Reborn Financier-Chapter 44 : The Beginning of the Practical Trials
The morning arrived like the breath of the beast.
The skies turned red with the light of morning, and vaporous coolness enveloped the sweeping spires and domes of the Everwood Imperial Academy. A chorus of birds trilled in the air above the training grounds, but the songs were drowned by the thumping of footfalls, anxious mutters and the familiar voice of metal opening from scabboards.
Today was the first day of the practicals.
The real beginning of the trials. The moment that would end up making or breaking the futures.
The written exams were behind them. The theory questions, magic diagrams, and strategic puzzles—none of those had any meaning anymore.
Then the real test begins.
-----
Along the edge of the vast campus grounds stood the Coliseum of Trials, and gigantic ring-shaped amphitheatre hewn from magical rock capable of withstanding even the most mind-boggling explosions. Above its entrance were statues of ancient warriors that seemed to rise from the earth, each one silently judging the passing student.
It was full already inside.
The seats were filled—not by ordinary passersby, but by professors, nobles, high-ranking instructors, patrons from influential clans, and even royal troops’ officers. A few were hidden behind magic veils and secrecy screens in order to estimate their investments. Others watched merely for entertainment.
In the middle was the big stone platform—the trial stage.
This was where single students would battle a monster and whether they failed or succeeded would be witnessed by all. Success or failure wouldn’t just be noted down, it would be witnessed, spoken of, recorded in the very annals of the academy.
-
From the sidelines, the students stood in one gargantuan snake line. They advanced one after the other, announcing name and college, and in return, received a tiny silver badge with a number on it—where they stood in the trial list.
But one boy was late.
Staying calm.
Not interested.
Pinchas finally.
He took easy strides, pockets in hand, in the most unobtrusive clothing possible. Simple black fabric, cloth wrapped across his eyes, and two ordinary daggers tied around his middle.
Eid
He was like one of those supporting actors in the life of someone else.
But behind those steps, behind that peaceful countenance, there lurked a fury that one day was to reshape the continent.
The registrar glared at him. "Name and department?"
"Martial arts," replied Kaidën calmly, holding up his ID scroll.
He looked it over, one eyebrow rising, and gave him his number.
Six hundred and fifty-four.
Out of two thousand.
Kaidën nodded and headed towards the waiting room. Nobody so much as glanced in his direction as he passed. Nobody cared.
Precisely as he desired.
-
Up in the judge’s chair, there were some scary individuals.
The Headmaster sat in the middle, attired in scarlet robes with gold embroidered patterns of birds on them. His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. He was flanked by the Dean of the Martial Department, a man with calloused hands and eyes that seemed to bore through steel. Opposite him was the Archmage of the Magic Department, one who was an 8th Circle break-through sorcerer who radiated mana like the sun radiated heat.
They waited in expectation.
Then the Headmaster raised a hand.
There was a silence in the arena.
Let the trials begin.
Eg
"No. 1, step up on stage!"
The voice traveled across the field.
The first student stepped forward—and there were shock-filled gasps in the crowd.
She was tall, graceful, and heart-stoppingly beautiful. Dressed in a white and purple outfit, her long silky black hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and her hand rested on the hilt of a curved sword at her waist.
She drew everyone’s attention.
Is that. Meng Ji?
He whispered, shocked.
Yes, that is her. She is from the Eastern Continent—the granddaughter of the 9th-level Grandmaster."
Third-level Martial Beginner already. Just one step from reaching Martial Expert.
she has ranked 7th among the ten beauties of the Orient.
Whispers were circulating while she came up on stage.
He raised one eyebrow behind the blindfold. He did not say anything, yet that faint nod of approval was betrayed.
Wow
-
The beast standing before her was gigantic—twice as big as a man, with the face of a reptile, scaly black hide, and razor-like talons. It growled, with poison dripping from its teeth.
But Meng Ji didn’t even blink.
She toned down her language somewhat.
Then, abruptly,
Eckener lightning flash
She fell beneath the beast, slicing cleanly along the back of its knees. The beast howled and fell forward.
Another blur.
She soared above, falling like a flash of lightning.
SLASH
Single strike.
