“Alright! We’re off, Marion!”

The Trio was about to go to the test.

“Okay, kids! Don't embarrass Emerald Horn Inn, huh!” Marion saw them off, her hands on her waist.

“We will not! Besides, we’re not kids anymore!” Cain grinned.

“Yeah, yeah! You’re all kids!” Marion smiled.

Kingsmight entrance test was held at Great Onka Plains, southeast of Aroum City. The Trio went there using a free carriage service issued by the Kingdom especially for this event.

When the Trio arrived, the plains was already crowded by the participants and non participants, it became a show for the public.

There were 4 wooden towers that stood on the plains. A mage with blue robe and some guards could be seen on each tower.

“Hey, over there, we need to return the form to verify our registration," Lexa pointed at the stand.

At the stand, the Trio verified their registration. When they left the stand, an old man with a hood approached the stand from behind and quickly exchanged Cain’s paper with his own paper and left. No one noticed what he did.

“All participants, we will begin the test shortly," a magic enhanced voice echoed around the plains.

Then, the mage from every tower cast a spell. Glowing yellowish light from every tower shot out to each other tower. A rectangle shape barrier erected, each tower as it’s corner.

“Alright, I am Bagulv Caral, Captain of Kingsmight," Bagulv spoke from one of the towers with sound enhanced magic. Dios stood behind him.

“Marry me!!!”

“Oh my goddess!!! He’s so cool!”

“He’s my reason for this test! Hey!! I’m your number one fan!!!”

The crowd had gotten wild from Bagulv’s appearance. He’s clearly very popular in Arozora, especially girls, even though they knew he was a married man. Being a Captain of Kingsmight from a young age, he’s King Iligo’s Right Hand.

“Wooaah, look at the crowd, they’re going crazy!” Cain was amazed.

“Yep, and he’s the older brother of Ivela Caral, the woman we saw at the Pillar yesterday," said Lexa.

“Wha-!?” Cain’s mouth was wide open

“Told you, she’s out of your league," Lexa shook her head.

“Welcome to Kingsmight Entrance Test ladies and gentleman! Kingsmight now only has 88 members. That means we only have 12 hot seats right now to fill. So, from five thousand of you, we are gonna cut you down to 200, at least for the first round. On the second round we are gonna cut it again to 50! Then those 50 will be given special training until there are 12 left!” said Bagulv to the crowd.

“Why do they need to refill the seats? Where are the other 12?” Cain asked Lexa and Higa.

“They died, mainly from expedition, even if they’re powerful, there’s always a beast or someone that could beat them. That's why their salary is high, because the mortality rate is high and their responsibility is big as they directly and indirectly protect the King," said Lexa.

The mage from each tower cast a spell again. A little tremor made the ground outside the barrier elevated into 3 steps like stairs.

“Now, before we begin, for all non participants, please step outside of the barrier," said Bagulv.

When people started leaving the barrier, the yellowish barrier turned into a translucent green light. Meaning all the people inside the barrier were above 19, It was simply a double precaution.

“Even though we watched this 3 years ago, it’s still amazing because we’re inside the barrier now!” Cain couldn’t hide his excitement.

“Looks like we’re ready right now,” Bagulv spoke again. “The rule is, just like the last entrance test, you're gonna have to fight each other. You won't die inside the barrier, but you will still get injured, but it won't be a fatal one. If you get out of the barrier, you will be considered to fail, if you are unconscious, you’ll be teleported outside by our mages. You can use anything, magic, combat technique and weapons. You can go all out, in fact you must! Because we only give 30 minutes to reach 200 participants. If after 30 minutes more than 200 participants are still standing, all of you will also fail!”

“This is gonna be awesome!”

“Five thousand to two hundred under 30 minutes!? Also twice the amount of the participants from the last test! Gonna be awesome indeed!”

The crowd’s getting wild.

“Ready? First round! Now! Begins!”

4 digit number made by magic and a projection of hourglass appeared above the barrier, indicating the number of participants and the timer.

Magic flew everywhere, it's chaos inside the barrier. Everyone tried their best, including the Trio.

“Alright!!! Let’s join them!” Higa was fired up.

