10 Academy Test

"Hmm, shouldn't you be unconscious, friend,"

A shadow looked over Daniel as he looked up to have a better look of the enemy. His mind wasn't working too clearly as he had already regarded the new fellow an enemy.

"Attack them, even if someone has come to interrupt our fun, we still have the numbers." The dominant boy spoke in a high tone.

"Wake up, I know you are already a Grandmaster grade mage like me," the figure spoke. At this moment, his mind cleared from the poison as he looked at the stranger. Just a glance and he knew the stranger didn't have any hostility towards him or even the others.

The gang encircled them as they released their elements. A blur of color filled the dead and dark alley. Under the stranger's feet green flames danced as a shadow of a large bird formed seamlessly. Magic power made the air slightly tremble and Daniel finally used one of his skills.

A tiny thread appeared under Daniel's view that was contaminated with a deep black colour. After some time roaming in the desert, he learned the different strands of fate. And black was the most omnius that meant negative emotions e.g resentment and anger.

The faint golden glow from his pupils brightened under the [Strand of Fate] skill. This thread's end appeared at the dominant boy's body. Daniel's end was a clear white indicating transparency thus no malice of any sort but the same couldn't be said about the other end.

"Seems like we have to kill him but the others can go as they only came for some money or something of the sort," Daniel said to the stranger and in response the stranger nodded wondering how Daniel knew this.

The dominant boy who later Daniel was told his name, Ryan leaped as the dagger shone under the insufficient sunlight. The stranger finally made a move on Ryan and his group by dashing forward.

"Green Shadow, body enhancement," The passive green flames came into action and landed on the stranger's body. A mass of flames covered the stranger turning into a mere spectacle of beauty. Ryan heard alarm bells ringing in his mind but he had already dashed forward as his lackeys came to support him.

He knew he couldn't retract his attack but took the attack with his body. Green flames completely razed Ryan's body and he was subjected to a merciless barrage of cuts as blood oozed out soaking his clothes with scarlet liquid. The stranger stomped on the ground as Ryan tried to escape to his lackeys encirclement.

Daniel on the other hand was busily fighting with the other boys. A torrent of heat, light and Earth raged towards Daniel. Each time Daniel dodged just enough so as to not be fatally wounded and his momentum halted. Daniel's hand came out and grabbed one boy's neck and used the boy's body as a meat shield. After letting of the boy's neck, the boy collapsed and fell unconscious due to friendly fire.

Now there were only four more boys remaining. As they lacked battle experience with higher levelled individuals, they panicked due to their boss being played around with literally while their target was stronger than expected.

They dashed away from the scene and leaving their boss without reinforcements. Of course if Daniel really wanted to kill them, they would not have the time to run away. He looked at the other threads cut as they ran off 'each to his own home'. Wherever it was they were going, he did not know but he knew after this day they would rethink whether they would continue their endeavors.

The unconscious boy forgotten, the other battle was coming to a close. The stranger arrived at Ryan's position in a flash as a terrifying aura emerged. In defense, Ryan thrust his knife forward thinking of revenge against the stranger.

A sinister smile appeared on Ryan's face as he thought 'Got you!'. Even if the stranger's aura was stronger than his, his Trump card would protect him. The knife was coated with a lethal toxin such that only powerful experts could dispel it. But the aura excuded from the stranger was only at the Grandmaster grade. Thus it wasn't enough to dispel the poison.

But the stranger proved his thoughts wrong as it turned an inhumane angle mid air and snatched the knife from Ryan's grasp. Ironically turning it his way, Ryan sensed death's arrival. "Poof..." The knife pierced one of his lungs as he struggled to take his next breathe.

"That should be enough, right?" The stranger's boyish voice sounded. The stranger knew he could have pierced his heart but decided not to in the last second. He didn't want to dirty his hands with this one's blood. Ryan circulated his magic power to seal his wounds and soon afterwards fainted from the pain.

"Thanks but I don't know who you are." Daniel was grateful for the stranger's help as he dragged the two unconscious boys. Propping them up, he checked their condition and sighed of relief after seeing they wouldn't die or get worse. Seems like his attacker was immune to the poison, interesting but not worth it at least for now, he thought.

