| The Rise of Loki, The Trickster! (3)|

"I go by Loki, the trickster" I answered.

Kaspian response with a casual smile.

"That's not a bad name. Well…Mr. Loki, Do you know how a rank examination and sponsoring works?"

Shaking my head, I let him explain. "An Adventurer of B-class or higher has the right to sponsor a new adventurer for an examination. Depending on how well you do, this exam will give you the opportunity to be placed into a suitable rank. This way, you can avoid the needless struggles of starting from the very beginning. The rank exam will consist of only a practical portion. Now, judging by your weapons, I can assume that you are either a conjurer, yes?" He asked, not seeing any weapon on me.

"Well, you're not wrong." I answered.

"Okay! Usually, there would be a quick application along with an inspection of your mana core before the exam but...I will waive that as I will be the one to sponsor you." he continued as he opened another door at the far end of his office.

"You're sponsoring me? Why?" I asked, finding this suspicious.

"Well, isn't it a pleasure for me to sponsor someone who obliterate everyone in his own group in the tournament?" Kaspian smiled.

'Oh right...I did that didn't I?' I realized.

"Understandable...So, want to play a game with me?" I asked Kaspian.

"Game? That 'Guess where the coin is'?" Kaspian seemed to know what game I am talking about.

"It seemed that you were watching. That makes thing easier...Let's play!" I urged.

"What will happen if I win?" Kaspian asked, his eyes turned sharp.

"You can command or tell me to do or give anything to you...for a whole week. How about it?" I suggested.

"...You seemed pretty confident." Kaspian seemed to worry a little seeing my confidence.

"Of course!" I smiled.

"Then what will happen if you win?" Kaspian asked.

"Umm...You can just give me some shiny gold ya'know." I simply stated while making a money gesture.

"...Sure. Let's do it."

"Alright~!"

***

Kaspian watched as Loki walked out of the room before sighing heavily, running a hand through his hair.

'How had he let this happen? Was he losing his touch? He had been feeling burnt out lately, and maybe this was a sign that he needed to take a break.' is the thought that is circulating in his head.

He had just lost a game of 'Guess Where the Coin Is' to a kid! Who he thought is between 11 to 15 year-old as that's the requirement to enter the tournament that the kid attended.

The game was simple but the same can't be said to Loki who took the game to another level. Loki is a master of misdirection, and that he had fallen for his tricks several times.

The game had started off as a harmless distraction, but now John couldn't shake the feeling that he had been outsmarted.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. John looked up to see the receptionist standing there, he then puts on his usual smile.

"G-Guild Master, you called for me?" Mary asked.

"Yes, take Loki to the examination hall" He ordered, not wanting to see Loki's face for a time being.

"Y-Yes!" The receptionist bowed and left the room.

"..." Kaspian resumed his paperwork...but he's staring at the paper content with a blank stare. Lost in thought.

***

I walked out of the office after winning Kaspian who's by far the toughest challenger till now.

I spotted Mary, the receptionist, still waiting outside.

"Hey you. Mr. Kaspian called you." I told her before stopping as Kaspian said he'll send someone to show me the way.

"Mr. Loki. Please follow me right this way" A familiar voice of Mary, the receptionist, rang from behind.

She led me toward the back door.

I was forced to squint as my eyes tried to adjust to the sudden change in brightness as we exited out of the dark passage. As the blinding glow subsided, I was able to make out the details of the hall we were in. The brightly lit area was an indoor, dirt-floored arena with standard theater seats that appeared more like exaggerated stairs. While most of the seats were empty except for the scattered ten or so people, there was a tense atmosphere as everyone's eyes focused on the two people at the center of the arena.

"Please, follow me to your seats. There are quite less examinees today so if you would remain seated until the examiner calls your name, it'll really help speed up the process." She then gave me one last, quick, bow before scurrying back down the rows of stone seats.

I leaned forward to get a better view of the two fighters who's about to duel.

***

Merlin is spectating the match that is about to begin.

The examiner is a swordsman who could also use fire magic, stood at the ready in the training arena. Across from him stood his opponent, an examinee, a water mage named Maris who was hoping to prove herself and earn a high rank on her examination.

