Chapter 10: Tests

The week following Goblin's departure was a busy one.The day of, I spent twelve hours in the training room. Practicing with the pick, experimenting with different styles and coming up with counters for my potential opponents.My movements incorporated techniques from Setkai and normal stabs and slashes, but with a few added in thrusts and quick maneuvers. I know that Setkai is widely accepted as one of if not the most useless fighting style in real life fights, but the ability to close the gaps in between my opponents was not one I was going to give up.While training, I could gradually feel more power being added behind my moves, only further pushing me to continue on training, as this was a sign my abilities would awaken at any moment.Of course, I didn't neglect training my body physically either. Goblin hadn't left behind an exercise regiment, but it was pretty obvious that my main areas to prioritize were my legs and core.The physical strength gained from my aura and Heartile could make up for a less built set of arms, but it was clear to me from watching other people's fights that revealing all my cards at once was not the smartest idea. So I would keep my aura usage to a minimum, and rely on my natural lower body strength to execute quicker and more useful movements.Once my training session was over, I'd returned to my room to find that my next fight was scheduled for the next day.I disregarded the message, as focusing too heavily on it would disturb my concentration. I sat down on the floor and began to flip through the pages of the book left behind by Goblin.So far, I'd learned that minor stages were recent discoveries in Heartile progression, as before people believed that each minor stage were their own evolutionary stages.Each evolutionary stage consisted of three minor stages. These stages were labelled as Low, Mid and High order. I also learned that although the gap between minor stages weren't as large as the gap between evolutionary stages, a minor stage was a key factor in determining the outcome of a fight.Goblin didn't feel the need to explain the reasoning behind any of this, nor how they discovered minor stages, and I refused to rely on Infra any longer, so I remained in the dark about it.The most vital piece of information that was written inside the book turned out to not be information on the other fighters. Though it was useful, it was not the most important. I'd discovered that the method to stabilize my foundation while continuing to progress, was to replicate the emotion I felt while awakening my Heartile.It was when I found out about the method that I felt a great resentment towards Infra. Had I awakened my Heartile through happiness, I could have just stayed in my room all day, meditating while listening to music that made me feel happy.But nonetheless, my progress had greatly hastened once I began to allow myself to get beaten up over and over again.My second fight was no different from my first, though I did manage to stand my ground for longer than just a short few exchanges.The cycle of training, meditating and losing, continued over the remaining days of the week.My mind had become so busy and full, that it was almost impossible for me to remember or think of anything other than fighting.It wasn't until today, after returning to my room after another, but more drawn out, loss, was I finally fed up of feeling that something was so off but being unable to place my finger on what it was."Infra, is there something major that I'm forgetting?"<What do you consider to be major? There are many things happening in the outside world that unaware of.>I began to hate myself for changing its settings to allow it to speak more normally."Anything that has to do with my present or future." I clarified.<Processing. >It whirred for several moments.<The preliminary exams for the Academy have been brought forward and start in four hours.>I shot out of bed and immediately threw all my clothes off."What?!" I screamed while running out the door. <Do not worry. You've grown a very little amount, but it should be enough.>"That's not my main concern, Infra! Why the hell didn't you tell me about this?" I cried, running through the tunnels.<You were in a mood, and refused to talk me. Was I wrong not speaking up at the time?>"Yes! Yes you were!"I began to take the route that would directly take me back to the hidden entrance I'd come from my first time in The Underground, but then a realization hit.Am I allowed to leave?

Once this thought hit, I immediately changed my course and headed towards Enzo's office.

