Kapitel 408: Custom Trials

"A Title clash, it occurs when more than one person holds a major Title.", explained Xo.

"Major Titles. . . so it doesn't happen with the other ones?"

"No, it would be a waste if it did. For a major Title such as Sword Saint, if two people held it then the Title clash would happen very suddenly. There is no warning."

"What happens during a Title clash?", asked Kan'na.

"The two holders will be brought to a pocket dimension abruptly and forced to challenge each other for the Title. This challenge varies depending on the Title, but what's more important is the transportation to the pocket dimension. Since it can happen at any time it can interrupt a moment of insight, or during a life changing battle. It could either be a life saver or a destroyer depending on the moment. Moreover your condition is not restored during the challenge, so if you are on the verge of death. . ."

Akiol pinched his chin, "That's not good at all. How do I give up the Title?"

Xo shook his head, "The thought of giving up such a valuable Title shouldn't have arrived in your head. However there isn't a way to give up one, only to lose it."

"Then how do I lose it?"

"You have to initiate the challenge for the Title before a clash happens."

"Meaning I have to challenge the current Sword Saint?"

"Correct."

"I don't even know who the current Sword Saint is. How could I even go about doing that?"

"The current Sword Saint is under our care. I could alter your Trial to be a challenge against them. In exchange for you doing so no matter the outcome we will let you enter The Gated Arena."

"I essentially get a free access key."

"Correct, however the current Sword Saint is very against the thought of intentionally losing. I will have to ask you to truthfully challenge them for the Title. Else they won't accept it."

"This is very troublesome."

"My apologies, but we cannot risk a Title clash."

"Alright I accept."

"My many thanks.", Xo sighed with relief, "In the meantime you all should notice your orbs are ready. If you would proceed to your Trials I believe I shall see you all in The Gated Arena within an hour or two."

A player raised the orb, "What happens if we complete it?"

"You will be transported to The Gated Arena once you complete it. If you fail you will be sent to the outside part of the territory around the Crystal Gate."

"That simple?"

"Yes, we do not waste resources on paltry manners. If you prove yourself worthy, your access to The Gated Arena will not be delayed any further."

"I see."

Several Players consumed the orbs and were swiftly transported. Akiol raised a hand towards one, "Wait, what's your name?"

The player he focused on was none other than the first one to claim to be their fan! It struck Akiol as interesting that someone like that was of "special circumstance". So he desired to know who they were.

They were ecstatic, "I am known as Igneel! Aspiring Pugilist to be like Wrock!"

"Who would've thought. A pleasure to meet you Igneel."

"Likewise!"

The last Players finally consumed their orbs and and vanished from the area. Xo adjusted his robe and shook his head, "Normally I wouldn't do this. However for you to share the Title of Sword Saint, and your more than capable skill that you showcased, I can make an exception. I will be bringing you to The Gated Arena."

Akiol tilted his head slightly, "I thought I had to challenge the Sword Saint first?"

"They cannot leave The Gated Arena right now. So in order for you to challenge them you have to enter first."

"Ah, very well."

"Now about those two currently with you. I suppose they also have qualifications."

"What?"

"A Dragon holds the most potential when it comes to magic. Moreover the Origin creatures are the first of their kind. A testament to their strength you could say. Since there is only one of each species, I am sure no one will complain if I bring an Origin Hydra with us too."

Xo shook his head, "Truly you are fascinating. Please place a hand upon my shoulder, I shall bring you to The Gated Arena shortly."

Akiol walked over and did as he was told. Xo placed his palms together and laughed faintly, "To think a Title Clash would happen with the Sword Saint. Even in all my years I didn't think this would happen."

"Strange things seem to happen all the time with me."

"An interesting phenomenon. But you do carry that same feeling."

"Wait what same feeling-"

Akiol's entire being then seemed to warp as he was transported to The Gated Arena.

~ ~ ~

Upon eating the green orb Kan'na found herself located in a semi-lit room. The only thing present worth noting was a tablet directly in the center. A singular line of runes on its surface. Approaching this tablet Kan'na brushed her hands over it.

