Chapter 22
Blaze stood confidently, his eyes gleaming with newfound power as he checked his updated status. A surge of excitement coursed through him—he had never felt stronger, faster, or more alive. The once insurmountable gap between him and the so-called elites had been bridged. No, he had surpassed them.
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Name: Blaze
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Level: 7 (2100/14500 EXP) Foundation Phase Stage 7
HP: 100/100
CP: 100
Strength: 28
Defense: 29
Dexterity: 22 → 26
Stamina: 22
Senses: 15
Stat Points: 8
CS (Combat Essence/Mystic Essence): 1500
Artifact: None
Spells: Lightning Boots, Lightning Gloves
Skills:
Astral Strike
Astro Punch
Feral Pounce
Rejuvenation
Skill Shop:
1. Aerial Strike (150 CP)
2. Timer Crush (200 CP)
3. Mega Whop (400 CP)
Affinity: Lightning
Innate Ability: Chaos Eye/Gold (Locked)
---
Blaze clenched his fists, feeling the electric crackle dancing along his knuckles. As he turned to face the group before him, a quiet but powerful statement escaped his lips: "Thank you."
Pothaire, the arrogant leader of the opposing group, narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Why the hell are you thanking us?"
Blaze's lips curled into a smirk as he raised his fists. Blue lightning surged over his gloves and boots, illuminating his form with a fierce glow. The remaining five members of Pothaire's squad stepped back instinctively, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Wait… isn't that a lightning enhancement spell?" one of them stammered.
"Yeah, but—he's a Zero! He's not supposed to have any magic, let alone lightning!" another cried out.
Pothaire scowled, gripping his staff tightly. "Enough talk! Ready your attacks!"
The moment he barked the order, his squad unleashed a barrage of spells at Blaze.
Earthquake – The ground trembled violently, threatening to throw Blaze off balance.
Flame Burst – A torrent of fire surged toward him, aiming to engulf him in flames.
Ice Shard – Razor-sharp icicles shot through the air, seeking to pierce him.
Thunderclap – A deafening explosion of sound erupted, attempting to disorient him.
Blaze vanished.
He reappeared behind his two captured friends, untying them at a speed that left the enemies momentarily stunned. Before they could react, he dashed through their ranks, weaving through their attacks with effortless grace. His movements were a blur, faster than their eyes could follow.
One by one, he struck.
His Astral Strike landed on the first opponent, sending them crashing into a tree, unconscious.
The second opponent barely had time to turn before Astro Punch struck their gut, lifting them off their feet before they collapsed.
The third tried to cast another spell, but Blaze's Feral Pounce sent him sprawling.
Minutes passed, and the battlefield had been decided.
Pothaire stood alone, his face a mask of shock and growing horror. His teammates lay motionless around him, groaning in pain. His confidence had crumbled, and all that remained was desperation.
"How… how is a Zero so powerful?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Blaze stood over him, his smirk never fading. "I'm no longer a Zero."
Kaito stepped forward, smirking as he tossed two shimmering crystals toward Pothaire. "Here. Your team's crystals. Now do the right thing."
Pothaire looked at Kaito in confusion. "Why… why are you giving them back?"
Kaito's grin widened, his eyes glinting mischievously. "I'm not that kind."
Before Pothaire could react, Kaito's expression turned deadly serious. "Destroy your own crystal, or I'll crush your balls."
A heavy silence fell over the clearing.
Pothaire gulped, beads of sweat forming on his bruised face. The mere thought of the alternative sent a shiver down his spine. Without hesitation, he shattered the two crystals, a flash of light enveloping his team as they were transported out of the forest.
Just as Pothaire's form began to fade, Kaito casually cracked his knuckles. "Oh yeah… one last thing."
His fist, coated in thick earth essence, rocketed forward, landing directly on Pothaire's nether region.
CRACK.
The resulting scream was so high-pitched, it sent a flock of birds scattering into the sky.
The transport effect completed, and the battered remnants of Pothaire's team disappeared. Kaito whistled, dusting off his hands. "Guess he won't be having kids anytime soon."
Blaze shook his head, suppressing a laugh. "You're insane."
Kaito shrugged. "Eh, what's done is done." He lifted their own yellow crystal, now pulsing with absorbed essence, and watched as it turned white.
---
A bright flash transported them back to the courtyard, where the head wizards stood in judgment. Master Willow, his presence commanding, raised a hand for silence.
