Eric felt it as soon as he stepped through the thresfold of the barrier in front of them, barely even registering Flare's gasp as he stifled his own.
The air felt dense and heavy, as if the world itself was trying to force him to his knees. With each moment, he could feel the air shaking with joy as pure ambient ethernano ran rampant with no care.
As far as the eye can see, hundreds of large pillars & stalagmites made out of clear blue crystals reached up to the heavens, the ground littered with hundreds or even thousands of flowers made out of the same crystals.
"W-What is this?" Eric heard Flare asked as soon as she caught her breath, but he was too awestruck by the millions upon millions of strands of ethernano in the air, all of them intertwining to form a giant spiderweb.
However, his awe quickly disappeared as a presence rippled through the air, a serious look taking its place as he looked over in the direction that the ethernano strand was coming from.
"Flare. Get ready." He spoke and Flare just nodded as she undid her ponytail & shook her hair loose, the slight trembling of the ground increasing more and more until Eric frowned as he caught sight of the beast bulldozing towards them.
It was giant, perhaps about the same size as the wyvern they killed. Pure white fur covered its body with streaks of black running across its chest, arms & legs. A jagged scar ran from one side of its forehead to the other and four circular scars were on the sides of its neck, the muscles visibly bulging & pulsing as it took a deep breath before letting out a deafening roar that shook the ground.
"…Flare, I think I'm hallucinating because I'm seeing a giant Mountain Vulcan."
"No, you're not. I see it too." Flare said with wide eyes and Eric just nodded slowly as he saw the large amounts of ethernano flowing around its body before his mind snapped to battle mode.
"Flare, long range support!" He exclaimed as he activated his levitation and rocketed towards the Vulcan, his trust in Flare not misplaced as hundreds of solid hair strands in the shape of needles flew past him towards the beast.
Unfortunately, the hair was not nearly strong enough to break through as the beast easily charged through them, Eric frowning slightly as he watched the needles bounce off of its chest before grinning as the thin needles began to glow.
The beast stopped its charge as it stared curiously at the glowing hair around it before a deafening agonizing roar echoed through the air as the hair exploded, feeling proud of his roommate before letting out a chuckle at Flare's groan as the beast charged out of the smoke.
However, he smirked as he saw the scorched marks on its forehead before nodding as he dove head first towards the ground with his right hand pulled back.
Stopping just before he could crash into the ground, Eric grinned as he slammed his hand forward, a grunt sending out a pulse of ethernano that travelled across the ground at a blistering pace.
"Presence of the King." Eric chanted as he waited until his ethernano pulse flashed over the Vulcan mutant before his eyes glowed a deep violet.
The next instance, the beast's eyes went wide as it was slammed face first into the ground, the ground between Eric & the beast rippling & sending chunks of solid earth flying through the air before Eric smirked as he stopped the gravity just as a giant flaming spike of crimson hair pierced through the ground & through its chest.
"Whew! That was a nice workout." Eric spoke with a smile as he stretched his body, watching the hair retract and leaving the corpse to fall with a loud splat onto the ground as he turned back to Flare.
"Damnit, this is going to take days to get out." She grumbled as she tried to wipe away the purple blood staining her hair before blinking as her hair flowed upwards.
Watching as the blood was drained from her hair, she gave Eric a thankful smile as he shifted the blood orb far away from them before deactivating his magic & letting it splatter across the ground.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Besides, I think you're going to be thanking me a few more times." Eric said with an amused smile as he pointed to the right and Flare turned with a confused look before glaring at the sight of more of the Vulcan beasts storming towards them.
"I swear you're making dinner tonight."
"Eh, if you like eating bland soup, then sure, I'll make dinner.
"Ah~I missed this life. Nothing but peace and quiet." Goldmine muttered with a blissful sigh as he took another sip of his beer whilst overlooking the guild members in the hall from the second floor.
"You mean the life before you decided to make Eric a Quatro mage?"
