Chapter 41: The tests
Chapter 41: The tests
Ed inspected the man who had just gone up and saw that he was a King Establishment level 4. It's supposed to be quite the powerful level to be at when he wasn't even 20 years old. Ed also inspected some of the strong looking people and every one of them had a higher cultivation than him. What surprised him, though was that Hayato was as strong as him.
He had expected him to be stronger but apparently not. 'I shouldn't judge him by his cultivation. I was able to kill higher cultivation beings, although I needed Raikou's help' Ed knew cultivation didn't guarantee victory so he wouldn't judge anyone by cultivation alone.
One after the other kept going up against the machine; almost everyone had a score of 1000 or more. Soon enough a man from the beast race came up and punched the machine with all his power, his score reached 2000.
Everyone was shocked since they didn't exactly know why there was such a difference between them. 'I guess that should be their body's natural strength' Ed, however, could easily guess the reason. Since the group of beast people was not too spread out, they passed right after each other. A woman from their group challenged the machine and got 2500 as a score which scared everyone including Ed.
Soon enough it was Ed's turn to challenge the machine so he went up while rolling his sleeves. He took a basic karate stance which was not familiar in this world and used the Seiken punch he had seen on the TV before. No one expected anything from Ed, however; he was using his KI control to hide his true power from everyone.
He had been maintaining it at Knight Establishment level 2, a power level that was considered weak in this group of people. After striking the machine Ed's score was 999. 'Missed it by one' Ed had planned to get a perfect 1000 but lost by 1 point. He was now dead last in the ranking by power. However what everyone else didn't know was that the ability to control one's power this well surpassed them all by far.
Emilia, who was next to him, went and hit the machine with a palm strike rather than a punch. Her score was 1100. Rather close to Ed's. Hayato went up as well and hit the machine with a normal looking punch and got 1095. Ed guessed the two of them were hiding their strength as well since he felt what they were capable of was much higher.
The group of people kept coming up to the machine and it was the turn of the noble from earlier. "Make sure you get a good look my, Aragon Norris, true power!" He seemed to like attention and spotlight. He went up to the machine and struck using a martial art Ed was not familiar with. His score was 2100. He was the only one among them who could catch up and surpass the power of the beast people.
Although he was not the best person among them, he had the power to back up whatever he wanted to do. He was a King establishment level 5, a step away from Earth establishment.
After another group of people, it was now the Oni race's turn. They went one by one and scored averagely at around 1200-1500. Not too different from humans. Everyone finished their test and no one scored lower than Ed. This attracted attention but at least not the kind he wanted to avoid.
"Very well then! The next exam will start at this moment. Bring out the second machine!" The general shouted and asked for a second machine. Ed guessed the second test would roll out in the same way as the first one.
After finishing their preparations, the test started and the general started explaining how it would roll out.
"This machine this time will be measuring your magic and QI performance. You will be asked to use any type of magic you're confident in so you there are no limitations. Now begin!" Again the person from before went up and started chanting.
"Ice spear!" The man conjured 3 spears and they were sent towards the machine. After hitting it a number started showing up. This time he got 1500.
People kept going up and the scores were very close to each other. The beat people's turn came and they were able to use some simple magic. Their score wasn't as astonishing as in their performance earlier.
The highest scorer from before got up and looked at the general. "I can't use magic. Can I just punch this thing with Qi?" She was straight up looking for a fist fight with the machine.
"That's not possible. We're checking your ability to use QI as magic, everyone is able to use QI to strengthen themselves at some point in their cultivation life" The general declined her request and she simply got a zero in her test.
Another group of people finished their test and it was Ed's turn again. He went up and felt embarrassed since he needed to say something like everyone else. "Fire Arrow" He used a familiar magic and conjured 2 arrows that went and attacked the machine. His score this time was a perfect 1000, Ed resisted throwing his fist into the sky.
Emilia and Hayato took their turns next and used wind and lightning magic respectively. Emilia got 1200 while Hayato got 1150. They seemed to be holding back again.
After a while, it was Norris's turn again and he used fire magic but this time it was a fireball that was large. His score was 1900 almost the same as his earlier one.
The Oni race got their turn and they used every type of element in their magic. Every one of them had a score over 2000.
The second test was now over and Ed was not the last. Somehow the beast woman from earlier kept looking at him as if he was the reason she was last, but he chose to ignore her even while feeling the chills.
"Good job everyone. Now follow me we'll be taking the third test somewhere else" The general spoke and started walking somewhere else, they all had to follow him.
Author's Thoughts
Shigun
Third chapter! Enjoy