Seven Years Later
A figure zipped through the forest, sweat dripping from it's face. The figure ducked and dodged between trees and branches. As they sprinted through the forest, a staff slammed against a tree trunk, causing a gash in it, adding to the amount of marks already apparent on the tree. He jumped from tree to tree before becoming air born. He flipped and their staff grew to a large size as it went crashing down on the trees. The figure landed, and their hair swept away sweat.
It was a boy, his features were a bit more refined. His snowy-white hair reached his shoulders and his gray eyes radiated with confident and a hint of exhaustion. He muscles were more grown and refined due to his training. His face glistened with sweat, and he shaking his head again, his hair swinging and the the beats of sweat swaying off his body. A cloud floated towards the boy. He smiled, "Sky, I think that's enough for today."
This seventeen year old boy, was none other than Alaric Vandale. His features were much different compared to his ten year old self, and his voice was much deeper. He sat atop of the much large cloud, now radiating with a gold glow as it flew at super speed in the air. Alaric glanced down as he flew over the city, serious expression apparent on his face.
'Seven years have passed,' he thought as he folded his arms, closing his eyes. 'While I haven't gotten to stronger, I have been improving.' He quickly brought up his status window,
Name: Alaric Vandale
Occupation: Monkey King
Class: Warrior
HP: 100/100 (+18)
MP: 52/52
Stamina: 156/156
[ Attributes ]
Strength: 17 (+5) [enhanced by Monkey King Buff]
Agility: 13
Intelligence: 6
Vitality: 15 (+10) [enhanced by Monkey King Buff]
[ Skills ]
- Power Strike
- Dash
- Barrier
- Endurance
- Strength boost
- Weapon Mastery
[ Equipment ]
- Weapon: Ruyi Jingu Bang [Level 2]
-Cloud Ride [Level 3]
With rigors training, you can level up your attributes by doing basic training, but of course, it's not as effective as a official training ground. Considering you can't really track your progress, you don't have mentors to tell you what you should work on, and things of that nature. So, even though he was training his body and his use of magic, it isn't making fast progress as it would be at a official training ground. He sighed, 'If anything, the thing that had the most progress was Sky.' He thought as he pet the now gold cloud.
Sky had been doing loads of things during its time with Alaric, learning new things as it levels up. It even has it's own skill set. He looked forward, 'But that's not important right now. The entrance exams start tomorrow so I need to get some rest so I'm ready.' He thought, as sky soon reached his front door. Alaric smiled and pet the cloud again as he opened the door. "I'm home!" His deep voice rang out, as his mother came into view. "Alaric! Welcome home." She said, hugging him tightly. Alaric was able to convince his mother that he was taking after school tutoring classes, but he was secretly sneaking away to train. "Hey Mom," He said, as she let go of him and began to rub her hand along Sky. Sky glowed beneath the warm touch as she smiled, "So, are you ready for your entrance exam tomorrow?" She wondered, as Alaric nodded, climbing down from Sky. "Yeah, so, I'm going to sleep early if that's fine." He said walking past her, but his shoulder was grabbed, "Not so faster mister, not until you've had dinner." She said, her voice firm as he let out a small laugh, "Alright alright..."
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Alaric was brushing his teeth, a towel around his waist as his body was wet and soaking, his hair down and draped on his shoulders. Sky was waiting for the boy to finish, as he spit out the toothpaste.
He grabbed his clothes and was ready to depart. He sat atop Sky and the moved out of the bathroom. 'It's time...' As he approached the front door, Sky turned and made Alaric face his parents.
"Well, I'm off." He said waving as his mother and father waved back at him.
"Good luck honey!" his mother called, her voice tinged with encouragement.
"Make us proud."
Alaric nodded and opened the front door, as Sky raised into the air and flew extremely fast in the direction of the academy.
As he flew atop Sky, he wondered if he should've waited for Arthur and go together. He ultimately decided against it, he didn't need to wait for him. He reached for his phone and shot a message to him, saying how he was on his way to the academy.
He sighed and looked forward, but his excitement began to bubble over. A smile twisted on his face, his eyes glowed. "It's time!!" He shouted, as Sky wobbled with the same excitement and picked up it's speed.
As the two flew over the city, their eyes landed on a large building, thanks it large size, it almost like it's own city. There was a large and tall building standing in the middle of the campus, made of polished white stones and pulsing a glowing blue. There was a large balcony, where a few students were already present. There were multiple other buildings that were unknown to those outside of the kingdom like campus. The large white gate stood tall, marking the place Alaric was meant to be. Sky slowly lowered down and Alaric crawled off onto his feet.
'Ascendant Arcane Academy...' He thought, as he glanced up, his eyes taking in the beauty of the gate. "This is it." He said, as he grabbed the gate, but, a large shout rang through his head, "Alaric!!"
A rather deep but high voice rang out and Alaric turned, seeing a boy with shoulder-length auburn hair, sharp and deep blue eyes, his jaw was sharp and defined. This was Arthur Ambrose, Alaric's best friend.
He ran up and threw his arm around his shoulder, "What's up!? Can you believe we're finally here? I'm super excited!" He exclaimed, his voice booming around the area.
Alaric smiled, "Yeah, me too. But maybe you could be a little quieter..." Alaric said as he felt a bunch of gazes and eyes on the two.