"Not just him. All of those idiots in the tournament are just headaches, but speaking of which. Why didn't any of you stop me?" He groaned and both Bacchus & Guy just shared an amused smirk as Warcry chuckled.
"Bacchus & I weren't here and Guy told us that you were the one who strong-armed him into joining so technically, speaking…this is on you, master."
"Yeah, yeah. Let me enjoy my last day of peace before the other idiots get here."
"Yo! Did you miss us?!"
"And there goes your peace." Bacchus said with a smirk as they watched Jäger, Screecher, Buffer & Leo walking into the guild hall, all four mages nodding & smiling at the other mages that cheered before turning to look up at the four S-Class mages looking down on them.
"Sign your name, age and mission record on the forms at the bar. Then, you have six hours until the first round." Goldmine said with a nod towards the counter, the four mages nodding before they started walking towards it.
"Huh, looks like they all grew a bit." Guy said with a smirk as he scanned all four mages with his Archive, mulling as he read their stats while Bacchus & Warcry looked over his shoulders.
"Mm, not bad. Not bad at all, especially Screecher. I didn't expect him to grow that much." Warcry said as he looked at the aforementioned mage, who looked a bit more muscular compared to how he looked before.
"Well, his magic is a very draining one so I'm guessing he's been training his body to make sure that he can use it for longer."
"Damnit! I told you we shouldn't have taken so long." Goldmine sighed at the new addition of voices that have returned after two months, looking over to see Nobarly, Rocker and Semmes walking through the door with Rocker having been the one who spoked.
However, he along with the other three S-Class mages were surprised to feel the air being saturated with Nobarly's & Rocker's ambient ethernano as the duo nodded at them before continuing on towards where the other mages were busy filling their entry forms in.
"Damn, looks like the guys have been training for this, huh?" Bacchus spoke with a lopsided grin as he looked at the duo filling in their forms, Guy nodding with a smirk as he scanned them and whistled lowly at the stats being reflected to him.
"You would think they've been training for a year with that kind of change." Warcry spoke with a chuckle as he read the stats before turning to the door to see if their last entry would make it.
However, he couldn't help but feel disappointed as no one came through, turning to see the other three just as disappointed as they turned towards the clock to see that there was still 5 hours and 48 minutes left.
'Oh, damnit. He forgot about it, didn't he?'
'Yep, he forgot about it.' Warcry sighed as he looked at the ten minutes remaining on the clock, watching the time tick past as everyone waited impatiently for the last tournament fighter to arrive.
"Hey, master! Are we sure this guy is even coming?!" Goldmine frowned as he heard someone ask that from the group of mages waiting impatiently just like the others before he sighed.
"As the rules state, the tournament can only begin when all eight are here. However, if the last contender doesn't arrive in the time before the tournament start, they are disqualified and banned from taking the promotion exam for the next decade." The guild groaned in unison at that and Goldmine just rolled his eyes before Bacchus spoke up.
"It's just like the idiot to keep us waiting."
"Yeah, he probably wants to make a grand-!" Guy stopped talking as his head snapped to the front door, the other three S-Class mages focusing on it just as intently as he was.
The rest of the guild looked confused at seeing the four S-Classes looking seriously at the closed front door before they turned as it opened, but everyone's eyes widened as a heavy, scorching pressure ripped through the guild hall.
It felt as if the sun itself was busy entering the guild as the temperature skyrocketed exponentially while the air grew heavier & heavier with each step that echoed through the hall.
"Ah shit! Sorry about that, everyone!" Eric exclaimed with a sheepish grin as he pulled his aura back, Flare shaking her head besides him.
"I told you that it was going to run rampant." She said and he groaned as he turned to face her.
"How was I going to know that my ambient ethernano was going to rampage like that?" Eric whined and Flare rolled her eyes, both missing the incredulous looks everyone gave them as Bacchus grinned.
'That was his ambient? Ohohoho~ I see I found a new toy.' The mage thought with a smirk, Warcry & Guy seeing the smirk and sighing in exasperation as they saw the mage vibrating in place with glee before everyone turned to Goldmine as he cleared his throat.