The examiner quickly sized up his opponent, using his keen observation skills to gauge her level of skill. He could see that she was quick and agile, but lacked experience and precision. He made a mental note of her abilities and decided to start the fight with a surprise attack.

As soon as the match began, the examiner dashed forward, his sword glowing with fiery energy. Maris tried to defend herself with a wall of water, but it was quickly evaporated by the intense heat. She managed to dodge the examiner initial strike, but he followed up with a quick jab that left her reeling.

Maris was determined not to be defeated so easily as she summoned a powerful wave of water that surged towards the examiner, but he used his fire magic to slash and dodge away from the attack.

The two fighters continued to exchange blows, each one determined to come out on top. The examiner was skilled with his sword, but he also had a powerful arsenal of fire magic at his disposal. Maris struggled to keep up with his quick movements and unpredictable attacks.

Finally, after a long and intense battle, the examiner emerged victorious. He stood over Maris, sheathed his sword, and assessed her performance.

"You have potential," he said, his voice firm but encouraging. "But you lack precision and control. I'll have to give you a C rank on your examination. Don't worry, you can get to B rank after you have more experience and better control over your water magic."

Maris was disappointed, but she knew that he was a tough examiner. She nodded in acknowledgement and thanked him for the opportunity to fight.

As the examiner left the arena, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had faced a skilled opponent and emerged victorious, but he had also helped another fighter to improve and grow in her abilities. For him, that was the true meaning of the examination process.

'He's not bad...He also gave her his honest advice to improve herself.' Merlin thought.

***

"Next, Loki!" The same examiner called out my name. He's the one who judged the previous examinee, Maris, that dispiritingly made her way back to her seat.

"Yes, coming." I stood up and walked towards the arena.

"Are you sure you want me an Augmenter to examine you?" The examiner asked.

"Yes, I don't mind who it is as long as I'll get examined." I answered honestly with a smile but it sounded out cocky.

"It seems you're here to be tested under special conditions, seeing as there isn't any information here written about you." The examiner regarded me with a curious stare, trying to look through my mask's eye slit to see who I was.

"...Okay! Let's see what you're made of. Shall we get started?" The examiner said as his sword is covered in orange fire.

"Ready when you are!" I took a stance...of standing normally with my hands hanging on my side.

"Start!" the examiner announced before dashing forward like when he's up against the previous examinee, his sword glowing with fiery energy.

I conjured a thick wall of water. The examiner didn't stop advancing as he slashed the water wall, unfortunately, the water wall was too thick for his slash to cut through and could only evaporate some water.

It would take him half a minute to completely evaporate this water wall, but I'm not going to wait here as I conjured two floating water spear that started spinning rapidly.

"!!" The examiner spot this and jumped back as I threw the water spears towards him with a bored expression.

>SPLAT!<

One of the spear come in contact with the floor as the examiner evaded, cracking it. While the other spear is blocked by the examiner.

"You're better than I expected. Your control and precision over your water is amazing. I have to get serious from now on, get ready!" He yelled as the fire on his sword turned blue.

"..." I watched as he dashed towards me in a zigzag manner.

"[Aqua Surface]" I spread water on the floor with a radius of 10 meters.

The examiner stepped on the water I spread but nothing happened, that why he didn't stop charging at me.

"Too bad, but this is the end." I muttered and raised my right palm forward as the examiner is a meter away from me.

"[Gust of Banishment] mini" I muttered.

>FWOOSH!<

A vortex of wind appeared on my palm before launching off.

"Wha-!!" The examiner's brain couldn't even process what happened in that time period as he received a direct hit to his solar plexus, and even emptied the air out of his lungs.

The wind spell was strong enough to throw the examiner 9 meters away.

"[Aqua Impale]" I muttered once again as he was in the range of the [Aqua Surface] I conjured prior.

As a result, 7 water spikes are formed and all 7 of them can be seen an inch away from touching the examiner's neck.

The examiner couldn't even think straight as he's crouching, unable to stand while clutching his stomach before finding all seven still water spikes aiming at his neck.

"I-I give up" The examiner surrendered and as soon as he did so, the water spikes lost its form and fell, turning into the previous small puddle.

***

[ PayPal me if you want to donate, https://www.paypal.me/Aframassan ]