As usual, just as Yuhan set foot on the other side of the main city gate, oficially entering the Royal Capital a screen pop up came in front of him.
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*Sub-Quest*
[Jorney to the Capital]
✔ Reach the Royal Capital with Asta and Yuno
Reward:
Crystal x10
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With 20 crystals, Yuhan finally had enough to buy another card pack, it took him 2 Side-quests, he could barely call it a reward, with the amount of work he put into it, he earned that pack.
The boys first impression of the Capital was, magical, quite literally, magic was everywhere, the food stalls were cooking using fire magic, jars with magic lights floating inside, moving plants inside adorned pots, people walking around with floating bags and all types of merchandise, in this place, magic was part of everyday life, it was everywhere and anywhere you looked.
— So expensive!
Asta suddenly screamed, making Yuhan turn around to look, the boy was looking at the price tag at one of the shops, while aproaching them he couldn't help but overhear their discussion about who would become the wizard king, and couldn't help but comment.
— Well my money is on Yuno becoming the wizard king.
Astar turn to bitterly look at Yuhan.
— What?! You think he's got a better chance than me?! I'll show you! I'll be the Wizard King!
While Asta chewed on some suspicious looking meat on a stick, they made their way to a crowded square with a way inside a coliseum-looking building, with barricades on both sides, some people were strolling foward inside, it didn't take a genius to guess it. That's the place.
While walking inside, Yuhan took his grimoire and opened up the Shop page. Purchasing the only available pack, opening up instantly without pulling it out. A few new items appeared on his inventory page.
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Nemuriko x1
Petit Angel x1
Green Phantom King x1
Gyakutenno Megami x1
Dark Gray x1
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His heart was excited, one of the few stronger monsters in the box actually came out, the level 6 Gyakutenno Megami, there were only 4 other monsters stronger than it in the box, it was a decent pull.
While waiting on the line looking at his Grimoire, Yuno registered and so did Asta, it was Yuhan's turn, approaching the mage he showed his Grimoire with a four-leaf clover to him.
— Yuhan, also from Hage Village.
The mage's eyes widen in disbelief, another four-leaf clover on the same exam.
— Two four-leaf clover's from the same village!
Others started to gossip, as he put his hand on Yuhan's Grimoire.
— You're #166.
When joining Yuno and Asta, he found the place flocking with birds, pecking and swooping down at participants, none seemed to like going near Yuno, so Yuhan just sit on the ground next to him, and sure enough no birds got close to him as well.
Unfortunetly Asta didn't get the same treatment, as soon as he got closer, the birds swooped down to attack him, Yuhan guessed he must have provoked the birds or something.
While Asta was running around with birds following and pecking him, he ran face-first into someone else.
Yuhan lazily watched the scene unfold, Asta was grabbed by the head and lifted from the ground, talk about some arm strenght, murmurs started going around, the other mages with the older man were apperently famous around the Capital, one was Finral a spatial magic user, and the other was Gordon, an incantation magic expert.
— Cut it out! A Magic Knights Squad Captain, shouldn't kill an examinee, what are you even doing here.
The other, still grabbing the boy by the head, answered in an angry voice.
— I went to take a dump and got lost.
What even is your name? Zoro?
Yuhan thought sarcastically, as other participants whispered about the "Lord of Destruction Yami", a countdown started.
— What are you even counting down for?!
Said Asta struggling from the grip on his head.
— The end of your life.
Yami said as matter-of-factly. But as soon as the countdown was about to finish, fireworks lit up the sky.
— Come on, the exam it's about to start.
Clearly annoyed, he let go of Asta's head and turned to leave.
— Guess you get to live a little longer, brat.
At that moment, Yuhan just got up from sitting on the ground e found Asta talking to a blonde examinee, but he turned his eyes somewhere else, drawn by the sound of the crowd, high on the balcony, new figures made their entrance, looking down on the examinees
— That's the captain of the Silver Eagles! Nozel Silva!
Someone shouted in excitement, a silver haired man with a stern face and a weird hairstyle.
— That's some hairstyle, isn't it hard to see with that thing in his face?
Asta pointed out, earning a genuine laugh from Yuhan.
