As Sebastian and several other candidates walked down the dark corridor, only the green reflections from the metallic walls illuminated the path. Scanning the crowd, Sebastian tried to guess who might have a higher score than his own. Despite his good ranking, seventy-four people were above him. While he started with the advantage of his previous life, the others had surely endured hell during their time locked inside the cocoon.
« I hope the next trial won't be as boring. It's strange that no one has been eliminated despite their low scores. If I understand correctly, being trapped in a cocoon and making it here to take the tests is almost a miracle… Hmm… and if a large portion of the participants die within five years after the tests, maybe they have major staff shortages… Wait… COULD I DIE?!? No, my record is too good for that, but maybe the warriors are the ones who die the most. I'm starting to stress. I really need a cigarette, damn it… »
Finally, they reached the next room. Nothing extravagant awaited them just jars filled with a black substance that looked like flames. The flames in the jars were tiny, almost as if they could vanish with a gust of wind. Yet this was the main center for the next test.
Once all the candidates were present, the old man stood in front of his desk. Slowly, he laid his hands on the wood and let his fingers slide to the edge. Raising his left hand, he tapped three times on the desk before speaking.
Now, you will proceed to the Arcanose Veineuse trial. I will explain what it entails. We have made a pact with the Qephraï to provide us with the equivalent of a piece of their skin. Once acquired, you can use it only once it disappears after use. You will not be able to keep it, unlike your future acquisitions. This will be explained further when you are selected by one of the troops. The test measures whether you can absorb and unleash the ability of the Qephraï skin you assimilated. Since this is your first time and to prevent you from keeping the power, you will practice using the skin of a Tartare rank Qephraï the weakest rank. Mr. Lysander Vorel has volunteered to receive the attacks, but do not worry; he can gauge the force of the attack and deflect it. If you manage to harm him, you will not be reprimanded. For safety, you will proceed one at a time.
One at a time, damn it. We'll be here for hours. Some probably won't manage to assimilate the Qephraï skin, but it must be a minority. Even if some fail, we'll still have to wait a long time. And I might fail too, since I'm not really from this world it could affect my ability.
The second test began. The first ten candidates to step forward failed to assimilate, even though it wasn't a full Qephraï body. Among them, the 59th ranked from the previous test had failed. High stress and physical aptitude didn't guarantee success; the most important element was the assimilation itself. Sebastian wondered if he would be up to the task. Most candidates lost a significant part of their confidence. If the 59th could fail, maybe only a handful would succeed.
When another candidate stepped forward, the boy protested:
There must be a mistake! Maybe this one was faulty. Let me try another! I cannot be just a warrior. I didn't endure the tortures inside the cocoon for nothing. Let me retake the test!
The old man approached the boy, who had interrupted an important trial. Facing him, he looked the boy straight in the eyes and slapped him.
Young man, what you just did was an insult. If you failed, it was entirely your fault. Now, if you please, go to the other candidates who have failed.
The boy, dragging his feet, walked toward the nine others who had failed assimilation. The field was now free for the next participants, but they also failed. For a long time, everyone who tried failed the assimilation test.
« This isn't normal. Why can't anyone master the power of these Qephraï? If this continues, none of us will succeed, and we'll just be simple warriors who die at the first tough fight. I didn't reincarnate in this world to live a life as rotten as my previous one. There must already be a hundred candidates who tried, and none succeeded so far. That red-haired guy probably won't have to make any effort at all. »
Candidates continued in sequence. Sebastian was so stressed, hoping someone would succeed before his turn, that he didn't even notice the time passing. Some candidates trembled unknowingly. They were already better than in the previous test. Was the test structure designed to increase stress at each stage? The turns passed until the candidate who had ranked first in the previous test stepped forward.
So this is the first from the last test. If he can't assimilate, then like everyone else, we'll know his fate is sealed. He has to succeed. And then we'll finally see what it's like to succeed at assimilating a Qephraï.
The young boy stepped forward with nine others. They all attempted assimilation and failed except the first from the previous test. Finally, a candidate succeeded. He launched the power a simple shockwave equivalent to a punch. Lysander Vorel barely seemed affected. The boy approached the examiner, said a word, and returned to his spot. He was directed to a separate corner, alone for the moment.
Well, our first candidate to succeed is Oriane Vorel. Let's hope he's not the only one.
« What?! He has the same name as the other guy! That must be why he succeeded. Just like his brother, he must be a prodigy. Damn it, I'm screwed. I should've guessed they both have red hair, though Oriane's haircut is a bit less weird. »
The exam continued, and unsurprisingly, everyone else failed. Hundreds of candidates, all destined to be simple fighters. Until Sebastian was called by the name he bore in this world. He stepped forward with nine others, all frozen before the box. Fear was written on the faces of all ten.
They began the test, and everyone failed except Sebastian. To everyone's surpriseand his own he succeeded in assimilating the Qephraï skin. He turned to Lysander to launch the attack. As with Oriane, the attack barely affected him. Sebastian approached the instructor, spoke a word, and returned to his place. Proudly, he moved toward Oriane they were now two selected candidates.
Oriane looked at Sebastian before speaking:
Hello, I'm Oriane Vorel, and you are Abel Verdalys. I'm surprised someone like you passed the test. I can tell from your behavior—you seem foolish and rude—but if you're here, there's some merit in you. Congratulations on your success.
-Thank you. Congratulations to you too.
« What an arrogant kid. Who does he think he is? I'll show him I'm not what he thinks I am. Damn, now I have to wait with him for hours… »
The other candidates took their turns. Finally, out of 4,000 candidates, only four succeeded:
• Oriane Vorel – 1st
• Abel Verdalys – 75th
• Akihiro Zentsu – 2nd
• Réijirô Amahara – 7th
• Well, now that we have all the results, we will proceed to the next test. Those who failed will be led to a different room from those who succeeded. The first to leave are those who failed—please follow your four guides calmly and respectfully.
As those who failed left toward the third test, Sebastian and the three others had to wait.
« Why are we separated? Are we not taking the same trials? And I'm stuck with these three guys who all look worse than the last. If I have to face them next… no, I really hope not. They must be stronger than me. Well, no panic. We'll see when we get there. »
The instructor told the boys to stand and follow him to the next room. Upon arrival, the room didn't look much different from the previous ones, except that the walls and floors were thicker, which seemed odd.
—Now that we've arrived, I will explain the next trial. You will face all four of you at once. The last standing will be the winner of this test and will be assigned a rank higher than the other three within the troop you join. If you're ready, the fight begins.
As the old man finished speaking, the three other candidates went to fetch wooden swords, while Sebastian remained still. How would he manage to gain the upper hand against his opponents?