Chapter 67: Tests
"My name is Celestia Tenebri, the guildmaster assigned to Maroon's branch." She introduced herself.
"I-is that so?" I replied.
I've heard of elves and Demi-humans able to get citizenship here but they are easily discriminated against. To have someone like a dark elf become a guildmaster is unexpected considering the king of this country's reputation. If this was somewhere else like Romanus where every creature besides monsters can gain citizenship, then it would make sense.
"If you are thinking how a dark elf like me was able to become a guildmaster, it's because I'm an ambassador from Romanus. I'm also a high-ranking warlock," She said as if she read my mind.
"Ah, that would make sense."
So she is an ambassador and a warlock, huh? Interesting…
I attempted to use Analysis but what appeared in front of me was this:
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It was… just empty. Nothing to see here.
"Peeking at other's stats is very rude, you know," she said.
Huh, does this woman have some kind of mind-reading skill?
...
I'm just gonna pretend she knew I was gonna say that.
"Hmm, unlike the last guy, yours doesn't even show a single number or letter."
"Hijiri? Well, I don't know how he managed to get his stats to look like that. Maybe he has something that scrambles it. Anyway, you won't be able to look at mine, even Appraisal won't be able to pierce through it."
I see…
"Now then, back to business. You four were special recommended so you must have done something. However…"
She looked at us one by one and scratched the side of her head.
"Your levels and your ranks raise some suspicion…" She said, staring at us suspiciously.
"Well, your levels would actually make you guys around Blue or Green rank, but I'm guessing you slacked off doing quests. Anyway, folks around your level are common. The only question is if you guys are able to pass the test."
"Test?" I tilted my head in confusion.
"Well, you see. Even if you were given these-" She held up the invitations. "You still have to pass a specific test."
"What is this test about?"
"Well, this test will not only show that you are worthy of becoming a private adventurer, but you will also have your ranks raised to that fitting of one. The lowest rank that a private adventurer can be is Pink. Since you are all at Brown and White, it'll make us look like we are just giving these away."
"Oh… I see."
Well, technically we were pretty much given these by just asking. We… didn't do much, actually.
"So, we all have to complete a test and we will be able to become private adventurers? Or adventurers in this branch?"
"Yes. Each of you will have to complete a quest of Pink rank."
"I see… wait, what?"
"You didn't hear me?" She tilted her head. "You all have to complete a quest that has the difficulty of Pink rank. Do you think it will be an easy quest that will get you up to Pink rank instantly? Well, you are wrong."
"No, no, I understand. You are doing this so you can tell whether we are able to become a private adventurer or not, right?"
"Yes. I believe you get the gist."
I didn't really expect this, but I guess we have no choice. Now then, time to bombard her with questions. I need answers.
"I'm guessing everyone in this guild is at least Pink rank, right?"
"Correct."
"So we just have to do this one test to become Pink rank?"
"Indeed."
"And what if we fail the test?"
"Well, you'll be given another one of the same difficulty."
"How many chances do we have?"
"Only 3."
"Only 3?"
"Only 3."
I see. So we only have 3 chances. Fair enough.
Celestia looked over her shoulder at the lady and the lady leaned forward. Celestia whispered into her ear and the lady nodded. She then left the room.
A few seconds later, the lady returned and stood behind Celestia before handing her 4 documents. Celestia stared at every one of us before nodding.
"Alright. You, the Kitsune." She said, pointing to Kiyomi.
"Huh? Me?" Kiyomi asked.
"Yes." She assured.
"Wait, how do you know-?" I proceeded to ask, but she quickly cut me off and answered me.
"My eyes are special. I can see through simple transformations such as the one she is using."
"Wait, so-"
"Not everyone here is a human. There are also Demi-humans, phantoms, etc. using the same tactic. Holly behind me is a Nekomata."
Holly, the woman behind her was now different; She had two ears sticking out from her long green hair and two tails behind her.
"Yes, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Ho-"
"Anyway-" Celestia quickly interrupted. "Here is the quest you are tasked with."
She slid a document towards us, and Kiyomi took it. I shuffled myself next to her to take a peek at what she was tasked with.
"You'll be tasked with defeating a Crimson Flame Dragon. From rumors, it's been attacking villages and destroying forests. I say its level averages around 1300."
"1300!? Kiyomi is only around level 900, she can't possibly defeat-!"
"Are you saying she will fail?"
I gulped and shifted my attention to Kiyomi, giving her a worried look. She turned and looked at me.
"I can… do it," she said.
"Are you sure?" I asked to make sure.
