Chapter 1508 (1/2)
Ripples of trepidation ran through Raymund Ballast’s chest as he watched the three collapsed individuals twitch on the ground. He also couldn’t help but notice that the collapse was strangely silent. Perhaps these three were weak, but… to see them fold quietly over like a card castle buffeted by a gust of wind was a rather powerful demonstration of the difficulty of the test.
As one, most of the recruits outside of the archway focused their gazes on the white-haired humanoid. As the one who remained standing despite the mysterious impediment, he became the best litmus test for how passable this hurdle was.
After only a few more seconds of strained silence, he raised his head and laughed loudly. An image of darkness and violence spread to fill the air around him. “Hahahaah! Child’s play! Did you really think that taking away my Stamina would stop- Urgh!”
The ram-demon shut up as Muareth walked over to him and smashed him in the gut with one of its long arms. As the ram-horned man collapsed and groaned weakly on the ground, his arms spasmed ineffectually. It was clear that he was struggling to recover from the unexpected strike.
Muareth grinned down at its victim and then turned to the watching group. “Please remain respectful to all instructors, and in the presence of your instructors, or you will be punished. Disrespect will not be tolerated here. But as this fool pointed out, the suppression over this area is really just a trick. As you can see, we have completely adapted to moving around in this environment without any trouble. While within the training area, your Stamina and Mana will be continually drained. Therefore, you will need to rely upon your image for the entirety of your actions. Anyway, the clock is ticking. Please proceed to the Parade Grounds within the time limit.”
“You-” The ‘fool’ in question finally got his arms under control and began to push himself up off the ground. But Muareth raised one of its hooves and smashed the humanoid’s face into the ground. Raymund heard his nose break with an audible crack.
“Do not,” Muareth hissed as it lowered its head down its victim as blood seeped from the ram-demon’s nose. “Address me as you again. You will not get a third warning.”
Meanwhile, with the trick revealed, several others began to tentatively step across the threshold. They all reacted similarly: with a grimace and a stagger. But as their individual image spread out to cover their body, they could continue to function normally. They steadily tested movements and then began to walk forward with more confidence. Muareth snorted at the silent form of the ram demon on the ground and followed the leaders as more and more recruits proceeded forward. Everyone remained quiet and serious; they were beginning to believe the rumors about their Drill Sergeant from seeming the casual brutality of his subordinates.
Yet somehow, Raymund found this reassuring. Muareth’s casual treatment of the white-haired humanoid just confirmed it: these people cared not at all who you were. They were simply here to train you. if the training was truly merit-based, he could hold his head high as long as he could produce results. But still…
Raymund sucked in a breath. No point in delaying any longer. It’s time to see whether I have the mettle to stand amongst these elites… or whether I will always be the forgettable brother of Techetadore.
With gritted teeth, Raymund walked forward and crossed the threshold. Almost immediately, he grunted and fell to one knee. It felt like his own body betrayed him, transmogrifying into inert scrap metal that refused to function as a usable tool. But right before he collapsed, the face of his younger brother appeared in his mind.
In that flash of a memory, Techetadore was wincing. Ray, you will never get better at dueling if you never strike to kill me in our spars.
Raymund had shaken his head. I dare not, Techetadore. If an accident were to befall you, I…
If something happened to me, Techetadore had suddenly insisted, leaning forward and jabbing his elder brother in the chest, I trust you would ‘dare’ much more than you now believe is possible. If you put your mind to it, there is no reason that you couldn’t be just as strong as me.
Raymund had sighed at the time, just thinking it was one of those strange things that his younger brother said sometimes. Yet at the moment… Raymund heard those words clearly. A tremor ran through his body. His brain was suddenly on fire. Raymund Ballast refused to collapse and exploded with all the Willpower he could muster. His image spread outward through his body, setting the hairs across his skin to stand straight up.
The image was warm and reassuring; it reminded him of Techetadore, who possessed an almost identical image of their world’s god. Raymund wasn’t very proficient in using his image to manually move his body, but he was able to stand up through his wobbles. Next to him, Benjamin looked at him with obvious concern. “Are you alright?”
Raymund would have laughed bitterly, had that not required an extremely acute control over his image. Instead, he steadily worked to speak in an understandable manner. “Heh. I’m…. fine. You seem… fine too.”
Benjamin shrugged. “I’ve engaged in similar training in the past. Truly, as you grow used to it, it gets much easier to handle. But it is rather surprising… that this Drill Sergeant Ghosthound employed this method. Especially as the first test of his recruits. I think that all those who elected to have their elites sent here… are in for a surprise.”
Raymund frowned at Benjamin and wished to question him more on the subject, but the slender man shook his head and began walking calmly forward. Feeling slightly overwhelmed by his companion’s speed, Raymund tried his best to follow.
Behind them, the rest of the recruits passed over the threshold. In addition, Raymund took note of the individuals who weren’t thrown at all by the shift, moving like Benjamin had without a hitch. The brown-furred young woman frowned but continued to walk at a steady pace as she crossed into their training area. The fire elemental’s inscrutable facial features didn’t twitch in the least. Yawning loudly, the massive grey dog walked forward without pause. It was only as he passed him that the dog slowed and sneered at Raymund.
Raymund’s face twitched. God, I abhor dogs...imbecilic, ass licking creatures…
Although some of the recruits were clearly trudging forward with grim expressions of exertion on their face, everyone proceeded through the archway and began walking forward. With a tall bamboo forest on their left and gardens on their right, the walk was even somewhat scenic. Certainly, it was much more enjoyable than the dusty stones they crossed to get here.
And as Benjamin had indicated, using his image gradually grew more natural to Raymund. Rather than it being something he wasn’t capable of, it was simply an action Raymund had never been required to do in the past. His movements soon became much smoother. His tails began to wag once more. Very quickly, his proficiency increased.
But a short time after that, Raymund began noticing something else about the process: he was steadily developing a headache. After only a short amount of time of using his image like this, he was already growing weary from the unusual exertion.