"Oi! Sign up already or else, you're disqualified."
"Wait what?" Eric asked with a confused blink of his eyes, Goldmine sighing as he pointed at the last page lying on the bar counter while the other seven test takers just looked amused.
"Oh, right. Sure thing." Eric nodded at Goldmine, who rolled his eyes, before he walked over to the bar counter.
"I see you've been training." Rocker said with a smirk as Eric started filling in his form and Eric just smirked, making the mage chuckle as he watch Eric finish his form before it disappeared as Goldmine clapped his hands.
"And with that, the sixth Quatro Cerberus S-Class Promotional Exams have begun!"
"Congratulations to you eight mages on managing to be the ones chosen amidst the dozens of Quatro Mages for the sixth Quatro Cerberus S-Class Promotional Exams!" Guy exclaimed with a grin and Eric had to admit that he was surprised at the crowd gathered behind them.
It was not only just the Quatro Cerberus mages as he could see almost the entirety of Oak Town gathered with them, each one cheering as loud as they could before he smirked as he saw Flare waving a flag with his face on it along with a few other townsfolk.
"Eyes on the prize, newbie. You'll need all of your attention on this." Eric blinked as he turned towards Nobarly who had spoken, smirking & nodding at the man who just smirked back before they turned as Guy continued speaking.
"Now, usually, this would just be a simple tournament-format exam where we let all eight of you fight until one wins, but this year, we decided to spice things up a bit. Firstly, each one of you received an envelope while we walked here, correct? Open them." Eric frowned as he reached into his back pocket & pulled out the black & gold envelope that was handed to him, opening it before his eyes widened slightly as he pulled out a black card with the number '8' printed in gold on the front.
Glancing around, he noticed how everyone also had a card but with a different number all up to eight before he along with everyone turned back to the front as Guy cleared his throat.
"As you've noticed, you all have a card with a number on it. The number represents the order at which you all have walked into the guild and to make this even better, the first round of the exams will take place in our very own Oak Forest." He said as he gestured to the vast forest behind him, Eric frowning at that before he turned as Rocker spoke up.
"So, what's with the cards then?" He asked and they all turned to Guy, who smirked before he chuckled.
"Well, that's the fun part. The card you have been given links to the card on the opposite side of the spectrum. For example, Eric here has been given number 8, which means that his card is linked with the number 1 card."
"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Eric blinked as Jäger was the one who exclaimed that, looking over to see the man giving him a grin and he chuckled as he nodded.
'Good. That's a good start for me.' Guy just looked amused at their little stare-off before turning as Goldmine cleared his throat.
"There are three rounds to these exams and each round is to teach you a different lesson. Now, get ready before we start.k."
"We don't even know what the round is." Eric muttered out loud and Goldmine just smirked before he spoke.
"Ah, my apologies. The first round is simple. You need to bring back the card of your opponent back here in order to win. However, the moment you obtained your opponent's card, you are not allowed to attack them. Your opponent, however, is free to attack you on your way back in order to both regain their card as well as win yours. How you obtain the card are up to you, but no lethal moves, no maiming and no unnecessary injuries. If you injure your opponent without meaning to, then it will be allowed, but rest assured that myself along with the other three S-Class mages will be watching your every move and if we find out you're doing it on purpose…" Goldmine trailed off as he glanced at each one of the mages before he nodded & walked away, but the meaning of his silence carried to the eight mages as they all grew serious.
"Now, with the serious business out of the way. Number 1 and 8 will be the first to enter the battle. Jäger, you will enter first and then Eric will enter a minute later. Get ready."
"Yes, sir." Both said with a nod and Goldmine nodded before turning to walk away.
"You ready to get your ass kicked, Creed?" Jäger taunted with a smirk and Eric chuckled as he shook his head.