"Yes." She said in a confident tone.
"Trust her. She can do it considering the many ice techniques she has. I think she'll be able to take the dragon on as long as she doesn't mess up," Celestia added. I was going to believe her until she said the last part.
"Anyway, you, the Ghoul. This is yours."
She tossed a document at Ravyn who struggled to catch it.
"You'll be going to the spirit forest and gather 100 holy spirits. Yo-"
"Wait a minute." I interrupted. "Why is she getting such an easy task?"
"Well actually, if you didn't know, the undead are allergic to most spirits, mostly holy spirits. Though it won't kill them, they'll experience a series of… conditions that only the undead can get. I can already tell from the look on her face that she is afraid."
I turned to Ravyn and there was a drop of sweat coming down from her cheek.
"Don't worry. If she manages to get out of this without passing out, she'll obtain resistance against spirits. Now then, you."
She pointed to Akane and threw a document at her, which she quickly caught.
"Since you are a Dragon Oni, I don't think slaying a few dragons is difficult, right?"
"As long as they aren't Bloodmoon Dragons, then I'm alright with it."
"Good, cause you will be facing Ice Dragons."
Immediately, I noticed Akane tense up and even heard a gulp.
"Is that alright with you?" Celestia asked and Akane nodded hesitantly.
Whoa, what's up with those two? They are usually very composed, especially Akane.
Then I realized another one was reacting the same. Make it three. Now that I think of it, aren't the monsters in these quests-
"You guessed it," Celestia said as if she just read my mind and finished my thoughts by herself. "You are all tasked to face against your greatest enemies, which will rival your specific set of skills. Ice against Fire, Undead against the Holy, Blood against Ice(Basically freezing temperatures can freeze blood)"
"Wait, so what about me?" I asked.
"Oh, well…"
***
Currently, I was floating up in the sky, looking down at the vast gorge that was before me.
"So this is where the golems are…" I said as I slowly descended into the chasm.
I was tasked to take out some golems that reside in this gorge. I'm supposed to bring back their cores, four of them. Heard that their cores are used as fuel sources.
Their levels ranged around 900 according to the guildmaster. I don't know if she is underestimating me or something. The girls are dealing with monsters with levels over 1000 while I'm stuck with creatures with 3 digit levels.
Oh well, at least that gives me an easier chance to pass. The girls are gonna have the most difficulty here. This is gonna be light work.
Now then...
I flew through the bottom of the chasm until I found four strange-looking boulders. Each of them gave off a strange feeling and once I used Analysis, I had figured I was here.
I think I should give them a warm greeting.
And by warm...
I formed a small condense sphere in between my hands. The energy stored in it began overflowing and a second layer of mana started to circle around it.
I would throw a round of Volatile Orbs at them but I've been brainstorming on new attacks to create. With atomic properties, I will make an attack that will not split up and explode as Volatile Orb does. Instead, I will make something that will instantly grow in size and while doing that, split the atoms of the elements it engulfs.
I have made it so that all atoms that it makes contact with will split up infinitely. This process will repeat and continue on until it reaches its limit. The range of this attack will be severely limited, unlike Volatile Orb; probably only 3 meters, but that is all the distance I need.
Since I don't have Explosion Magic, I won't be able to detonate something of greater mass so it will quickly dissipate once it reaches its maximum range but that doesn't matter.
If I were to name this skill... it would be...
Atomic Fission.
[Skills Obtained: Atomic Fission(Lvl.1)]
[Mana: 140,496,240/160,000,000]
I see. Twenty million mana to create an orb built of atomic properties. Well, it is a complex attack considering the effect it has.
Yes, I've done my research and it took me 5 nights to figure it out.
Anyway-
"Taste this," I said before sending my newly made attack at the golems.
The tiny sphere made its way towards the space separating the golems and then in an instant, it became a giant orb that phased through the ground like it was nothing.
When the sphere met its last moments, it faded into thin air and countless pieces of gravel filled the giant crater that was formed.
"Hmm, not bad." I complimented myself as I focused my attention on the golems which had woken up from the ruckus.
I descended onto the ground and watched as they rose up from the ground. Each of them was about 9 meters tall and 5 meters in length. In other words, they were big.
My Atomic Fission managed to devour a few chunks from them. However, I noticed when they walked over to the crater and touched the gravel, their arms began reforming using the stone from the crater.
I should make sure not to destroy them since I do need their cores. If I remember, cores are always directly in the center of the golems.
I smiled as I equipped Osiris and signaled the golems.
"Time to play."
.
.
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