In the realm of Ereven, being a spirit hunter is a prevalent occupation. Spirit hunters depend greatly on the might of their summoned creatures, known as Khodams. In this age, humans possess the capability to summon magical beings, called Khodams, which assist them in battling the magical monsters that emerge from the Void. Spirit hunters often profit from these monsters, as they carry magic energy stones from the Void, crucial for human civilization.
The strength of a person's Khodam directly correlates to their influence in society. There's even a legend of a Spirit Emperor, a figure with an extraordinarily powerful Khodam, who once ruled with absolute authority. Aspiring to become the Spirit Emperor is a dream cherished by all in Ereven.
Every individual in this world summons Khodams, and the power of one's Spirit Ki typically determines the strength of their Khodam. In this chaotic environment, those with weak Khodams often go unnoticed. Khodams are categorized into various rarity grades:
Grade F: Common Khodams, typically held by ordinary individuals with regular jobs.
Grade E: More combat-capable Khodams, usually possessed by low-ranking spirit hunters.
Grade C: Uncommon Khodams; their owners often rise to become mid-level spirit hunters.
Grade B: Rare Khodams, owned by high-level spirit hunters.
Grade A: Very rare Khodams; their owners are generally among the strongest spirit hunters, sometimes achieving mastery.
Grade S: Extremely rare Khodams; those who summon them are often destined to become Spirit Emperors.
Grade SS: Super rare Khodams; the first Spirit Emperor had a Grade SS Khodam, making it nearly impossible to find in modern times.
In the capital city of Saranjayana, in the country of Jaya, young men and women gather for the Khodam test. At 17, they undergo a series of intricate tests to determine the Khodam they can summon. Prior to this age, they have trained to enhance their Spirit Ki, enabling them to control their Khodams effectively.
From a distance, a young man is seen racing towards the test site.
"Damn it! I'm going to be late!" he exclaims.
Whoosh!
The young man weaves through the bustling crowd in the city square, filled with vendors and townsfolk celebrating Khodam Test Day. Everyone gasps as a powerful gust of wind rushes by, accompanied by a flash of yellow lightning. They stare in disbelief, realizing the wind was caused by the young man hurrying towards the Khodam test site.
A middle-aged man from the test building observes the young man's speed, astonished by the sight.
"Look at his speed… it's astounding," mutters Mavin Kerta, a seasoned Grade A spirit hunter, his scarred features a testament to years of battle experience.
"It's been decades since I've witnessed speed like that… not since the current Spirit Emperor," he thinks to himself.
The young man navigates through the crowd and finally reaches the test building. As he steps inside, tension fills the air as many eyes turn toward him, impressed by his swiftness. The first test is the Physical Test, and the young man's name is announced.
"ARKANA ARVIN!" Mavin calls out loudly.
"So, his name is Arkana," Mavin reflects.
The physical test assesses participants' strength, speed, and reflexes. Arkana, still buzzing with adrenaline, is called first for the strength assessment. Before him stands a magic dummy, a colossal figure used to gauge a person's striking power.
Arkana steps forward, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze. With determination, he clenches his fists and channels his Spirit Ki into his punch. After focusing his energy, he delivers a powerful blow.
Boom!
The dummy is sent flying out of the building, causing the ground to shake. Some spectators even topple from their seats due to the shockwave. The room falls silent for a moment before whispers and cheers erupt.
"Incredible!" some participants murmur.
"I can't believe he threw the dummy that far!" another exclaims in astonishment.
"I knew he was fast, but I didn't anticipate he'd be this strong too," Mavin thinks to himself.
Other participants take their turns, giving their best efforts, but none can rival Arkana's strength. Only five contenders from the top magic academies manage to push the dummy even two meters.
Next is the Speed Test. Arkana is expected to easily claim first place based on the speed he showcased while arriving. This test takes place inside a labyrinth designed to evaluate not just physical speed but also mental agility in solving puzzles. Although Arkana is favored to win, he has a reputation for being somewhat slow-witted.
"Ugh, I despise this test," Arkana mutters.
Participants gather at the entrance of the labyrinth. The signal to start is given.
"And they're off!"
The participants dash into the labyrinth, with some forming teams to sabotage their rivals. However, Arkana is alone, as others know better than to challenge him.
Inside the labyrinth, everyone is taken aback by its vastness and eerie ambiance. Despite its intimidating size, Arkana races through the maze with remarkable speed, yellow lightning trailing behind him. He swiftly overtakes numerous participants and navigates obstacles with ease.
Eventually, Arkana completes the test, securing first place.
"YEEAAAHHHHH!" Arkana shouts in exhilaration.
The other participants stand bewildered, their faces reflecting confusion.
"How is this guy, with no background, managing to conquer the labyrinth without difficulty?" they wonder, perplexed.
Finally, the Reflex Test begins. In this test, participants must evade projectiles aimed at them, aiming to avoid as many as possible. As anticipated, Arkana skillfully dodges every projectile, once again claiming the top rank.
"YUHUUU! FIRST PLACE AGAIN!" Arkana exclaims, bursting with joy.
He jumps up and down in celebration, thrilled with his outstanding results. The other participants, especially those from the nation's top academies, glare at him with frustration, unable to match Arkana's performance.
"NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE FINAL STAGE OF THE TEST!"
Everyone lines up for the Summoning Test, where their futures will hinge on the Khodam they can summon.
"ALL PARTICIPANTS, ENTER THE SUMMONING ROOM ONE BY ONE!"
As participants enter the summoning room, their destinies are decided by the Khodam they summon. When Arkana's name is called, the room falls silent. Everyone is eager to see what kind of Khodam he will conjure, given his exceptional performance in the physical tests.
Arkana strides into the room with confidence. In the center, a large magic circle glows on the floor, casting light throughout the space as Arkana begins channeling his Spirit Ki. He raises his hands and recites the summoning spell.
A radiant light fills the room as the Khodam begins to materialize. Arkana holds his breath, hoping for a powerful Khodam—perhaps a dragon or another legendary creature befitting his immense Spirit Ki.
But as the light dims, what stands before him is... a Tuyul.
The room erupts in laughter. There's a brief pause before one participant exclaims, "A Tuyul?!"
Laughter reverberates throughout the room. Tuyuls are the weakest Khodams, possessing only basic skills such as stealing small items and hiding. They are deemed ineffective in combat and are typically summoned by individuals with low Spirit Ki.
No one can believe Arkana ended up with such a feeble Khodam. Some participants begin to mock him, as Tuyuls are often owned by those who find themselves unemployed due to their Khodam's ineffectiveness.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" Arkana cries out.
Typically, someone with high Spirit Ki is expected to summon a high-grade Khodam, but when Arkana attempts to summon his, he ends up with a Tuyul—a creature that offers minimal abilities aside from shrinking and stealing—an almost universal basic skill among Khodams.
"WHY DID I GET A TUYUL?!"
For the first time in his life, Arkana feels utterly defeated by fate. He has always believed that his significant Spirit Ki would lead to a powerful Khodam, but reality had different plans. Thus, Arkana's life takes an unexpected turn.