Xavier reached out his hand. Appearing slowly, yet it truly moved quickly.
He lightly grasped, a dense magma seemed too fog up the area around Rice. Before Rice toppled, his illusionary skill was naturally resisted, his soul chains were destroyed outright. His forest of chains were Shattered and the hellfire was dispersed. All the while the pressure was quatupled.
Rice fainted on the spot, had Xavier been merciless. He would have exploded into blood mist!
However this was not battle. It was a test, and he felt satisfactory of Rice's achievement.
In fact during the test when he first released his aura, five of the three stars fainted. They were too slow to the punch. Not perceptive to the atmosphere and situation.
Then process of resisting the aura actually qualified nineteen of the candidates to be considered three letter. Which told him either those five were playing jokes, or they actaully werent three letters yet. Maybe by name.
Not by skill.
No others fell as the aura increased gradually. In fact some enacted their energy early and others waited with justified caution.
He nodded at them.
Of course they were none the wiser to his gesture.
And now when he told them to challenge him. Another eight were dropped. Not by his words, but rather the sudden increase to the aura.
He noticed a man named "Rice" was slowly buckling. He paid some interest. His eyes could perceive alot in ones body. Especially fellow hellrazers.
This man was like a bomb. gathering energy at the behest of more strain on the body.
Ho?
Rahhh!
Unknowingly Rice let out a roar. He himself didnt seem to hear it. Xavier did, and he saw a serious of skills bombard him.
He took the most direct route to challenge!
Xavier wanted to laugh. There has been a few who have done this. these test take place every five years. Sometimes the candidate, or multiple.. would attack with everything they have.
He enjoyed these moments. Because it told him these individuals, had strong minds, stronger wills.
That said Rice has swelled up his energy and let it out like a beam cannon. So Xavier promptly put a stop to that by releasing his restrictions and knocking him out.
He turned to the others. If we included Rice, nine had dropped. Rice was a different case so he didnt get a bad review. Everyone was about to join him in that regard.
Nine.. so ten left.
Seven glared at him, if stares could mince meat. He would be mush. He grinned and stared back.Ch"i said Challenge me.. not message my shoulders with your glares.. hmm you have ten seconds."
even when several attacks were launched against him he did not cease his words. Simply because he told this to the Seven who were puzzled by his words. Not the three that had already comited to attacking him and were gathering up their energies. Almost like Rice did.
These three were "Lulu, Dasher, and Yip."
All three released a serious of attacks that were canceled and they were dropped like flies.
Not even a split second had passed from the time their attacks were launched to the time they dropped.
Xavier nodded again. This year didn't have bad results.
He did tell them that this wasn't voluntary and it was to quickly strengthen their ranks. Well that wasnt entirely false. They did this every five years. Surprisingly not alot of three letters wanted promotions. So they had to force it to spur then on.
That said, there really was somw trouble brewing in the back. There has been for a while, but his premonition told him things are gonan kick off real soon. So they need some real soldiers.
Four letters were considered soldiers. three letters were henchmen and everyone below that were like dogs or greenhorns.
That system maybe a little degrading, but it was actaully the secret official names. They just never say it.
Four letters were the real ones. their mid class, dont let six letters fool you, if your a three letter. That doesn't mean your half way. It means your on the threshold of being considered out of basic training.
Anywho. Out of the remaining seven only two fought back and got dropped. The rest dared not. Allowing fear to make their judgement. Tsk.. cowards.
He waved his hand. Sending them flying back, turning the remainers into blood mist and hellfire.
"We dont need cowards in our ranks.."
He hissed.
A necessary evil, for the good of the Hellrazers. No cowards are allowed. Perhaps he needed to step out of hell and purge the three letter ranks..
Mm..
Something to consider..
Rice woke up, he blinked his eyes. "Did I lose?"
Yeniver chuckled. "No, you finished. Now stand back up."
Rice didnt refute he found himself back on his feet. Now his eyes like the rest in the chamber met Xavier.
And he smiled brightly. "There you go. Thats more like it, now only six of you remain." He may have killed five hellrazers, those cowards.. but the rest were sent out. They didn't qualify for this conversation.
"You have passed, and now your fourth letter will be applied by your bosses. Your apart of the new generation. Lets see.."
Xavier glanced to the side for a moment.
"Yes.. okay, you are apart of a battle group of twenty three counting yourselves. You'll be sent deeper into hell to rebuild yourselves and make new skills. I will be your instructor in this regard."
Xavier said as if he was a fellow man amongst them. In the ranks of the Hellrazers. Four is soldier, five is captain and six is commander. amongst five and six letters hardly half a thousand are in the rank. Which is alot less than most. As for four letter. Given one four letter can control alot of three letters. Well they aren't all that many either.
Every five years a test is held. Between seven spires. This time only twenty three including Rice and his new friends. passed. Unfortunately four letters didnt have a great survival rate. Mainly due to the forces they deal with and the particulary troublesome hunters that dont mind murdering hellrazers.
Thats another issue..
Xavier waved to the four letters. Whom of which were older generations.
Yeniver turned to Rice. "Hold out your hand"
Rice did as he was asked.
On the back of his hand. were three letters. Each letter was a runic power in hell. They each meant something, but most hellrazers wouldn't be able to parse that information without extensive contacts and even favor in the organization. The secret is closely kept.
Even cults and the likes barely understand a few of the letters.
That said Yeniver condensed his hell energy into a horrible magma. He formed The fourth letter and applied it to Rice's hand. Whom felt dizzy as his veins melt like he had the blood of hell in his body.
"Its going to take time to get used to it. I wish you luck.."
Yeniver could not say more stepped back with a seldom expression as Xavier clapped his hand. "Alright, time to go"