Graduation Exams (1)

"Today is the day of the graduation exams! We are out here in an open field because here is where you will put everything you've learned to the test. The Graduation Exams will go like this, you will be graded upon by score rankings. My Mecha, Comet, will keep watch of you and once the time goes out the fight is over! If you score a 0 to 1499 you fail, if you score a 1500+ you pass. This is how the Rating Matches go. Now we will pick the battles at random, but it will be different. Once your names are picked they will not be picked again!" Satomi explained.

Nagini walked over to us and walked to me. I looked at her and she handed me a paper. I grabbed the paper from her hands then read it. She whispered information in my ears about the Judgement Order about what they did to Orishi's body. I nodded and folded the paper then placed it in my pocket.

"The first battle! Iori against Arei!" Satomi called out.

Iori closed her book and looked up. She walked forward and Arei walked forward as well. Satomi summoned a barrier over those who weren't fighting.

Iori summoned her katana then looked at Arei. Arei summoned her battleaxe. The words Begin showed up on Comet's holographic screen. Iori dashed forward then unsheathed her katana. Arei twirled her axe around then stomped her foot down, getting into a defensive stance and blocked Iori's attacks.

"Iori's pretty fast, but it seems Arei was prepared for her." Annie said.

"Iori has speed and power, but Arei is a strategist. She has Tactical Analysis. She's able to create a strategy for any battle she's in. They might not always work, but most of the time it works wonders." Usagi said then smiled.

Iori jumped back and backflipped off one hand then got into her stance. "I'll have to push myself further. I need to he noticed by the Rulers..!" Iori said to herself then concentrated her energy into her katana.

She dashed forward and yelled then her katana shined a green color. Arei looked at Iori a bit surprised. She hadn't accounted for the fact Iori had some form of elemental energy.

"That energy." Orika said.

"It's Wind Energy." Ambrosia smiled and crossed her arms.

Iori yelled and slashed then sent Arei flying in the air. Arei groaned as she was sent flying then she recovered in the air and looked at Iori. She looked shocked as Iori was using the wind to walk on the air. Iori appeared above Arei then kicked her down to the ground. Arei groaned loudly then opened her eyes. She slashed down and stuck her axe into the ground. She grunted then landed safely on the ground and panted.

"Iori is still in the air. What is she planning..?" Annie asked.

I watched Iori and crossed my arms. I also wondered what Iori was about to do next while she was in the air.

Iori took a deep breath then blew out a beam of concentrated air from her mouth at Arei. Arei looked up then squeaked and dodged the attack. She deflected the second beam of air with her axe. Iori grunted and was hit with her own beam then an explosion happened in the air.

"Despite Arei not being able to weild elemental energy, she definitely does what she can to hold her own against those who can. Arei is a like Yumeji and me, a physical fighter. We don't wield elemental energy, but we do possess some of the best physical abilities." Usagi said with a smile on her face.

Iori flew down with a ball of condensed air in her hand. She bellowed then her eyes shined. "Take this! Gale Cyclone!" She yelled and launched the ball of air at Arei.

Arei looked at the air ball then roared then sliced the ball in half then her eyes widened as an explosion happened, blowing her away.

"The Gale Cyclone happened to be an air bomb as well. That was pretty smart of Iori to hide an air bomb within her attack." Erika nodded.

"And that's time! Alright, Comet, how did our ladies do?" Satomi asked and looked at the screen after the calculations were done.

Iori's Grade: 1832 [Passed]

Arei's Grade: 1598 [Passed]

"It looks like you both passed, good job to the both of you." Satomi smiled.

Iori walked over to Arei then held her hand out. "Good job on keeping up with me...I never really expected you to do so."

Arei smiled and grabbed her hand. "Thanks...you have a very good understanding of your power too. I'm glad I got first hand experience."

Iori pulled Arei up then they walked together to the barrier and went inside.

"The next two will be Orika against Yumi." Satomi said.

Orika nodded and looked at Ambrosia. "I will do my best."

"You better." Ambrosia smiled.

Orika hurried out of the barrier with Yumi following behind. Yumi looked back at me and smirked.

I looked at her then moved my eyebrow and smiled. I knew Yumi wanted to impress me, but Orika was no pushover anymore. Yumi would need to work hard to take Orika down now.

