Ch 7 - Ranking Examinations - Part 1

A handsome blonde youth stood with a basic steel sword in hand. Taking on a simple fighting stance his gaze locked on to what was in front of him. 

Standing next to him was a beautiful white-haired girl that was holding a wooden staff up to her chest.

in front of them a certain strange familiar brown-haired boy with both his fist up to his chest was getting ready to fight. 

The first to move?

"1st Art - Chosen King's Blade."

The blonde youth.

His once plain sword glowed transforming to a familiar golden blade.

Caliburn, The Sword of Chosen Kings.

He slashed his blade glowing brightly making an arc of what seems like pure light in front of him.

Though it hit the air...

"1st Step - Never-ending March."

The brown-haired boy instantly reacted to the slash he turned to dodge out the way softly putting the soles of his feet directly on the air. 

The boy with one foot planted on the air turned around once more his leg aiming directly for the other.

"Adrian!"

Suddenly the white-haired girl tackled the blonde-haired youth narrowly missing a kick to the face.

"Ah, my names Eric by the way."

The brown-haired youth innocently replied. 

"We didn't need to know your name."

The girl quipped glaring at Eric.

"It's fine, it's fine."

Adrian repeated told the girl while standing up and shaking of any dirt.

"Hmm? How about we team up during this exam just for a little while?"

Adrian followed up reaching his hand out for Eric's.

Eric took his hand not caring about the earlier conflict.

"Ah, her name is Maria by the way. She gets a little grumpy, I apologize on her behalf."

"Adrian!"

*********

"I am the incarnate of Odin, the All Father. I'll give you a chance to run away now before it's too late."

A grayish white-haired boy confidently exclaimed towards a tall beautiful young lady.

"Hmm? I didn't know the All Father's incarnate would be so cocky."

The young lady replied to the boy not fazed by anything he said instead she quickly readied her bright red spear.

Suddenly...

another spear came flying through the air encased in a bright blue thunder.

Crash!!

It crashed directly into a nearby tree right beside the self-proclaimed incarnate of Odin.

"I'd rather you not sully my name. Incarnate of Loki."

Replied a white-haired youth in the distance.

"Pfft!"

The imitator instead of getting scared was laughing?

His loud laughs could be heard throughout the forest scaring nearby animals.

Why was he laughing?

Because of the simple white blouse that was worn by the incoming youth. 

"Wha- what are you wearing?"

The imitator could barely be understanded through his laughter while the beautiful lady from earlier looked in the direction of the new guest with a curious expression.

"I didn't know that the incarnate of Odin would have such peculiar taste."

"Hey! This is a condition for one of my abilities. It's not my fault."

The boy immediately defended trying to prevent any further embarrassment, he quickly grabbed his spear from the nearby tree looking towards the beautiful lady with a certain red spear in hand. 

The girl met his gaze and readied her spear once more. Seeing an opportunity to escape the incarnate of Loki quickly ran away to not get caught in the crossfire. 

The boy readied his spear as well his gaze not leaving hers. He closed his right eye and immediately launched at the girl with a simple spear thrust.

Clang!

Sparks flying in all sorts of directions, the girl easily blocks it with the red metal pole of her spear.

She immediately goes on the counterattack unleashing two quick slashes directed at the boy's legs. 

The boy jumped into the air dodging the strikes, not letting this opening get away the girl immediately thrusts her spear at the boy still airborne. 

He immediately arches his back narrowly dodging the strike before landing on the ground. 

He swiped his spear at her legs hoping to catch her off guard though to no avail.

The girl simply dodged back. 

"Your prowess with the spear matches my own. The name's Aria Lucien Skye. Care to tell me yours incarnate of Odin?"

She said while dashing at me once more. She unleashes a barrage of thrusts aiming for any openings I might show.

I block every last one with the pole of my spear, the sparks once again flew in the air. She fell back once again gaining some distance. 

"The name's Alex Wouden, pleasure to meet you. I'll assume you're the incarnate of Scathach."

I feigned ignorance while looking over at her bright red spear wrapped in a small red fabric at the point.

She might have been mistaken for the incarnate of Chu Chulainn, if he wasn't already well known.

'The two main ways to tell an incarnate is their weapon and their last name. You see family names take up the slot for middles names while last names are all derived from their Ascender.'

'Though it's mainly a plot device for the readers to tell who is the incarnate of who.'

Seeing me lost in thought, she launched herself at me once again.

"1st Art - Land of the Shadows."

I heard a soft feminine voice silently whisper as the girl in front of me disappeared into thin air, but I knew better.

I opened my right eye which had been closed for the entirety of the battle.

'The right!'

I immediately grab my spear blocking any incoming attacks to the right.

Clang!

'I didn't wear this damn stupid blouse for nothing!'

'I think it looks nice, boy.'

'Shut your mouth you perverted god.'

Little did he know in history practically all the gods were bastards especially the leaders of the pantheon. 

I looked back at Aria who was staring at me in a curious expression.

"Was it instincts or just plain luck?"

She asked while lowering her spear seemingly giving up on the battle.

"None, just plain old farsight."

I replied while lowering my spear as well.

'It seems she's satisfied.'

Author's Notes:

This chapter was mainly a way to introduce a bunch of characters.