"You say that, but you've never actually beaten me in combat, have you Druta?" Eric asked with a smirk, Jäger grumbling as the rest of the group chuckled before Guy cleared his throat as he looked at the muscular giant.
"Ready?" He asked and a serious frown adorned Jäger's face as he nodded, Guy nodding before a timer appeared in the air above him.
"Then without further ado…go!" With a lunge, Jäger was gone into the forest, disappearing from sight just a few moments after he entered as the crowd cheered.
"Remember, there is a jutsu shiki surrounding the forest that stops anyone apart from the two contestants from entering, stops the contestants from exiting unless you have both cards or none and keeps all attacks sealed within the confines of the forest, so no one try to get a closer look." He warned as he turned to the crowd, shaking his head as some of them gave sheepish grins & chuckles before turning to Eric who was looking intently into the forest.
"You ready?" He asked and Eric smirked as he nodded, Guy watching as the timer ticked down before an alarm went off as it reached zero.
"You can g-!" Before he could even finish his sentence, an azure glow covered Eric's body and the ground under him cratered as he took a step forward.
Within an instant, the air trembled as Eric disappeared, screams echoing from the crowd as the winds & shock waves washed over them while Guy just smirked as he used his Archive to create a series of screens in front of everyone.
Goldmine smirked as he kept track of the two screens floating slightly above & behind both Eric and Jäger, watching as Jäger was busy preparing traps while Eric made his way towards his opponent.
'Show us how much you both have grown.'
The world around Eric was a blur as he dashed through the forest, expertly leaping & jumping over the fallen trees & roots sticking out of the ground while using his vision to keep track of Jäger creating trap after trap.
'If I didn't have Heavenly Vision, this would have been a lot worse. Man, I might have to buy him something to make up for what's about to happen.' Eric thought with a smirk as he came to a stop in a forest clearing that was in the middle of the vast forest.
Kneeling on the ground, he took a deep breath as he saw Jäger walking closer to where he is before he began his attack.
"Presence of the King." Eric chanted as he sent a pulse of ethernano in Jäger's direction and he smirked as he saw the man's shock when he was forced to kneel onto the ground.
"Universal Pull." He continued as he held his free hand out with the palm facing the kneeling Jäger before pulling it back, watching as an azure glow covered the mage's body before he rocketed towards Eric.
Standing up, Eric watched as Jäger flew towards him before he dissipated the magic surrounding him & flew past him, easily taking the mage's cards from his pocket as he watched him crash into a tree.
"Thanks for the card." Eric said with a smile before taking off once more, smirking as Jäger roared before the roots of the trees around him ripped out of the ground & chased after him.
However, he chuckled as his Heavenly Vision analysed & gave him the best route back towards the crowd as he duck & weaved around the attacks.
"You're not getting away that easily, Creed!" He heard Jäger roar behind him and turned before raising an amused eyebrow at the sight of the mage riding a giant venus fly trap, the plant's mouth wide open as it came down to bite him.
"Well, sorry about this, then." Eric apologised with a smirk before Jäger's eyes widened as the mage crouched and moved.
The air around him popped as a violet glow covered Eric's body before he took off, not caring for the obstacles in his path as he bulldozed right through them all.
Jäger's roar for him to stop washed over him, but Eric ignored it as he kept going until finally breaking through the forest line near the crowd, coming to an abrupt stop next to a smirking Guy whilst holding out both cards towards the man.
"Two cards signed, sealed and delivered as ordered." Eric spoke before screams echoed through the air as a monstrous shock wave washed over the crowd, a giant mirror appearing in front of them & absorbing the force that was created by Eric's movements before it was repelled back into the air.
"Nice work, but try to not cause unneeded destruction next round. The master already looks pissed." Guy said while nodding in Goldmine's direction and Eric looked over before smirking sheepishly at the deadpan look Goldmine was giving him as well as the snickers that came from Bacchus & Warcry who was sitting next to him.
"Uh, sorry?" Eric said and Goldmine just sighed as he palmed his face.
"I miss my peace."