5 Chapter 04: Participation Examination (1/2)

As I followed the alluring Amaris to a room in the back of the reception area where they were standing before. ”This is where the given tests will be conducted, we have different methods for each attribute so let me explain how these tests will be conducted.

”For Strenght, we have a device that you need to punch or push against which will determine your physical strength levels.

As for your spiritual state, we need you to meditate while being surrounded by Magic Crystals that will monitor your state of mind.

Dexterity, Mobility, and Stamina will be tested by the treadmill, we will need you to walk on it as we will slowly increase the speed until you can't keep up with the device anymore.

Your Magical Strenght and elemental affinity will be a rather simple test as we will first give you a small magic crystal which you need to pour your soul energy into.

This will then show us what kind of element is best suited for you so that we can advise you which direction would be best for you if you want I could even help you in what kind of meditation technique would be best suited for you to cultivate your magical energy to higher levels.

The level of your magical energy will be tested in a similar way,

Here it's crucial for yourself to pour in your energy again, yet we will only look at the purity and strength of your magic.

once these tests are done, you will have your results and you can officially start as an adventurer in these lands. This is also required to make it big in the world”.

As to tell you the basis for the ranking system, there are six ranks in total which will have 10 steps in each rank. For example, someone could be a 3rd Gold Rank or a 7th Silver rank.

The ranks go from Brons all the way to Legend Rank.

Amaris shows Michael an overview of all ranks;

Brons \u003e Silver \u003e Gold \u003e Platinum \u003e Diamond \u003e Legend

”There have been limited cases where a Spirit Beast or Drifter exceeded Legend Rank, unlocking spiritual consciousness going beyond the normal grading system.

Let us start by testing your physical strength, please punch this object.

You will get three tries and we will be taking the best result”.

As I stood in front of the machine focused on my arm, I closed his eyes and slowly breathed in and exhaled out. I clenched my fist, pulled back his right foot while turning my right shoulder while I was also pulling back my arm. After a short pause,

I turned my entire body towards the target on the device and hit it with all of my might.

I saw the device measuring the impact, going up from 0 to 10, 30, 55 all the way to 60, which is were it slowly stopped.

”A clean 60 for your first hit, that's good for your first try. It's normal to hit somewhere between the 30 and 50. Common people usually don't get higher than 10, so at least you're way stronger than them haha. Although there are some exceptionally rare cases where the examinee got a whopping 650!

That person later was seen as ”Unworthy” wreaking havoc in the Tower of Acceptance.

But we are getting off topic, let's continue with your tests. Now for your second attempt.”

Michael cleared his mind and tried a second time, yet the result was the same...

This time it hit a clean hundred. ”It seems you are still distracted, I'll leave you for now so that you can completely focus on the last attempt”. Amaris left the room, while she was gone Michael tried to clear his mind again. What he didn't know was that she was still observing him through a one-way mirror on the other side of the room.

”You can do this Michael, focus. There is nothing to worry about. After this, there are some more tests and before you know it you'll be adventuring through unknown lands”.

Michael calmed down, took a similar stance as the attempts he did before but bent his knees a little. As he turned to impact the target he stretched his legs and struck his fist in an upward motion.

[180 Critical Hit!]

Amaris came back through the door, nicely done Michael you got 180! Almost resulting in the 2nd Grade Brons. This is a way above average!

The second test is a test of stamina, the room will be modified while I'll explain what you will need to do. This test will just have one attempt as it is just to see how fast you can run and how long you can last since Stamina is all about Endurance as well *wink*.

You will need to put on special equipment that will protect you if you might fall because of the over-exaggeration of your stamina. The equipment will create a magical barrier on the impact that will shield you from any major damage you could inflict on yourself by falling”.

Amaris handed me the special equipment which looked like bracers, shin-guards, and a belt. Each piece of equipment seemed to have some sort of magic crystals inside them, although smaller than the ones I saw at the entrance I still felt power emitting from them.

As I was surprised by how light everything was and thought to myself this would probably be expensive, I carefully put them on and got ready to take the test.

[Test of Stamina]

As everything fitted as if it was made for me, I made my way on the platform.

Amaris got behind a desk that seemed to have manifested just like the platform and continued explaining. ”Before I will start the test we will have a little check to see if everything is working as it should. Not to worry, I won't let the treadmill run fast. Yet.”

Amaris laughed as she turned on the machine through the mechanics on the desk.

As the treadmill started to make some sounds,

*clang* *taka, taka tssss*

It began moving ever so slightly.

As I was already standing on the treadmill and ready to go I noticed that it slowly began to move backward. Excited and cautious at the same time because of my past life experience I began taking my first steps forward.

The machine was moving at such a slow pace that I had the time to focus on how I was putting down my feet.

”Now as you can see, the ledges on the treadmill are moving backward yet you still have to move forward. This is so you can keep running in place and we don't have to worry about having to use to much space.

The test is for us to see how fast and how long you can walk and run.

Because it is crucial in a fight to close in on your opponent as well as being able to dodge and last for a long time. The last thing you want is being eaten by a ferocious animal because you were to slow, right? Tell me when you're comfortable then we will begin the test.”

I nodded and gave her the okay sign to start the test.

