As soon as the words were spoken, the face of the red-haired fat man darkened.
"Ignorant bumpkin, stop feigning amnesia. I’ve heard Redstone Village has already been dissolved, the periter defenses withdrawn. You’re nothing but a discarded piece. So now you’re just a holess stray dog, right? That’s why you want to mix with those barbaric cattle herders, isn’t it?"
Wayne’s entire face turned red, his fists clenched tight, while Rod was utterly baffled. Is this man ill? Wasn’t it you who called it ’manure’? Why are you the one getting angry then?
However, he was always cautious and prudent, always steady in his actions, never impulsive.
It was unwise to offend soone recklessly before even entering the academy under these circumstances.
With that in mind, Rod stood up and said with a smile, "You’re right, stray dogs, barbarians, they’re a perfect match for ’manure,’ just right for friends."
He reached out his hand to the red-haired fat man who, infuriated, lunged at him.
Rod deftly dodged, and the fat man tripped over the bench, falling flat on his face.
The disturbance imdiately drew many curious eyes.
"You all saw that, right?"
Rod raised his hands high.
"I didn’t lay a hand on him! He tripped over by himself."
Fuming with rage, the fat man scrambled up, and from not far away, the blonde girl Kashan shouted, "If you keep fighting, I’ll call the priests!"
Her words had an imdiate effect. The fat man shot Rod and Wayne a venomous glance and said, "Just you wait," before quickly slinking away.
The annex fell silent for a while before gradually returning to a buzz of conversation.
Rod set the bench upright again, sat down, and complained, "Do you think that guy has a problem? He called himself ’manure,’ and he got mad when I agreed. What a waste of my ti."
Wayne looked at him with a sort of hero-worship, and then, rembering his mory loss, hurried to explain.
"Rod, you mustn’t emphasize that na. His na is Habulin, but with an exaggerated nasal sound, it becos ’manure.’ Manolo Bana is a surna among the upper nobility, indicating that his family network is vast, having produced many Fire Holders. They have connections in various Administration Halls, key institutions, and legions."
"Oh, and about the Internal Affairs Court? Does he have people there too?"
At the ntion of this na, Wayne flinched, then curiously asked, "Why do you bring up that institution? The Internal Affairs Court is a very powerful departnt, directly governed by the New King, and no one can interfere."
"The New King? What about the old king?"
Wayne choked up:
"It’s the forr king. He has long returned to the Holy Fire. The New King has been in power for over a decade, it’s just that his new laws are quite different from the old, so sotis people refer to him that way."
Rod was about to ask another question when suddenly a sonorous horn sound ca from afar, drowning out the din in the annex.
Everyone stood up, knowing that the final trial was about to begin.
Their faces paled as nerves set in. In contrast, the blonde girl Kashan strode out confidently.
Unconsciously, everyone followed her, heading into the central Main Hall.
This was a hall filled with a solemn air, where intricate designs and gigantic statues created an oppressive atmosphere.
In the center of the Main Hall sat a huge Golden Holy Grail, with gold flas burning within it.
Beside the Holy Grail sat an old man in a red robe, his face a map of wrinkles, appearing to be asleep.
Many Red Fighting Priests stood around, and one of them called out, "When the Main Priest calls your na, step forward and press your right hand on the Holy Grail. Do not remove it until given explicit instructions."
Rod gazed at the blazing Holy Grail, feeling a twinge of fear.
Wayne whispered, "Will it be very hot?"
"Only monsters would find it hot," Habulin sneered from the side. "Don’t you even know that, bumpkin?"
Wayne’s entire face flushed red, "But it looks very hot..."
"Reins from Iron Cross Street."
The low, gravelly voice interrupted their whispering.
A small redhead ran forward and pressed his hand onto the Holy Grail.
Indeed, the hot tal did not burn his hand. The little figure stood quietly in front of the Holy Grail, completely still.
About thirty seconds later, his whole body suddenly burst into fla. Deep red flas licked his skin, fluttering gently like a flowing robe.
The priest said, "Very good, you can remove your hand now. Your soul is fiery hot, like dry tinder, and it kindled easily. You will beco a powerful Fire Holder."
Reins looked ecstatic, and a priest led him to the side.
"Lier Hawkeye from Copper Hamr Street."
A chubby boy ran forward, and this ti it took a while before flas shone upon his body.
"Not bad, you may also leave now."
"Frank from Mushroom City."
A skinny tall figure stepped forward, and this ti it took a long while before any fla sparked from his body.
