“Welcome to the Warrior Hall, Blood Soldier N 06 08499.”
“You are in the Trial Space of the Warrior Trials…”
“…Using Martial Styles and Aspects beyond the specified kind and level will disqualify you from the Trial…”
“…The reward for perfect clearance of the first Trial is 10 Blood Coins, which will increase to 20 Blood Coins for the second Trial, 30 Blood Coins for the third Trial, 40 Blood Coins for…”
“If you fail to gain a perfect clearance, your reward will decrease according to your performance.”
“If you fail the Trials, or are disqualified, you will not be rewarded with any Blood Coins.”
“If you can gain perfect clearance in all ten Trials, the Hall will reward you with additional 500 Blood Coins, and a Low Grade Warrior Medal, which can be used to redeem any Low Grade Martial Style or resources of equivalent value.”
“Breaking records will grant you an additional amount of Blood Coins, equivalent to what you would have gained for a perfect clearance of that level.”
“If you break a record for the entire city, you will earn an additional Low Grade Warrior Token.”
“If you…”
“…As we expected,” Alnea said after going through the instructions of the Warrior Trials. “Direct and simple.”
“…It is Warrior Trials after all,” Yuri said after a moment of silence. “It is only when Aspect Oceans and Concepts are involved that the path of Warriors become a little complicated. But those are not things that we as False Wanderers should worry about. Still, do not let your guard down.”
“I know. Don’t worry.”
“…You saying that only makes me worry more about you.”
“Hey, don’t slander me. When have I made you worry?”
“…Do you want to jog your memory?”
“…How about Lia? Has she calmed down?”
“…For the time being. I hope she does not slip up in the Trials.”
“…You should trust her a little.”
“…Forget it. Let’s deal with our Trials first.”
“…Alright,” Alnea said, and selected to begin the Trials. As usual, the symbols on the blood red curtain floating in front of him jumbled up, forming a new set of instructions.
“Defeat 1 first level Initial Stage Blood Shadow.”
“Powers outside of the path of Warriors are forbidden.”
“You can use only 1 Martial Style, and 1 Aspect.”
“Using more than 1 Martial Style, or a Martial Style above the Lowest Grade will disqualify you from the Trial.”
“Using more than 1 Aspect will disqualify you from the Trial.”
“Perfect clearance condition: Defeating the Blood Shadow without getting injured.”
“Record 1: Defeating the Blood Shadow in 2 seconds.”
“Record 2: Defeating the Blood Shadow in 1 move.”
“Record 3: Defeating the Blood Shadow without using any Martial Style or Aspects.”
“Your Trial will begin at the count of 60.”
“…3.”
“2.”
“1.”
“0.”
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The blood red curtain broke down into shards of red light, dissolving into the darkness around him, triggering the white light hidden within the depths of the Trial Space to emerge, and drown everything in its colour, leaving just Alnea and the Blood Shadow in front of him as the sole exceptions. But that was how it was supposed to be. Just as how the Blood Shadow rushed towards him the moment it took shape, giving him no time to observe his opponent.
Not that he needed some special measures to deal with a First Level Initial Stage Blood Shadow. Even if the said Blood Shadow was glowing in a green light, holding a foot long dagger in each hand. One in reverse grip, and one in normal grip… Normally, that alone would not have been enough to tell what kind of opponent he was facing. After all, there were countless ways for Wanderers to handle their weapons. Just as there were countless types of Aspects with the green colour. But when everything was put together…
A Warrior specialising in agility, Alnea noted, as he stepped back and twisted his body to avoid the dagger coming towards his neck, while unsheathing his sword to deflect the dagger slashing into his waist. But that was not enough. He could see, feel the dagger passing by his neck shifting towards him ever so slightly, intent on digging into him. Not to mention the fact that even if he used his sword just to deflect the Blood Shadow’s attack, it would still count as one move.
