say."
"Start!" Captain Lola commanded before Nicholas could retort. She feared the guy would collapse from anger. That's how most nobles were. All arrogant and prideful. There were exceptions though. Like the Arkoniuses and the Oaks. They were normal and treated every person equally.
Nicholas attacked first with a strong and powerful punch downwards on Dilian but Dilian dodged with strange speed and reaction, something unexpected for his small frame. He was like two heads shorter than Nicholas who was almost 6 feet. Turning swiftly, Dilian swung his right leg in a sliding motion. This coupled with the initial feat caught Nicholas off guard. Dilian's leg connected with Nicholas', and he got thrown of his feet on to his butt. Cries of surprise and all kinds of emotions rang out. Dilian had already gotten a point and in less than 60 seconds.
Nicholas got up with an ashamed and embarrassed face, but everyone could see the look of anger he directed at Dilian. Dilian acted like he didn't care, and this got the best of Nicholas as he pounced on Dilian.
"You are like an open book." Dilian chuckled as he jumped to side to dodge the punch sent at his face. He then quickly jumped, and roundhouse kicked Nicholas at the nape as he was still crouched after his attack was rendered useless. Like he had perfectly calculated it, Nicholas raised his head at the last second and the kick connected sending him crushing into the stage, 3 meters from Dilian. All this happened so fast that most cadets failed to see what happened. All they saw was a jumping Dilian and flying Nicholas. Even the instructors were shocked at the battle prowess of the little guy.
The perpetrator of all this, Dilian could be seen walking down the stairs of the stage with his hands in his pockets and a bored face like he didn't just crash a human. Nicholas, the victim, was still lying on the ground, unmoving. Captain Lola checked up on him only to find out that the guy had passed out. All the talk and confidence and pride and arrogance were for naught. He was crashed like an ant by the ruthless savage, Dilian.
Dilian went to sit on his seat and closed his eyes. Whether he was sleeping or what, no one knew but he had won the respect and fear of most of the cadets. The only ones who had no respect for him were the egoistical nobles except for those in Kaiden's group. Even April saw him as another insignificant person, but the instructors thought otherwise.
"Another interesting kid. I wonder what element he would awaken."
"He seems to be bored like no one is worthy to fight him."
"Hehe. He should be. The Darkmoons are not to be messed with. Even the 5 great noble families give them respect. That Inferno kid was just playing with fire, and it burnt him to ashes."
"I wonder how he will fare against Kaiden. He's being tagged as the strongest 1st year."
"I can't wait to see them fight but he's not the only special one among the cadets. We are yet to see the prowess of the rest. We shouldn't be haste in making judgements."
"You are right, but that Dilian kid reminds me of someone..."