5 Rose and the Trial of Strength

Years pass by without any events. Zell remained secretive about his stats, not knowing what would happen if he told anyone. Due to his skill of selective memory, he was unable to remember the conversation with God, and did not know he was level two million. He spent most of his days watching over his baby sister from afar. Little Rose was a handful and constantly got in trouble. She was unbelievably strong and fast for an infant. Kelbor was extremely proud, expecting that this time his child would be highly stated. They waited for the day she would turn five and that day was finally upon them.

"Daddy I am ready!" She said in her adorable little voice. She was sitting in the same study that Zell did when he said status for the first time.

"You know what to do dear Rose." Her proud father said.

"Status!" She said loudly. Her eyes lit up when she saw the numbers before her. "Daddy!" She jumped up from her seat. "I have high stats Daddy! They all are above fifteen!"

Kelbor's eyes begin to well up with pride. "I knew it daughter of mine!" He said proudly. "I just knew you would fulfill my dreams!"

"I knew I was better than my big brother!" She said triumphantly. "Daddy, let's have a party to celebrate! I want cake and a new horse!"

"Anything for you my dearest Rose." Kelbor responded while wiping his eyes. "Let's tell the whole world that you are special, that you are a one in a thousand-year prodigy."

Kelbor and Rose left the room forgetting that Zell was there in the corner. "It's like I wasn't even here." He said under his breath. "That's fine, it keeps them from finding out about me. I am more than fine if Rose takes the spotlight."

And so, the King was informed of Rose's amazing stats and a set of games were devised for her to get her might. It was an amazing spectacle that the entire kingdom could not wait to see. Whispers broke out about the genius daughter of the duke and how they thought that one day she would rule the kingdom, since the king had still yet to have children of his own.

The first game was a trial of combat in a crowded arena. The tiny five-year-old Rose was to fight a Cobalt class adventurer. Cobalt was the beginning class of adventurer, but even at that level they had to pass a series of trials and quests to prove they could make it as an adventurer. Rose chose to have hand-to-hand combat despite her small frame. She was not trained in the use of weapons and felt that it would be the best chance she had at victory.

They squared off with each other in a stone ring at the center of a coliseum, hundreds of spectators looked on from all over the kingdom. Everyone wanted to know if this tiny child of the duke's really processed superior stats.

"Are you ready?" Rose asked her opponent, wiping her face removing the dust from the arena floor.

"Don't worry I promised the guild I wouldn't hurt you too bad." The adventurer said. "By the way, my name is Samuel Winterguard, cobalt class adventurer, sworn to the service of the guild and his majesty."

Rose raised her fists. "Nice to meet you, I am Rose, Rose Neuval. You know, like the Kingdom of Neuval? The one we are in right now?!"

"I am aware of your lineage Rose," Samuel replied. "That's why I promised not to damage you too badly."

"You two seem ready to go!" The referee of the event shouted. "I want a good clean fight, no dirty tricks. First one to render the other unable to continue will be declared the winner. You can also win from the classic ring out. Now give the people what they want and remember that his majesty the king is watching from the stands. So please turn and bow to him before you begin."

Rose and Samuel turned to the king and bowed. Afterwards they turned to each other, and the match began. Rose charged at Samuel with the speed of a seasoned adventurer. This took Samuel by surprise, but not entirely. He always believed that the little girl could have been telling the truth and took her seriously from the onset. Although her speed was superior, Samuel dodged her first flurry of attacks. She struck first with a right hook, followed by a left jab. Samuel dodged both perfectly and countered her with a leg sweep. Due to her small size the sweep hit her on her hip and made her fall to the ground.

As soon as she hit the ground the waterworks started. "I can't believe you hit me so hard!" She wailed. "You're such a big Meany head."

This took Samuel by surprise, and he felt a sudden uncontrollable urge to consul her as the crowd gasped at his cruelty. "It's okay Rose, I thought you would have dodged it." He said while walking over to her.

As he got close enough Rose stopped crying and gave a mischievous grin. She jumped back to her feet in a fluid motion and took Samuel unaware. She jumped and connected with a uppercut that sent Samuel flying back. The crowd watched as Samuel's body flew across the ring and landed outside of bounds.

"The winner!" The referee shouted. "The lady Rose!"

Zell placed his face into his palm after watching the show. "That didn't count as a dirty trick?" He sighed. "Still, I am proud of her for beating a grown man."

As the Referee announced her victory the crowd erupted in joy. The first game was over, and Rose clearly had a high strength stat. The force alone to propel a full-sized human male into the air and out of the ring was far more than a five-year-old should have been able to muster.

"Next we have the trial of intelligence!" The referee shouted as he pulled a lever. As the lever switched the center ring sank into the ground and large walls appeared all around them. "For this trial Rose must clear the maze within the hour!"