The Qualifiers (1)

The Academy was in shambles. After witnessing the scene in front of him, Link was in shock as he felt his heart break. Bodies were everywhere while Mages ran around healing and moving people. The fire had been put out but the blood splatter had remained, further painting the picture of the incident.

"Zero!" Link called.

<Yes?>

"Holy Nova got an Evolution a while back right?" Link asked.

<Yes, do you pick that Evolution Path?>

"Yes!"

<Skill Evolution in Progress!>

<New Active Skill: Circle of Healing>

<Circle of Healing: A powerful healing Spell that targets an open area. Effective against all kinds of Injuries as long as enough Mana was provided>

Link didn't hesitate to activate it. The clouds parted as Light fell and covered the whole Academy. Kids with missing Limbs, others with deformities and the ones that were walking in the hands of the God of Death all felt a comfortable feeling running through their bodies. Limbs regrew and others got a new lease on life. Although many died, and the tragedy did not change, people couldn't help but feel happy. Looking up at the sky, a young handsome man stood in midair bathed in the Light.

"An Angel has descended!!" Someone yelled. He saw how his amputated leg regrew, forming bones and flesh in a mere second. He couldn't help but feel that the person in the air was nothing but an Angel..

"An Angel?"

"It's really an Angel!!"

"The Gods have pitied us!"

People started exclaiming here and there after witnessing such a miracle. They felt hope as they cheered Link.

Link paid no attention to any of them though. He kept scanning the area looking for his Sister. He received the Upgrade for Holy Nova a while back, but looking at the Skill he might receive, he felt reluctant at the time. He thought that he might not have any use for an AOE Healing Spell since he's always alone, but he did not hesitate to Evolve such a useful spell because the thought that his sister is hanging on death's door terrified him, which made him give it his all to save everyone before starting to look for her.

"Link?" Lisa was looking at the Angel everyone was cheering at and recognized her brother. She waved towards him, gaining his attention quickly.

"Lisa!!" Link teleported next to her and gave her a firm hug. "Why didn't you return home after what happened?" He asked, a bit mad.

"S-Sorry!" She stuttered. "I thought I should lend a helping hand, since I can use healing Magic as well!"

Link finally felt relieved as he teleported Lisa back home, where Anny didn't stop lecturing her while simultaneously hugging her. The scene was slightly confusing, as one wouldn't understand if Anny was mad or happy.

The Dome kept covering the Kingdom, making the Citizens feel safe after the traumatic event. People started working harder in their training, swearing to avenge the lives lost. The churches of all the Orthodox Gods started handing food and helping with everything they could to make it easier.

The King wasn't seen again since the incident other than orders and commands his Grand Knights provided from time to time.

Link spent these past few days going around looking for Ora's Fragments, successfully finding a couple. One was located in a deserted area while the other was deep in the ocean. With Ora's capability of detecting the fragments, all Link could do was travel around, beating Dungeons while waiting if Ora finds anything.

<Collect all Fragments of Consciousness (5 / 10)> <Attunement> -- New --

The powerful Dungeons were becoming rarer and rarer. Link was only capable of finding Level 4 Dungeons here and there most of the time with very few Level 5 ones. This did not discourage him though as he continued conquering one Dungeon after the other.

...

BAM!

A shockwave spread in a dimly lit room, breaking all the furniture and glass windows. A 7 feet tall Demon slammed into a wall, passing right through as he kept going, incapable of stopping. It took a few unlucky walls and a carved path in the floor for this Demon to finally come to a halt. He stood up straight away, brown blood covering his face.

"Sorry Your Grace!" The bloody Demon was Goro. He spoke with a shake in his voice while bowing to a 6 feet tall figure. It slowly walked into the light, revealing its body. The figure had human-like features, with the same skin color and all. If not for the giant Horns and spikes going down its spine, it could easily be mistaken as one.

"You call this a report?!" The figure spoke, releasing pressure enough to kill a low Level Mage on the spot.

"I swear to you, Your Grace!" Goro spoke, getting on his knees. "Those humans have figured out a way to enter the Spirit Realm and I was almost killed by a hidden Archmage, forcing my hand to use the item you've bestowed me!"

The human-like Demon was silent for a few seconds before speaking.

"What do you think of this?" He spoke, but not to Goro. The space behind him shook, revealing a Skull with red eyes floating in mid-air.

"If that is true, then those humans are not as easy to deal with as we thought!" The Skull emitted noise, slowly taking shape into comprehensible words. "The Spirit Realm does not belong to us anymore!"

…

"Should we capture and interrogate him? He might not share!" A cloaked figure whispered to a woman, wearing a fox mask.

"You think it'll be that easy?" She spoke. Her voice was alluring and soft, complementing her body. She wore a red dress with flowers behind her ear. "Did you not sense that Mana wave coming from the Portal at the time? It either belonged to him or to another existence supporting him!"

"It could have belonged to the Demon in there!" The man said.

"Doesn't change anything, he still came out scratch free" She spoke with a sigh. "Let's wait and watch for now, if he still doesn't share, then we'll make him share, even if he has a powerful backing"

...

Link got back home after his day of running around. He had dinner with his family then went back to his room, going to sleep.

"Wh-Where...!" Link muttered, looking around. "I'm back!"

Darkness surrounded him as he stood there, waiting for something. He noticed that even with his improved eyesight and Level, he still can't see through the darkness.

"Come on, what's with the wait!" Link said, turning around.

"It's time!" A voice echoed through. "There will be a few clean up Games.. With this they will disqualify any unworthy competitors before the big one, be ready by tomorrow"

Link was shocked for a bit then asked. "Why did it take you so long?"

"Those Gods are freaking out over a small reaction of an old statue, which led to postponing the event" Link could hear this being's annoyed tone.

"Ok!" Link spoke. "I'm ready anytime!"

"Alright... Don't disappoint me, kid!"

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