The trial had begun.
But while most candidates surged forward into the Ashwood Forest, their faces taut with anticipation and adrenaline, one candidate did something rather unexpected.
Davi sat down on the floor and began cultivating.
He crossed his legs calmly on the damp earth, spine straight, and closed his eyes. His breathing steadied as he activated the Nine Hells Asura Cultivation Technique.
From the side, Russell's eyes widened in horror.
"Davi, what are you doing?! Get up! Others will get ahead of us!"
But Davi merely smiled, undisturbed.
"Don't you see, Russell? This test isn't about who enters the forest first. It's about surviving long enough to claim the Lunar Purity Fruit and keep it. That fruit only reveals itself at night... and it attracts monsters when it does. There's no sense in exhausting ourselves early. We should be preserving our energy…"
Russell hesitated, torn between urgency and the calm certainty in Davi's voice.
But before he could reply, a distant rustling drew his attention.
A group was approaching from the west, their silhouettes forming against the late morning mist.
"Nimue? Loken? What are you doing here?" Russell called.
"The exam has started. Shouldn't you be deeper inside the ashwood forest already?"
Loken raised a hand in greeting, his lips curving into a cocky grin. "Always so tense, Russell. You should really loosen up, it isn't like this is our first meeting"
Russell rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to groan.
I just don't like this guy, he thought.
Loken stopped a few paces away, his Mist Scorpion mount, Bob, looming silently behind him.
"You seem to have forgotten my last visit so quickly… Let me cut to the chase," Loken said, stepping forward. "I propose an alliance."
Priscilla, who had been silent so far, narrowed her gaze.
This isn't good, she thought.
"Why?" she asked aloud, her voice laced with suspicion. "With that beast mount of yours, you don't need anyone. Why burden yourself with us? We aren't even sure we'll find the fruit, why should we split it with you?" she asked
Both Davi and Russell turned to look at her, surprised.
She just meet them and was already this bold, moreso what she said made perfect sense!
Davi's grin returned. "Unless you lack confidence in Bob? Your team doesn't look half bad either.
You could be trying to freeload off us and claim the fruit for yourself."
Priscilla glanced sideways, masking her amusement.
"Good. Keep pushing them away" She thought
Loken's expression darkened.
"His name is Bob," he repeated firmly.
"And I have more confidence in him than in all of you combined. But I'm not a fool. Numbers matter, besides I'm not from this kingdom, and I don't know the terrain. That's why I came. But if you don't want the alliance, fine. I'll survive either way… Humph!"
"Hoho… At least I must commend you, you are arrogant yet not complacent thats a good thing" Davi said, nodding as if in approval as if he was a senior advising a junior.
"Ummm…. I also want to join the alliance" Nimue said timidly.
Her beast mount, a Groomling Fox named shadow nuzzled against her leg.
Toffle, standing beside her, said nothing but narrowed his eyes; he was in nimue's team and choose to go along with whatever she does besides he had other important goals and weather he passes or looses matters not to him.... this was the same guy who broke though the illusion maze.
"Nimue?" Davi blinked. "You came with Loken? Are you on the same team?"
"Yes," Russell answered for her. "They arrived together, however both are on different teams"
Davi exhaled slowly. "Then I'm sorry to disappoint you both. But we'll be going it alone."
"I have to obtain the Rune Key" he thought... "no matter the cost. I can't risk Russell's life. And when the time comes, I'll have to leave my teammates behind. An alliance would complicate things"
Priscilla's heart lifted slightly.
"Perfect. My plan remains intact." She thought.
Nimue bowed her head. "I understand. I... wish you luck."
Without another word, she and her team turned and departed.
Loken lingered a moment, scowling, before walking away.
Russell looked around nervously. "We should move. We're the only ones left."
"And that may be to our advantage," Davi said.
"Russell relax! For all we know, at full moon the lunar purity fruit could very well be revealed in front of ashwood forest. In my opinion we leave at sunset."
He turned to Priscilla. "Is that acceptable to you?"
Priscilla nodded. "Fine by me. I can use this time to train"
Russell sighed. "Fine, fine…" He could only reluctantly agree.
With that, the trio resumed their practice.