It only took me a few minutes to reach the tunnel outside of his office, but several more to convince his guards to allow me to talk to him.Standing outside his door, I pounded on his door frantically.Unexpectedly, it was his assistant that answered. But I had no time to question anything."I need to leave."Her eyebrow shot up."Not forever! I need to do something on the outside."She scoffed before speaking."Why are you coming to Enzo for this?" She asked."Is there somebody else I'm supposed to go to?" I spoke while keeping my eyes on the clock on my screen. Time was passing much faster now that I was in a rush."There's no one you need to go to. You simply need to send me a message of when you'll be leaving and for how long. Once the time is over, a guard will come to pick you up and bring you back. You're not under a slave contract, Mr.Saint."I wanted to cry out in protest and rant about how I wasn't told any of this, but now was certainly not the time.I made my way back to my original route, typing while running.Once the message was sent, I showed the guard by the exit that the assistant had confirmed my leave, and instantly ran outside.I made it about twenty meters outside before realizing I didn't actually know where I was going."Infra, what do I do? Do I need to run? Call a car? What's the plan here."<Search up the website of Academy on your Tenus, screen. Once there you'll see an option for people wanting to participate in preliminary examinations.>My heart began to return to its normal rate.I did as Infra told me, and clicked on a large green button that read 'PICKUP NOW', which was even more relieving.I clicked on the button and started to search for somewhere to sit. Naturally assuming a vehicle of some sort was on its way to pick me up.But to my very uncomfortable dismay, my body began to change. As if it were being beamed to another dimension, my body, starting from the legs up, began to disintegrate and transform into dust within a matter of seconds.Though the process was harmless, I began to accept my fate, believing that I had died.But when my eyes materialized once more, I found myself in place far more unfamiliar than any I'd seen before.In the middle of an empty hall, I stood, confused. The style and decorations of the room were very eastern and it felt as though I'd been kidnapped and transported to another side of the world.'Infra do you know where I am?' I questioned, moving around the room. If this had any correlation to the exams, then the room itself had to be some form of a test.<Negative. The specifics about the preliminary and entrance exams are highly confidential pieces of information. I could try to search through lost media, but it wouldn't be helpful in your current situation.>I nodded.There were many misfortunes to pin on Infra, but my current situation was not one of them. I continued to search, but in full honesty, there wasn't much to look through. Though there were paintings, bookshelves, tables and the whole lot, the place was practically abandoned.No suspicious items, secret levers that revealed even further secret rooms, trapdoors hidden under the carpets, there was nothing of use in the room.Finally, I'd arrived at the end of the hallway. There stood two massive suits of armour and placed in between them, an empty table.My immediate thought was to further inspect the table, but my curiosity pertaining to the suits of armour was not something that could be contained.I ran up to them, playing around with limbs and weapons. The dummies that wore the suits of armour were far too massive for me to reach the top, so my dream of wearing the helmets and running around the place like a dragon-slaying, princess saving hero would have to wait.I held up my screen, err, my Tenus. Bringing it up to eye level and holding it facing myself, I began to search for a camera."Hey, Infra do you-" A cold breeze swept over my head. My instincts kicked in, forcing my body into a roll, barely dodging the unseen threat.I spun around, my arms raised defensively. "What the hell!" I cried out, eyes wide as the once motionless suits of armor began to move. What had been simple decorations were now towering knights, their massive swords glinting ominously as they advanced. The sword-wielding knight didn't pause, each swing more relentless than the last. Blades sliced through the air, aimed with precision, and the only thing keeping me alive was my frantic ducking and rolling. With no weapon of my own, all I could offer was evasion, each dodge more desperate than the last. My arms trembled with every near miss, each attempt to parry a blow sending shockwaves of pain through my bones. Gradually, the knight backed me against the far wall, trapping me with no escape. The edge of its sword gleamed, ready to deliver a final, crushing blow. "Wait! Wait a second!" I yelled, throwing my hands up in a panic. To my surprise—and immense relief—the