Last chapter of story arc 2

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Since Serph and Akiza missed last year's promotion exam, they were still Apprentices. Another opportunity was coming up.

"What is the promotion exam about?" asked Akiza.

"It is a test of our skill in the form of an obstacle course!" said Serph with excitement. "I can't wait to be a Junior Disciple and gain access to the Vault."

"But can't you already go in with the Grandmaster's Approval?" said Akiza.

"Oh yeah, well then I just want it for the title," said Serph.

"What kind of obstacles?" asked Akiza.

"That's the surprise we don't know," said Serph.

The promotion exam took place several times a year. Master Pai Mei announced the date and would then modify the training ground and change it into an obstacle course that looked like a cave. The dangers that students faced changed and ranged from angry Disciples to traps to Spirit Beasts. The goal was to get to the very end. Anyone who made it out the other side was promoted. Those who failed would stay as Apprentices.

"With Grandmaster Kongming's training, this will be easy," said Serph.

"Aren't you being overconfident?" said Akiza.

"We can work together too and make sure we both get through," said Serph.

"Okay," said Akiza. The two agreed to work together.

Serph had a pretty strong defense with the shield that he obtained from the golem. Akiza had a strong attack with the phoenix, and she now even used a sword.

On the test day, the Apprentices were spread into four Gates, each one led to a different part of the Training Ground. The goal was to reach the Gate at the center and be transported out of the Training Ground. Akiza and Serph went in together.

The Training Ground had been transformed into a huge cave with narrow passageways. Although it was big enough for people to go through, it was just big enough for a Spirit Beast to fit as well.

"If these passageways are so narrow, then we cannot avoid a fight," said Serph.

"We can always punch our way through," said Akiza.

Screams were heard ahead. Serph and Akiza sped up in the direction. There was a Lion Spirit Beast with a snake on its tail. It had just clawed an Apprentice. "It doesn't seem that strong," said Serph.

Akiza punched its head and it fell over. "It's not," said Akiza. "I think that's because these are all meant for people who are still at the Spirit Stage."

Serph then walked up to it and stabbed it. The body disappeared. "It disappeared?" said Serph.

"I guess," said Akiza. "One obstacle down."

The two kept going down the narrow corridor. There were no paths that split up so it was more or less a single path to the goal. They encountered another Spirit Beast. It was a Turtle. "I want to try it myself," said Serph.

"Go ahead," said Akiza.

Serph walked in front. "I will finally have a chance to defeat you alone," he thought. "Sonic Thrust!" he shouted.

Serph's sword had pierced the right leg. He then backed away to increase the distance The turtle turned to him. Serph watched the turtle as it walked toward him. He ran forward again and swung his sword at the other leg, cutting it partially open.

"OOOOOMMMMM" screamed the turtle. Serph took this chance and went under its neck as it screamed. He aimed his sword straight up at the head and jumped. "Sonic Leap!" he shouted.

The sword instantly pierced the turtle's head killing it. This was exactly what he had hoped to achieve. "Very good," said Akiza.

"Just like the first time," said Serph.

"It wasn't that easy the first time," said Akiza.

The two continued. When they reached the end of the path, they saw a heavy double door. They each pushed one side of it. They had reached the center of the Training Ground. It was a large field of flowers. Somewhere within the flowers was the Gate out of there.

"We've been waiting for you," said a voice.

Serph and Akiza turned to look in the direction. "Who are you?" said Serph.

"Don't you remember us?!?" shouted the woman. "You hurt our Master, Haman. Now, you will pay for it."

"I'll take the two on the left, you take the two on the right," said Serph.

Akiza and Serph split up with Serph leading two of the boys away. The four were very weak, but they relied on their numbers. However, fighting four earth types in a room could have been difficult. Akiza dashed towards the woman. She rose a block of dirt in front of her. BOOM. Akiza's fist had broken right through the rock.

"That's impossible," said the woman.

Akiza pierced her stomach with her sword. The woman fell and her body disappeared. She had "died" in the Training Ground, sending her back to the starting point. "Now it's your turn," said Akiza pointing at the man who was left.

The man was frightened. His feet were shaking. He immediately dropped his sword and ran. Akiza did not give chase. "Really? I thought Haman was your friend!" Akiza shouted.

Serph returned. "I got my two already."

"I got one, one ran away," said Akiza.

"You would normally kill both of them," said Serph.

"Let them run, I don't want to put in the effort if they don't want to fight," said Akiza.

The two began to look around the field of flowers. Some of them went from the floor of the ceiling to the roof, making it impossible to see through. Somewhere in this mess was the exit.

HISS. "What is that sound?" asked Serph.

"There's something here," said Akiza.

HISS. The sound was heard again. BOOM. A large snake fell from above, crushing the flowers below it. It leaped towards Serph. Serph raised a large shield and blocked it. The snake was stunned from hitting the shield. "Get it!" Serph shouted.

Akiza lept at the snake, but it dropped to the floor. "It's too fast," said Akiza.

The two stood with their backs against each other, looking for the snake. The snake rose from in front of Akiza. "Here!" she shouted.

Serph turned around and jumped forward with its shield. The snake had aimed for Akiza, but ran straight into Serph's shield again. "Hurry!" shouted Serph.

"Rising Phoenix Strike!" shouted Akiza as she lunged for the body of the snake.

SSHHLUCK. The sword pierced right into the belly of the snake and it fell over.

There was still movement in the field of flowers. Serph could see it as it moved and his eyes followed. "It's still not dead?" he said.

"There!" Serph shouted as he lunged. SSHHLING. The sword had pierced both flesh and the dirt. The tail of the snake begun to flail wildly. Serph left his sword and backed off. "We have to finish it off," said Serph.

"How?" asked Akiza. "We can't get close to it."

"Use your giant ball of fire!" said Serph.

"But that would kill us too," said Akiza. She was right. In an enclosed space, it would have killed them all. Then, the flailing stopped.

When Akiza and Serph looked, Serph had pierced the neck of the snake onto the ground. It had bled to death.

The snake melted into a silver puddle and transformed into the Gate. It was the exit. As Akiza and Serph walked through the Gate, they passed the examination and became Junior Disicples at West Wind Academy.