Chapter 14: Absolute Rock

In the rectangle surface within the central plaza.

"Congratulations to the qualifiers who passed the first phase! As I said earlier, each of you will proceed to the next phase and will have Absolute Rock. You must break it within half an hour." The man said as he flick his fingers.

Dang!

In a moment, all contenders who passed the first phase have a blue octahedral object as big as a fist size in their front.

The blue octahedral object looks ordinary and seems futile. The object is plain and not interesting at all.

"Eh? Is this the Absolute Rock?" A certain contestant said sneeringly.

"Hahaha... It seems that I can break it in just a second." Another participant said confidently.

"True Emperor won't make such an easy challenge, so naturally this rock is special." A woman said as she examine the rock carefully.

"According to the book I read before, this rock is not weak nor too strong. It is a tricky rock." An old man said while scratching his beard.

"What an easy challenge. I will moved to the next phase for sure." A middle age woman said as she let a beautiful smile.

"What is this rock?! It's so light!" A certain man said as he lift the rock on his hand.

"Since all of you have already receive the Absolute Rock, you may start breaking it." The man said as he let the challenge begin.

"Thousand Strike!" A certain man said as he strike his sword in a thousand dimension in an unbelievable speed. Each penetration have a light tail making his move fantastic, which amazed the audience while the others even exclaimed praises.

Ding! Dang! Dong!

As the skill came to an end, bewilderment covers the man's face as he saw the rock floating in front of him still intact without any damage but his sword start to crack and tear into ten shards.

"Wha.. what the hell?! How.. how did this happen!!" The man seems to be angry as he didn't expect the rock to be this sturdy.

Not only the man experience the shock, but almost half of contenders destroyed their swords and weapon as well by attacking the rock carelessly.

"As I thought, this rock isn't ordinary." The woman from earlier said as she continue analyzing the rock.

"Congratulations to Elder Hister of for breaking the Absolute Rock in a shortest speed." The man said as he give Hister a token to represent his qouta for the next phase.

"What?!" A lot of other contestants look at the old man, who were walking in a leisure way with his hand on his back, with a look of shock, disbelief, annoyance and anger. The audience were also shocked and fell into long brainstorming about what happened on the surface.

"Congratulations to Lady Kisty for breaking the Absolute Rock." The man said as he give Kisty the same token from earlier. The same reaction appeared again.

"How!! How the hell they manage to break this damn rock?!" A man said angrily as he punch the rock with all his might.

Ding!

A scream echoed as the man held his broken hand while gritting his teeth.

"You're foolish if you try to attack that rock physically!" A voice from spatial ring echoed in Sofia's ear as if scolding her.

"Eh? Then how can I break it?" Sofia asked as she look at the rock in confusion.

"Although that host said it is a strength test, but that is only to fool the contestant. That rock is indeed Absolute Rock but it won't break by physical force." The tree spirit explained to Sofia.

"Then, how can I break it?" Sofia raised a question to satisfy her demands.

"It simple, fuse your golden and spiritual energy into your wand and cast a healing spell." The tree spirit said seriously.

"Eh?! Just that?" Sofia was surprised at the answer.

"Don't underestimate the process I said. Fusing two energy in a weapon is difficult. You must harmonize those two energy before using it in a spell." The tree spirit explained again.

"Okay. I'll do it then." Sofia said as she get her wand before starting to filled it with her golden energy.

When the wand was finally soaking at golden energy, Sofia then began to fuse spiritual energy in it.

Burst!

An explosion appeared and the wand in Sofia's hand were broken into two. The spiritual energy actually triggered the golden energy to explode thus destroying the wand that her father made for her.

"Eh? Why did it explode?" Sofia was surprised.

"It's because you're careless. You can't put spiritual energy in your wand full of your golden energy. You should put the energy at the same time." The tree spirit said.

"I see. Then okay." Sofia said as she get her father's wand, the Dragon's wand.

