Five days passed in quick pace, Dean stopped going to school and trained more in his free time, learning the defense technique and sparring with his father when he had free time.
A day before the test Dean and his father flew to the kingdom capital where they visited many landmarks, such as a statue of a famous movie dog, and famous landmarks.
In the morning of test day Dean and his father stood in front of a grand mansion owned by the very own royal family. Two guards wearing a top notch golden armor standing in front of the building.
They stopped an eighteen year old girl, with a short skinny build, sickly white skin and squid like tentacle as hair, wearing a red summer dress and white sneaker like shoes.
One of the guards said "This is royal family propriety, what is your reason of visit?"
The girl said a bit timidly "I am here to take the golden lion exam".
The guard nodded and said "Then follow me"
Before the guard started walking Dean ran closer, a bag at his back, and said "Wait, I am taking the test too"
The guard looked at Dean and his father who was right behind him and said "Only you can enter, he will have to stay out"
Brian said with a little smile on his face "What a shame won't get to see the royal mansion."
He patted his son head and said "Bye champ, behave yourself, and don't forget to sent some news whenever you can"
Dean said "Bye dad, I will come for a visit as soon as I can"
Following the guard thru the beautiful flower gardens and thru some of the heavily guarded beautiful mansion corridors, made of a cherry wood with many expensive looking paintings hanging on the walls, they reached a big room where other 20 teenagers where waiting."
The guard said "Wait here, don't go wandering around" then started walking back to his post.
Dean thought "Just 22 out of the whole kingdom? Having is above 70% affinity is that rare huh."
The shy half-squid girl, who was much shorter than Dean, said "Uh, nice to meet you, my name is Eva"
Dean said "Hi, I am Dean, nice to meet you."
Eva said "What, what do you think the test will be about? I am a bit nervous"
Dean chuckled a little then said "Don't worry, there won't really be a test".
Suddenly out of the crown a tall muscular man, who looked to be at his mid twenties, with a black beard and a shaved head, came closer to Dean talking loudly "If inst the champ, remember me Dean Wright? hahahaha"
Thinking hard for a long second, Dean said very unsure "Reggie?"
The bearded man laughed again then said "You do remember who you kick hahaha. Something told me you where going to be here today and I was right. So what is your score? Mine 78% rock, earth!"
A bit uncomfortable with everyone looking at him, but not showing in any way on the outside Dean said "Barely passing at 73% fire."
Reggie said "Don't say that, we are all amazing here, this year most talented of the entire kingdom"
Suddenly the familiar voice of Hachiro said loudly "Lets start by removing this idiotic thought them" as he entered the room, accompanied by the most well know figure in the entire kingdom, the beautiful queen, with her long blonde hair, hourglass like silhouette, big bosoms and plump buttocks, wearing a beautiful long dress, made of many long orange feathers.
Many in the room did notice how she was standing behind Hachiro, like a servant waiting orders, and bowed to the queen as soon as they saw her, earning the wrath of Hachiro.
Not changing his stoic expression once, Hachiro said loudly, with anger clear in voice, "Get up! You are joining the Golden lion, we bow to no lowly king or queen".
He looked sternly towards the 22 teenagers in the room for a few second, pretending not to notice Dean, then said "My name is Hachiro, and I can say with certainty that all of you in here are average. Go to the sect thinking you are all high and might will be the end o you, being this kingdom best is less nothing.
There are thousand like you joining every year. If you want to grow and become something that deserves any attention then all of you will have to earn your way to the top.
Now whoever wants to join the sect step forward, you are not allowed back off after this".
Dean, Reggie and most of the other stepped forward almost instantly, Eva and the rest thought a little bit before also stepping forward.
Hachiro looked at everyone, not changing his expression once, then said "Now you are all part of the Golden lion sect, and is mine and yours duty to never let anyone throw mud at its name.
Before we reach the sect there is a few thing you all should know. First! Killing is only allowed in the arena, if you kill a fellow disciple in the sect or in the dungeon, crippling you and throwing you out is not out of the punishment options, neither is it a heavy punishment.
Second! you are only allowed to leave the sect city if you are on a mission, if you are an inner sect disciple or you have reached the middle of the spirit ranks.
What is the spirit ranks? Its the rank above the mortal ranks in which you are right now.
Third! There are no other rules, if you get beaten up is your fault for being weak, if you get robbed is your fault for being weak, is you get rapped, used, humiliated is your fault for being weak. Fight for what is yours fight for your own protection. Now follow me"
Not giving anyone a chance to ask anything he started walking towards the door which he came from, all of those who hesitated before and some of the more confident ones wanting to back off when they hear the third part of his speech.
But in the end everyone followed him, fearing being crippled or worse if they dint.
They walked thru the mansion corridors until they reached open area, where a huge ship, made of out of a though bleach white wood and a strong dark blue metal, with two incredible golden crests of a lion on both sides of the ship.