Volume 1 Chapter 1: Welcome Young Mages

An older male ran through empty, flame-lit, stone hallways. His lungs were beginning to ache and his legs were tiring out quickly. He barged through a large door leading into a smaller room with a round table and bookshelves. At this round table we're 7 individuals. 6 of them were overwhelmed with magic and it leaked off of them in their resting conditions. Their battle spirit of mana volume all existing in this one room nearly made the man vomit in front of them. He contained himself and turned to the oldest man in the room. He had a long white beard and long white hair with white robes with a yellow golden trim. His eyes were a shining purple, unique and uncommon. "Yes, Aaramis?" The man in white spoke.

"Master! It's the cult! We studied them and discovered something awful. If it comes to be... we will all perish!" This man was clearly in fear, and having said what he did in front of these specific mages peaked everyone's interest.

"Aaramis whatever it is I'm sure our mages will be more than capable to handle-"

"NO!!" He interrupted as his eyes began to water. "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! They're planning to destroy everything, even themselves. They don't give a damn. They just want to watch everything burn. They're gonna bring him back from the dead."

"Who do you speak of, Aaramis?" He asked the frantic man. As the man said the name of the person this cult plans to bring back everyone in the room became alerted. The 6 other individuals mana concentration began skyrocketing just from the name.

"Master" said one the males of the 6 mages. "Send out the letters. I know it's early but trust me. I saw this in my vision the other day. The one with war and other things. I don't know what it all means but I remember the invitations being a part of it. Please, trust me on this one."

The elder master looked at this male and and chalked slowly in thought. He turned to one of the bookshelves and grabbed some wax beads and a seal. "Very well. Oh Aaramis. Would be a dear and get some some paper and pen?" Aaramis stood with confusion for a second before jolting to reality and rushing off to get the items.

"If He is planning to be brought back than we must work harder than ever before to stop it. We've read the texts that speak of his actions in the Elder Days and, if I'm being honest, I cannot surely say wether we are capable of defeating him in battle or not. He was threat to the realms then and he would be an even greater threat now. Our new primary focus: Stop this cult and halt his reincarnation! Nothing is more important.

Now I must say due to your ranks there will be some moments in time where you must make your presence known at certain events such as this one. Only 5 of you are needed. The other can focus on their duties. Understood?"

"Yes, Master." They all said. And just as soon, they exited the room in a flash.

- 2 MONTHS LATER-

After all the letters of invitation had been sent and collected, mages from around the continent gathered in one city. It was the home of the Ampharos Mage Academy and the crown jewel of the magic world. Mastelm was its name, and it shined brighter than any other city in the continent. Today was the day of the Entrance Evaluation where mages face off one-on-one and battle it out to decide who belonged in the academy and who was not yet ready. Now of course just because you win doesn't garuntee your acceptance. You must prove yourself better than the standard to gain acceptance. This year the Evaluation would be set to a much higher standard as our hopeful mages would soon find out.

It was early morning in Mastelm and already the candidates were traversing the city and wandering about, enjoying the songs playing and walking through the stores. Others were simply waiting for the first call to head to the arena where they would conduct their evaluation. One of these individuals was a young male around 17 years old sitting on a bench. He wore a black cloak with a midnight blue undershirt and black bottoms. He had scars visible on his neck and hands from battle. His black hair was short and rugged with his bangs reaching his eyes, giving him a somewhat edgy appearance that pushed away most citizens.

Another male wandered the streets in slight awe of his surroundings. He wore a boat hide shoulder strap that wrapped around his torso, revealing the rest of his body. His pants were slightly torn and burned in a few places, but maintained to cover his entire bottom half. Other than these items he wore no other clothing and had no visible weapons on his body. He rushed inside of a bakery and stared closely through the glass. "Woah... the hell is that?"

"It's bread. We make it here fresh every day. Would you like some?" A woman said behind a counter.

"YES!" The man yelled in excitement.

"Alright, that'll be 4 pieces of silver please." The woman said kindly.

The man paused for a second and looked at her in confusion. "Like a dagger or something? Hell you mean?"

Another male was already standing by the arena. His eyes seemed empty and his mana felt different than what most have. He was a SpellCaster, meaning rather than working with magic and bending a specific element or object to his will, he had to cast specific spells, all of which caused different effects and status ailments. SpellCasters were rare to find as they are only bred in certain bloodlines. He wore a grey cloak that, unlike the resting man with black hair who's cloak only covered the back side of him, this mans cloak covered his entire body including a hood that wrapped around his head. His mana felt almost sinister, yet had a hint of light within it.

