Kapitel 79: Ch 61 - Ascension Trials & Invitations (Part 1)
The next participant to step on the stage was Rina Bolina, who had a unique hairstyle with twin tails. Unlike Mathew, who was nervous and awkward, Rina seemed more confident and cheerful. She walked gracefully and took the dial card from the phantom mage. Even some of the noble retainers were impressed with Rina's demeanor.
I vividly remembered Rina's remarkable display during the blessing ritual. With a seemingly effortless wave of her hand, she summoned 2-3 small knives that materialized out of thin air. These knives, resembling fragments of shattered glass, lacked a distinct shape but possessed a pointed end, perfect for piercing.
At first glance, Rina's power may not have appeared particularly impressive. However, with proper training and dedication, she had the potential to evolve into a formidable combatant mage. As she honed her skills, those knives would gradually grow in size, become sharper, and ultimately turn into deadly weapons. This unique ability ensured that she would never be caught unarmed when confronted by enemies.
Rina's ability classified her as a psychic mage, albeit one whose abilities initially seemed lackluster compared to those of other mages. Nonetheless, among the psychic mages in this world, her abilities leaned more toward the stronger end of the spectrum.
As the grandmasters delved into the stone tabloids, carefully studying the data acquired from the red cape mages, a sense of intrigue filled the air. Each of them appeared genuinely impressed by Rina's potential.
Rina confidently positioned herself within the red circle, signaling the commencement of the first trial.
Once again, two colossal slabs of walls emerged from the ground, encircling Rina in a rhythmic rotation. Blue beams of light cascaded upon her, illuminating the space around her. Undeterred by the intense display, Rina stood unwaveringly, a serene smile gracing her face throughout the arduous ordeal.
This went on for almost a minute before the slabs of the wall stopped and receded back into the earth.
Soon after the floating fountain screen lit up and the Rina's meridians were displayed for everyone to see.
"It's good to see another young healthy mage here." praised Grandmaster Biswaq.
"Her meridians are not as dense as the meridians of Mathew but it's well distributed overall." pointed out Pierre.
"Summoning blades is a remarkably useful skill. With proper training, one can become a formidable assassin capable of eliminating unforeseen adversaries," Grandmaster Gunther remarked.
"Grandmaster Gunther, would you be so kind as to refrain from discussing your intentions of cultivating ruthless killers in the presence of these youngsters?" Casia interjected, her smile subtly playing across her lips.
Grandmaster Gunther fell into silence, folding his arms. He had no intention of rebutting Lady Casia's remark.
"Enough with the unnecessary commotion. At present, her blades hold little significance. However, with proper training and nurturing, she may gradually develop into a somewhat proficient mage," Grandmaster Hamanthra interjected.
It's a rarity to witness Hamanthra expressing praise toward a candidate.
I felt like she would start executing us candidates if we pissed her off anymore.
"You all seem to be foolishly overlooking a crucial aspect," Grandmaster Messindra interjected, her eyes twinkling with intrigue. "One cannot disregard the intricate pattern formed within her meridians. It is evident that she possesses dormant skills waiting to be awakened."
Even beneath the hood that concealed her face, I could perceive Lady Messindra's eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Lady Messindra's initial lack of interest in Mathew was noticeable. Rumors had circulated regarding the Mind's Eye Royal Academy's preference for accepting primarily Psychic mages, resulting in a significantly lower acceptance rate for Elemental and Transmutant mages. However, observing Messindra's unexpected enthusiasm towards Rina, it became evident that there was some truth to those rumors.
"Well, whatever you're implying, what truly matters is her ability to fight," Grandmaster Ajax chimed in, flexing his bulging muscles with a broad grin.
"Well, little floating blades don't really seem that powerful to me though." Grandmaster Travis chimed in looking bored.
"Grandmaster Travis, you should try to look beyond brute strength," added Biswaq.
The grandmasters continued their petty discussion.
For once I do agree with mad dog Travis, why they were making a fuss over something trivial.
I couldn't help but scoff, "The grandmasters are being way too dramatic."
Hendrickson chimed in, looking unimpressed, "I know, right? My ability is far superior to hers."
I rolled my eyes and took a step back from Hendrickson. While I agreed that Hendrickson's ability might be ranked higher than Rina's, there were other promising candidates with even more powerful abilities. And, of course, I could easily count myself among them.
The metallic tree reverted back to its original form, ready for Rina to undertake the second trial. Rina inserted her arms into the metal tree, and it sprang back to life. The branches of the tree spread out, covering smaller areas compared to Mathew's trial. The leaves that grew on the branches were smaller in size and fewer in quantity than Mathew's tree.
After a minute passed, flowers bloomed and withered, and small budding fruits appeared. This time, individual fruits began to pop up all over the tree. These fruits were larger than the cherries in Mathew's second trial. To be honest, these fruits resemble plums which are plumper and juicy compared to cherries.
As the second trial came to an end, Rina, too, appeared exhausted and noticeably pale. However, unlike Mathew, she didn't utter a single complaint, showcasing her resilience and determination.
The grandmasters and their retainers observed her performance with admiration, once again acknowledging her potential. After a brief discussion among themselves regarding the results, they exchanged glances and nodded in agreement, signaling that it was time for the third trial to commence.
After receiving healing from the potion, Rina quickly regained her cheerful demeanor.
The exoskeleton had reverted back to its original form after Mathew's trial.
Stepping behind the exoskeleton, she placed both of her hands on its back.
As the rib cage of the exoskeleton twisted backward, ensnaring Rina's hands within its skeletal grasp, a sense of unease filled the air. The exoskeleton's transformation continued, sitting upright with a slight tilt of its head, directing its gaze upward toward the towering ceiling. Time seemed to slow as anticipation hung in the air.
Then, in a mesmerizing and slightly eerie display, a singular eye emerged on the skull of the exoskeleton. Positioned prominently on its forehead, between the two empty eye sockets, the eye took form. Its dark, piercing gaze, with vivid red slit-like pupils, surveyed its surroundings with unsettling curiosity.
A chill ran down our spines as we couldn't help but feel a sense of discomfort in the presence of that uncanny eye. Its otherworldly nature held an aura of mystery and foreboding, captivating our attention while evoking an inexplicable sense of unease.
Rina maintained her composure, although her nervousness was evident from the profuse sweating. The eye stared directly at her, creating a sense of unease. However, she remained silent and composed.
After a tense few seconds, the rib cage of the exoskeleton abruptly swung open, liberating Rina's hands. Stepping back from the eerie contraption, she watched as the unsettling eyeball vanished, marking the conclusion of the third trial.
The room fell into a brief silence until Hendrickson couldn't contain his astonishment any longer. "Hold on a moment! Did you all see that? The skeleton actually sprouted an eyeball!" His voice quivered with a mix of shock and amazement.
Intrigued by the unexpected turn of events, I couldn't help but voice my thoughts. "Does that mean she's a Transmutant mage?"
Trisha, renowned for her vast knowledge and composed demeanor, interjected calmly to clarify the situation. "No, she isn't a Transmutant mage. The appearance of the eyeball on her forehead was, in fact, the manifestation of the third eye. It represents the core power and source of all psychic mages."
Everyone present nodded in understanding, mentally acknowledging this new insight.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein