[Ding!]
[Evolution Complete!]
[Gravilis has successfully evolved!]
[Current Rank: D]
[Current Class: Rare]
[Status: Partially Healed]
[New! Elemental Affinity: Darkness]
[Ding!]
[Combat Role Update: Ambush Specialist (34.27%) | Terrain Modifier (3.22%)]
[Bond Sync Increased!: 40%]
[Ding!]
[Host Davi Stats Panel Updated!]
[Exp Gained: +250\100]
[Asura Points Gained: +50]
[Soul Strength: +830/1000]
[Physical Strength: +125/1000]
Davi blinked as the crimson interface cascaded before his eyes.
It glowed with subtle pulses, each beat echoing a power surging within him and Gravilis like a feedback loop.
The evolution wasn't just readable in the interface, Davi could feel it!
The air around them shifted; Gravilis had grown larger about 1.4meters; the average size of a horse, its plated scales now a darker sheen of obsidian, like a surge of energy flowed into his body.
Gravilis purred in delight, bounding toward Davi.
With their bond now at 40%, she could easily recognize his scent even from afar, their connection was deepening.
"You... really pulled through eeh" Davi said, with a smile full of pride as he used his hands to rub against its new scales.
Gravilis let out a low, thunderous hum and dipped its head, dark eyes scanning Davi with a hint of renewed intelligence.
"You're rare class now... you should be proud" He placed a hand gently on its broad forehead.
"Still that was an unexpected encounter… I must go and speak a word to that person" Davi thought.
Davi asked Russell to take him to the person responsible for the change in Gravilis (Nimue) which he gladly obliged.
***
Back in the field, chaos had mostly calmed after Nimue's injury, but tension still lingered… the results had yet to be called, the exam had a deeper reason all because 'that' place would be opened.
In fact many had lost their lives and yet the exam still hasn't being concluded.
Ayo!!! Who wouldn't be tensed in such a situation?
Lady Stacy raised a hand, gesturing toward the nearest Magic Masters.
"Heal her quickly!"
Gasps echoed amongst the candidates…
No examinee had ever been healed during this Mage Ascension Exam… In Fact most candidates understood that the exam even wished for their deaths so only the stong could be born.
"Why her?" A question asked by many.
However Lady Stacy's voice brooked no argument.
"We cannot afford to lose someone like her." She said.
Soon a nearby magic master, took out a potion of blue liquid and gently poured the streams of healing liquid into Nimue, her pale, injured body slowly knitting itself back together.
Her breaths became steady, the bruises fading under the glowing light.
Russell explained all that was happening to Davi as he watched it all unfold.
Davi on the other hand wondered who this 'mystery' girl is as she had tried to tame Gravilis without permission… "Was that on purpose?" He thought.
Nimue's eyes fluttered open and scanned the field before locking onto him or rather Gravilis then him.
She recalled a beast had rushed to her before her black out… "Could that be it?" She thought.
However on noticing their approaching presence, she confirmed it and became a little tensed… She didn't understand what had happened herself but knew it probably wasn't good judging from the stares of people around her.
Archon Drairth watched as all this was displayed… Someone of darkness affinity is born after so many years… "The times are changing" she said.
Later, as she was helped to sit up, Davi, Russell and Alyssia had approached her with bluey Alyssia's pet as well as gravilis following closely behind them.
Before Nimue could speak, Davi broke the silence.
"Thank you!"
Nimue stunned "…"
She was caught of guard… wasn't this blind fellow about to caution me eeh?
"Why thank you?" She asked.
~Smiles
"If not for whatever you did, I do not know how i would have healed my beast, It was because of that, I was able to heal him and make a lot of gains… Although I must commend you for trying to tame her" Davi said smiling.
"Really?!" Nimue said stunned, just then she seemed to recall a time in her vision where she regained a moment of clarity and tried to tame two beast although she failed in one… as for the other…
As if on cue, she immediately turned to Alyssia.
"I am sorry Alyssia, It wasn't my intention" she said.
Alyssia, arms folded, gave her a long look.
"Hmm… It's not a big deal besides i have an A rank eclipse howler for a pet… you can keep shadow that's what friends are for… However, what happened to you?" She asked.
"The sudden outburst?"
Silence
"I honestly don't know… But he spoke to me… something about the 'Devils Lair' I really don't understand" She said.
"Devils lair?!" Davi, Russell and Alyssia said in unison
"I…I honestly don't know" she said.
***
At the mages platform.
Every single grandmaster upwards to the magic archons present from all sorts of academies and magic guilds all looked at Nimue… Archon Draith and Alzareth most especially looked at her… with a thousand thoughts going through their minds.
As if they had reached some sort of mutual agreement via shared telepathy they thought in unison.
"We must bring her back at all cost!"
***
"Devils lair? If I recall Archon Alzareth said something about that place opening soon… could your powers be related to whats in there?" Alyssia suddenly spoke.