— The Captain of the Crimson Lion Kings, Fuegoleon Vermillion, he's one of the best at flame creation magic!
Not 'The' best, but one of the best, I wonder who could be better than a Squad Captain...
Another voice rang out right behind Yuhan, a boy in the crowd pointed out another figure.
— The Green Praying Mantis captain, Jack The Ripper! His servering magic can split the earth in two!
What is he a cultivator?
While holding his laugh at his own thoughts, Yuhan was carefully taking a look at the captains.
Time to see what they really are made of, Millennium Eye!
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Rill Boismortier
4500 ATK / 3800 DEF
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Ultimate Blue-eyes white dragon??????
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Gueldre Poizot
3700 ATK / 3500 DEF
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Not as strong, but respectable I guess
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Dorothy Unsworth
3000 ATK / 5200 DEF
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What's with this unkillable monster?!
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Jack the Ripper
5500 ATK / 1900 DEF
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A glass cannon or maybe an assassin?
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Fuegoleon Vermillion
4200 ATK / 3000 DEF
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Well balanced, respect.
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Charlotte Roselei
3400 ATK / 4400 DEF
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A little bit defense heavy.
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Nozel Silva
3000 ATK / 4900 DEF
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Talking about defense heavy... yikes.
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Yami Sukehiro
6800 ATK / 3400 DEF
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WHAT?! Is this thing working right?
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William Vengeance
4500 ATK / 6900 DEF
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Nice... I mean, this guys are monsters.
Shutting down his Millennium Eye, Yuhan couldn't help but feel a little bit powerless, his currently best monster is a 1800 ATK / 2000 DEF, it couldn't hold a candle to these monsters.
If Magical Knights Captains are this strong, just how absurd is the ATK/DEF of the Wizard King?
— Candidates.
A voice came from the balcony, making everyone looked up in anticipation.
— Sorry to keep you waiting, I'll be conducting this exam.
Quite polite for someone in a higher standing, doesn't look like he's looking down on us... well he is quite literally looking down on us, because we're down here but... anyways.
Taking his Grimoire foward, William flipped through some pages and a bright light came from the sky, roots came down from the sky come towards the arena, the vines twisted and turned, becoming wooden brooms. Each candidate was given a broom.
Is this wood magic? Making houses should be really easy with magic like that.
—We will now begin, the Magic Knights Entrance Exam, we will now have each of your take several tests, the nine of us will evaluate your performance.
Gesturing to the captains seated behind him, William continued the explanation.
— Then, we will select the candidates we would like to add to our Squads, if chosen you will join that squad, if chosen by more than one squad, you can choose the squad you'd like to join.
After a small to let them process the information, the captain continue with a deeper tone.
— On the other hand, those not chosen by any captain, are not qualified to join the Magic Knights.
So it's a showmanship contest, impress the audience and get chosen, simple enough.
As an entertainment duelist, Yuhan knew how to impress his audience.
— For the first exam, we will have you get on those brooms and fly, Mages who can control their magical power can do this instinctively.
The candidates looked at each other, most had never flew on a broom before, unsure of their skills with the tool, while Yuhan looked at the his equipment page on his grimoire.
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Equipment
Hat: None
Chest: None
Pants: None
Legs: None
Shoes:
Accessory: None
Artifact: None
...
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While holding the broom, a small blue border was visible on the Artifact slot, clicking it a broom icon filled the space.
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Flying Broom
Cost: 5 MP
Effect: Enables 'Flight' for 1 Hour
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— All right, Begin!
Draining a bit of his MP, Yuhan could feel the broom getting lighter in his hand. Following the example of the few candidates already flying, Yuhan mounted on his broom and soon found himself floating upwards.
It's really easy to control, I just need to imagine where I want it to go and in follows swiftly, I guess only flying around won't get much of their attention.
Yuno swiftly flew around standing on his broom like a skateboard, showing just how easy it was to control. Yuhan took this time to stand on the tip os his broom, flying upwards, he could feel the eyes of the captains on him with curiosity.
When reaching just above the other cadidates, he jumped backwards using his broom like a springboard. Other candidates widen their eyes at the sight, impeccable form, arched back, like a professional diver, going straight towards the ground, and just then, flying to his hands, the broom came swooping down.
