Chapter 8

“So what do you think Osfor?” said Dorova

We were both inside my laboratory within Albion. Dorova took a seat and began explaining the ‘merge’ she wants to do with our school.

“So once again let me get this straight, you are offering Godsteel, only your country has a mine that can extract it…even more you will ‘lend us’ your strongest students , so that they would help the students of Albion to understand better the ways of the blade and to spare with them…for just one thousand Alsian mage?”

“Yes”

“I can’t seem to understand, quite frankly, should you not be discussing matters like these with Kansaki? He is much more efficient in all that regards negotiations…I can’t seem to understand why you would provide us with such a thing while only receiving help that I probably think is less valued than your offer…” I said

“This is the wish of the queen…so I will ask for the last time do you agree?”

“I do agree but we will need to finalize things by speaking to Gaz-sama. I can’t seem to think that he would refuse the steel of legends the only material that can disrupt magic and cancel it.”

“Very well” she said “Now that the matter is over I want you to do me a personal favor”

“What might that be?” I said

“I want you to oversee these children of mine. They are the pride of our school and I consider them like my children. I cannot trust anyone here but you, if Greetman was here I would have asked him of this.”

“Why not ask Osfor? He too was your student once?”

“No. Osfor is a great swordsman. He however will never take a disciple of mine to his tutelage, he would rather find one and raise him himself. Greetman however is much more flexible…the irony…” she said

“Good, I will see to it then, so where are your students?” I asked

“They should be here by now.”

***

“So this is the famous Albion” Said Jibi.

“it looks beautiful…too beautiful for my tastes…”said Rika.

“…”

Lori however kept silent.

The three Astartian stars were now at the gates of the arena. While in front of them stood the five strongest of Albion.

“I can feel the hostility all the way from over there…” said Jibi

“Well that is expected considering we had beaten the living soul out of them” mocked Rika.

“Not all of them…”Mumbled Lori

“How long are you going to sulk about that…it’s been months let it go…” said Jibi

Lori however didn’t even respond probably not even registering what Jibi just said.

“Welcome to Albion, the greatest magic school in all the great plans” said a red haired girl giving a small bow also known by the name Vessma. Vessma Stronghold.

“So it is you…” said Rika

“Yes it is I” replied Vessma with a small vein popping on her forehead.

“What can we do for you? I am sure that you accommodations have been arranged for” coldly stated the red head

“We were just taking a stroll inside the school…it seems that this arena is well equipped…How about a rematch? I can see that you really couldn’t let go of that humiliating defeat you suffered that time” Said Rika with an air full of taunt

“We are here to welcome you, it would be rude to end up hurting you while you just got here, and we can’t have that now can we?” said the red head

“Oh I think you are just scared of ending up with the same outcome of last time.”

Vessma who now began to seethe with rage approached forward but was stopped by Zeles who was next to her.

“The arena is closed for the moment if you want to duel we will do it later. For now you should continue on with your tour to the school I can even guide you through it.”

“No need, we will find our way.” Replied Rika.

“Very well then.” Said Zeles

And the party of three walked away guided by the short little girl.

“I really wanted to have another bout with her…it seems I will have to wait” said Rika under her breath

“You are always looking for trouble…”Said Jibi in a scolding tone

“I can’t help it, I just wanted to push her buttons…” said Rika “Hey Lori you have been awfully quiet what is the matter?”

Lori however kept silent

“Read the mood…”Said Jibi and the proceeded forward.

They however were met with two more kids wearing the uniform of Albion

These two were Shiki and Kaori

“Oh if it isn’t the lightening kid” said Jibi.

“Oh, I remember you.” Said Shiki with a smile that was so bright Rika had to cover her face from the shine of his teeth.

“What can I do for you Jibi-san?” politely asked Shiki.

“Oh nothing much actually, ah by the way. Where is the whit haired girl? I can’t seem to find her”

“Oh…She is not here.” Said Shiki in a worrying tone.

“Hmm when will she be here? I have been dying to meet her you know, she was the only one to give me a hard time back at the Grand tournament and I would really love to meet her again.”

“Well, so do I…She is at Quietus” replied Shiki

“Hmm, at quietus? Doing what? I hope it won’t take long…”

“She is at the Crucible…” said Shiki

…

For one moment all three students were stupefied and as if not hearing correctly Jibi asked again

“What? What do you mean the crucible? Are you sure you are not just playing games with me man?”

“No” said Shiki “She really is at the crucible…”

Jibi then took a step backwards as if not believing he said

“That is madness! Why would you let her go to such a place!” angrily said Jibi

“…there was nothing I could do.”

Lori however, said

“I hope she never makes it out alive. After all, she is the reason behind his death…”

“Take that back!” Roared Shiki whose smile just transformed into a menacing gaze. “She had nothing to do with his passing. She only acted on instinct. He was possessed and she did the right thing” his words were filled with rage, except for the last statement.

“I am no fool. I have seen people turn, and while he had turned he somehow came back, I have seen it. He even protected her. And for that he was rewarded with betrayal…I have seen the replays of that day over and over again…so spare me your empty words, words you don’t even believe them to be true…”

Said Lori who for the first time showed any sort of emotion. An emotion that was transcribed to utter and true wrath.

***

What the hell is this!

What in bloody hell is this?

I was inside the twenty seventh floor and I am seriously considering giving up. How did it come to this? Never in my life had I thought I will be this frightened.

Monsters of all kind roamed the place. I was inside a volcanic area. My magic is utterly useless not even a sword can help…

Great lizards, wyverns and majestic serpents. There was nothing I could do. The gateway is a few hundred meters away but I cannot move to reach it. As if I move but one step, I will die.