"I don't know but i must pass this exam to find out!" Nimue said with conviction.
She herself had yet to understand why all this strange things are happening to her or what sort of power she wields.
Just then, Alzerath stepped forward, his voice booming
The crowd turned towards the mage platform.
"The results of the Illusion Maze have been compiled and these are the results"
"Of the original 30,937 candidates that participated in the Illusion maze exam"
The crowd fell silent.
"18,907 Passed"
A collective gasp erupted.
"4,707 failed"
As he said this, an invisible force descended on the candidates and their respective beast forcefully separating those that passed and those that failed.
The tone shifted.
"7,323 perished."
The quiet turned to stunned awe.
Those on the left are those who failed and those on the right are those who passed.
"However, you all are the survivors and will proceed to the next exam despite if you pass or fail" Archon Alzareth shocking the crowd.
"The next phase of the Mage Ascension Exam begins at dawn," Alzerath continued.
"It is a survival task details would be shared at dawn tomorrow" he said.
"You will have three days only those who return with the fruit will pass."
Murmurs rippled.
But he wasn't finished.
"Additionally, the Knight Academies will hold their recruitment at the end of the survival test."
A thunderclap of shock silenced everyone.
The Knight Academies? Now?
"What? This world now has knights?" Davi thought
"I thought this was just magic based and all… how did knights enter the equation?" He asked.
"I seemed to recall my father the king speak about a certain knight that saved blue sky kingdom at a time of adversity… they may not really pale in comparison to mages just that their path is different" Alyssia said after listening to Davi's question.
"I that so?" Davi said.
Many looked uncertain, some already whispering about switching in the crowd… the exam was already bad enough and others were not enthusiastic about the prospects of war.
That's when Archon Draith stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with a strange light.
"There once lived a legend," she said, softly.
"A man who walked both paths. First a Knight and then a Mage; He ascended beyond both titles and became something else. A legend… and most of you might have heard of him."
"Kim Soo-hyun… Who single handedly drove out invaders millions of years ago and caved out the southern continent we know of today" She said.
Gasps of wonder and awe.
Davi stood there, pondering.
"Is it even possible to follow both paths?" Russell asked in shock seconded by Nimue.
"Well if she says so, It is true… In my family archives I once came across such name… It really is possible to go from knight to mage… as for the reverse, I am not so sure" Alyssia said.
"This world… Just what secrets do you hold?" He thought.
Just then,
[Ding!]
[Alert! Alert!! Alert!!!]
[New Mission Available]
[Retrieval Task: Retrieve the Lost Rune Key]
[Location: Bonecradle Range]
[Time Limit: 72 hours (Synced with Exam)]
[Penalty: Host's Twin Brother Russell will be eliminated.]
[Reward: Mini Pocket Dimension 33 Meters Cubic Storage Capability (Roughly the size of one shipping container), +50 Asura points]
The panel froze Davi where he stood.
His heart thundered.
"No…!" Davi cursed.
Silence.
Then the world fell around him.
A sharp memory stabbed into his mind.
Bonecradle range; he saw a young Gravilis bleeding under collapsing rocks, that strange beast's howl echoing in the air with tick nen energy of decay.
"Thats where Gravilis was injured… Why send me back there? Why use my brother as penalty?" Davi cursed.
[Host is not strong enough]
His fists clenched.
Davi's chest heaved with fury
He gritted his teeth. "Then I'll become strong enough… Strong enough to protect him (Russell) from you!" Davi said inwardly, his heart seething with rage.
Davi didn't know if his anger originated form him or because of the original will of this body or because of his promise and bond he had with Russell to protect him.
Just then, although faint and almost unnoticeable.
A chuckle escaped from the asura system.
[Host isn't stong enough to command the asura!]
***
Russell unaware of what happened, approached Gavilis.
Eyeing the sleek, new form of Gravilis.
"He looks like a monster now worthy of you Davi haha" He said happily.
"He is… Its a pity you couldn't tame one" Davi said.
Russell smirked, then narrowed his eyes.
"You okay? You went pale earlier."
"Yeah. Just... remembering things" Davi lied.
A few others came by as they talked.
"Let's see what tomorrow brings" Said Loken
Surprisingly, Toffle Ruggard the Iron Hounds mercenary leader announced his withdrawal.
"I was never meant to be a mage… the knight's path calls… Although I would still participate in the exam for the trill" He said.
Soon, everyone dispersed.
The twins climbed onto Gravilis and rode back toward their inn; cool wind brushing their cloaks as gravilis ran happily for the first time.
Russell leaned back. "Whatever happens tomorrow... you and me, right?"
Davi nodded. "Always."
***
From afar, the watching figures observed.
Lady Stacy, arms folded, curiosity burning in her eyes.
Archon Alzerath, silent.
Archon Draith, mischievous grin curling her lips.
And Old Man Frank… his eyes gleamed with something darker
The wind whispered through the trees and the storm loomed closer.