The Young Pirate

Well, after all that, I decided to show all my elements. My power level... well, turns out it was an aura measurer. And here I thought it was going to be some kind of scouter, like the ones in dragon ball. I was going to scream, IT'S OVER 9000, but I missed my chance.

I skipped the 3rd test because using Divine Chain-mail consumes a lot of stamina, around 50 thousand.

Anyway, we had regrouped with Hana, and now we're heading towards the arena.

"Wow Lucian-kun, I didn't know you could use all 8 elements. I am only able to use 3."

"It's not a big deal, anyway, how far is the arena?"

"It's not that far, but we'll have to exit the building."

***

Remember the lake I was talking about a while ago? Well, turns out there was a dock over there, and a gigantic ship was stationed there. The flag had this weird emblem that kind of reminded me of an octopus.

"Hmm? What's this?"

"Those are pirates."

"Pirates?"

"Yes, even pirates can become heroes."

A pirate...hero? That doesn't sound right to me.

Pock!

A long and wide wooden plank was placed. Then 2 crew members walked down the plank.

"Hey hey hey, make way for the captain!!!"

"Get moving!!!"

Then this guy, wearing a black oversized fur coat, paced down the plank. His hat had 3 blue feathers, and he looked kind of young. He had eyes as blue as the sea and long black hair.

"So this is the place, huh? Interesting."

"Captain!"

An old man yelled off the edge of the ship.

"Good luck with yer fight!"

"Thank you, Birtle."

Then as he got onto land, he told the 2 crew members to get back on the ship and that he'll return after he finishes.

"You got it, captain!"

Hmm, they didn't sound...pirate-y. Well, reality is often disappointing.

I didn't know, but the young captain was looking our way. He wasn't looking at me, or Shin, or Vlad, but Hana. Then in an instant, he ran up to us.

Then again, he went past us.

"?"

"Wow, you ladies are beautiful."

He was flirting with a bunch of other ladies. I scratched my head and blinked a couple of times. I turned around and Hana was confused.

"I can't help but feel a little offended."

I looked at Hana, then at the ladies. Hmm...

I was looking at where the young pirate was looking. Was he looking at their...chest?

Hana's chest was, well, you could say big, and those girls were flat-chested. Does this guy like flat-chested girls?

Well, I cannot offend people's preferences, so I don't need the answer to that.

Then he looked our way again and dashed towards us. Maybe he doesn't just go for flat-chested girls.

Nevermind I was wrong.

He was holding onto Vlad's hand.

"My, my, you are such a beautiful girl."

"Umm, uhh~"

S-should I tell him or...

"Uhh, he is a boy."

Shin said it for me. It wasn't me, it was Shin.

"Heheheh-...what?"

"Yeah, he's a boy."

Oh no, I can see his spirit breaking up. It was as his soul was being sucked up. He's fallen for the trap!

The young pirate slowly stood up and walked towards his ship. One of the crew members looked over.

"Uhh...captain?"

"Oh John, can you get me some rum?"

"Uhh...sure."

Well, there he goes, drinking. Wait, you can drink at the age of 15?

"Shin, what age are you allowed to drink?"

"Huh? 15."

"Oh, I see."

Maybe I can try drinking...

***

After that, we arrived in the arena. There were about a hundred or 2 people gathered here and around a thousand people watching, I'm guessing most of them are parents. Luckily, the arena was really large, or should I call it an arena? It was more like a battlefield. There was literally a large forest and even a dessert?

I scratched my head, this place is complicated.

Then the gates into the arena shut closed. Everyone glanced at the balcony and there were 7 people. I squinted a little and I think I noticed Ddraig. Not just Ddraig, but I also noticed Divinus as well.

"No way, half of the immortal council came?"

"Huh?"

Shin had this bright smile on his face. Vlad and Hana also had the same smile on their face. Vlad had switched his kimono with some armor. Guess he's prepared to fight.

"What's the immortal council?"

"What? You don't know about the immortal council? Have you been living under a rock?"

Well, technically...yes.

"The immortal council is made up of the strongest immortals to ever exist. Not only that, but even the gods can also join. It is the strongest council and all of them are ranked Divinium."

"Hmm... I see."

