Chapter 42: First Test

"In order to attend Fantasia you must pass two sets of exams. The first is your recommendation exam. This is an exam to earn a DSO member's recognition. The second is the entrance exam itself" I explained to the three of them. Commanders Rewrite, Kelowna and Izumi had joined us for my explanation. With my brief explanation done the three of them ended up getting paired with a Commander whose recommendation they would earn. Kelowna's choice was the easy going (and lazy just like her…) Alan. Rewrite went with Haruhi. Oh the hilarity that'll ensue…Naturally, mother and daughter ended up together.

Just like Saya did with me, I escorted the three of them to the same exam center I went to. The proctor there was the same one that had supervised my own exam. He looked at the trio with quite a bit of interest.

"I shouldn't be expecting anything crazy should I?" he asked me. That's right I almost forgot about the incident regarding my own exam.

"Depends on what you mean by 'crazy'" I jokingly replied. He responded with a nervous laugh. I wouldn't worry about it. They won't bust stuff up…yet.

I watched the three of them clowning around in the waiting room. Typical Haruhi…the plan is always go in with all guns blazing. She really should consider other tactics. Since this is the same proctor as my exam, they'll be doing the escort exam. Of course this time it won't have literal life or death implications. I really should convince them to get outfits more suited to this kind of thing. After all, sailor style uniforms plus over the top action can only provide gratuitous fanservice. Though I'm sure I won't hear Alan complaining about that. Being led into the simulation room, they entered the simulation and started their exam. Certainly this'll be amusing…


I guess she's the one we're supposed to be escorting. She looks like Solipse's polar opposite. She excitedly bounded towards us when she saw us. Enthusiastically introducing herself as Ange, she pointed out why she couldn't go down the mountain path. That's just great…Demons were scattered all along the path. So how exactly are we supposed to get her down without any of us getting killed?

Haruhi took off the necklace I gave her. With a whip like snap it turned into a laser whip. Oh so it's Haruhi Belmont now? She even went so far as getting a costume change. Now she actually looks like a Belmont…Konata turned into a middle school girl. Sparks were wildly flying off her hands and head. Of course she Cosplay's into a character I don't recognize. Just hope it's useful.

The two of them began to run down the path without me or Ange. The resulting bursts of light below can only mean that they're doing just fine on their own. Taking Ange's hand in mine we ran after the two of them. The first few terraces were cleared out pretty quickly by Haruhi and Konata. This isn't so hard. But it sucks that I haven't gotten in on the action yet.

We were about halfway down when we were stopped by a pair of glowing orbs. Wait aren't those…? Uh oh…The first one turned into a perfect copy of Haruhi while the other copied Konata's transformation. Copy Haruhi charged at Haruhi. Their whips were clashing more like energy swords rather than whips. And that look on Copy Haruhi's face…it's so freaking creepy. Her copy kept her on the evasive, dodging the erratic swings of her copy's laser whip. She managed to keep dodging until Copy Haruhi finally hit her. The blow sent her flying back but she just shrugged it off. You're kidding me…she takes a hit from a laser whip and the only thing she gets is a singe mark on her clothes? Obviously pissed at her copy she swung her whip, wrapping it around her copy's neck. She pulled her copy towards her. The 'oh crap' look on her copy's face was priceless. When her copy got in range she gave her the same Falcon Punch she gave me when I saw her naked…ramped up to eleven. The poor copy didn't even recoil, it just disappeared.

Then there was Konata's fight with her copy. The lightning they were throwing at each other was accompanied by thunder. Since they're so close to us the thunder left me with a ringing sound in my ears. Copy Konata fired off a shot in my direction. It felt like a cannonball just hit my barrier at point blank range. Konata was able to keep counterattacking but even I can tell she won't be able to keep it up. Her copy finally managed to overwhelm her, a shot knocking her back. While she was incapacitated her copy tried to finish her off. I put a barrier right in front of her copy's attack. Her attack detonated in front of her sending her flying back. By the time she realized what was going on Konata was standing over her. The look on Konata's face as she blasted her copy away screamed 'you just freaking lose'.

The rest of the way wasn't too hard. There were a few times where I had to put up a barrier as a few Demons tried to take pot shots at Ange. Soon enough we were at the bottom of the mountain and almost reached the end of the path. So where's the final boss? Oh there it is. At least I think it is. I mean why else would a guy dressed in a suit be standing in the middle of a path? Konata jumped the gun by firing a shot off at him. I don't blame you…

Sadly he just deflected it away like it was nothing. I'm pretty sure you can't deflect lightning. He unsheathed a rapier that he had hidden in his cane. Why didn't I see that coming? Whoever he was he charged at Konata, ready to drive his rapier through her head. Haruhi intercepted his thrust parrying it to the ground then punching him square in the face. Oh, so your whip doubles as a beam rapier?

