Chapter 34: Golden Arena (1)
Not too long after we gained a new addition to our group, Klaus and Janice both began to review this round of the exam.
"During this exam, there were few teams that proved that they were far better than the rest. Some had it easier than others due to the spots they chose to hide in, whereas others had a tougher time due to adventuring deeper into the woods of Center Spawn. Though, unlike last year, this year we have many promising participants as a total of 150 have passed the exam, meaning 50 teams will advance to the last stage of the exam."
Klaus spoke calmly with a wide smile on his face, it made you believe what he said about our bunch of participants being promising and better than the last. Soon Klaus turned his back to us and said the following words as he began walking off in a separate direction leading out of the Center Spawn.
"Good luck, because it only gets harder from here on." He took a short pause before saying the rest of his piece.
"Follow me if you still have the guts to continue the exam or follow the carriage and wagons of people back home. Your choice." He stated as his joyful expression faded and he continued walking.
'Leave? Quit? Why would I do something like that when I've been working for months to enter this grand academy? Like my favorite character always says, 'to continue moving forward as going backward means to regress all that you've achieved.'
I thought before finding myself already following along behind Klaus and Janice, who had yet to speak a word but the expression on her face was enough to tell me that there was a great difficulty ahead.
"Are you guys coming?" I stopped my stride and asked the people who were soon to be under my command. I mean, who else but I was going to lead this group to battle the dangers ahead?
Upon hearing my voice, and as if it was some sort of wake-up call, the two both snapped out of their daze before approaching me and standing by my side. I hadn't even known Steward for longer than a few minutes but I could see the determination in his eyes to make it through this exam.
Whereas for Patricia I didn't even need to look over my shoulder to know she would be following me to the next round as even I could tell she had a complex background and reason for setting foot on these grounds.
And so did I, so why wait any longer than we already had? And with that, we began following the pair in front. So we appeared to be a hoard of humans following them to the next area, which took only a day to arrive with few breaks included of course.
Once we had arrived I was shocked to find a huge arena, one with similarities to a roman colosseum made for gladiators. And at one end held a wall made out of metal poles like a cage. Then a roar came from the cage-like wall, confirming that it was just one tall and huge cage.
The roar caused many to stagger toward the ground and fall to their knees, and I was one of those people. The roar accompanied by my increased earnings did a real number on my ears.
Suddenly Janice stood before the crowd and began to speak," I welcome you all to the final phase of this year's exam. Welcome to the Golden Area."
She said with her hands spread out like she was revealing something grand before beckoning us inside the arena. As I walked through the large entrance my eyes were glued to the cage and its strong smell of beasts.
It was like the good scent of the humans and the bad smell of the beasts were battling it out. Shortly, Janice began to explain the rules of the exam.
"All teams will be entering the arena all at once. After that, there will be beasts sent in waves up to the third rank, however, no Grade Beasts as we fear that with their intelligence many of you may not make it out alive." Janice stated the matter of factly, before ushering us into the arena as she took her seat amongst the stands.
While she sat, Klaus was the one controlling the metal cage gate from above the ball where a flat platform stood. There he would flip a small lever that used to be used for trains until most vehicles stopped working the day of the accident.
As the gate lifted twenty rank-one creatures came pouring out of the gate, of all kinds. While the beasts were still a bit ways away I took this time to speak with my team.
"Stay calm and don't panic. Even if we fail this round we still pass the entire exam." Though right as I said those words, I had a passing thought.
'If I or Patricia fail we are safe however if Steward does then he may fail the examination. Due to him not being in our party when we had survived Autumn's betrayal.'
"Crap, never mind that attitude. For us all to pass we have to make sure Steward survives all three waves." As Partica and Steward heard my words they soon too came to my conclusion.
Though this only made Steward's gaze of determination burn far brighter.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." Steward said before revealing a small sword tied to his waist. It was a rapier with a thin blade, its handle was gold in color and its blade was metal.
As he removed the blade from its straps and took his stance, I felt an aura of suppression wash over me. It wasn't fear but rather I could feel Steward's intense focus and control over his sword. Then the pressure doubled when he covered his blade in Ki, it was much different from Reed's techniques that held an air of destruction.
Steward gave off an aura of calmness and made others around him feel like he was an immovable boulder. I couldn't help but think of two things.
'So this is how he was able to be the last one left in his group.' That thought was soon followed by another.'I see, so this is what I'm missing my style.'
It was then that Patricia rushed off to meet a beast in close combat. With only one of her gauntlets, as the other had been severely damaged due to Reed in their fight. Essentially she was going into battle handicapped twice fold as she couldn't manipulate Ki and only had one weapon, though her brute strength and slight martial arts techniques were enough for her to make due.
Then turning my gaze on Steward I saw him leaving afterimages with his blade. Where they were thrust or swung, it didn't matter as the beast would always find more than one attack to deal with. And it was under the pressure of his unique aura and fearsome style.
Suddenly my heart began to beat faster and faster, watching him fight was like a dream. Suddenly I found myself speaking aloud.
"I would sell my soul to fight him, an opponent that even I don't know if I could beat." I said aloud but everyone was too far away to hear what I said anyway.
[Does the Host swing that way?]
"You can't be serious, I'm as straight as a man can be!" I said quite loudly, before diving into battle.
'System Inspect Steward!' I order my trusty system while in battle with silver toad-like a beast with an appearing affinity for earth.
[Steward Roberto Anderson]
[Life Force: 14/14]
[Maxim Ki: 17 (Ki Control Shy From Adept)]
[Strength: 12]
[Agility: 25]
[Stamina: 16]
[Endurance: 0]
'He's centered his training around his style. He's around a point faster than me, however his strength is lacking. Even so, he makes up for that with his style or rather swordsmanship who knows how many techniques he has? I guess the only person I have to worry about is myself!' I thought before fully immersing myself into my battle with the toad.
Shortly after my battle, it was time to move on to the second phase. Where we would have to fight against ten Rank 2 beasts.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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so_Mo Ha, it wasn't a joke I'm back! Though posts will be a bit more rare, and sorry only one this week, it’s my birthday week, but I’ll repay it next week.
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