“Hah!” I shouted and kicked the [Hedgerat] that tried to tackle me from behind. With just that attack, it fainted.

A [Hedgerat] is a brown rat-like monster with a height of 3 feet. It is capable of moving very fast by rotating like a wheel.

“They sure are fast but their [defense] are really weak,” I muttered with a serious expression.

Right now, Jester and I are currently training in the [Crimson Forest] near [Genesisia Town]. It’s a forest made of mostly dried up trees with red grasses all over the place.

(They’re low in level you see.)

That voice that I can only hear inside my mind is from Jester. Currently, he is a short sword on my left hand, the one I’m using to battle the monsters.

“They are around level 4 to 6, right?” I asked.

(Yeah. I’m at level 10 so no need to worry about their strength. Just fight like you always do.)

[Level] is the unit of strength and it is used to identify how strong someone or something is. The lowest [level] is 1 while the highest recorded is 100.

“Got it!” I replied and slashed the [Hedgerat] that tried to jump me from the left side. Only one left.

(That’s the last one. You can do it, Raiki!)

I then sprinted towards the last [Hedgerat]. It jumped towards my face and I dodged it by docking slightly. With the [Hedgerat] directly above me, I delivered the final strike by slashing it in the stomach.

“[Wind Slash]!” I yelled and a gust of wind formed with the slash of my short sword. It hit the monster heavily.

The [Hedgerat] then fell on the ground, unconscious.

“So that’s what a [beast weapon] is capable of. [Magic]...how cool,” I said with shining eyes.

(So this is really your first time handling a [beast weapon].)

“Yeah. Thanks for the hard work, Jester,” I said with a smile to the [weapon] on my hand.

Afterwards, he transformed back to his original appearance and gave me a smile.

“I think that’s enough for today? It’s near sun down after all,” Jester suggested.

“Yeah. I also have a general grasp on how to [wield] you for tomorrow,” I followed with a smile.

“I’m sure that tomorrow will be a piece of cake for you,” Jester said with a wink.

“I do hope so,” I replied with a shy smile. “I’m also looking forward to the time where we can travel together after we pass the test.”

Jester then got slightly surprised for some reason.

“Y-yeah. I’m sure that will be fun,” he followed with a grin.

“Then, let’s rest for tonight. I will stay at an Inn near the [Genesisia Hall]. How about you?”

“I’ve got a place where I can stay tonight so no need to worry about me. Anyway, 10 in the morning at [Genesisia Hall], right?” Jester asked.

“Yeah. If possible, let’s meet at 9 so we can strategize or something.”

“Sure,” he replied with a smile. “Now, let’s go back to the town.”

We then left the [Crimson Forest] and went separate ways after reaching the [Genesisia Town]. As for the Inn fee, I paid 200 EC, making me now totally broke. Well, I can just ask Jester tomorrow on how I can earn some money here in town.

“It’s really a relief that I brought some fruits from the Village or I might even worry about starvation now,” I muttered to myself as I munch one while sitting on the bed inside the room I rented for the night. “I hope I can really pass the test tomorrow.”

Just like that, the night ended and the day of the entrance test finally arrived.

“He sure is late,” I whispered as I wait for Jester inside the [Genesisia Hall].

The [Genesis Hall] has a lounge where everyone can wait before the start of the test. There, I’m sitting in a bench, one of the wooden seats that can be found inside.

“Just half an hour before 10, huh,” I whispered, worried about Jester.

All I could do is to stare at the registration area where aspiring soldiers register to join the entrance test. Earlier, there’s a line but now, only some [Katzens] are going there to register.

“Please come already...Jester,” I called to him while looking above the ceiling.

Without me knowing, Jester is now outside the hall, smiling in an evil manner.

“As expected to a country bumpkin. To think that he really believed that you should pay someone so you can form a partnership,” Jester muttered and laughed out loud. Then, he walked away and turned right to an alley. “I wonder who to target next?”

“Hey, you,” a girl in light brown robe suddenly called.

Jester then turned around to see who called him. It is no other than Ciana.

“So you really don’t have any plans on following your contract with Raiki,” Ciana continued with furrowed eyebrows.

“H-huh?” Jester reacted, surprised. He then averted his gaze and replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe you’ve mistaken me for another person.”