It had finally begun and I steadily felt the machine go faster.

Amaris announced it whenever she increased the speed, but to be honest I didn't pay much attention to it. Why? I was finally running! Something I could never dream of doing before, and here I was doing it!

As the machine got faster and faster I thought to myself that I couldn't give up just yet, even though I never have done this before. Suddenly the treadmill tilted upwards a little bit and I could hear Amaris again. ”Climbing stage one clear. On to stage two”.

As she announced it I felt the angle becoming more and more challenging.

I was running at full speed now and seemed to have cleared the first four climbing stages.

It was at the moment stage five started that I noticed I couldn't go on anymore.

As I huffed and puffed and refused to give up it became dark in front of my eyes.

I almost collapsed as the treadmill came to a standstill.

”Are you okay? Here... let me help you.” Amaris supported me by putting an arm around me and giving me a hand to walk to the chairs next to the desk.

”Few... I don't know what happened at the end. But I'm proud of myself. How did I do?”

I asked while wheezing a little bit since I was completely out of breath.

”I don't know what to say... It was... rather average. It seems you did clear stage number five and you could run at ten kilometers an hour, it is a bit faster than average, to be honest, but to be so exhausted is a first.” ”I have to say it's a first for me as well, haha.”

While I was catching my breath I got handed a glass of water by Amaris.

I thanked her and instantly felled refreshed.

”The next test can be done while you are resting as it is only required for you to hold on to a Magic Crystal and pouring in your Soul Energy. I'll explain these concepts to you seeing as you have just arrived here in Arganthes.”

”That's what you call this world we are in, right?” ”Oh my, how silly of me...

I forgot to tell you what we call our world. Ehe.”

Amaris was trying to act cute, because of her clumsiness in forgetting to introduce me to their world. She grabbed one of the rocks and went a little bit overboard.

”This little rock here is called a Magic Crystal. It's not just any kind of rock,

simply because we can interact with them through our soul energy.

These so-called ”crystals” drop from Spirit Beasts.

Creatures that have absorbed to much magic and started running amok.

You can also get Magic Gems and Crystals by clearing Rifts,

but I'll leave that topic for later as you haven't even become an adventurer yet.

It is the most important to clear one's mind while performing meditation and cultivating one's Soul Energy and Inner Spirit. You can do a variety of different things with your soul energy, for example manipulating the energy around and inside you to harness the power of the elements which we call Magic. Or to bond with a Spirit Animal gaining their powers and working together as partners. One can even absorb the Spirit Beast in their Inner Spirit to become one and freely use its strengths.”

As Amaris continued I tried to clear my mind and start meditating while continuing to listen to her explanation. These Magic Crystals have pure mana essence inside of them which can be used to learn whatever the Crystal is holding. Even though there is no method to extract these powers as of yet it is possible to force it out gaining a small portion of the power inside. Some tried breaking them by force, to no avail. Because this would instantly make the pure mana essence inside evaporate in thin air or making it explode on impact.

The only method which has been found recently by the Arcana is to slowly extract the essence with gentle care gaining a small portion of what was inside.

We do know how to use neutral Crystals, but Elemental Crystals proof to be difficult to master.” A bit confused yet intrigued by the existence of magic I took her explanation to heart. ”Seeing as I understand the basic concept of these crystals and magic, I think it's best to give the rest of the tests a shot. But before we do, I was wondering since you told me it's possible to bond with a Spirit Animal, if you bonded with one and what it might be.

”You're a fast learner aren't you? As a reward, I'll show you something cool.

This is Kyuu my trusted partner.” As she introduced her spirit nine flames manifested around her as a small orange fox curled up on her shoulders. They merged together as her eyes turned green and her teeth and nails grew longer and shaper. The nine floating flames were at the tip of each tail which seemed to come out of the top of her but.

”Wooow!! That's so cool!! I have to find myself a worthy partner when I get the change.”

”As a bonus, I'll even show you what power I gain by merging with my partner.”

Seeing as her tails all had flames on them I expected the fire element to be the main attribute. It seemed to be only partially right. Amaris opened her hand as a small flame grew bigger in the palm of her hand. The oddest thing was that the flame while first being blue, turned completely purple.

”You keep amazing me Amaris didn't expect you to have both Fire and Darkness Elemental magic with your partner, to be completely honest I thought you would just show me an awesome flame. Yet I was surprised by such an astonishing purple ball of fire.”

Amaris got all flustered and shy because of my compliment and knowledge about the elements that she decided it was time for the next test. As Amaris was getting the room cleaned up and setting everything in place getting ready for the next test. She took out a few Magic crystals and put them in a circle in the center of the room.

[Test of Mental Strenght]

”Before we start the next test I have to tell you that they are a bit different from what you had to do before. Taking into account the rest results of the physical tests, you have outperformed commoners from our world as a whole.

Therefore, it is extremely important for us to test your mental capabilities.”

As I had been bullied until my teenage years by seemingly superior humans to me I had built up a sort of mental understanding of why this was happening. Eventually, this made me unfazed and unaffected by their ways creating some sort of unconscious barrier that blocked them all off. Still... at first it was mentally scarring... Because I was unable to retaliate.