“No need, they will come for us… see? Incoming!” Lexa calmly observed the battlefield when five human sized fireballs came straight to them.

Higa quickly reacted by erecting a stone wall from the ground, covering the Trio while men behind them ate the fireballs directly. When the smoke lifted, they lay unconscious on the ground and they were teleported.

Then, from above, a man with glowing fist targeted the Trio.

“Sorry, kids! But y'all look like easy targets!”

The man came at them from above with incredible speed, he hit the ground, the Trio easily evaded the impact. Dust filled the air, then a knee came and crushed the man's face. He got knocked out with 1 hit.

“We ain't easy yo! Aren't kids either!” said Cain after he landed the knee kick.

“Say Cain, why don't we make a bet. Whoever gets more, wins, and the loser must pay for food party after this," said Higa.

“Sure! Wait... since when we will have food party after this!?”

“Who cares!? I’m in too!!!” said Lexa, then, she cast a water elemental magic.

A giant torrent of water ravaged the battlefield.

“Holy crap!!!” That was elemental creation magic! And a high level one!” The crowd’s excited.

Dozens of participants got caught by the torrent, either they got unconscious or got pushed out from the barrier.

“Dang! Shouldn't have made that bet! And we forgot to bring weapons!” Cain looked for weapons lying on the ground that was used by the participants.

“Hahah! But isn’t it fun?” Higa already fought numbers of participants with the stone spear he made from magic on his hand, he swiftly 1 hit some of them.

In just 5 minutes, the participants count were already at 4 thousand.

A big Icefrog appeared on the battlefield. Its body was covered with Ice shards. And on its head stood a short man. Chilling mist covered the area near them.

“Hey! Isn't that a Spirit Beast!?”

“Yeah, it is!”

The crowd’s getting wilder.

“Let's do it, Froggy!” The short man ordered his Spirit Beast.

Countless ice shards shot out from its body into every direction.

Only few participants in that area survived the attack.

“Looks like there are many strong participants in this test," King Iligo appeared on the tower where Bagulv was.

“Your Majesty! You came!” Bagulv bowed his head.

“Yeah, I overslept," Igo yawned. Behind him, Ivela Caral smiled, Bagulv nodded with a smile. She was on her duty to guard their King.

King Iligo looked at Dios, then, Dios nodded. The King let out a bitter smile, then observed the battlefield.

It had been 25 minutes, and it was down to 400 participants left.

Cain didn't look exhausted for one bit. He calmly fought numbers of people, those who were not average, they were the strongest people out of the five thousand.

Lexa and Higa also fought calmly, they didn't look tired at all.

A muscular man with brown skin appeared in front of Cain. He knew, this man’s strength was different from the rest. His height was about 2 meters.

“You are strong, you and your friends are different from the others," the man spoke to Cain.

“Ho? Thank you, big man! But talking won't get us anywhere!”

“Haha, you! I like! I am Pargo!”

Suddenly he moved so fast to Cain’s back. Cain reacted with a kick. He guarded Cain’s kick, and countered with rapid punches.

Cain calmly evaded each hit. And countered with the same move, rapid punches. Pargo was also able to evade them.

Both of them took a step back and unleashed each other's techniques.

Pargo’s right upper half body turned black, he unleashed Obsidian Ram, a body tackle technique.

Cain unleashed Dual Shattering Fists. Upgraded version of Shattering Fist, but using 2 fists, targeting upper and lower parts of the body

When the techniques collided, the ground shook and a loud sound echoed inside the barrier.

The loud sound attracted King Iligo and the others on the tower.

“Isn't that Hodu Tribe?” said Ivela, she meant the brown skinned man.

“Yes, Hodu Tribe is a tribe that lives in the southwest of the Kingdom, their raw power is their pride, legend says their ancestor moved the mountain by flicking their finger," said Bagulv.

“And yet, that man was able to stop such force," said Ivela.

“Yeah, I would never eat his technique head on. And I have never seen that young man’s technique.”

“Hmm… I wonder what kind of technique is that," Ivela wondered while watching the battlefield.

Igo and Dios didn't give any comment, because they already knew.