"You will find out if you can join Sky Cloud academy," The stranger spoke up as his voice was laced with mystery. Just like his ability, his Jade eyes peered at Daniel's figure and he shook his head and thanked him once again and decided to scoot to some distant corner near the academy.

By the time he looked back to where the stranger stood, he had already disappeared. Only time and some luck would tell if he could join the academy.

But why the **** would trouble follow him and he had just entered the city. Having some time to kill, he wanted to tour the city but his mood had already been spoilt. He felt abit sour inside and later in the day, he hid a few blocks away from the academy.

Spending his entire time meditating, he stabilised his foundations and soon noticed he had broken through to rank 26 magic power. He was quite happy of his gains from the fight as it taught him some valuable experience as well as the nastiness of mankind.

2 Days Later

Daniel strode on to the academy's entrance gates where a long queue awaited. He stood there for some time as the queue thinned out. Which was a good sign as it would go much faster. But Daniel's face turned pale as he saw that most of the people were rejected and sent back. They either went home with their heads crestfallen or they would threaten the academy's elder with immediate closure of the institution.

The elder seemed to have no problem and simply brushed them away. Daniel was simply in awe at his carefree attitude. Sky Cloud Academy wasn't the mages' haven for no reason such that even high ranking officials were rejected just like the poor folk. Riches and political power was of no effect here which simply astounded him.

He now viewed the academy very differently. The midday sun bate down on Daniel make him extremely uncomfortable. Due to his element being ice it was understandable why he was not feeling too good.

"Next," the elder said lazily as if life was but a pass time. Grey hair cascaded down the elderly man's visage and a lush forest of brow was covered. The chin was angular and the nose was sharp. The lips were slightly plump as he looked quite feeble. His stature was but a reminder that age was just a number. His back straightened and his gaze wizened but full of life. As he glanced at the teen in front of him.

'Hmm, seems like a good seedling. But he will have to pass the test first. Discipline seems to off the charts and his eyes are experienced. Good!' The elder's first impression was very high and was of good remark.

"Step forward and hold the orb in your hands,"

Daniel stepped forward without a hint of hesitance and gently picked the orb from the elder's grasp. Neon blue Sparks were generated when Daniel infused his Mana inside it and after a moment it settled. He stopped circulating his Mana and returned the orb to the elder.

"Age twelve years and fits in well. Good magic power and mid grandmaster level at that. Ice element! Very good physique as well. You pass the first test come in,"

Coincidentally Daniel was the last student to be accepted as the others had lost hope as they saw how many had been rejected. Plus Sky Cloud Academy only admitted students after every three years which Daniel didn't know. By then Daniel would be fifteen which according to the academy's rules he would be too old.

"What the..." Daniel stood agape at the admission hall which looked extremely innocent with the porcelain walls and friendly receptions. No wonder the receptionists smiled a lot, this was utterly insane! They thought he probably won't survive this and tried to be all smiles.

The halls had been completely changed like a demon's incarnate had just passed by. The hall had turned into a dense landscape of dry scarlet dust and brown tinted sky filled his eyes. The air was musky and scentless and the atmosphere was eerie. All signs of living human beings had been erased fading into the omnius grounds. Only Daniel and the elder stood watching the change unfold.

"This is your second test. No, not there you idiot, look to your left." The elder said looking exasperated at the boy's face.

A large black band of mass wriggled as fangs protruded. Yes, it was a large snake that was 8 metres tall and 3.5 metres wide. The snake's eyes were slitted with yellow luster and a pink forked tongue prodded in the air sensing its new prey. It looked restless as killing intent surged from the depths of the large animal.

Aah! What could be wor- sh*t I better not jinx myself. He honestly cursed his luck that he would face this 2000 year old seamless night cobra as his 2nd test. He sighed and entered a battle stance and created an ice spear that was as small as twig but extremely sharp, which meant high penetration power. His own aura flared as his feet were slightly spread and his Ice spear clutched tightly. Coldly looking at the snake as the song of the enemy rang out sinisterly and with eerie vibes, he charged.

The elder who had by now disappeared into thin air was watching him silently thinking of a grade to give. "Seems like it will be a good show today. After all only 30 students were picked this year. Ah! Here comes the acceptance phase. That was indeed fast. His mindset is indeed open and changeable." He muttered to himself.