Entrance Examination

~Inside Kai's Residence~

As they entered Kai's residence, Zion and Aria found themselves in a beautifully manicured garden, surrounded by towering trees and vibrant flowers. A winding path led them to the main house, a stunning structure with sweeping curves and intricate carvings.

The door slid open, revealing a serene interior with soft lighting and elegant furnishings. A dignified-looking butler greeted them, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed the pair.

"Welcome, young ones," he said, his voice measured. "I am Ruben, Kai's butler. Please, follow me."

Ruben led them through the house, passing by rooms filled with ancient artifacts and mysterious devices. Zion's curiosity was piqued, and he couldn't help but wonder what kind of person Kai was to collect such treasures.

They arrived at a large, ornate door, adorned with symbols of magical power. Ruben knocked twice, and a deep voice from within bid them enter.

As they stepped inside, Zion and Aria found themselves in a spacious study, filled with shelves upon shelves of ancient tomes and strange artifacts. A figure sat behind a massive desk, shrouded in shadows.

"Who are you?" He asked them. "What have you come here to do?"

As they approached, the figure rose from its seat, revealing a tall, imposing man with piercing green eyes. His hair was silver, and his face was etched with lines of wisdom and power.

"I am Kai," he said, his gaze piercing. "Someone must have sent the both of you here, isn't it?"

Zion felt a shiver run down his spine as Kai's eyes seemed to bore into his very soul. He knew that he was in the presence of a truly powerful individual.

"Yes, sir," Zion said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Elijah sent us to you. Here, he asked me to give this to you." He brought out the scroll Elijah had given him and handed it over to Kai.

Seeing the scroll, Kai recognized the owner. He took the scroll from Zion and kept it beside him.

"Are you not going to take a look at it?" Zion asked him. He was watching him and he noticed the change in his expression the moment his eyes fell on the scroll. It was as though he remembered a past event that made him saddened at the appearance of the scroll.

"I don't need to open it," he mumbled and got up from his seat. He glanced at Ruben, his butler. "Take them to their room. Tomorrow, I will take them to the examination center."

"Yes, sir," the butler replied and gestured to Zion and Aria to follow him.

As they followed Ruben out of the study, Zion couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. Kai's reaction to the scroll had been peculiar, to say the least. He seemed to recognize it, but his expression had turned somber, as if the scroll held a secret that brought back painful memories.

Aria, sensing Zion's unease, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong?" she whispered.

Zion hesitated, unsure if he should share his thoughts. "It's just... Kai's reaction to the scroll. It seemed like he knew what it was, but he didn't want to open it."

Aria's eyes narrowed. "That does seem strange. Maybe we'll find out more tomorrow."

Ruben led them to a cozy room on the second floor, complete with a comfortable sitting area and two large beds. "Dinner will be served in an hour," he said, before departing with a bow.

As soon as the door closed, Zion turned to Aria. "I have a feeling that scroll is more important than we think."

Aria nodded. "I agree. But we'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out more. Let's focus on getting some rest for now."

Zion nodded, trying to push aside his curiosity. But as he lay in bed, he couldn't shake off the feeling that the scroll held a secret that only the two of the men knew.

The next morning, Ruben arrived to escort them to them to meet with Kai. As they followed him, Zion noticed that Kai was already waiting for them at the waiting room.

"Good morning," Kai said, staring at the two teenagers. "Ruben will give you something to eat after which, we will set off to the examination center."

"Okay," they replied and followed Ruben to the dining hall. He served them their breakfast and after they were done eating, he led them back to Kai.

"For you to become a beast slayer depends on your hard work but for you to join the beast slayer organization depends on this examination. You must pass and obtain the beast slayer ID," Kai said to them.

"ID?" Zion asked. Elijah never mentioned anything about obtaining an ID.

"The ID is what makes you a member of the organization," he explained. "With the ID, you will be identified as one of the beast slayers throughout the organizations."

"So it's not just one organization?" Zion thought aloud.

"Yes," Kai replied. "We have many branches across the world. Each branch has its name and it is classified by different levels. For example, the branch we have here is called the Nova squad and everyone in it are at the moon level, the next branch is the Dominos Squad and everyone in it are at the sky level. And so on."

"So how many levels are there all together? And also, how many branches do we have?" Zion asked, seeming more interested.

"We will continue on our way to the examination centre," Kai said and then they left.

"We have four main levels which is the Moon level, Sky level, the Meteor level, and then the Transcendent level. The fifth one is the Arcane level, this level belongs to those who successfully passed the transcendent level, they have the power to destroy anything with their fists while the sixth one; the forbidden level is the deity level, a level where someone has the power to destroy the world."

Zion had a lot of questions to ask but before he could do that, Kai continued.

"The sixth level is called the forbidden level because no one has been able to reach it and will never be able to do so."

"Why is that?" Zion asked curiously.

"Because it is not possible."

Kai's response was plain but Zion had more questions to ask. "What level are you?" He asked him.

"Arcane level," Kai replied and Zion froze. It was no wonder he felt chills the moment he saw him for the first time.

He suddenly remembered Elijah and wanted to ask about the man's level but just then, they arrived at the examination centre.

As they arrived at the examination center, Zion and Aria were greeted by a large, imposing building with a sign that read "Beast Slayer Examination Center". The building was surrounded by a high wall, adorned with intricate carvings of creatures.

Kai led them to the entrance, where they were met by a stern-looking examiner.

"Are these the ones you mentioned to me about?" He asked Kai.

"Yes," Kai replied. "I'll leave them to you," he added and left.

"Very well. Let us begin."

Examiner Thorne led Zion and Aria out of the examination center, into a dense thicket of bushes and trees. The air was thick with the sounds of chirping insects and the rustling of leaves.

As they walked, the trees grew closer together, forming a natural arena. The air was charged with an eerie, magical energy.

"Welcome to the examination arena," Examiner Thorne said, his eyes gleaming with intensity. "Here, you will face the true test of your abilities. Your task is to defeat a D-rank monster, one that will push your skills to the limit."

"What kind of monster will we be facing?" Zion asked, his voice steady.

Examiner Thorne smiled, a cold, calculating glint in his eye. "That would be telling. You'll find out soon enough. But rest assured, the monster is a formidable opponent, one that will require all your skill and cunning to defeat."

Aria's eyes narrowed, her jaw set in determination. "We're ready," she said, her voice firm.

Examiner Thorne nodded, a hint of approval in his expression. "Very well. Let the examination begin."

With a wave of his hand, the air around them seemed to shimmer and distort. A low, ominous growl echoed through the arena, growing louder with each passing moment.

Zion and Aria steeled themselves, their hearts pounding with anticipation. Zion pulled out his sword, ready to face what was coming their way.