The day of the Preliminary Exams arrived, and the anticipation was palpable in Sylvaneth.
The arena, known as Verdantia Coliseum, was a vast and impressive structure nestled in the heart of Sylvaneth's middle city.
Its towering stands were packed with spectators, nobles, and commoners alike, all eager to witness the Preliminary Exams for the Whispering Exam.
The air buzzed with excitement and anticipation as candidates entered the arena, their numbers swelling into the thousands.
The noise of conversations, cheers, and murmurs filled the space, creating a palpable energy.
Suddenly, a voice boomed across the arena, cutting through the noise.
"WELCOME TO THE PRELIMINARY EXAMS OF THE WHISPERING EXAM!"
The arena fell silent as a man, his presence commanding, took center stage. "I am Aric Evergreen, an elder of the Evergreen Palace."
Elder Aric's voice echoed with authority as he continued,
"I will explain your exam to you. Today, we have about 1000 candidates, but only 92 will proceed to the Whispering Woods."
His voice carried a mix of pride and gravity, setting the tone for the challenge ahead."The exam consists of two tests."
He gestured towards the center of the arena, where a large, glowing array formation was inscribed on the ground.
"For the first test, you need to reach that transportation array, which will lead you to the second test."
A candidate near the front scoffed, "That easy?"
Elder Aric ignored the interruption and continued,
"Test two will be survival of the fittest. When you enter the array, you will be transported to a place that imitates the Whispering Woods."
"You will be randomly placed, and your task is to eliminate each other."
"When only 92 of you remain, the test will end. Eliminating a candidate will earn you a point, and killing is not allowed."
"You simply need to render them unconscious. The top three candidates with the highest points will be rewarded."
"Let the first test begin!" he shouted, unleashing a gust of wind magic around the array.
The overconfident candidate who had scoffed earlier charged towards the array, only to be flung back by the barrier of wind, landing with a thud.
!!!
"First candidate to fail," Elder Aric announced without missing a beat.
One by one, candidates approached the array.
Some were immediately repelled by the wind barrier, while others found ways to slip through.
Oasis, calm and composed, walked steadily towards the array and passed through with ease, drawing the attention of the spectators.
In the stands where the nobles sat, Zane stood watching intently.
"I knew he would easily pass," he muttered to himself, a hint of admiration in his voice.
After some time, Elder Aric's voice rang out again, "Only 424 managed to pass the first test. The rest have failed."
With a flourish of mana, the array activated, projecting a view of the imitation Whispering Woods inside, so the audience could follow the progress of the candidates.
As the array transported the candidates to the imitation Whispering Woods, the arena was filled with the soft hum of magic and the eager murmurs of the audience.
The landscape within the projection was a dense forest, eerily similar to the real Whispering Woods, filled with towering trees, thick underbrush, and hidden dangers.
Oasis found himself in a dimly lit section of the woods. The canopy above was thick, allowing only slivers of sunlight to pierce through.
He moved swiftly, using his wind magic to glide silently over the forest floor.
The air was filled with the scent of damp earth and the rustle of leaves.
"Ah, so this is what the Whispering Woods looks like," Oasis thought, marveling at the realistic environment.
He continued moving with purpose, senses heightened.
After a few minutes, he felt a disturbance in the air.
"Something's approaching," he thought, instinctively preparing himself for an encounter.
A figure suddenly burst from the underbrush, attacking aggressively with a martial technique.
Oasis deftly dodged the attack, his movements fluid and precise.
With a single, well-placed blow, he rendered the assailant unconscious.
The defeated candidate was instantly transported out of the woods, disappearing in a flash of light.
"So, that's how it works," Oasis noted, continuing his journey with increased awareness.
Reaching an opening in the forest, Oasis climbed a tree for a better vantage point.
From his elevated position, he spotted three candidates below. They were conversing in low tones, unaware of his presence.
"We'll pass the test easily by teaming up like this," one of them said confidently.
The others nodded in agreement, clearly pleased with their strategy.
"Yeah, let's just hunt and eliminate fast. We've already taken down a few candidates."
From his perch, Oasis observed the trio, noting their relaxed demeanor and overconfidence.
Taking a deep breath, he gathered his mana, focusing his wind magic to create a powerful burst of air.
In an instant, he leaped from the tree, landing gracefully in the center of the group.
Before they could react, he unleashed a whirlwind of wind magic, whipping up a cloud of dust and leaves that obscured their vision and disoriented them.
With the element of surprise on his side, Oasis moved with swifly.
The first candidate swung blindly in the dust, but Oasis dodged effortlessly.
Striking with a precise palm thrust to the solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him and rendering him unconscious.
The second candidate, still reeling from the disorienting dust cloud, stumbled backward.
Oasis pivoted and delivered a swift roundhouse kick to the side of his head, dropping him instantly.
The third candidate, now aware of the danger, attempted to cast a spell. But Oasis was faster.
He closed the distance in a heartbeat, using his wind-enhanced speed, and delivered a powerful elbow strike to the back of the candidate's neck, sending him crumpling to the ground.
Each blow was executed with precision, using just enough force to incapacitate without causing serious harm.
The trio fell in rapid succession, their unconscious bodies illuminated briefly before being transported out of the woods.
As the dust settled, Oasis stood alone in the clearing, breathing steadily.
"Wow, it felt as if they were really slow," Oasis muttered to himself, a mix of surprise and satisfaction in his voice.
High above the arena, Elder Aric watched intently.
The magical projection of the imitation Whispering Woods allowed the spectators to witness every candidate's performance.
Elder Aric's eyes narrowed as he observed Oasis's swift and decisive actions.
"What a prodigy," Elder Aric thought, genuinely impressed.
"Such speed and precision at such a young age. He moves like someone far beyond his years."