“That’s enough. You’re not suitable to be his [weapon] anyway. At least return the 300 EC you took from him,” Ciana requested with a serious face.

Jester then clicked his tongue and made an irritated expression.

“If you don’t stop pestering me, you’ll be hurt badly, young lady,” Jester said with serious eyes and draw out his sword behind him.

“Don’t regret your decision,” Ciana whispered and Jester ran forward, ready to slice her.

Meanwhile, in [Genesisia Hall]...

“The Registration will now close. Is there anyone who still wants to register for the entrance test?” the reception girl announced to everyone in the lounge.

I then stood up out of surprise and hurried towards her.

“Can you please wait a little more? My partner is still not here,” I desperately asked to the girl.

“Sorry but it’s now 10. I’m sorry but you will have to wait for another month to register again,” the girl replied with an apologetic look.

“That...can’t be...” I whispered with widened eyes.

“I’m really sorry about that,” the girl followed sadly.

“Wait a moment!” a girl in robe suddenly shouted after arriving in the entrance. “I will...become that boy’s [weapon].”

“Ciana?” I reacted, surprised.

She then ran towards us and asked the girl, “Can we still register?”

“Yeah. Just write your name here and sign it. The total fee to register is 300EC,” the girl replied with a smile.

“300 EC?” I reacted with widened eyes. “I...don’t have enough money to afford that.”

“Here,” Ciana said and gave the girl 300 EC. With that, she received the paper that we need to fill out.

“Ciana? Why did you pay for that fee?” I asked, surprised.

“The truth is...I got that from Jester. Some things happened and he ended up giving it back. He can’t fulfil his contract with you anymore so he gave the money back,” Ciana explained with a smile.

“Are you perhaps an acquaintance of Jester?”

“No. I just met him outside,” Ciana answered with a smile.

“Outside? Jeez. He should’ve at least told me in person,” I complained. “But Ciana, are you really sure about this?”

“Well, let’s just say that our partnership will end after you passed this test today,” she said, still smiling.

“I...see,” I said with a slight surprised face, understanding that she already believes that we can pass this test. “Thanks.”

After filling out the paper, we immediately went to the area where the test will be conducted. It’s an arena with bleachers around the area. There are only a few spectators in the bleachers, mainly acquaintances of the participants. As for Ciana and I, we including the aspiring soldiers are currently waiting in the battle arena which is circled by the bleachers. I think there are more than 200 [Katzens] here inside the arena including their [weapon] partners.

“Thanks for the wait!” a man wearing a suit suddenly shouted energetically. He is in the elevated area, together with the three [Katzens] sitting with a table in front of them. “I will be the announcer for this entrance test, Jacob!”

“It’s finally starting,” I whispered with a nervous yet serious look.

Ciana then looked at me as I stare at Jacob. After seeing my expression, she smiled and looked at the announcer too.

“As you all know, this entrance test will be your first step to become a [Katzenschatz] Soldier! If you pass this test, you can now have the right to participate in the [soldier challenge]!” Jacob continued enthusiastically. “Common mistake of new ones here is that they all believe that after passing this test, they are now fully-pledged soldiers but that’s entirely wrong!”

“What?” I reacted with widened eyes.

“See? Look at him! We already found one who misunderstood this test just like that,” Jacob said and pointed his finger towards me.

“S...sorry about that...” I whispered shyly and everyone started laughing.

“You see, this is the process to become a [Katzenschatz] Soldier so listen up! First, you need to pass this Entrance Test so you can have the right to participate in the [Soldier Challenge]. And what is that [Soldier Challenge], I hear you asking. [Soldier Challenge] is the challenge for the [wielders] who passed this test so they can determine their rank as a soldier. So in short, you still need to clear at least one [Soldier Challenge] before you can become a soldier in title.”

“So that’s what it is,” I whispered, now fully understanding the process.

“Well, those challenges involves battling too so your focus won’t change. You still have to get stronger so you can become a high ranking soldier,” Ciana followed with a smile.

“I see,” I responded.

“So with that, let’s start the Entrance Test!” Jacob shouted and the crowd started cheering.

“Let’s pass this, Ciana,” I said to her with a serious smile.

She then nodded with her usual gentle smile.