"Those who return with white crystals pass," he declared. "Those who return empty-handed have failed the first trial."
One by one, defeated individuals emerged from their transports, heads hung low in disappointment. Others celebrated, their spirits soaring. Lucas and Nephis joined Blaze's group shortly after, Lucas cursing under his breath as he listened to their story.
"That black-cloaked bastard…" he muttered. "Next time, I'll break his damn nose."
The atmosphere was tense with anticipation. The first trial was over, but the challenge had only begun. The crowd's murmurs grew hushed as the headmasters exchanged glances.
Hannah, the leader of the illustrious Green Ember squad, stepped forward, her radiant smile exuding an air of effortless confidence. Her short green hair shimmered under the sunlight, as if imbued with the very flame she wielded. With a flick of her wrist, a vibrant green fire erupted in her palm, dancing and flickering like a living entity. The crowd collectively held its breath.
"Wow, one of those!" a whisper shot through the audience.
"That's really a Green Flame... Burning Lotus!" another voice murmured in awe.
The Burning Lotus was no ordinary flame. It was an anomaly, one of the rarest and most coveted flames in existence. Unlike conventional fire, it was both gentle and devastating. It could be searing hot, capable of turning steel into molten slag, or as harmless as a flickering candle. It was the ultimate tool of a master forger and an enchanter's dream. Few wielded it, and even fewer mastered it.
The flame dissipated, revealing a simple green egg resting in Hannah's palm. A mere egg, yet it carried an air of significance that sent waves of curiosity and tension through the gathered participants.
Hannah's gaze swept over the crowd as she spoke, her voice laced with an unshakable authority. "This egg will be your second trial."
A ripple of confusion spread among the challengers.
"Are we supposed to eat it?" Kaito blurted out, his black-and-yellow hair rustling in the breeze.
The entire courtyard turned to look at him with expressions ranging from amusement to exasperation.
"What?" Kaito crossed his arms. "I just asked a question."
Hannah chuckled, clearly entertained. "No, you don't have to eat it. You have to break it. That's the trial."
The murmuring grew louder. Participants exchanged puzzled looks.
"Just break an egg? That's it?" a young warrior muttered.
A brawny man with a thick beard and a massive iron hammer slung over his shoulder stepped forward, scoffing. "How hard can that be? I'll go first."
Blaze's gaze flickered over the man. He focused his Chaos Eye, and a translucent panel appeared before him:
Name: Garron
Level: 6th Stage Foundation Phase
Affinity: Earth
Weapon: Breaker Hammer
A brute force type, Blaze mused. This would be interesting.
Hannah smiled knowingly and tossed the egg toward Garron. He caught it with a smirk, rolling it between his thick fingers. "One chance, right?" he confirmed.
"One chance," Hannah affirmed, her voice laced with a cryptic amusement.
Garron nodded, stepping back. He placed the egg on the ground, adjusting his stance. His muscles bulged as he gripped his hammer, lifting it high above his head.
"Shattering Strike!" he roared, bringing the weapon down with all his might.
The impact sent a tremor through the ground. Dust exploded into the air, blinding the onlookers momentarily. When the cloud settled, all eyes fell upon the scene before them. Garron stood frozen, his face a mask of disbelief.
The egg remained perfectly intact.
Not a single crack marred its surface.
However, the Breaker Hammer—his prized weapon, said to have shattered boulders and dented fortress gates—had a large, unmistakable fracture running along its metal head.
Gasps filled the air. Someone let out a low whistle. "No way..."
Garron's hands trembled as he lifted his hammer, examining the damage. "This... This isn't possible," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hannah casually picked up the egg, flipping it in her palm as if it were a mere trinket. "You failed," she said with a teasing lilt, though there was an undeniable finality in her tone.
Silence stretched over the courtyard, thick with unease.
If a 6th Stage Foundation Phase warrior—one of the strongest among the participants—couldn't break the egg with a full-force strike, then how could anyone else?
Murmurs erupted once more.
"What the hell is that egg made of?"
"Is this even possible?"
A heavy silence fell over the crowd as disbelief gripped them. The burly man's strike had been earth-shattering, yet the egg remained untouched—mocking their expectations. What they had assumed to be a simple task had just transformed into a daunting enigma. A creeping sense of unease settled in as they realized… this so-called "easiest" trial might be the most impossible challenge yet.