"My, how unrefined the two of you are. No matter…I shall simply remove you both from my sight" he snidely told the two of them. You have no idea who you're messing with…

Haruhi ended up engaging him in a fencing match. She really does become an instant expert in almost anything she does. Even the guy is having trouble keeping up. She managed to royally piss the guy off by cutting his cheek. Sure they might be unrefined but that doesn't change the fact they kick ass. Konata managed to sneak up behind him, tap him on the shoulder and give him a facepalm of lightning. Somebody just got owned big time.

With a sinister laugh he got back on his feet. "I've gravely underestimated you both. I shan't show either of you louts any mercy this time!" angrily proclaimed the unnamed Demon.

This time he managed to at least match Haruhi's skill level. The barrage of thrusts and slashes managed to keep Haruhi from going on the attack that much. This time Konata was fighting him too, firing off lightning bolts at the Demon. Even she was held at bay since he easily switched from attacking Haruhi to deflecting Konata's shots. Oh great he wasn't really trying before. This isn't looking good. This'll just be a stalemate at this rate. Telling Ange to get behind some cover I jumped in to join the fight.

He didn't even see me join in as I drop kicked him on the face. I grabbed his arm that he was wielding his rapier in and pulled it into an awkward position until I heard the sickening tearing sound of his tendons and ligaments being torn. Then I kicked his knees in to achieve the same effect. He crumpled down on his only good knee screaming in pain. Moving behind him I snapped his neck. Still alive, eh? Not for much longer…I put on my Object and placed my hand on his head. Burn in hell, scum.

Haruhi and Konata backed away as I walked towards them. I don't understand…why do you two look so scared? Ange moved between them and me. She held up a mirror so I could see my face. Normally I just look at everything lazily. Now my face was contorted into a look I haven't seen since my days as a thief and assassin. I guess some things just don't change after all. I put on what I just realized was my façade expression. Haruhi and Konata relaxed a little as we headed to the end of the path.

As the simulation began to dissolve away I heard Ange say to me "Everyone has a dark side. Just don't let it become you."


I wouldn't expect any less of those three. Though their teamwork could use some work. It's been a long time since I've seen that side of Alan, the one that lusts for the thrill of a good fight. I wouldn't say that it's bad per se but it's definitely something he'll have to make sure he keeps in check. The proctor handed them their recommendations when I joined them.

"So how did you like that little experience?" I asked them.

"So is that what it's like to be a Slider?" asked Konata.

"A bit tougher than you thought wasn't it?" I answered.

"That was nothing! I'll take on whatever you can dish out!" exclaimed Haruhi. Glad to see they don't regret the choice they've made. I headed outside with them to get some fresh air. I told them to head to Kanata's home to get some rest. They can't really rush things since the entrance exam isn't until tomorrow. I, on the other hand, have an appointment with Rika at Fantasia.

After heading into Fantasia I headed to one of the simulation rooms we use for combat training. Sure enough, Rika was waiting for me inside. She seems to be sporting a new outfit. It reminds me of Ciel's commander outfit except the colors have been swapped so instead of pink and white it was scarlet and black. Floating out of her long coat's pocket, Model O rested in her palm. She cried out "Megamerge" as her outfit was replaced by her stylized blood red armour. It seems her hair stays black now; somewhat odd considering it should turn bleached blonde. The simulation room we were in turned into an arena. Once the both of us were ready, we started to spar a little.

"Have you been able to determine how to turn your arm back into that form from before?" she asked me while we were taking a break.

"Yeah, just give me a second" I replied. I concentrated on turning my arm back into the form I had used to grab onto the wall.

"I can assume that this isn't our untapped power?" questioned Rika.

"Definitely not. It's just a manifestation of whatever it really is. Although I think I've learned to do some cool new things with it…" I answered. My arm turned back to normal as an energy sword like the Z Sabre appeared in my hands. I kept swapping through the different weapons I could make with it. Too bad that's all I can do with it…for now.

"Well at least it's a step forward. Just tell me if you make anymore progress" she told me. The room returned back to normal. Turning back to normal herself, she bid me farewell. Well I should get back to the three of them.

I'm sure Haruhi will coax me into making a celebratory meal anyway…