The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

75 Pillar of Mind (I)

“You went through marrow washing?” Cain did not hide his amazement as he realized Levi’s accomplishment.

What Cain referred to as marrow washing was a process in which a Wave Warrior expelled the body’s impurities. Not just that accumulated in the skin but those that reach the marrow. It was an excruciating process but also a tremendous lucky chance, especially for Astral Wave Warriors.

Astral Wave Cultivators need to pay special focus to their foundation, and in the Wave Warrior rank, marrow washing played an essential part in it.

“Hahaha, that is right. I entered Level 3 yesterday during the night, and that rush of Astral Wave running through my body allowed me to go through marrow washing.” Levi’s face showed immense pride as he uttered those words. It made sense; after all, the sooner you begin to experience marrow washing, the greater your future cultivation prospects will be.

Even talented individuals find it hard to experience marrow washing before Level 4. The fact that Levi experienced it just as he entered Level 3 meant that he would almost definitely become a Level 7 Wave Warrior and would not have a hard time becoming a Wave Champion.

Cain was not surprised that Levi managed to enter Level 3, as this one already stood very close to that level once they left the secret trial.

Cain and Levi did not waste time and entered the auditorium. Many cadets were already seated, and the duo immediately became the center of attention.

The cadets’ gazes carried many emotions. Some were curious, others amazed, but many also showed envy and jealousy.

Cain and Levi ignored those gazes and went to their usual seats, where Beelze was already waiting.

.....

Whispers filled the auditorium for a few minutes, but once Razmun arrived, everybody became silent.

The dwarf-like teacher stared at Cain for a moment once he reached the podium but did not dally for long and began the class.

“Today’s class will focus on the use of poison. Since the physiology of the Dark Races varies, some toxins are incredibly effective against some while doing almost nothing against others.”

Razmun’s class about poison was not very exciting, but all the cadets understood its value. As for the notion that using those methods was not honorable, that was a foolish and naive way to look at things, and war swallowed all those that thought that way.

Once the class ended, Cain returned to his residence and did the usual. He paid respect to his father’s altar, trained, ate, showered, and slept until the next day.

Once Cain woke up, he went to the auditorium to attend Vice-Captain Josef’s Military Tactic Class.

“We will focus today’s class on the use of destructive methods to break apart the enemy’s chain of command.” Vice-Captain Josef’s strict aura did not change as he began to impart his knowledge to the cadets.

The chain of command was critical on any battlefield, and any flaw could cause thousands of deaths. Learning how to disrupt it was imperative, and every cadet knew it.

Cain, Levi, and Beelze paid full attention to the class. Once it was over, the trio left the auditorium.

“Wait a moment.”

Before the trio could disperse, Levi spoke to the two of them.

“I am going to the Pillars of Trial and wanted to know if you two would like to accompany me.”

The Pillars of Trial was not a foreign concept for Cain since it was in the information given to him by the military academy regarding the Imperial Lightning Fort.

They were special facilities with trials that members of the military could take. The pillars were not in the cadet section of the Imperial Lightning Fort but in the central part, where soldiers resided.

Cadets could test their abilities in the Pillars of Trial, and there was even a ranking designed for them, but unless you reached Level 3, going there was inviting mockery.

“Actually, I was already planning to go to the pillars,” Beelze allowed a wisp of her aura to reach the duo, allowing them to see that she had also achieved Level 3.

Levi and Beelze turned to Cain to see what he would do. Although his strength was too weak to achieve anything in the pillars, there was no problem in checking them out, so he agreed.

The trio went to the gate that connected the cadet section and the main part of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Once they reached it, they found a familiar face.

The one guarding the gate was an old man with a skinny body, the same one Vice-Captain Josef addressed as Sir Oliver when Cain and Levi took part in the secret trial.

Oliver opened his eyes once he saw the trio arrive, and a small smile appeared.

Cain, Levi, and Beelze felt those eyes could pierce into their souls. Even Wink could not make them feel that way.

“You two reached Level 3 and want to use the Pillars of Trial. Aaaa, the youth.” Oliver said nothing more before waving his hand and opening the giant gate.

The trio gave a respectful bow to the man and were about to cross the gate when they heard him speak again. This time his target was not Levi or Beelze but Cain.

“You are too weak for the Pillar of Strength, Pillar of Destruction, Pillar of Resilience, and Pillar of Speed. However, I advise you to take the Pillar of Mind.”

Cain was a little surprised by the advice and was full of questions, but Oliver closed his eyes the next second. In the end, he just nodded and carried on.

As soon as the trio crossed the gate, they detected many powerful auras. Unlike in the cadet’s section, where you would find it almost impossible to see Level 3 Wave Warriors, they were common in this place.

The trio did draw attention, as Levi’s sign of marrow washing and Beelze’s beauty were odd, even for those soldiers. However, the trio stayed focused and went straight to the Pillars of Trial.

It did not take long for the trio to arrive at the pillars, as they were purposely placed close to the cadet’s section. It made sense since they were one of the few facilities cadets could use in the main part of the Imperial Lightning Fort.

Cain was amazed by the Pillars of Trial. Each of them was a gigantic structure that rose for hundreds of meters, purely black and equal in every sense except for the words engraved on their surface.

Each pillar had written the type of trial they performed in glowing words, and beneath them were two lists. One list was the Soldier Ranking, and the other was the Cadet Ranking.

“Ok, I will go first. I will use the Pillar of Strength. It won’t take long.” Levi showed a confident smile as he walked to the massive black pillar.

There was no queue, as multiple people could use the Pillar of Strength simultaneously.

Levi just put his hand over the pillar’s surface before vanishing.

There was no way for Cain and Beelze to see what Levi did inside the Pillar of Strength, but they could have an idea of just how well he did by looking at the Cadet Ranking.

The Cadet Ranking had ten places, and at the bottom, there was the name Stellar Wrath with the description Mid Level 3 Strength by its side.

Most of the names were cadets of previous generations, and since they managed to engrave their names in the ranking, they were incredibly talented. Even the N°10 position was a great honor, and it would also grant them a reward in the form of military credits.

After ten minutes, a change happened in the ranking. The name Stellar Wrath vanished, only to be replaced by Blood Inferno, and the legend by its side had Late Level 3 Strength.

There was always a great number of people paying attention to the ranking in the Pillars of Strength, so seeing a change in it drew a lot of attention, even if it was in the Cadet Ranking.

Levi exited the pillar a few minutes later, and everybody focused on him. He just smiled as he got back to Beelze and Cain.

Beelze did not say a word before going to the Pillar of Destruction. That trial focused on the destructive power that a Wave Warrior could achieve.

Just like with Levi, once Beelze touched the pillar, she vanished.

Cain and Levi focused on the Cadet Ranking of the Pillar of Destruction, and after a few minutes, they saw how the N°10 position also changed.

Beelze managed to take that spot, and the pillar classified her destructive power as Late Rank 3.

Levi’s smile froze as he saw Beelze walking toward him. He had shown such bravado just now, and she achieved the same.

Cain only smiled as he saw the duo exchange challenging glances and walk toward the Pillar of Mind. He put his hands over it and vanished.