Reading the runes she shook her head, "So my Trial is based on my knowledge of magic?"

The runes followed a set of principals she originally used a long time ago. Back when she first was experimenting and creating the magic language in her past world she used to use a series of lines much like this one. It worked for quite some time, until Kan'na realized just how much more efficient a magic circle was.

Such a simple line of runes was easy for her. With a glance she already could tell exactly what it did. For the line on the tablet was the source of light in the room. It could be literally translated to 'grant me light'.

She knew this, but she wasn't sure what exactly she needed to do. There was a lack of instruction with her Trial. So she took a step back and examined the whole situation. Her surroundings consisted of a semi-lit room, the light failing to reveal the entirety of the room. The tablet that produced a bit of light. And the line of runes on the tablet.

Raising a finger she formed a small magic circle and watched as it almost immediately failed. Pinching her chin she tapped the ground with her foot and watched as a small Formation also failed. It seemed like her own form of magic failed. Is it something else causing it?

There was something she needed to solve, or at least there should be. Under the premise of a 'Trial' there must be something she had to do. She couldn't sense anything with the ambient mana. Which left her with only one thing, the tablet.

Approaching the tablet again she touched its surface. It felt cool to the touch. When her fingers approached the runes a faint warmth could be felt, but not enough to fight the chill of the tablet. Feeling the tablet gave Kan'na an idea. Writing a singular rune she watched how it performed. Once it was completed it laid into the tablet. The light it emitted flickered and shut off a second later.

Two seconds passed and the light returned, but her rune was gone. This singular test made the Trial's goal almost crystal clear to her. Adding a set of runes next to the line she waited for a moment. Flickering the light paused and then expanded. Revealing the rest of the room and three more tablets.

"That makes things much easier."

It seem she needed to adjust the lines of runes to her advantage. The change she made to the light was adding the adjective 'great' to the line. Due to the specifics of magic you couldn't specify the adjectives before the subject. So the sentence 'grant me great light' would fail. This was because mana obeyed a set of laws when it came to runes. Kan'na found the best method was to make the sentence nearly impossible to understand basically. For instance the sentence 'grant me light' was a decipherable translation. A more direct translation would be 'Light, Create, I'.

This also meant that runes could be deciphered in multiple ways. Such as 'grant me light', 'create me light', 'I create light', 'I grant light,' and so forth. This was why Kan'na never translated what a magic circle did specifically. Instead she merely gave the basic premise behind its function. With a singular set of runes Kan'na changed 'Light, Create, I' to 'Light, Great, Create, I' or 'grant me great light'.

Since the tablet didn't reject the change Kan'na believed her change to be the correct answer. So she turned her attention to the newly revealed tablets. Upon a first glance she determined the tablets to be of ascending difficulty. The first tablet was a simple set of two lines. However they failed to create anything. Even upon understanding what they were Kan'na was unsure what it was supposed to do exactly.

Turning her attention to the second tablet she scratched her chin in puzzlement. Although there were several more lines there still lacked a clear objective. So she changed her focus to the third tablet, yet a similar result lay on its surface.

It seemed like she needed to complete the lines of runes. However it seemed unnecessarily complicated. The number of lines increased with each tablet. Yet nothing became clear. The first tablet had simple lines of gathering mana, a textbook opening for major magic spells. Yet there's nothing to use the mana for. The second tablet had a series of instructions for something to behave, it was like receiving an instruction book but with nothing to use it for. The final tablet is supposed to form something, but had no method of doing so.

Kan'na paused, "Ah, that's pretty clever."

This was the real Trial! The beginning tablet was merely giving her an idea of her goal and capabilities. The three tablets were supposed to be working together, or rather were pieces of the same set of magic. Although there were still some pieces missing, when put together the goal finally became clear for Kan'na. So she could easily do some patchwork to get it working.

Her fingers moved swiftly lines of runes forming at an incredible speed. With a flick of her finger she finalized the last rune. Dusting off her palms she watched patiently as the tablets accepted her work. After three seconds a series of magic fireworks went off, although incredible small. A faint voice echoed, "Trial complete."

"Naturally."