I know it. The moment I was thrown in this place. These creatures began to search for me. And as if the one responsible over this place is jesting, he placed me in the safest place but the most lethal nevertheless.

The air is dry and scorching thus my inability to use ice. If I stand still I will be roasted alive. The creatures cannot see me but they are passing next to me, and every time one of them passes I shudder at the thought of it sensing me…

They are all king classed sacred beasts. Even if I was in another place but this, I think that one of them is barely manageable…however all of them at once is nothing short of a suicide. And more over with this type of place…I am bound to die

I know that if I run toward the exit I will die before I could even reach halfway…

What am I supposed to do in this type of situation?

Then I remembered…

(Flash back)

The day before I was leaving I was stopped by the principal.

She handed me an item

I looked at it and saw that it was a small ring

“What is this?” I said

“It is the prize that Asura had won when he defeated the Ashe wyvern. Take it, it might help you there” said the principal

I took a look at the ring. It was made of silver and gold with inscriptions and unreadable runes all over it.

“This was said to be the final prize to a very old dungeon in the Astorian kingdom. It is a ring that enables its wearer a brief time of invisibility, use it if you think your life is in danger.” She said

I took it and began to walk away.

However just before I could leave the school gates I looked once again and saw them. All of them, friends and teachers all waiting outside for me encouraging me and shouting.

I need to do this. Not only for me. For them as well…

(End of flash back)

I searched through my pocket and found it. It was glowing as if it was calling out to me to wear it.

I did and instantly felt it tugging at my man.

It began to absorb the mana inside my body with great speed.

This was probably the cost of its usage.

I then instantly began to run. I ran and ran only to notice that some of the creatures began to feel something was wrong. The sounds of me running were beginning to wake them from their mindless search and they began to focus more on the direction of which the sound of me running came from

More of the creatures took action although some began to screech and hiss.

Some even began to fight just because they bumped with each other while they were mindlessly looking for me.

One of the wyverns hurled a fireball that struck few meters behind me sending me rolling but I didn’t stop. Although I was probably injured I still stood back up and began to run once again.

My mana was almost fully exhausted and I barely passed the halfway point.

Another serpent was in my way, this one began to hiss and his scales began to vibrate menacingly. While he had no way to detect me he was still blocking me so I jumped over him which made it hiss even louder then I jumped forward right before the serpent would bite away at the place I was at a second before. I rolled forward and began to run.

Almost a hundred meters before I reach the gateway I understood that I will never make it without removing the ring, as if I kept it on, it will kill me by sucking my mana dry.

I then did the most stupid and reasonable thing, I took it off and kept running, this however, brought the notice of every creature my way.

I kept on running fighting the exhaustion, but I took a moment to look back. What I saw was the scariest thing in my life. The creatures began to poor down from everywhere filling the entire path behind me while few wyverns hurled more fireballs my way.

Twenty meters. Is only what is left but I will die before reaching the gate.

So I jumped and used almost every ounce of my energy to create a wind barrier.

The fireballs that came toward me made contact with it and exploded in an amazing manner sending me with the force of impact through the gate and into the twenty eight floor.

Feeling safe I laid on my back, for a long time…

“You made it. Not bad, you are lucky to have such an item. I thought that your life was lost the moment you were thrown in a volcanic area. Rest well the doorway to the next challenge is open, if you think yourself capable of continuing you can go on, I have something to take care of.” Said the voice

I waited for my mana to refill and bit on a piece of meat that I was saving…my last one.

Then I began to heal myself ever so slowly. After all I needed to be in top shape for the next floor. I just hope that it is not in a hot area…

***

“You dare challenge me even after you know of my identity human?” said the Overseer.

I instantly replied

“Nah! After all, the weakest of you managed to defeat two Everlastings and a whole army of devils and legendary knights. I think I will pass on challenging you…for now”

“Hoo, so you know…interesting, now that I am taking a look at you…What are you? A descendant of a god, a human self a dragon’s body, and a strange demonic entity within you…I lived long and never had I seen such chaos in a single body, yet this chaos is not ravaging you, no it is strengthening you…”

“Who knows?” I said

“Then are you ready to climb?” the overseer said

“It is why I had come” I said

But right after I finished that statement a person came from outside the gate that was showing the quietus square.

He looked like a young man wearing clothes for mages with the emblem of Astora. The boy was a bit tall while slim and had dark blue hair color. He had big eyes with an amicable looking face.

“Oh I finally got here…” the boy said “I hope I was not late, oh hey man do you have an idea about this place” said the boy

“None, but I think I got the jest of it however…”I said

“What do you mean?" the boy then said

I then answered. "Well this place is supposed to offer challenge to the participants and after clearing the supposed challenge or chore in a given floor we will get access to the next area. I think we are supposed to go through that door” I pointed toward the gate in the middle of the hall “and the challenge should begin”

“Oh, so it is like that.” The boy said “Then what are we waiting for? My name is Nelly. What is yours? Friend” said the boy while he placed his hand forward for a handshake.

I looked at the boy and instantly grabbed my sword and with a vertical strike I split him in half.

“My name is Asura.” I said to the now morphing dead corps.

“And things like this won’t be enough to trick me.” I said “You will have to do better than this Overseer-san.”

“Hoo, interesting, very interesting. I should have known! You were able to see my form so why would you not see the real form of one of the doppelgangers. Very good, very good indeed.”

Once he said that, the platform which I was on began to change. The number in the middle of it switched, and the gateway to the Quietus square disappeared.

“Challenger! Proceed.” Said the Overseer.

“Oh I will” I said and walked into the portal and into the next floor.