“The rules are simple. [Wielders] here will be divided into pairs and a single pair will battle until a [wielder] lose consciousness, a [weapon] can’t maintain its [weapon form] anymore or someone forfeit the battle. I can also stop the match if I think that further continuation will be dangerous. Also, you don’t need to worry about winning or losing because we will only assess your skills whether you are qualified to take the [Soldier Challenge] so rest assure,” Jacob explained.

“I see. Now that’s a relief,” I said with a sigh.

“But unfortunately, the number of [wielders] who registered is not even. That is why this fellow will help us!” Jacob announced and someone suddenly entered the arena. It’s a guy wearing orange full plate armor with a beautiful girl wearing a similarly designed armor beside him.

“My name is Dallan, nice to meet you,” the tough-looking guy said with a smile. “And this is my partner Ronna.”

With that introduction, the girl just nodded with a smile.

“Dallan? Are you kidding me? What is he doing here?” one participant reacted with a surprised face.

“Yeah. This is the town of beginning, you know. To think that someone as strong as him will be in our presence,” another reacted, also surprised.

“As you all know, Dallan is one of the strongest Castle Soldier of God [Leo], one of our Exalted [Constellation Deities]. To show you how this test will be done, one [wielder] from your group will battle him! And of course, that battle will count as that [wielder]’s entrance test,” Jacob enthusiastically informed us.

“Huh? Isn’t that unfair?” one participant complained.

“I just hope that it won’t be me,” another followed nervously.

“And that [wielder]...is the last one to register in this test!” Jacob followed.

“Isn’t that...us?” I whispered, shocked.

“[Wielder] Raiki and [weapon] Ciana, you’re the chosen ones! So everyone, please move to the bleachers except those two and Dallan!” Jacob announced and everyone suddenly started cheering.

“Good luck, kid,” one participant said with a smile as they left the arena.

“Do your best,” another followed with a smile.

“Yeah,” I replied with a nervous smile.

Are you kidding me? Why am I the one that needs to battle him out of all [wielders] here? This is pretty hopeless!

“Raiki?” Ciana suddenly called.

“Huh? What is it?” I asked, slightly surprised.

“Let’s win this,” she followed with a smile.

Win...huh.

I then slapped my cheeks, making Ciana surprised.

“You’re right. How can I become a strong soldier if I think negatively? Let’s surely win this,” I replied with a serious smile.

Ciana then nodded with a smile.

“Ronna,” Dallan called and suddenly, the girl behind him transformed into a red light and went directly towards his open palm. Then, it slowly formed into a lance.

“Ciana,” I called with a serious face and Ciana also transformed into a light. Afterwards, the light went towards my left hand and became a sickle.

“So this is your [weapon form],” I whispered as I look at the C-shaped blade of my new [weapon].”

(Is it your first time using a weapon like this?) Ciana asked, with her voice resounding inside my mind.

“Yeah. But it’s close to my short sword so I’m gonna use you just like that,” I said with a smile and made a fighting stance, holding [Ciana] unto waist height with my other arm forward. Then, I slightly bended both of my knees and made a serious face.

As for Dallan, he just stood there confidently, not even trying to make a proper fighting stance.

“Don’t worry about the difference in the level of our [weapons], newbie. The ability of Ronna is [Shadow of Flames]. It copies the level of the opponent’s [weapon] so she is now the same level as yours. So with that said, let’s start, newbie,” Dallan said with a smile and pointed his lance towards me.

(Raiki, I have a strategy.)

“What is it?” I asked.

(Just move as fast as you can towards him and pound his lance like you did with those robbers when you saved me.)

“Got it,” I agreed with a smile.

“Battle...Begin!” Jacob announced and before everyone even realized what happened, I managed to land a hit on his lance. Then, Dallan’s [beast weapon] couldn’t maintain her [weapon form] any longer because of the massive damage we inflicted, resulting for her to transform back behind Dallan.

“Wh...what...happened?” Dallan reacted with widened eyes as he looks at me.

I then stood up straight and rose up an arm.

With that, the crowd went wild in cheering.

“An attack that was so fast, Dallan couldn’t even react! The winner is no other than Raiki and Ciana!” Jacob announced energetically as the crowd continues on cheering.