These three males all awaited the first call to arrive and simply expected some training and classes. Little did they know that this path they were about to embark on would lead them down a very unique road, the likes of which only they will ever live.

The First Call came about through a set of bells around the city. 5 bells rang 3 times in perfect synchronization. Once this was finished, all the candidates made their way to the arena and gathered in its center where they would soon begin battle. The stadium was filled with people from around the continent cheering and yelling at the candidates with praise and applaud. These people came just to enjoy the evaluation, but more so to see the judges.

As they waited for the judges the man with black hair and the other with only ripped pants stood next to each other, one staring blankly into the crowd and the other in a calm astonishment. "Wow... there's so many people. There's gotta be millions of 'em!" The shirtless man said aloud.

"Definitely not. Although at least a couple thousand wouldn't be surprising. Everyone's saying the Adamantiums will be here as judges."

"'The Adamantium'? What's that?"

"Huh?! You're joking right? The Adamantium mages are the strongest mages in the entire world right behind Abraxicus, the Alexandrite Mage. He's so strong that they had to make a new rank just for him and one other guy, but apparently he died a while back. These guys are right below him so it's a super big deal! You really didn't know?" The male was so baffled that a candidate, or rather anybody, didn't know who the Adamantium mages were.

"Heheh, sorry. I don't really socialize all that often. I prefer a simple life in the outdoors, free to do as I please. There's something about it that just feels more home to me than anywhere else."

"Hmm." He hummed simply in reply. He stood quiet once again but not before that silence would be broken by the other male extending his hand.

"Names Gonzo. Gonzo Dracu'ul. Pleasure to meet ya." The shirtless man said. The other male looked at Gonzo for a brief second and than shook his hand. "Serathan Ezranor."

Gonzo released there hands and put his in his pockets. "Well Serathan I hope you can get into the Academy with no problem."

"Same to you." Serathan replied. "I just hope I get to go early on so I can be done with this. I didn't exactly get a full nights rest last night."

"Oh we're you just to excited and pumped for this?"

"More like too busy exploring the events of my life and evaluating every moment I could remember in perfect detail and questioning why life happens the way it does... also excitement."

Gonzo just stared at him with a blank, shacked expression. "...Uh-huh... excitement."

Just then the horns began to bellow from the top of the colosseum loud enough for the echoes to be heard for miles away. Even with their exaggerated sound, the mages in charge of them specifically tuned them with magic to allow the noise to be dulled to a more acceptable and less dangerous volume than what would be in mutually heard without said magic. The mages and the audience all silenced and watched as an elderly man in white and gold cloak walked to the overwatch of the colosseum. The audience all murmured and whispered to one another, as well as the contestants, about the man they were looking towards.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, and contestants! I welcome all of you to the Entrance Tournament of my pristine academy. Many of you are past contestants, others students who were taught under the House Leaders, other family members of the hopeful young ones. The rest of you have made a journey from far and wide from around the continent just to enjoy some talent and action unfold before your very eyes. Regardless of your reasoning for being here I only have one question for you? Are you ready to meet the new House Leaders beginning this year?"

The audience cheered and yelled as loud as they could, more excited than actually prepared to view these new "House Leaders".

"Hell's a 'House Leader'?" Asked Gonzo

Serathin replied "Jeez you really know nothing about what you're walking into? A House Leader is pretty obvious by the name. They are one of five leaders of their respective Houses at the Academy. But it is strange..."

"What's strange?"

"I've watched these exams multiple times. The House Leaders change rarely, but it does happen. However they never introduce the House Leaders, only the judges...." Serathins eyes widened as he stared up to the judge chairs, which sat beside where the Elder stood on the overwatch, and saw that they had five individuals standing next to them in the shadow. No one noticed, except for the very few people who had enhanced senses of sight, due to a magical cloud of darkness casted by one of them.

"I introduce to you... your judges for this years exam..." the Elder said as the cloud of darkness slowly faded away. "And your new House Leaders!" The 5 individuals, 3 male and 2 female, all sat down in their chairs in order from farthest to closest the elder: female, male, male, female, male. For the individuals who already knew these 5 and why they were seated in such a manner, they also knew that this order was the assumed power placements of these 5 powerful humans. These mortals who stood above the Gods themselves. Even the strongest contestant here would seem like a mere any to the mountain-sized giants that these 5 were.