Davi delved into his cultivation, drawing in nen greedily.
A small vortex of energy spiraled around him. He could feel his muscles stretching, hardening... he was so close.
Because Davi lacked sight, they only way he could then survive was to strengthen his body constantly with asura qi, however because his body was still weak he could only strengthen a small part of his body at a time just like the time he fought back the earth fanged rats on the caravan on coming to the Blue Sky kingdom.
Then he could only strengthen his ears, hands, legs and staff with asura qi, but because he had not even completely tempered his skin then not only could he not maintain such for a long period but he fainted.
However if Davi could completely refine his muscles, the gain would be explosive!
He would not only be able to strengthen more parts of his body but then he could maintain such for a longer period of time.
"I am still a far call from strengthening my whole body, high time I start cultivating, the system countdown has already started" Davi thought.
***
High above, within the Mage Observation Tower, a council of Grandmasters watched through a magical mirror.
"Isn't that the blind one?" a mage asked.
"Devouring nen like it's nothing," Grandmaster Halvar muttered. "But surely there must be a drawback."
"His ability is mysterious," said Archon Alzerath. "But to fully understand it, I suspect that only "him" in the International Mage Council has the knowledge."
Lady Stacy frowned. "Why are they still outside the forest? Are they planning to forfeit?"
"Some teams are already engaging monsters," Lady Clare added.
She winced as a group of six candidates fell to a sleek black serpent. "Unfortunate that they encountered the Roaring Black Mamba."
"That creature may be a Rank C, but it's Class One Level 5 monster, five times stronger than an average magic acolytes. With venom, nen of poison manipulation, and sheer speed, they never stood a chance" Archon Draith said flatly.
Yet her gaze remained locked on Davi.
Why haven't you moved yet?
Old Man Frank paced behind them, grumbling.
Priscilla, don't screw this up. What was the point of placing Priscilla in your team if you won't move? Old man frank said annoyed.
As the mages whispered, scribes below took note of every movement.
Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the sky.
Griffins.
Seven squadrons of knight cadets descended in shimmering formation, each group bearing polished armor and crimson banners.
Archon Alzerath smiled. "Zi Mou. I didn't think you'd come."
"Did you believe only your mages need talents?" Zi Mou said, dismounting.
"You arrive on the final day. Planning to poach the best candidates?" He asked
"The candidates choose, not us. And with war looming, they'd be better trained at the Knight Academy!" Said Zi Mou
"You mean the same Knight Academy that hasn't produced a single prodigy in five years? Don't think that just because Kim Soo-hyun managed to single handedly drive out invaders millions of years ago means that your Knight academy is on top" Alzerath said dryly.
Zi Mou's jaw twitched.
"Will you two stop bickering?" Archon Draith groaned.
"Ah, my beloved papaya," Zi Mou turned to her with a grin. "Will you finally marry me?"
Her icy glare froze him solid.
Zi Mou laughed it off and turned to the mirror.
Then he stopped.
"Who is that kid?" Zi Mou Asked.
"I thought abandoning one's teammate is against the rules?" Zi Mou said
All the mages leaned in, their faces etched with surprise.
***
Evening had arrived.
The forest shadows stretched long across the clearing.
Davi opened his eyes.
His body pulsed with power. His muscles were fully tempered. His strength now matched that of a Class 1 Level 5 monster.
Davi thought "Now it begins…"
He stood, brushing dust from his robes.
Russell stirred. "It's time. The others are already deep inside."
Priscilla stood too, stretching.
Then Davi turned.
"I'm going alone."
Russell blinked. "What? What do you mean? Davi... you can't see! It's dangerous!"
But Davi had already leapt onto Gravilis.
Their bond allowed perfect communication. He whispered...
"Take us to the Bonecradle Range"
Gravilis roared in reply and she shot forward like a streak of lightning.
"Davi!! You cannot see, it is too dangerous" Russell shouted, trying to catch up. "Stop!!!"
But it was too late.
Gravilis vanished into the dense foliage.
Russell dropped to his knees.
"Please... don't die."
Priscilla walked up to him silently. With a quiet nod, the two took off after Davi, each harboring their own mission.
Be safe, Russell thought. Please be safe.