Grasping the wooden bar, Yuhan made a perfect glide kip, mounting again in a perfect move, just a few meters away from the ground, showing a perfect control and confidence, he could see the sweat on the foreheads of a few other candidates.
— That's the other four-leaf, right? talk about showing off...
Yuno was praised by his effortless performance, but Yuhan was targeted like a show off by the other candidates, on the tests to come, the boy made a every performance a show, blasting off targets with fireballs, blasting multiple paper targets dead in the center simultaneously, creating life-size sculptures, and right behind him, not to be outdone in the slightest was Yuno, his approach was different, showing effortless success and a lack of desire to show off.
— The next exam shall be the last one, you will engage in actual combat.
While the candidates looked hesistant, a red-haired figure amoung the captains stood up from his seat, speaking with passion in his voice.
— You'll be battling! You pair off and fight with your partner, use your grimoires to attack and rise victorious!
Some cadidates started to strategize and think about who to pick as opponents.
— Fighting is our duty! Show us your true abilities!
Given his passionate speech, William interjected with a calmer tone.
— As soon as one of you yields or becomes unable to fight, the exam will be over, there are also mages who can use healing magic on stand by.
Everyone else seemed to scramble to find partners, but unexpectedly the first match was decided almost instantly.
At the center of the arena, Asta stood facing a blonde guy. At the call of the referee, both of them came closer. As soon as the match started, the blond guy made the first move.
— Bronze Creation Magic: Sekke Magnum Cannon ball!
Dense mana converged around him, creating a circular armor looking like a round fortress with cannons. Asta in turn, drew a sword from inside his Grimoire, curious about it, Yuhan activated his Millenium eye.
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Sekke Bronzazza
800 ATK / 1700 DEF
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What a heavy defense... but it's not unbreakable
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Asta
1000 ATK / 1000 DEF
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No last name? weird... Can he even break that defense with a low attack like that?
Yuhan had confidence in his Millennium eyes, and thought that the outcome was dediced, but just then.
CRACK!!
Sekke's barrier shattered like glass, and his body has smashed to the ground with a heavy impact, and for the first time, Yuhan realized that he couldn't just base something out of ATK/DEF stats.
— I'm not joining the Magic Knights so I can have a good time and avoid working hard! I'm here to work my butt off and become the Wizard King!
The other candidates couldn't believe this outcome, some started to question who the boy was to be this strong.
— All of you shut up! I told you, I'll become the next Wizard King! You got a problem with that?!
He shouted for all to hear, earning some laughs from the other candidates. Sekke was taken to treatment in a stretcher and the next matches continued as usual.
Soon enough was Yuno's turn, with a noble-looking blonde guy, with white clothes and a confident smile on his face.
— You should know that it's an honor just to be able to fight the great Salim de Hapshass, you can tell this tale for the rest of your life when you go back to your village.
Yuno was completely unfazed by the provocations and insults shot by the noble. After noticing his remarks didn't affect Yuno, he waved his hand at his floating Grimoire, flipping it's pages as the light gathered in his book.
— I'll at least treat you to a noble's ultimate attack: The Holy lightning Rising Salim.
In response, Yuno opened his own Grimoire, brimming with green mana. A white lightning ball came foward, shooting towards Yuno like a thunderstorm, crackling sound could be heard in the arena followed by a bight light.
— Wind Magic: Towering Tornado.
A tornado shot up towards the sky in front of him, crashing against the lightning ball, it was a true thunderstorm in the arena, wind and lightning fought in the arena, caught up by his own attack, Salim was lift from the grown, wind and lightning hitting him powerless to resist, the winds calmed down and the noble's figure came down from the air in a thud, unconscious.
Retreating back while Salim was taken away, Yuno shot a look at Yuhan, who was nodding approvingly.
Serves him right for underestimating us.
Funnily enough, Yuhan was approached by another noble, with brown hair, large features, and an expensive outfit. Candidate #71 Orenv Soil.
Taking their positions, Yuhan was a bit nervous about his performance, he didn't have many "Flashy cards" just a bunch of normal monsters. But he had a trick up his sleeve, something to impress the captains.