Katie
"Clap, clap, clap, clap."
The sound of clapping echoed through the area, breaking the eerie silence that followed the battle. Roy staggered to his feet, gripping the daggers tightly. Though his body was weak from the fight, he forced himself to stand tall, projecting the illusion that he could still defend himself.
He glanced up, his sharp gaze searching for the source of the sound. Hovering in the air was a bulky man, about six feet tall. His short white hair and matching beard gave him an air of authority, and his presence exuded overwhelming power. His piercing gaze carried a strange mix of curiosity and amusement, his broad shoulders and confident posture amplifying his intimidating aura.
"Ahahahaha!" the man laughed crazily, his booming voice filling the clearing. Descending slightly, he moved to eye level with Roy, standing as though weightless above the massive corpse of the beast.
"Amazing, truly marvelous. Who would have thought you'd be able to hunt down a platinum beast?" the man said, his tone laced with amusement and curiosity.
Roy's mind raced as he stared at the stranger. His instincts screamed caution, but his curiosity demanded answers. "Who are you?" Roy asked, his voice hoarse yet firm.
The old man tilted his head thoughtfully, stroking his beard as if considering the question deeply. "Mmmm, let's just say I have a say in the sect. You're safe, no need to worry," he replied cryptically, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes.
Hearing this, Roy's heart eased slightly. He concluded that this man was likely an elder of the sect, which explained the absence of instructors in the area. However, Roy's conclusion was only partially correct. The man wasn't an elder, but it was true that no one had entered this area because the man had instructed them not to.
"Now I understand why Kraken recommended you," the old man said after a moment of thought, his voice carrying a note of satisfaction.
Roy's confusion deepened. "Who?" he asked, his tone filled with genuine bewilderment.
"He came by around a month ago, saying there might be two new recruits showing promise in this test," the old man explained casually, as though the events were insignificant.
Hearing this, Roy recalled the man he met after his fight in the Shadow Enclave, who had suggested he join the Heavenly Star Sect. Roy was genuinely surprised. In a world where no one offered even a morsel of bread or water to someone like him, that man had gone out of his way to help.
Unbeknownst to Roy, the old man standing before him was the same person who had instructed the examiners during the first round to let both Roy and Kevin pass.
"First things first," the old man snapped his fingers, and the entire corpse of the beast vanished into thin air without a trace.
Roy's eyes widened in shock, his body nearly collapsing from exhaustion, but to his surprise, he remained floating mid-air. He glanced around in confusion, his legs trembling slightly as he struggled to process what was happening.
"We can't have anyone seeing that thing, now can we?" the old man laughed, his voice casual yet sharp, his words cutting through Roy's scattered thoughts.
Roy's mind spiraled deeper into confusion. "What is going on?" he muttered under his breath, struggling to comprehend the situation. His grip tightened on his daggers as though holding onto some semblance of control.
"Okay, now the next thing," the old man said, his tone becoming more serious. "You will get a total of 100,000 points for this exam, but on one condition: you must not tell anyone about what happened here. Also, I will owe you one." The man's eyes twinkled with a mix of mischief and sincerity, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
"100... 100,000 points?" Roy stammered, barely able to process the enormous number. His mind raced, trying to grasp the sheer magnitude of the reward as the old man continued.
"Oh, and you can tell your friend—Kevin, was it?—but no one else," the man added after a moment of thought, as though granting a rare privilege.
A grin spread across Roy's face. Two thoughts dominated his mind: first, having this mysterious man owe him was a priceless opportunity he planned to exploit to its fullest, and second, he could already imagine Kevin's reaction. "He he he," Roy chuckled to himself, imagining Kevin crying in the corner from jealousy when he heard about the fight and the points.
Suddenly, the old man tossed something towards Roy. Instinctively, Roy caught it and realized it was a pill. Its faint glow radiated warmth, filling the air with a subtle energy.
"Take it. It will heal your injuries," the old man instructed, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
Roy nodded and swallowed the pill without hesitation. Instantly, his injuries began to heal at a visible rate. Not only that, but the aura he had depleted during the fight was fully replenished, leaving him feeling revitalized and brimming with energy.
Before Roy could express his gratitude, the old man threw another object toward him. Roy caught it swiftly, his reflexes returning. It was a token—somewhat identical to the entrance token he had received for the test. However, this token was different; its black surface shimmered with a pulsating light. At its center was a main star radiating energy, surrounded by smaller stars scattered like the night sky. The shimmering light danced across the token, reflecting the vibrant colors of the stars etched into its surface.
"Take this, and whenever you want to cash in your favor, give it to any instructor in the sect. They'll know what to do with it," the old man said, his voice laced with an air of finality.
Roy nodded in understanding. This man was strong—in fact, the strongest person he had ever encountered, except for his master, but he wouldn't count him.
"Now," the man said, glancing at the rising sun. "THE TEST IS NOW OVER." The words resonated through the forest, a powerful declaration that seemed to ripple through the very fabric of the air.
With a snap of his fingers, the old man made Roy's surroundings vanish. The world dissolved around him, and in the blink of an eye, he found himself back on the same ground where the test had begun. The familiar sight filled him with both relief and lingering confusion, the surreal encounter still vivid in his mind.
The old man lingered for a moment, surveying the destruction left in the area. Then, he too vanished, reappearing on a grand balcony that overlooked a sprawling city. The structure behind him resembled a palace, its intricate design gleaming in the morning light. Below, the city stretched endlessly, alive with activity, and above, the sky shimmered with the glow of two moons and countless stars.
As the old man stood lost in thought, a girl emerged onto the balcony. She was the same age as Roy, her beauty both delicate and captivating. Her long black hair cascaded like a river of midnight, flowing down her back in silken waves. It seemed to drink in the light, accentuating the natural luster of her flawless features. Her pink eyes glowed with an almost mystical intensity, their depth hinting at an untold story of pain and strength. Her ethereal beauty carried a coldness, as if a layer of frost encased her very soul. She moved with an ethereal grace, her steps light yet deliberate, as though the weight of her unspoken burdens guided her every motion.
"Where did you go, Grandpa?" she asked softly, her voice calm yet tinged with curiosity.
The old man chuckled heartily. "Oh, Katie, hehe, I believe I found you a husband."
The girl's expression did not change. Her demeanor was icy, her voice devoid of emotion. "Again with this? How many times have I told you I can't do it? You know what happened to me after that incident."
A flicker of pain crossed the old man's eyes, but he masked it almost instantly with a laugh. "Hehe, I know, I know. I was just kidding. There was a little issue at the entrance test, so I went to resolve it—but never got the chance to," he said dismissively, offering no further explanation.
The girl nodded curtly, her disinterest apparent. Without another word, she turned and walked back inside, her cold aura lingering in the air.
The old man sighed, his gaze shifting to the city below and then upward to the beautiful sky. The stars twinkled faintly, and the two moons cast their serene glow over the world. The scene seemed almost like a painting, its beauty masking the hidden struggles that lurked beneath.
"My beautiful granddaughter," he murmured to himself, his voice filled with resolve, "I promise you, I will find a cure—the cultivation technique that will lift this curse from you."
Roy landed heavily on the ground, his knees buckling slightly as he stabilized himself. His sharp eyes scanned the area, taking in the warped scenery around him. One by one, other candidates began materializing, their forms shimmering briefly before solidifying onto the ground.
Among them, his gaze quickly found Kevin and Lyra, who appeared a few meters away, their figures steadying themselves as the disorienting sensation of the warp faded. A sense of relief washed over Roy as he saw Kevin intact, accompanied by Lyra, who stood beside him with her usual calm demeanor.