A few weeks later, a large arena within the Big Hit Academy forest was filled with people. There were many young Adepts stretching and preparing themselves. Some were meditating to recover their power having just battled already. All the young Adepts had a number on their chests. There was a tent on the side where all the eliminated or injured Adepts were resting.
Over to the side was a short young boy. Although he was small, he had a demeanour and aura that made those around feel uncomfortable. Those that had watched his matches were a little weary of him and did their best to steer clear. He sat their unmoving, almost as if he were a statue. On his right hand was a silver mark.
An Underground Magic-Channeller.
Many that were walking around getting ready and were warming up saw this young boy and would approach him but would back away when they saw the mark and felt the aura around him. That is besides one person.
A young boy with a big smile came walking over. He had an air of joy about him. If the boy that was sitting down had an aura that pushed everyone away, this young boy had an aura that drew everyone in.
The happy boy stopped in front of the boy sitting down and noticed the mark in his hand.
"An Underground Magic-Channeller? Cool! What's your name?"
The boy didn't budge. Instead he completely ignored the happy young boy. The happy boy started waving his hand in front of the other boys face.
"Hello?! Anyone home? Can you hear me?"
The boy sitting suddenly opened his eyes. There seemed to be a fire within his eyes. After seeing the fire, the happy young boy was caught off guard and got scared. He dramatically fell over clutching his chest and yelled a little.
When he landed on the ground he was breathing heavily. Seeing this boy get startled so easily and jump so dramatically, the seemingly cold boy that was sitting down smiled and chuckled a little.
"Isn't that reaction a little excessive?"
The young boy that had jumped was now calming down and started laughing along with the other boy.
"I'm easily startled. I get scared by a lot of things haha."
The boy that was sitting this whole time finally stood up and stretched his hand out to the other boy. The boy grabbed his hand and was pulled up.
"Min Yoongi. Underground Magic-Channeller."
As he said this, he showed the silver mark on his right hand. The other boy smiled as he raised his left hand. There was a similar mark on it, however this mark had a different design and was black instead of silver.
"Jung Hoseok. Underground Battle Mage."
Yoongi looked at the black mark on Hoseok's hand. He had never seen one before. But he could feel that the person in front of him was powerful, even if his personality made him think otherwise.
"Well we are in different occupations so we won't really encounter each other much, but hopefully we meet again. Maybe if we both make it in. Well I don't have my shot until next month. Oh well. See ya."
Hoseok bowed and walked off happily. Yoongi just watched him go before sitting back down, moving slowly like he were in an old man in pain. He was confused as to why a Battle Mage was here at a Magic-Channellers tournament, but he didn't care enough to question it. He crossed his legs and continued meditating.
But before he could continue, someone called out his number meaning he had to go and battle. He sighed.
"So much effort."
The competition was under way. Currently the Magic-Channellers were battling it out. There were one on one matches happening in four different fields. Each field with a collected group of Adepts. The top two Adepts of each group would then move on to an elimination styled battle.
On one of the fields, Yoongi walked out. This was supposedly the last battle in his division and then there would be the top 8. He came and bowed to his opponent. His opponent started moving while he chanted a very common thing for most Magic-Channellers. If you chant while moving, you can dodge and strike, making you a more effective fighter.
Yoongi however just stood there. His opponent created rocks that started flying in Yoongi's direction. Yoongi sighed before chanting quickly. Instantly a wall of fire came up from the ground in front Yoongi, destroying the rocks and turning them to dust. Another fire wall then appeared beside the Magic-Channeller. He turned and ran in the other direction when another wall appeared in front of him. The walls moved and surrounded the boy completely. Slowly the walls made their way closer as the room within became smaller.
The heat was blistering and suffocating as it closed in around the panicked young Adept. Seeing he was doomed, the young boy yelled out in fear and surrendered. Yoongi acknowledged and the fire wall vanished. Yoongi yawned and walked of the stage and went to lie down on the grass in the shade.
Hitman Bang was watching over the proceedings. He was very impressed by Yoongi's display of power. Though he wasn't the only one who caught his eye. There were a few talented Adepts he had seen so far, but he felt that there were only two that that he saw that had the potential to stand on the same level as Hun-cheol and Namjoon. Yoongi was one of them.
"Hunchul hyung, what do you think about that guy over there?"
"Messy. He just throws his power around but it has no direction. He has only been winning because there is no one in his division that is any good."
Hun-cheol and Namjoon were sitting behind Hitman Bang and were observing the matches that were playing out, making comments and discussing each potential candidate.
"You two haven't been able to watch all the matches but there are a couple gems in the midst. And that will be made known very soon as the divisions have just finished up. Once they finish setting up the centre field, we will go ahead with the top 8."
The centre field, which was the one in front of them, was being set up for them specifically to be able to view everything. They had the best seats to watch the Magic-Channellers battle it out.
As they finished setting things up, a young man, one of the staff, walked out on to the field.
"The Hit It Tournament has reached the Quarter finals of the Magic-Channelling Competition. Each participant will briefly introduce themselves before randomly selecting a number. The corresponding number determines who they will battle in a head to head fight. The winners will move on while the losers are eliminated until we have one champion remaining.. Understood?"
The competitors all nodded their heads. They had been placed in order already and walked on to the field one by one. They introduced themselves, grabbed a number and then stood in line. Hitman Bang had his eyes focused on the two at the back of the line. They had dominated their respective divisions and he was curious to see how they would do in the final 8.
As each competitor came out and introduced themselves, Hun-cheol and Namjoon took note of each person. They could be their potential teammates. But then they noticed that even after 6 of the competitors had introduced themselves, Hitman Bang hadn't acknowledged any of them. He didn't react at all. Instead he just observed the two at the back of the line.
Hun-cheol and Namjoon both followed Hitman Bang's line of sight and landed on the two at the back of the line. One was a short young boy with a calm demeanour. The other looked strangely familiar. He was older than the others yet had a fresh vibe to him. The jaws of both Hun-cheol and Namjoon dropped.
"Is that..." "No way..."
The young man walked to the centre.
"Greetings to the staff and the Seniors. Choi Ikje. 23."
He lifted his right hand to show the silver mark on his hand.
"Underground Magic-Channeller. Member of DNH. Codename: i11even."
Hun-cheol and Namjoon stared at each other in shock. Both stuttering in disbelief.
"It is.."
"Ikje hyung?"