So, whether it was to end the fight in one move, or to save his neck, Alnea did not hold back when swinging his sword to deflect the Blood Shadow’s attack. And though he did not use any Martial Styles or Aspects, just his physical strength alone was enough to cleave the Blood Shadow all the way from its right waist to its left shoulder. After all, it was just a First Level Initial Stage Blood Shadow that he was facing, while he himself could compete with Peak Stage False Wanderers in terms of physical strength. The result of their clash was obvious…
Alnea sheathed his sword, as the Trial Space turned dark once again, shifting his focus to the blood red curtain coalescing in front of him.
“Congratulations, Blood Soldier N 06 08499, for passing the first level of the Initial Stage Warrior Trial…”
“You have cleared the Trial perfectly.”
“Time taken to defeat your opponent: 2 seconds.”
“Moves made to defeat your opponent: 1.”
“Martial Styles used: 0.”
“Aspects used: 0.”
“Records broken: 0.”
“Perfect clearance of Trials: 1.”
“Blood Soldier N 06 08499, you have been rewarded with 10 Blood Coins.”
“Do you wish to continue with the Trials, or do you wish to leave the Trial Space?”
“Reminder: Regardless of how many Trials you take, you will have to pay 100 Blood Coins every time you enter the Initial Stage Warrior Trial Space.”
Alnea glanced over the blood curtain once, just to make sure that he did not miss any details, before selecting to continue the Trials.
“Defeat 2 second level Initial Stage Blood Shadows.”
“Powers outside of the path of Warriors are forbidden.”
“You can use only 1 Martial Style, and 1 Aspect.”
“Using more than 1 Martial Style, or a Martial Style above the Lowest Grade will disqualify you from the Trial.”
“Using more than 1 Aspect will disqualify you from the Trial.”
“Perfect clearance condition: Defeating the Blood Shadow without getting injured.”
“Record 1: Defeating the Blood Shadow in 3 seconds.”
“Record 2: Defeating the Blood Shadow in 1 move.”
“Record 3: Defeating the Blood Shadow without using any Martial Style or Aspects.”
“Your Trial will begin at the count of 60.”
“…3.”
“2.”
“1.”
“0.”
The blood red curtain shattered with the white light emerging from within the darkness, making way for the Blood Shadows in front of him. Two, as stated, glowing in red and green lights. One carrying a spear, and one carrying a sword. For a moment, Alnea missed the Blood Shadows that used to wield just their fists against him. Though just two Initial Stage Blood Shadows, no matter what weapons or Aspects they used, would never be able to hurt him, with long ranged weapons in their hands, they could make breaking the records a little more troublesome. On second thought…
Alnea moved back just in time to avoid the sword slashing towards his neck, leaving behind a trail of green light in the air, before tilting his head ever so slightly to dodge the spear, glowing in a daunting red light, thrusting towards his head. A thrust made with all of the Blood Shadow’s might, leaving it empty and defenceless. Before he could take advantage of the Blood Shadow’s weakness though, the second Blood Shadow followed up on its attack, driving him away from the defenceless Blood Shadow.
As he had expected. Of all the Blood Shadows that Alnea had faced, the combination of sword and spear was always the most troublesome one. Especially the way they supported each other. Still, no matter how good their cooperation was, it was still dull and mechanical. Almost as if they could attack only in certain patterns. A slash followed by a thrust, or a sweep followed by a thrust, with one always coming in to support the other.
Even the way they moved was set in pattern, always following each other to support, and prevent the other from falling. As such, it did not take much effort on his part to manoeuvre around the Blood Shadows, and stand in between them, effectively preventing them from supporting each other. It did not make the Blood Shadows panic though. Rather, with one of them standing on either of his side, it made it easier for them to charge in at him with their weapons, wrapped in their Aspects, pointed at his head and chest, cutting off his escape routes—
Alnea jumped at the last moment, allowing the two Blood Shadows to impale each other, and end the Trial. Landing back on the ground, he glanced back at the Blood Shadows disintegrating, and fading away with the white light, before shaking his head. No matter how troublesome the Blood Shadows were, they were just constructs of the Trial Space, made to test his achievements on his path. They could never compare to the real enemies he faced.
“…Congratulations, Blood Soldier N 06 08499, for creating an unbreakable record, and leaving behind your mark in the annals of the Lost City…”
