They arrived at a training area where many people were dueling. It didn’t look as grand as the one where Thalion had trained his sword skills. He had to hold back a scream of pain as Theryx dropped him to the ground, breaking so of the bones he had just managed to heal.
Okay, seriously, what was up with the people here? He definitely would pay this dinsion a visit after he had beco a god and ss with them.
"Now we will begin the duels. I will award you points based on your performance. After accumulating a certain number of points, you will be eligible to attempt the final test of the soul. If you pass that test, you may undergo the ultimate ritual to beco a holy warrior," Theryx announced proudly.
Theryx called out the nas of two individuals at a ti to duel, awarding points to the winners after each match.
The battles continued, each more intense than the last. The participants’ power levels were far beyond Thalion’s abilities—even in his true body, he knew he wouldn’t stand a chance against any of them.
"Next, Rylak and Sabrak," Theryx announced at one point.
What the heck? Thalion thought. I can’t even stand. How am I supposed to fight?
Without a word, Theryx grabbed Thalion by the ankle and flung him into the ring. He landed hard, and several of his already broken bones shattered. Pain shot through his entire body, and it took all of his willpower not to scream.
He had been practicing suppressing his screams a lot lately, so no cry escaped his lips even when he wanted to. If the challenge would be to hold the hand above a candle and the first withdrawing loses. He would win for sure. Sadly, it was not.
Sabrak didn’t hesitate and imdiately unleashed a burning attack on him. Thankfully, Theryx intervened by appearing before Thalion, blocking the attack with a mana shield that surpassed every skill he had ever seen. Good job you get five points, Theryx said to Sabrak and Thalion spotted how, for a second, a sinister smile appeared on his face.
Next, he grabbed Thalion's foot and threw him out of the ring without explanation. anwhile, the other students erupted into laughter on seeing how Thalion landed on the ground. So were rolling on the ground, tears of joy streaming from their eyes. Oh, laugh all you can; I will co back, Thalion thought with absolute hate at those people.
"Now, for the last challenge of the day," Theryx said, completely ignoring the commotion around him.
He appeared beside Thalion, grabbed him like a sack of grain, and a mont later, they materialized in a grand hall filled with massive pillars. In the center was a ritual circle over a hundred ters wide.
"This will test the strength of your soul and determine if you are ready for the great union," Theryx announced loudly.
Most of the students stopped laughing, turning their attention to the ritual with interest. Theryx threw Thalion more than fifty ters into the center of the circle, where he landed with a loud thud.
"Seriously, what is wrong with these people?" Rylak exclaid in Thalion’s mind.
Thalion didn’t have the energy to respond. He was too busy trying to repair his body and manage the overwhelming pain.
"When this circle activates, it will asure the strength of your soul. If all three pearls glow, you will be deed ready to undergo the grand ritual and beco a holy warrior," Theryx proclaid then continued. "Even if you don't have enough points, it almost never happens that soone passes this trial without enough points. Those who do are seedlings of rare quality, who inherit a strong will beyond the norm."
So the union was the ritual that bonded an outsider to a host, Thalion realized. The explanation made sense, but his throbbing pain prevented him from caring too much.
"Is it even worth testing that guy?" a male voice sneered as Thalion heard footsteps behind him.
"Everyone must be trained and tested. It is the will of the holy one." Theryx said with a smile appearing on his face for a second.
Thalion couldn’t see who had spoken since his head was turned in the opposite direction. Well, he knew Theryx's voice, but that guy was on the top of his killlist anyway. What he could see were three large pearls resting on a pedestal connected to the ritual circle by glowing golden runes. He couldn’t help but notice how many different shades of gold there were in this palace. It annoyed him too.
"Yes, please go ahead and test him. Do you think even one pearl will glow?"
Another voice laughed loudly, enjoying himself by the sound of it.The next mont, Thalion was flying through the air, landing hard in the middle of the circle.
The onlookers burst into laughter again, but Thalion focused on the runes beneath him as they began to glow with intense power as the circle was activated. He didn't even know what to do, or how to flex his ntal muscles.
"I don’t think he’s trying hard enough," a woman’s voice mocked. "Here, let help."
The "help" ca in the form of a mana bolt, striking Thalion and spinning him around to face the jeering crowd. Thankfully the attack wasn't ant to harm him, but at the mont everything hurt like hell as his body still had multiple broken bones, and that his teacher had just thrown him over twenty ters into a magic circle didn't help the healing process at all.
"I would’ve preferred to watch the pearls," Rylak muttered in Thalion’s mind. Thalion silently agreed.
As the laughter subsided, Thalion noticed the mocking expressions on the students’ faces slowly shift into looks of shock.
"Why are they looking at us like that?" Rylak asked, confused. "Hopefully they are not throwing us again, as I don't like it when the vision spins so fast."
It took Thalion a lot to not comnt on the last sentence, since the guy didn't have to feel the pain at all.
"Those pearls must be broken," one muscular man muttered, standing in the front.
"No, they’re not," Theryx hissed with annoyance and maybe hate, which was a rare display of emotion from him.
"That’s impossible! How can this guy have a soul strong enough to light all three pearls?" A beautiful woman exclaid in disbelief.
"What does this an?" asked another man with long golden hair. "Just look at him! His body is wrecked—how can his soul possibly be so strong?"
"Rylak, you will now be teleported to the higher stages, where you will gain access to advanced classes and training halls," Theryx announced through gritted teeth, looking as though he had bitten into sothing extrely sour. Seeing that filled Thalion's heart with joy and it almost made up for the intense suffering the past few days.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
A mont later, Thalion was teleported yet again. At least this ti, he found himself in a room similar to the one his forr teacher had shown him. Exhausted, he closed his eyes, ignoring the pain in his battered body. He didn’t need sleep, but after the day he wanted to escape the pain for a while, his body should be repaired enough to survive a few hours on his own.
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