Just when everyone thought he had failed, the priest said, "Not too bad, your soul is sowhat slippery, but the Holy Grail has left a Fire Spark within you nonetheless. With diligent training, you too can beco an excellent combatant. Think of Alan."
Frank almost burst into tears, running away joyfully.
The waiting youths also breathed a sigh of relief, and smiles spread across their faces.
However, things didn’t progress as smoothly as they had hoped.
Soon, the first eliminatee appeared.
He was reluctant to leave for a long ti and cried loudly as he was dragged out, his wails could still be heard from a great distance away.
Then ca the second, and the third.
When the fourth appeared, a tragedy occurred.
He was a short boy with black hair; he withdrew his hand from the Holy Grail as if he had been scalded.
In an instant, all the priests turned their gazes toward him.
Two swiftly rushed forward and pinned him to the ground.
The Main Priest gently lifted his hand, and a flash of fire flew out from the Holy Grail, sweeping over the boy’s entire body.
The priests looked up at the Main Priest.
He shook his head slightly.
"The corruption is deep," the priest said as he pulled the boy up, taking out a small red sphere, "Eat this."
"No—no," the boy sobbed heart-wrenchingly, "Why ? I haven’t, please, I beg you, let go back, my father died in a mining disaster, my mother was devoured by an evil spirit, when I found her, only half her body remained, one hand still clutching the money pouch, I had to break her fingers to get it out, I am their hope, I can’t die, I can’t die!"
He struggled as if possessed by madness.
The priest bellowed, "Do you want to turn into a monster?"
The boy was suddenly jolted.
"Can my ashes," he asked trembling, "be placed into the Guardian Fire of our village?"
"Yes."
The boy suddenly seized the sphere and swallowed it in one gulp.
Fierce flas burst forth from inside out, quickly burning him to ashes.
The priest took a red box to collect the ashes and carried it away.
The ritual continued, but the Main Hall beca eerily silent, not a sound to be heard.
Rod’s heart was in his throat, feeling extrely uneasy, but at this point, there was no turning back; he had to brace himself and proceed.
Soon, the Main Priest’s voice sounded.
"Rod of Redstone Village."
At this crucial mont, Rod instead cald down.
He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and placed his hand on the massive Holy Grail.
It was very hot.
Rod’s heart sank, but his expression did not change in the slightest, just like the successful ones, he quietly pressed his hand against the Holy Grail.
The scorching heat penetrated through the Holy Grail; his palm felt as if pierced by thousands of needles, the pain incessantly provoked his nerves, Rod gritted his teeth, not flinching a bit.
After a few minutes, Rod noticed the Main Priest moved slightly.
He opened his eyelids, glanced at him, confusion apparent in his murky eyes.
Rod was extrely nervous; if the Main Priest noticed sothing amiss about him, no matter how well he acted, it would be useless.
Just when he was anxious, suddenly, a loud roar ca from outside the hall.
The Main Priest stood up in an instant, his hunched, frail body exuding an undeniable strength; Rod felt as if a giant stood before him.
Boom!
Another loud noise ca, and all the fires in the Main Hall were extinguished, leaving only the Holy Grail still radiating a warm red afterglow.
"Everyone stay where you are! Do not go out, no matter what happens!"
A priest shouted, his form transford into a ray of light as he rushed out of the Main Hall, while the Main Priest and other priests had already vanished from sight.
The hall darkened, everyone anxiously huddled in the shadows, unconsciously drawing together, seeking more of a sense of security.
Only Rod let out a long sigh of relief in his heart, blending into the crowd, resolved to give up if it proved impossible.
Not long after, a middle-aged man in a white robe returned to the Main Hall and said aloud, "Those who have passed the final test, follow ; those who have not, stay where you are."
He quickly cleared the people out, but for so reason, he included Rod in the group.
The red-haired, chubby Habulin shouted, "Your Excellency, the Archbishop, he hasn’t passed!"
Rod’s heart jolted, about to admit that he hadn’t passed the trial.
The white-robed Archbishop turned around, red light flickering in his eyes as if scrutinizing; after a few seconds, he rebuked, "Shut up! Do not cause trouble!"
Habulin protested indignantly, "I am not causing trouble; he really didn’t pass, the Main Priest didn’t acknowledge it!"
The Archbishop’s face beca dangerous.
"Habulin, if you try to deceive again, I will have you punished, regardless of whatever grudges you have, do not bring them into official matters."
"This is our rule."
Habulin closed his mouth, looking as if he had swallowed a ton of dog shit.
No more words were spoken, the Archbishop waved his hand, and a white light enveloped them, transforming into a teor that shot out of the Main Hall.
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