Arthur laughed, "Everyone needs to know who the future top students are, am I right?"
They swung the door open, and there were hundreds of students talking among themselves. Alaric glanced around, "Where do you think the entrance exam is?" He asked as Arthur pulled out his phone and quickly scrolled through his photos.
He blinked and pointed ahead, "I think we're supposed to find this person. And from this map, it's taking place in the Grand Colosseum, follow me," He said as he walked forward, leading the way towards the Colosseum. Alaric motioned for Sky to follow behind him. As they walked side by side, Alaric ears twitched as he was unconsciously hearing the butt end of students conversations. He glanced up, as there were suspended platforms, but since he was below, he couldn't tell what was there. So he focused on the path ahead.
As they ventured into the campus, they walked into the large building that stood above everything else. There was a long line, there was a lady sitting at the desk with a large door at the front. "That must be the Colosseum." Arthur whispered as Alaric nodded.
Despite the long line, it was moving rather quickly, though some people made a scene since they didn't register for the entrance exam. 'Guess they assumed they could just come up here and get in.' He thought as the two soon approached desk. The lady gave a smiled, "Name?"
Arthur smiled back and pointed his thumb at himself, "Arthur Ambrose!" He said, as the lady clicked through the names on her laptop. After a bit of checking, she handed him a tag.
"Alright, please continue through the large door to the Colosseum."
Arthur snagged the tag and smiled, "Alright! See ya Alaric!" He said as he sprinted forward, throwing the doors open.
Alaric sighed and stepped up, "Alaric Vandale."
She looked through the list of names and handed him a tag. "Alright, go through those doors to the Colosseum."
Alaric gave a short bow, "Thank you," he said as he walked past the desk and opened the doors. As he stepped through, the halls were lightened with glowing blue lanterns. He began walking ahead as he glanced at the tag he was given. It wasn't anything significant, it was just his name.
He looked forward, as he crossed the hall, he passed by multiple different numbered doors which he assumes is classrooms. He soon reached the end, which was blocked by another door. He opened it up and bright lights shined in, and there were hundreds of students standing in the middle, surrounded by stands with no one sitting in them for now.
At the front was a window that showed four seats that were empty. He walked inside, continuingly looking around. "Alaric, over here!" He heard, and felt his embarrassment reach his ears.
All the attention rained down on him as he quickly rushed to Arthur. "Do you have to shout...?" He asked, his voice shaking.
Arthur laughed and gave him a playful shove, "Come on, you gotta have yourself known! That's how you get popular." He said. Alaric simply gave a sigh and stood next to Arthur.
His eyes glanced towards the large door he came in, as others began to enter as well. 'I wonder how many students are trying out...' He thought to himself as Sky began to circle around him, which slightly distracted him, making him smile.
Alaric's eyes remained on the doors until it seemed like no one else was showing up. He frowned and looked forward, 'This is everyone? Seems like a lot of people...' He thought to himself as a loud voice boomed along the walls of the Colosseum.
A large man stood at the forefront, his hair was blond and slicked back, his face was chiseled and a scar went across the corner of his jaw. His eyes were golden and demanded attention
"Attention!!" He deep and grisly voice rang out as everyone went quiet. Alaric looked unfazed, 'This must be the headmaster,'
The large man put his hands behind his back as he began to pace in front of the hundreds of students. "You all wish to become strong, learn to use your magic powers better. And you think attending this academy will do just that," he said, his scratching at Alaric's eardrums. He turned his focus to them, "Well it won't be easy, and I'm afraid to admit, some of you will not be capable at obtaining control and strength you've seen." He said, as everyone stayed silent.
"You might've been told that no matter what system you got, you'd be strong no matter what. As long as you work hard enough, anyone could achieve strength. And I'm here to tell you that you have been lied to!" Alaric looked a bit shocked at that, remembering the conversation he had with his mother a long time ago.
"No one is equal. Sure, training a pathetic system can generate some strength, but will it be on the same level as someone who chose a strong system? Pfft," a laugh cut through his speech as he straightened his posture back up.
"It is up to you, if you can make that system stronger, it is up to you if you can achieve power despite being on the short end of the stick! Remember, you're powers, are limitless. There is no ceiling for you to hit."
Alaric gave a rather confused expression, 'Didn't he just say, someone with a weak system can never compare to someone with a strong system?' He thought as he put a finger to his chin, 'But now he's saying that our powers are limitless, and that we keep growing stronger.'
Alaric frowned, 'Or maybe he means that the growth rate between a weak system and a strong system is different, and that a weak system might have slower growth.' As he thought about it, it made more sense. Whoever this guy is, he knew what he was talking about.
He then turned towards the large group of students. "Each of you will go through three stages of this entrance exam. And unless you pass two of the three, you will not be accepted, do you understand!?"
"YES SIR!!!"
He folded his arms and with a snap of his fingers, the entire groups of students suddenly appeared in the stands, a stack of papers and a pencil laying on a small table in front of them.
"We will begin with the oral section of the exam."
Alaric looked amazed, his eyes widen with awe, 'He was able to teleport almost a thousand students! he's on a completely different level...' he thought, as his eyes gazed down to the thin packet in front of him.
"You all will have one hour to complete this exam. Please do not rush. It begins, now." The man boomed as everyone flipped over their packets and grabbed their pencils. Alaric took a sigh and his expression showed a look of determination.