knight halted, its glowing eyes narrowing as if considering my plea. I exhaled heavily, using the precious seconds to catch my breath. "Alright, let's do this." Aura surged out of my Heartile, flowing through my body like liquid fire. The familiar warmth spread through my limbs, encasing me in a glowing protective shield. Instantly, the strain on my muscles lightened, my movements felt faster, more fluid. But even with my enhanced abilities, I knew it wasn't enough. The knight loomed, impossibly strong. Its power radiated from its every movement, and despite the newfound strength in my limbs, I felt the weight of impending defeat pressing down on me. I launched a series of jabs and kicks, all aimed at the knight's legs. If I could destabilize it, I might have a chance. My strategy, though, did little more than tire me out. The knight's armor was impenetrable, and every hit felt like striking a steel wall. After what felt like an eternity, I lost count of how many rounds we'd gone. The knight advanced; I dodged. I'd land a hit, and it would shrug it off, unfazed. Over and over, a vicious cycle. But then, as we circled back to its side of the room for what felt like the hundredth time, I caught sight of something—a key, glinting beneath the leg of a nearby table. I had already tried to grab it several times, only to be interrupted by a blade slicing past my face. Each attempt ended with me nearly losing my head. But this time, I had a plan. As the knight chased after me, I turned, pretending to kick. Recognizing the move, the knight did as it always had—it reached for my leg. But this time, I cut the kick short, rolling beneath its legs and dodging through the gap. Without wasting a moment, I climbed onto its back, scrabbling for a grip until I found myself perched on its broad shoulders. The knight roared, dropping its sword to reach for me with both hands. It spun in circles, trying to pry me off, but I dodged its grasp, covering its eyes with my hands. I barely kept from vomiting from the dizzying spins as the behemoth thrashed beneath me. Finally, my plan worked. The knight barreled straight toward the wall. Just before impact, I jumped off, landing with a heavy thud on the stone floor. The knight crashed into the wall, the impact shaking the entire room. I knew I had only moments before it recovered, but that was all I needed. Aura condensed around my legs, and I sprinted toward the table. In a matter of seconds, I was crouched beside the table, fingers searching frantically for the key. Cold iron met my touch just as an even colder grip latched onto my ankle. I twisted around, heart pounding as the knight began to haul me upward. "Can I get another second to catch my breath?" I asked, voice trembling with forced humor. The knight was less amused. It swung me like a rag doll, sending me flying into the nearest wall with bone-shattering force. The impact was brutal. The loud crack of my bones echoed through the room as my body hit the wall, a wave of agony washingover me. Blood filled my mouth, and every breath felt like shards of glass slicing through my chest. 'I just want one week without ending up in the hospital,' I thought bitterly. The room's Tecz began to flow into me, slowly mending my broken body. My bones knit together with agonizing slowness, and I forced myself to stand, eyes widening in horror as the knight began its approach once more. But this time, it wasn't alone. A second knight followed, its massive steps echoing through the hall. For a brief second, I wondered what would've happened if I had given up two months ago, let that strange fire dream consume me. Would I still be here, living this nightmare? "I know no one forced me, Infra!" I shouted into the void, my voice ragged as the metallic whirring started. Half-bent and barely able to stand, I wiped the blood from my mouth and grabbed the key, shoving it into my pocket. At this point, if I failed, maybe they'd at least let me keep the key as a souvenir. Or compensation. The knights were now only a few steps away. 'I can do this. I've got this,' I lied to myself, psyching up. 'So what if they're twenty feet tall, armored behemoths? I don't need a weapon or my armor. I'll be fine.' But as the first sword sliced toward my chest and the second axe swung for my head, my confidence evaporated. 'I'm screwed.' The blows sent me hurtling into a pit so deep, the knights and even the hall were swallowed by the darkness. My body was too numb from the repeated trauma to feel pain anymore. The walls crumbled around me, concrete raining down. Yet, despite everything, my heart still beat. My chest still rose and fell. My eyes still moved.The space around me felt warm, and with a lot less debris and rubble. I slowly opened my eyes to the sight of… people?My eyes shot open slowly, as five people stared down at me. Confused looks stretched across their faces."Hello?" I coughed weakly.