"THE ADAMANTIUM MAGES!" The crowd roared with awe and cheers for these mages. They stood above the previously known pinnacle of existence; each said to be God-Slayers. "Valentine Ariel of house Gaya." The first woman stood up and shined among every being, including the animals and likely the gods themselves, with her beauty. She was the most gentle and kind of the Adamantium and, though a God-Slayer, is said to have never actually killed any being, mortal or beyond, in her entire life. Even an enraged dragon would sooth itself just by a glance. And her voice was a gift by the angels, crafted and perfected for thousands of years. Rose petals rested in her shiny brunette hair. Her eyes were a beautiful ocean blue with a golden ring within the blue. "Good luck everyone. Please do impress me. I'd be blessed to have you in my House."

She seated into her chair and the arena went silent. Most men couldn't keep there eyes off and the women were to embarrassed to speak. That's when the bliss was interrupted by the next Adamantium. "Nick Hash'ín of House Forge." Nick was the next to stand. He seemed the most normal of the 5 in terms of appearance. Legend with him says he's able to cut through dimensions and multiverses with merely his hand, and it's unknown the limitless power he'd have with a blade of any kind. His hands always remain in his pocket unless he plans to fight, which is rare considering his power. When he does fight however, the entire world shakes when he swings his hands. "Yeah well good luck. All I got."

Everyone noticed small paper it's appear on their arms or their cheek or other places among their bodies. The Elder wasted no time in going to the next Adamantium. "Hendricks Tuu Öh of House Cthulhu". The man stood up and everyone froze in their spots. His eyes were closed, and he seemed to be smiling, but his body was strange. It was wavy like uncontrolled water. And the stories about him is that, among all the Adamantium, even with him only being 3rd place, he has killed more gods and living beings than all the others combined. He's may not be the most powerful, but he is greatly known as the most dangerous without question. "Have fun." Hendricks said calmly, as if to project a gentle side of him. "I hope you make it to my House... so that we can have our own battles."

"Hendricks you were warned already. Please take a seat, we only have so much time." Hendricks sat at the Elders request and took a deep breath. Each student was praying not to get his House. Anything else but that He'll. "Now as I was saying. Up next: Azazel Flamel of House Undier." The second female rose to her feet and stared to the contestants below. The wasn't as beautiful as the previous female but her body was far more attractive to the male gaze, and she was proud of it. Her under-breast was revealed with her red chest-plate. She wore a short skirt made of dragon scales and leggings made of the same red red armor as her chest-plate that went up to her thighs. Her black hair was draped around her. "If you die then it's your own fault. No turning back or crying for your mommy." She sat down and crossed her legs, waiting for the fights to start.

"Finally. He's regarded as the strongest of the Adamantium. He's known only by one name. For the wicked the name brings fear. To the helpless the name brings hope." The man stood up and slowly made his way to the Elder. He was tall and very muscular. His hair was a short, flowing grey with a katana posted on his back. "I present to you, Ka- OOF!" The Elder grunted as he felt a heavy thud against his head.

"God damnit Ampharos enough with the hype train just get on with it." The Mage steps forward and looks down at the arena of contestants. "Alright look! My name is Kazin of House Donova. You people didn't come here to listen to some old guy praise his judges, did you? You came to get a chance at becoming a mage, correct? Then let's get started already! And remember... this is your opportunity to better the rest of your entire life. Fight with everything you have and then some. Now... Onto the First Bout!" Kazin announced to the arena.

Serathin took a deep exhale and became relieved to find out they were done listening and could finally start doing. "Man I just wanna go first and get this all over with. I just wanna fight someone already."

"Hey you never know." Gonzo replied. "But then again what kinda odds are those?"

"The two contestants of the first round will be Jack Stronum vs Serathin Ezranor"

Serathin paused and looked up at the Powerful mage in brief shock which quickly turned into a proud smirk. "...oh hell yeah. Gotta start with a banger."

"Hey man good job! I don't know who this Scrotum guy is but I'm sure you got this. I'll be watching from the inside like everyone else. Good luck pal." Said Gonzo as he made his way with everyone else to the inside of the colosseum, all except for one male. Jack Stronum. He was taller than Serathin and much more heavily built with muscle. Scars along his body from battle. "I'm gonna break you kid." Serathin turned to the man seemingly unfazed from his conflict. "I ain't here for games and I ain't losing to some kid like you. You're going 6 feet under, I swear it."

Serathin began stretching his limbs, staring the man dead in his eyes with a careless expression. "Whatever dude. Same threat, different mouth." This comment made by Serathin visibly enraged the man as the veins in his body began bulging and popping an outline his skin. "Damn you.." said the man.

Kazin raised his voice to announce the beginning of the first round. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, maybe the first round of this years Ampharos Academy Entrance Tournament... BEGIN!"