Sofia was quite anxious about using it, but she have no other choice. Getting out her wand, a lot of exclamation echoed within the crowd and even among the contestant.

"So that girl must be the only princess of Northern Kingdom." Hister said as he let a weak smile.

Receiving the hint, Sofia then now filled her wand with both her energy. As little portion of both her energy enter the wand, the wand start to vibrate as the energy began clashing each other.

"How.. how can I harmonize the two energy?" Sofia asked in panic.

"That's easy. Be a queen to them. Energy although doesn't have any consciousness nor intelligence, but they have senses." The tree spirit said with an annoying tone.

"I see. Thank you." Sofia said before closing her eyes.

As she closed her eyes, Sofia then feel the energy in the wand before glaring at it. The energy, as if being scared, stop fighting each other and became as calm as an ocean.

"It's indeed effective!" Sofia said in an elation as she began to add her both energy.

After a moment, her wand began glowing with golden blue light as it became more exquisite. The pattern of the wand become even more visible while the size increase by centimeters.

"Angel's Touch!" Sofia said as she tap the rock with her wand as gentle as an angel.

Swish!

Green lights began glowing brightly as the surroundings become filled with relaxing atmosphere. The man who broke his hand earlier were hit by green light and healed a bit. Shocked and mockery appeared among the contestant and audience as they look at Sofia as if she's some idiots.

"Healing Arrow." Robin, who's beside Sofia let go of his arrow that shine green light as well towards the rock.

Since Sofia and Robin were acquaintances and can be considered friends, Sofia, of course, give hint towards Robin who followed the intellect without hesitation. Although Robin can already harmonize both energues, he still felt thankful for the kind tips.

Two green light filled a certain area of the surface as the audience become bewildered.

Laugh and mockery escape the audience and contestant's mouth as they watch the two with belittling eyes.

"I see. They must have read the same book I read before as well." Hister said as he let a laugh.

"They're still too young but they're quick witted." Kisty said as she also let a laugh.

Crack!

After the green light faded, the Absolute Rock were smithereens into pieces. Since Sofia and Robin were just closed by each ither, their healing spell and attack overlapped each other, thus doubling the effect of their skills.

The Absolute Rock can be difficult for a Worldly God state if they will use only golden energy nor spiritual energy but can be as weak as a glass against harmonized spiritual and golden energy. It also has another unique qualities. The Absolute Rock can imitate the attack of a person and deflect it, but will be destroyed against healing skills.

"Congratulations to Sofia and Robin." The man said as he give the two a token.

"That's amazing. Sofia and Robin are much stronger than us now." Frank who watched the challenge can't help but feel anxious of being left behind.

"Actually, it is not that they're much stronger now, it's because of the person behind Sofia's back. That person is knowledgeable and give hints toward Sofia and Robin." Elise, who came back after a while, said in a confident tone.

"Eh? Is it really that?" Carl look at Elise with doubt.

"Yes. Actually, both those two have the same spiritual and gokden energy as we have, but they're just lucky enough to find treasure. Holy Spiritual bead is a mythical treasure that is abundant of spiritual energy. Holy Spiritual bead's energy, although not totally his, but since it is integrated at Robin's Pheonix's Bow which is his life weapon, so in some cases, it can be considered as his. Sofia, on the other hand, manage to met that mysterious creature that is probably strong." Elise said with careful analysis.

"Wow! You're so amazing!" Icy look at Elise as if she's a goddess. Not only is she too beautiful but also smart.

"I'm not really amazing. It just that Robin said he found the treasure while Sofia said she has a backer back when we're still in ancient ground." Elise reject Icy's praise.

"I see. But still you're indeed amazing." Carl can't help but still be amazed by Elise.

"You're really smart, Elise." Frank praise Elise.

"Well, if you say so." Elise said with a blush on her face.

"That girl's analysis is indeed good. I really like that girl's thinking. So smart." The heavenly man said as he watch the screen with a smile on his face.