If they are Divinium rank, then they are probably really strong. Well, Ddraig and Divinus are up there, so it makes sense.

"Welcome future heroes! This is the final part of your exam, if you are able to survive this exam, you will become silver rank heroes. If you don't survive, you will become bronze, or worse, copper. And you guys don't want that, do you?"

Ddraig was doing the announcements, well, he does work here, I think.

Everyone yelled in agreement. No one wanted to become such a low-class hero. Me, I guess I should try to become a silver rank as well.

"Hey, Lucian-san. We should team up so we can all become silver ranks."

"Hmm, smart thinking Shin."

The Ddraig continued.

"But this year, I'll give you guys a little motivation. The first 10 that takes out the most fighters will become gold ranks."

Everyone yelled in excitement. Does everyone want to become a gold rank that badly?

"S-still we should stay together, right Onee-sa...?"

We turned around and Hana had disappeared from our sight.

"Where did she go?"

"I-I don't know, she just vanished."

"Onee-san went invisible, it's her aberrant, she's able to become invisible. Not only that, but she can also hide her presence and smell. It's called 'concealing domino.'"

"What?!"

Hana had the ability to become invisible? That's kind of op.

"Damn it, she left us. She's always wanted to aim for the top, so this gold promotion is just what she needed."

"You have 10 minutes to hide until you engage in battle. You also have until tomorrow sunrise when the exam will end. Well then, the final exam shall begin, now!"

At that exact moment, everyone around me had disappeared, only me, Shin, Vlad, and well that pirate from before were left.

"W-wow, everyone took off so quickly."

10 minutes to hide. The exam ends the next day. This is like a battle royale.

"Umm uhh, can me join your little team? Hic-"

"Huh?"

The pirate asked me. He was still drunk on booze as he was wobbling around.

"Sure I guess."

"Great, so me should introduce meself. Me name is Brock Lockstone!"

As he introduced himself, I could hear his crew yelling "Ai Ai, Captain!"

He's even talking like a real pirate, or maybe that's just the effect of the alcohol.

"Anyway, let's uhh get hiding."

***

We decided to head to the desert. Why were we headed to the desert instead of the forest? Well, that's because, with Shin's intellect and my survival skills, we automatically assumed that most people were going to hide in the forest, and when the 10 minutes were up, they'd ambush anyone they see. In the desert, all you have to worry about is whether the enemy sees you first or you first.

Swoosh...

A breeze of chilly wind touched my face. Is it me or is it getting colder than we're approaching the desert?

We were walking through the forest. We had 3 more minutes before the actual exam begins.

"A-a-achoo!"

"You ok? You should really relax with the rum. You won't be able to fight seriously if your drunk."

"Well, you didn't need to tell me that, I just ran out."

Huh, convenient.

"I think I need to drink some water."

"I can get you that if you wa-"

When I turned around, this dude was drinking the water that came out of the water spell he performed.

"WAaaaaaafferrrfaalllllll~" (Translated: Waterfall)

I was the dumbfounded by this guy. I don't know whether what he's doing is smart or just plain out stupid. Are pirates in this world always like this?

Whoosh!

A blast of freezing wind blew through the entire forest, icicles began forming on some trees. As the wind died down, whoever it was, they were powerful enough to freeze some parts of the forest that we were going through. Shin and Vlad were chattering their teeth from the coldness.

"Aren't we not supposed to attack anyone yet? We still have 1 minute."

"We're not supposed to use it on anyone. But we can use magic as long as it doesn't directly affect anyone."

"Well, I guess we should hurry towards the desert. Flamethrower."

Fwoosh!

Out from my hand came a storm of flames which instantly melt the ice away.

"Did you use flamethrower or firestorm?!"

"Jeez calm down, if I used firestorm, this whole forest would've been burned down."

I can't really control the amount of flames that I use since I've never really focused on fire magic. But if it's a simple spell like fireball, it's simple. Flamethrower I can handle, but if it was firestorm, then say goodbye to wildlife.

"Lucian-san, we arrived. Or that's what I think."

"Think?"

I moved the leaves away to take a better look.

"What the?"

"Wow, looks like we got an expert ice user here."

The desert, it's... well, it's didn't even look like a desert anymore.

It was more like a frozen wasteland.

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