Nia's voice echoed through the gathering, her words laced with a mix of congratulations and subtle warning. "Congratulations on passing the first test. For those doubting, yes, the rest of the soldiers are injured, and most died. If you recall, you all signed a form at the reception before entering...to those who read the form, might have known the rules."
Leo's eyes rolled as he recalled the document he had signed without much thought. 'Chosens are really sneaky,' he thought, a hint of annoyance creeping into his mind. Nia continued, her voice unwavering, "Your numbers have been updated...your number is determined based on the amount of mana used and minutes taken to defeat the challenger."
As she spoke, Leo glanced down at his right arm, where the number 3 was prominently displayed. A scoff escaped his lips; he had indeed shown a bit of his power, but the ranking still surprised him. His gaze drifted to Edward, whose badge read number 2, mere meters away. 'Who is this guy?' Leo wondered, curiosity piqued.
Nia's next words snapped him back to attention. "Your next test...it's a version of war...this is to test your ability during battles. The Paradox has changed a lot of things, including battles...battles are no longer normal as it seems...fighting against contractors, necromancers, magicians, and powerful clans could be a tough job."
With a hint of familiarity, she added, "You know the drill." The field around them dissolved, and Leo found himself transported to a new location, this time paired with only one other soldier. They were split into ten groups, each presumably facing their own challenges.
The air grew thick with anticipation, and then, the sound of wooden footsteps echoed from the horizon. Leo's head turned, and his eyes widened as hundreds of wooden robots charged towards them. These weren't ordinary automatons; some wielded swords like skilled warriors, while others cast spells, bringing dead wooden soldiers back to life. Necromancers, Leo realized, his grip on his weapon tightening.
Aether blasts shot through the air, and Leo steeled himself for the battle ahead, his mind racing with strategies to survive this test. The top-ranked soldier beside him seemed unfazed, but Leo knew better—this would be no easy fight.
The soldier charged forward with unmatched speed, dodging aether blasts with ease as he cut down the wooden robots with precision. Within three minutes, a quarter of the automatons lay defeated, only to be revived by the necromancers' dark magic. The soldier's frustration grew with each resurrection, his relentless assault unwavering despite the futility.
Leo watched with a mix of fascination and concern. He noticed a pattern in the test's design, where challengers seemed to target the weakest link first, drawn to the strongest aura. 'But what if the robots changed their strategy?' he pondered.
His gaze shifted to the mages, war-experienced robots who wielded their magic with calculated precision. The necromancers, positioned at the rear, orchestrated the revival of the fallen soldiers, creating a formidable barrier between the duo and victory.
As the soldier retreated, panting heavily, he prepared to charge again. Leo intervened, grasping for the soldier's arm. "We need a plan," he urged, aware that brute force alone wouldn't suffice.
The soldier's response was curt, dismissing Leo's suggestion with a scathing remark. "To hell with your plan." He shook off Leo's grip and charged forward once more.
Leo knew he had to devise a strategy to reach the necromancers. However, doing so without revealing his abilities in front of a soldier was a tough job. With no clear path forward, Leo was forced to think creatively, weighing his options carefully as the battle raged on.
As the soldier retreated once more, Leo's thoughts turned to the extraordinary abilities of normal Chosens. He pondered the implications for the Rebellion, wondering how they could harness their energy to such an extent.
Tired of speculation, Leo decided to take action. Noticing the soldier's dwindling energy – and, by extension, his mana – Leo's face twisted into a wicked grin, reminiscent of his encounter with the dragon.
SWOOOSSSHHHHHH....
With a burst of speed, Leo charged forward, leaving the soldier in awe. The top-ranked warrior couldn't help but doubt the accuracy of N.V.P's rankings as Leo's prowess far surpassed his own.
Leo's movements were akin to a demonic god, his speed and agility unmatched. Even without utilizing his full "Irregular aura," as Merlin had described it, Leo's abilities were unparalleled.
As he tore through the automatons, Leo became a blur of motion, his attire the only distinguishable feature amidst the chaos. The soldier sensed a powerful aura emanating from Leo, one that dwarfed his own.
POOWWWWWW...FRRRRRRR....SHUSHHHHHHH
The sounds of battle raged on – a cacophony that echoed through the air as Leo effortlessly dispatched the automatons, denying them the chance to resurrect.
The soldier watched, stunned, as Leo's dominance became increasingly apparent. The question lingering in his mind was: what lay beneath the surface of this enigmatic Chosen?
BOOOOMMMMMM....
The battlefield erupted into a whirlwind of chaos as Leo charged forward, his movements a blur of deadly precision. With each strike, the air reverberated with the sound of crunching wood and shattering metal, the automatons disintegrating under his onslaught.
Leo's fists flew like pistons, striking true with each blow. The robots' wooden bodies splintered and cracked, their limbs shattering like brittle twigs. The mages among them unleashed blasts of aether, but Leo dodged and weaved with supernatural agility, avoiding each attack with ease.
As he fought, Leo's aura flared, imbuing his movements with an almost divine ferocity. The necromancers, sensing their army's collapse, redoubled their efforts, but Leo's speed and power left them struggling to keep pace.
The soldier watched, transfixed, as Leo's battle became a symphony of destruction. Each punch, kick, and strike was a masterclass in precision and lethality, the automatons unable to withstand his fury.
The air was filled with the acrid scent of splintered wood and ozone, the sounds of battle echoing through the landscape like a cacophony of thunderclaps. The sounds merged into a relentless drumbeat, punctuating Leo's unstoppable advance.
In the midst of this chaos, Leo seemed almost untouchable, his movements a testament to his unbridled power. The automatons, once a formidable force, were reduced to mere playthings, shattered and broken beneath his onslaught.
With his extraordinary speed, Leo had cracked the test's code: a battle against time. By precision-targeting the automatons, he disrupted the necromancers' rhythm, creating a crucial window to strike.
GRRRRRRRR....
Immediately Leo took his speed into another level. As he accelerated to new heights, the automatons crumbled beneath his onslaught, their wooden bodies shattering like fragile glass. The soldier watched, transfixed, his eyes wide with incredulity. "Is this the nature of Paradox war?" he wondered, struggling to comprehend Leo's unparalleled abilities.
With the necromancers momentarily slowed, Leo seized the opportunity to charge forward. However, the aether mages had repositioned, unleashing a barrage of blasts that intensified the battle.
Undaunted, Leo sneered at the wooden enemies, his grin twisted in a wicked snarl. "You damn piece of wood," he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. "C'mon, let's dance," he said, charging forward with unbridled ferocity.
SWOOOOSHHHHHHHHH.....
The sound of his movements echoed through the battlefield, a testament to his unrelenting speed and power. The aether blasts flew towards him, but Leo was ready to face the escalated challenge, his determination and skill propelling him forward.