Both didn't move a bit. Both of Cain’s fists landed on Pargo’s right upper arm. He managed to stop a powerful brute force and Pargo was able to withstand the Dual Shattering Fist.

“Never seen someone outside my tribe would actually face my technique head on!” Pargo grinned.

“And I never thought someone would eat my technique and didn't have a scratch on him," Cain’s face filled with excitement.

“You’re those people who actually enjoy a good fight, aren't you?” Pargo retracted his posture.

“So are you," Cain also stood back.

A flare lit up the sky. The countdown was over. 30 minutes had passed and 182 participants were left on the field.

“That's it! The first round is finished!” Bagulv’s voice could be heard while the flare was diminishing. The barrier was also fading.

“Now, you can rest for 15 minutes before the second round begins. Congratulation for all of you who has passed the first round, cheers!” said Bagulv.

“Looks like our show has to wait," said Pargo.

“Yeah, and my name is Cain by the way," Cain offered his hand for a handshake.

“Just Cain? I am Pargo Vas Odga of Hodu,"

Pargo took Cain's hand firmly.

“Yeah, just Cain.”

“Watch yourself on the second round, Cain, I’m sure we'll meet again," Pargo smiled, and turned his back then left.

“Cain!” Lexa and Higa walked towards him.

“Are you alright!?” Lexa was checking on him.

“Eh? Why wouldn’t I be alright?”

“That man had been targeting us, but we always stayed away from him. I can sense it, he holds tremendous power. Then we saw you fighting with him," Higa answered.

“Why would you evade him? Yeah he’s strong but he won't eat you. Besides, from our fight earlier he seems nice," said Cain.

When the Trio was busy chatting, three figures walked towards them.

“Hey! Hey! Isn't that!?”

“That’s!? The Silver Rose! That's Ivela Caral! Oh my Goddess! She’s so beautiful!”

The surviving participants were surprised by her appearance on the battlefield.

Ivela Caral walked towards the Trio, behind her, a young woman and a man accompanied her, also Kingsmight members.

“Hello, I am Ivela Caral, one of the Kingspillar. Are you the one who fought the Hodu tribesman?”

“Whoa! He-hello!” Lexa and Higa were startled, and Cain, he was frozen stiff.

“I am Lexa, and this is Higa, and that is Cain, the one who you are looking for.”

Cain was still frozen.

Higa repeatedly hit Cain with his elbow.

“Uh!? Eh? H-hi! I’m Cain!” Cain went back to his senses.

Cain was never approached by a girl before, and he was always the one who did it. Let alone this one was not an ordinary woman. Thus, he was a bit startled.

Cain and Ivela shook hands. People around them filled with jealousy.

“(What a soft hand.)” Thought Cain. But this was the hand of the second strongest of Kingsmight.

“So, Cain, what was the technique you used during your clash with that Hodu tribesman? Even my brother said he wouldn't even dare to face their technique head on, and yet you face it and were left unharmed," said Ivela.

Ivela was also known for her curiosity of any techniques and magic. She had bookshelves full of them from everywhere. Seeing a technique she never saw or read before, it tickled her curiosity.

“Oh? That? Ehm… I can tell you that… over dinner maybe?” said Cain nervously.

Two Kingsmight members behind Ivela had their mouth open. And people around them were also speechless after what they just heard.

Higa and Lexa’s eyes were wide open looking at Cain.

“Pfff! Hahaha! Oh, it's been a while actually, someone asking me for dinner. It’s kinda refreshing,” Ivela laughed lightly. “I already know you won't just tell me, but asking a lady for dinner just for an answer? Not bad!” Ivela smiled.

Her smile and laugh was like a gentle breeze over the plains. Everyone around them felt so relaxed.

“I can die peacefully right now, I’ve seen a goddess’s smile more than I can take," a participant lost in the atmosphere.

Higa and Lexa were still speechless from all of this.

“I’ll see your performance in the second round, if you manage to impress me, then I’ll think about the dinner," Ivela smiled gently.

She then left the battlefield.

“See, Lexa? She’s not out of my league~” Cain tapped Lexa’s shoulder while grinning. While Higa put out a thumbs up with a straight face and said nothing.

They took a break while waiting for the second round.