The words Begin appeared on the holographic screen and Orika immediately surrounded her arms with ice and dashed towards Yumi. Yumi summoned her bow and blocked Orika's attack then kicked her away. She dashed after Orika then went for a barrage of attacks. Orika dodged the attacks with ease and palmed Yumi's stomach. Yumi groaned lightly and she coughed a bit.

"Orika is really holding her own against Yumi. She's gotten better at fighting and it shows." Liao Ru said as she watched.

Orika dashed to Yumi and grunted dodging the barrage of arrows from Yumi then looked surprised when she sensed an invisible arrow. She began to get hit with a barrage of invisible arrows then was blown away by a lightning arrow. She groaned and rolled on her side then rebounded off the ground. She slid back and grunted as she was paralyzed by the lightning arrow.

"Invisible Arrows. Yumi is a master of the Kyujutsu Technique. Her hyper speed quick draws make the arrows seem invisible, but in actuality the arrows are moving at speeds the naked eye can't see." Ambrosia said. "But that's not all she can do..."

"This is the power of Ultimate Archery!" Yumi yelled then a magic circle appeared in front of her. "Million Shot!"

Yumi released the singular arrow at the magic circle then hundreds of arrow were being shot at Orika. Orika grunted then summoned an ice sword then began to deflect the arrows, but began to become overwhelmed by the amount of arrows then a large smoke cloud appeared as the onslaught went on.

"Holy shit...That looked like my Berserk Blaster attack." Yumeji said in awe.

"No shot Orika was able to deflect all of those arrows...Hundreds of arrows were being shot per second and all with precision of a Goddess." Kikyo said.

Saito's eye beeped then the air began to drop in temperature quickly. A blizzard randomly happened and everyone looked surprised.

"The Gem of Cryo has activated.." Liao Ru smirked.

Nagini crossed her arms and her eyes shined brightly. "Here she is.."

Orika stood up and wings of ice began to materialize on her back. She looked up and her hair turned a snow white and her eyes shined an ice blue. She covered her left eye and panted softly. She snapped her fingers and the blizzard stopped and she held her hand out then summoned the Ruler of Frost's weapon. The weapon was a long bladed saber and it had a powerful cold aura around it.

"The Glacio Blade. It isn't a Divine Weapon, but it is a legendary weapon and powerful enough to take on an Overlord. Orika has now become a Ruler." Liao Ru smiled.

Orika unsheathed the blade then dashed forward and deflected more of Yumi's arrows. She created an ice shield to block the invisible arrows and Yumi looked surprised. Yumi summoned another magic circle and used Million Shot once more. Orika summoned an ice wall and pushed it forward. She noticed the arrows curving around the wall and glared. She summoned an ice barrier around her body and the barrier blocked the arrows.The barrier lowered once the barrage of arrows stopped then she dashed forward towards Yumi.

Orika's eyes shined brightly as she bellowed and slashed in a circle at Yumi.

"Time!" Satomi said.

Orika stopped her blade at Yumi's neck and Yumi didn't make a single move. She noticed how close the blade was to her neck and looked at Orika surprised. Orika gave her a cold look that sent chills down Yumi's spine. Orika's entire demeanor changed when she awakened her Demigod powers. She went from a loving, cute woman to a cold, elegant, and relentless woman.

"Orika..." I said to myself then closed my eyes and sent a lightning bolt crashing down beside Orika.

She noticed and looked at me then reverted back to normal and looked at Yumi, seeing how scared she was. "Y-Yumi! Are you okay? I didn't hurt you too badly did I?"

Yumi looked at Orika and still felt her terrifying energy. Orika's Ruler Form struck fear in Yumi. "I-I'm alright.."

"The Ruler of Frost had the same issue when she first became a Ruler. She was elegant and cold towards people, even her own friends. Though she was relentless and aloof, she was still gentle and soft on the inside. Orika might be the same way. The feelings she showed just now, may be the dark feelings she's suppressed for years. If Satomi hadn't stopped the battle and you had not gotten her attention...Yumi would have died." Nagini explained.

I looked at Orika then looked at the scores on the holographic screen.

Orika's Grade: 1973 [Passed]

Yumi's Grade: 1988 [Passed]

Both of them passed with high marks and for good reason. I was worried about Orika, however. If she can't control her Ruler Powers, innocent people will die and I didn't want that. I had to figure out a way to help Orika control her Ruler Powers before we go back out there into war.