Free Web NovelChapter 31: Chapter 31: The system
"So he’s implying that one of us here will be fighting the rest?" Sigman asked.
"Well, I guess." Modred wasn’t sure, but that did in fact seem to be the case.
Solomon raised a brow. He was looking at Roe.
It was time.
Solomon clapped his hands.
Those who failed were instantly teleported out.
"I’m sorry, but you guys can’t be here right now," he said after the fact.
Roe stepped up.
"That one guy, well that would be me," he said.
"Huh?" they all exclaimed.
What he said didn’t make sense.
"So wait. You’re in on this?" Max said. "Like you’re a proctor now or something?"
’I knew he couldn’t be S-rank. Figures,’ Sigman thought.
"Wait. Is there any S-rank mage present?"
Ursula raised her hand.
"And why do you ask?" she inquired.
"Well, that’s strange. Master Solomon said 14, not 13."
This was the final test. The last proctor and Solomon himself implied.
"So when do they test Ursula, was it? When do they test Ursula?" Modred asked.
"It doesn’t add up."
"Well, there’s something I need to tell you guys. I wasn’t finished earlier," Roe said.
"I’m not an S-rank."
Everyone exclaimed once again.
Things made even less sense.
"There’s no way we are all expected to fight one A-rank," Zach said.
"Well, the thing is. I’m not A-rank either. I’m an SSS-rank mage with an Energy Type Talent."
"My name is Roe, and I’ll be the proctor for this final test."
No one laughed.
He clearly wasn’t joking.
This was a lot to take in.
"There’s no way," Finna said.
"SSS-rank? You mean like Merlin?" John added.
"That’s not possible. It’s never happened before," Gwen added.
"Ha. Ha."
Nothing was funny.
"Ha ha."
No one laughed.
"Ha ha."
No one but Ursula.
Her laugh was downright maniacal.
"I knew it!" she said.
"When he cleared those monsters, I knew he wasn’t the same rank as me."
"How did I not see it?"
"Solomon always calling you aside."
"You’re a golden boy. You’re better than the rest of us, but you just chose to pretend to be like us."
"You’re an Energy Type, one who’s actually really talented. There’s no way you’re an S-rank. None of the other S-ranks with those talents have ever made something of themselves."
"Ha ha."
None of the students from Set A knew how to calm her down whenever she got like this.
Roe was the closest to her. He was the best at reining her in.
Even he was unsuccessful at times.
A pulse of mana was felt.
Ursula had stopped laughing.
Around the same time, they all were now in an arena. No longer outside where they could see the sky and those who battled amongst it.
"Only one thing remains before we start this test," Roe said.
All the masters bowed.
Thunder struck, and he was there.
"Merlin has arrived," Solomon decreed.
The students followed immediately.
They now all kneeled, their heads bowed to the floor.
Merlin didn’t speak.
He took his seat.
The arena was vast. It could take 15 mages easily and then some.
The masters all assembled and sat beside Merlin.
His seat was just slightly elevated.
Solomon didn’t sit. He stayed by Merlin’s side.
He was the one to give the signal.
Merlin had been watching, but it’s customary for mages to introduce themselves in the presence of the founder.
Even more so with students.
They had all made contact with Merlin before making it to the realm.
This was different.
Back then, they didn’t stand a chance. They could easily not make something of themselves.
Now an introduction was necessary, as all 15 of them stood a more than solid chance of actually making it out and being a tool of the founder.
Solomon ordered,
"From the right coming to the left. Brave mages, introduce yourselves."
"I’m Roe. An SSS-rank mage with an Energy Type Talent."
"I’m Ursula. An S-rank mage with the Space Talent."
"I’m Modred. An A-rank mage with the Darkness Talent."
"John. An A-rank mage with the Shadow Talent."
"Gandy. An A-rank mage with the Blood Talent."
"I’m Sigman. I’m an A-rank mage with the Space Talent."
"I go by Finna. I’m an A-rank mage possessing Space Talents of wild proportions."
"I’m Randolph. I’m an A-rank mage with the Spirit Talent."
"Verdona. I’m an A-rank mage just like the others. I use Soul Talent."
"I’m Max. I’m one of the lower-ranked ones, I guess. I’m a B-rank mage with the Ice Talent."
"My name is Beatrix. I’m an A-rank mage with Light Talent."
"I’m Gwen. I’m also an A-rank mage. I also use Light Talent."
"Well, I’m Edward. I’m an A-rank mage with the talent of Space."
’Now I sounded awkward,’ Edward thought.
"I’m Faux. I’m an A-rank mage. I use the Wind Talent."
"I guess I’m the last one. I’m Zach. I’m a C-rank mage with Wind Talent."
There was silence for a while.
’Oh, so Zach’s C-rank. I guess that was the joke,’ Roe thought. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
The masters, a couple of them at least, murmured.
They found it strange that a C-rank mage made it this far.
"I guess the evaluations this year were on the lighter side," one master said.
"I mean, there were only two evaluations before this one. Both were team battles. He could have been carried by his team so far," another said.
Merlin signalled Solomon.
Solomon bent to listen.
Merlin told him something.
"You lie," Solomon said.
"Zach, step forward."
Before Zach could even step forward, he began floating.
"You were told to introduce yourself. Why not do so properly?" Solomon added.
"I don’t quite get what you mean, sir," Zach said.
"Could Zach be lying?" Sigman said.
’There’s no way. He’s definitely C-rank. There are no lies,’ Modred thought.
"Imagine if all this time Zach has been, like, S-rank or whatever," Finna made an attempt at a joke.
None of them laughed.
She was ignored.
She didn’t like it.
She would usually snap, but even she knew she couldn’t.
She had to respect herself.
She was in the midst of some pretty powerful people.
"Your talents, boy. You lie," Solomon said again.
Roe, much like the others, was confused.
"Reintroduce yourself," Solomon said.
"I’m Zach. I’m a C-rank mage with the Wind and Winter Talents."
Solomon smiled.
Merlin signalled him again. freēwēbnovel.com
He whispered something in his ear, and Solomon spoke again.
"You lie, boy. Why do you lie?"
Everyone was shocked to hear not just this, but what Zach said earlier.
’Winter Talent. I’ve never heard of that,’ Roe thought.
"Winter Talent? What an obvious lie," Finna said.
’Is that what it was? Winter?’ Modred thought.
’Winter isn’t a known talent. Why would he...’ Edward didn’t understand.
"I’ll give you one last chance. You are a mage. Call your titles, boy."
Zach finally understood.
"Just do the right thing, whatever it is!" Max shouted.
"You’ve got this."
Zach took in a deep breath.
He looked around.
"Guess it’s out of the bag."
"Huh?" Sigman exclaimed.
"I’m Zach. I’m a C-rank mage with the Wind and Winter Talents, and I’m also the wielder of the God Tier System."
Solomon smiled.
The masters...
The students...
"Huh?" Roe exclaimed.
