Chapter 11: Gathering of the Strong

The city of Cross was the largest city in the country, the center of the country’s politics and economy. It was also the site that all the outstanding scorers gathered at, to be safely accompanied to the intermediate school in the wilderness.

A simple badge on the lapels indicated the city and type of training, magic or martial arts that the person took the exam for. More than 60 people were present with a symbol of a cross sword and shield; in contrast, less than 10 had a staff and a book emblazoned. Among these, a girl stood out.

Several men tried to talk to her, but she paid no attention. Instead, her focus was on an ordinary individual, causing people to wonder what the relationship between him and her was.

It was close to the departure time. Out of the ten adults standing guard over the group, one started to count the number of heads present. He frowned.

One person was missing.

This chance for heading into an intermediate school with access to uncommon resources definitely wasn’t anyone serious would give up. The leader felt pity, but he couldn’t delay the trip just for a single person.

Time passed, and soon, it was five minutes until departure. As the leader opened his mouth, a loud worried voice cried out, “Wait!”

In the distance, a huge figure came closer and closer, running at a frightening pace. When it arrived, the person in question deflated, the three meter towering figure diminished to a portly, stout, short figure.

A dwarf!

They were a secluded magical race that lived in the mountains to the west of the country, renowned for their blacksmithing ability. The weapons and armor they produced were heads above what most human blacksmiths could make, but came at a hefty price. Nevertheless, the few dwarves that did leave their homeland in the spirit of adventure were warmly welcomed into any city.

The most prominent feature about the dwarves was their physique; although they looked somewhat harmless due to their short statures, they had a hereditary ability to enhance their bodies. Once filled with energy, the agility, power, and dexterity of the clumsy dwarven bodies would increase, the shape of their body heightened to fit in with these changes. To see a dwarf that could already reach the figure of three meters was quite a terrifying talent.

“I’m sorry, my son here, Durin, had drunk too much and overslept.” With a smile, he looked around, and to his horror, so many people looked distant with their expensive clothes, certainly unwilling to help a drunk dwarf. Then, his eyes caught a simple, ordinary man. Staggering from the weight of his son he carried, he walked over to Fang.

“Ah… you, can you help my son until he wakes up? Thanks!”

If Fang refused, the dwarf would certainly fallen onto the wet ground below.

Hesitantly, he held out his hand.

Pulling roughly at Fang’s hand, the drunk Durin muttered, “Drink, drink, drink, to not drink is not to live….”

Alcoholism and dwarves went hand in hand; in the past dark ages, where clean water was scarce and often polluted by the foul air, large casks of light, mellow, mead accompanied the dwarven hardy food. Eventually, the dwarves built a tolerance to alcohol, but it didn’t stop the demand and daily drinking that they had grown into. Although most dwarves were alcoholics, well-accustomed to alcohol, it was still possible to get drunk, as there had to be a limit.

The escort leader clearly understood what happened in a quick glance – the little dwarf Durin was leaving his family behind to go take this opportunity, however, no event would go without alcohol. In a single night of excessively drinking, he drunk himself to a stupor, luckily arriving before the departure carried by his father. It could have been unfortunate, but cases of dwarves often missing meetings because of their love for the drink wasn’t uncommon.

“If there’s nothing else, then can we get going?”

“Yes, yes, I’m so sorry!” The dwarf’s father looked one last time at the sleeping Durin, then hurried back into Cross City.

“Let us go!” The leader nodded to the other adults, and they concentrated as the area started to become engulfed in a mass of swirling air. In contrast to the box of pressure created by the judge back at the entrance examination, this area seemed to turbulently suck in the wind, a mass of energy propelling the air and keeping it there.

To ensure the safety of the country’s most talented youths, experts at the master level were dispatched. As the group floated safely upwards, the unsettled air became normalized. With a wave, the air blasted forwards with high speed.

Thanks to the immaculate control over the winds demonstrated by the escorts, Fang experienced the sensation of a relaxed flight. His eyes weren’t stinging, cold wind wasn’t rushing and chilling his body; in this calm zone, the wind silently supported everyone like a platform. The gorgeous landscape filled his view when he looked below, while the gentle light of the sun looked through small cracks in the clouds above.

Although this method of travel was extremely efficient and comfortable, it was rare. If you had enough money, you could hire someone for this, but how many master level experts would willing lower themselves to do such a menial task?

The flight continued to the east, and the city faded away from their view. A dark shadow appeared up ahead, covering the horizon with traces of smoke.

“It’s a fire roc!” Someone from the group suddenly exclaimed, as he knew the city he lived in would often be beset by these creatures. Like magic users, these monsters often spat out fierce fireballs, causing havoc to the unexperienced. Alone, they weren’t that dangerous; however, the amount of smoke in the distance indicated that it was a pack of at least a dozen.

The experts didn’t panic the least – focused, a small part of the escorts sent out a chaotic array of energy that simulated the winds below the rocs into a raging storm.

3rd grade red skill – Tornado!

The users of wind energy didn’t usually display destructive power with their attacks, but these users were at the master rank.

A barrage of fireballs was promptly extinguished as the roaring tornado consumed the struggling beasts. For a moment, everything was calm. Then, the tornado dissipated.

Unidentifiable feathers, wings, heads, blood fell towards the ground, the series of wind blades mercilessly cutting the monsters into scraps.

The team of escorts didn’t spare a second as the journey calmly continued on, the students wide eyed at the astounding display of power.

He gulped. Fang thought that the beautiful judge at the examination was strong, but this was even more shocking than anything he had seen before.

Regrettably, with the monsters butchered beyond recognition, there would be nothing to sell, but it didn’t matter; at this level, they wouldn’t care about some small change.

With these combat experts accompanying the group, the flight continued relatively unimpeded. Sometimes, a few monsters would appear, but they were easily killed and didn’t even warrant a pause most of the time.

Two idle hours past like this, and with the novelty wearing off, Fang stood up, wanting to go over to Mii to talk. However, his thoughts were interrupted by a stuffy “ahem”.

He looked next to his side – the dwarf had woken up.