The head was cut cleanly from the shoulders and landed on the floor before the body fell to the ground.
Gasps. Applause. The crowd went wild.
The judges leaned forward in astonishment.
The Headmaster smiled.
"Perfect," spoke the Martial Dean. "Economic, smooth movement, faultless technique. She’ll be A-class with certainty."
Meng bowed and turned and exited the stage as if it were any ordinary morning practice session.
-
They were in comparison to subsequent students.
Others tried to imitate her grace and failed. Others barely killed theirs by strength. Most failed miserably—overcome with fear, overwhelmed by the beast, or buried under the weight of pressure.
The healers were busy removing battered and bleeding students.
Few of those were exceptional.
Number 283
A towering and proud figure appeared in the ring.
As the red-haired youth approached, in the black and red clothing that bore the symbols of aristocracy, smugness was written all over his face. Arrogance spilled from every movement.
Andras Ravenswood
Kaidën hes
His name.
that mana signature
He had not seen him since he was a toddler boy—but that face, that fire.
One couldn’t miss.
Andras stepped onto the stage without even looking toward the monster.
He raised one hand and snapped his fingers.
Infer
The stadium trembled.
FWROOM
Fire erupted in a column from beneath the beast, enveloping it.
The monster didn’t even have time to roar.
It was vaporized--and vaporized further, and ground into dust.
Nothing remained.
No dust. No bone.
Only a charred patch on the rock.
The magic department professors leaned in, visibly intrigued.
"Ah," replied the Archmage with a grin. "Prodigy without restraint. Very intriguing."
--
Hours passed.
The numbers kept coming.
Number 422
"Number 500!"
Number 612
At last—
"Number 654, Kaidën, to the stage
The arena barely budged.
No one replied.
Another nobody like me.
Kaidën stepped ahead, his strides easy with his hands behind him. Two plain iron daggers rested against his hips. His blindfold was bound in place.
Is he blind?
"Where’s his real weapon?"
What kind of idiot uses iron daggers?
He stepped on to the stage and looked across at the monster.
Smaller than the one that struck Meng Ji. Faster. Biting and aggressive. Sharp fangs and rapid movements.
Perfect.
Kaidën advanced gingerly, inviting the beast to strike. He absorbed the first strike across his shoulder, rolling into it. A subsequent strike from the claws swept across his leg. The crowd gasped in shock.
He swayed. He reversed in rotation. He dodged and deflected the strike.
Is he losing?
"Haha, what a wimp!"
But then—
With one smooth motion, he drew out his dagger, bent low, and sliced across the monster’s neck in a neat, efficient slash.
It fell through.
No flash. No power surge. No terror scream.
Just a single cut.
Simple.
Accurate
They chose middle-of-the-pack performance. "Average. Not bad."
Exactly what Kaidën wanted.
He turned away and went without saying anything, ignoring the whispers, laughter, and sneers.
He didn’t require applause.
It was time-consuming.
-
As sunset approached, the sun was low, and long shadows were cast across the arena.
All of the twenty thousand pupils experienced the trial.
800 have failed.
Some were taken to the infirmary. Others were lost altogether. Most were not even able to register with the creatures.
Only 1,200 were
One on one dueling would commence the next day.
This was the real bloodbath.
Every student would have five duels.
You win two, and you’re alive.
Win three and your ranking improves.
Win five.
You’ve arrived at the elite-level games.
The greatest of Martial and the greatest of Magic to battle each other to win the right to represent that year.
-
The stars were low that night.
Both hands were behind Kaidën’s head and he was looking up towards the ceiling. He was lying on his bed in the dormitory.
The room was compact—intended for three—but he had occupied it first when there was nobody else.
Outside, the students were practicing frantically. Spells. Repetition of technique. Whisper
But Kaidën didn’t budge
Silent
Calming
He did not need training.
He had to act.
Tomorrow will be madness.
Tomorrow, the curtain would rise.
And in the limelight, whether he liked it or not, was Kaidën.
To b continued...
Extra:
There are a total of 4 continents in this world. Which are:
The western continent
The Easter continue
Ash Continent
Northern Continue
Note: hay guys please read previous Chapter as I made some errors, but now it been edited
