Fire aside, the Serpent was quick on understanding the situation, watching as the two children would begin their own test. Solomon begrudgingly gave his own energy out, letting small ripples to appear at first. The ripples then bubbled, spilling over the goblet, a small crack made that flowed freely out of the area. Harvard's goblet, however, was as expected. A geyser that immediately jut out from the cup splashing the very roof of the ribcage they were in, cracking the bone above them. "Rank 5...and Rank 9! Wyvern... and Hydra!" A cacophony of cheers were made upon hearing such a declaration, dances made in the boy's honor for having such strength. In truth, however, all but Harvard were reserving their energy, as they realized they could've been able to achieve such a rank had they put in more effort. Too much so would've caused them to needlessly spend unnecessary energy and put themselves in a disadvantage should they be forced to fight immediately. Of course, Harvard could care less about such a price, his body slightly winded after he puts aside the goblet.
"Soooo who's our first opponents?" Harvard asked.
"Oh, only the best of the best! We'll start you off easy. We have ourselves a Diamond Magic user resting in the 9th head. You'll be PERFECT as his oppositio-"
"Oi, oi! You leaving someone out here?" Adel's question brought annoyance to Solomon, a groan escaping from his voice, as the Biblical Mage realized that he was trying to set himself up for failure. Zazel couldn't help but laugh a bit as he'd see the enthusiasm, being reminded of Harvard's own excitement whenever anything related to monsters occur. The citizens would take notice of the man, looking amongst one another, before one would grab ahold of the Goblet and filled it with water.
"Well, if you're willing to participate just as much, then be my guest!" The man shouted, as he placed the cup on the table, the jewelry shimmering with the warm glow of the sun outside, letting everyone circle around Adel. The Snake Man would take a deep breath as he'd place his hands around the goblet, a small bubble being made once more. At first, that was it. The group felt a bit disappointed when seeing it didn't amount to much, and the man providing it was about to call it as a Rank 1. As soon as the man raised his hand, however, he would see something that stunned him, a reaction of pure dread.
The cup was cracking. Top to bottom, it was shaking violently, trying to break free.
KRACCCC!!!
Scattered into pieces. The goblet exploded along with the water, jutting out like bullets, prompting the people to duck their heads and dodge the shot, watching them cleave four of the bones from the ribcage clean off, falling from the stump left behind. A small cut was made on the provider, as he'd look down the destroyed Artifact. "I... Impossible.... You... You broke it...!?" A loss of words, as the people watched the man get himself up, barely a reaction out of his body. Harvard was left speechless at what he saw, whilst Solomon and Zazel looked at him with a raised eyebrow, before understanding that the child never really gauged at his own strength before. It did make them worried, however, because of the factor he never won a proper fight before aside from a near lethal assassination on the Demon's end. As Adel would get himself up and be ready to hear his rank, something was approaching the ribcage once more. A roar was made to signal their arrival, the people of Orochi quickly grabbing as many tables and food as they can to make way, shoving them aside as they watch the figure enter.
A man in a cloak, slipping through the cage with a dragon in tow, solid flames emanating from its body. The man allowed the dragon to burn away his robes, revealing his proper form: Tanned skin, black cape, red hair with small, white streaks, as well as draconic armor that acts as his leggings and boots. Such a cape boasts the symbol of Orochi, the heads of the serpents, all stretched out like a starfish. On his arm was a gauntlet, four slots visible, two of which held 火, one of them holding 逆説, and a fourth holding 闇.
Fire, Fire, Paradox, Darkness.
"So... we finally got someone." The man declared, as he'd snap his fingers to let the dragon dissipate, the fires still burning, surrounding the man as a personal field of energy, a wide, white grin on his face, his red eyes bleeding with power, a dragon's iris tightening the moment he stared at Adel. He didn't need to ask what has happened, as he approached the man, simmering the liquid left behind and looked at him directly. "...A rank above Hydra. A potential equal." His confidence was blazing just as much as his determination. He didn't need to say another word as he stared at Adel's eyes. The two's passion matched as soon as they walked the same steps, letting them examine each other like dogs to understand their personal will. The air grew still as the two looked on one another, as the boys would recognize who he was based on the cloak he once had.
Not only was he a king, but also a Shadow Mage.
"The Dragon King... The Human Vritra... Taro Drawyrm. Your majesty..." The people bowed before the draconic human, yet he merely raised his hand.
"Let's not be too formal now. You. Man in Green. What exactly were you searching for when you used Orochi's Stomach?" A question posed for Serpens, as the Serpent man merely smiled back.
"I just wanted to do what everyone else was doing! If it's for a tournament, then I want in it!" His answer would bring a warm smile onto Taro as he'd make his way towards the ninth coliseum.
"By all means then. Enter. Show me what you can do, newcomer."