"Hello, everyone." Spoke a man, the principal of the Castalix Dragon Rider Academy, Janus. As beside him are three more representing their academies,
"I am Janus of the Castalix Dragon Rider Academy! I am proud to see all of you made it to our Midterm, where we will test you all in five rounds of activities demonstrating your strengths and weaknesses. Here are the rules of these matches. Every single one of you will participate in activities involving combat, physical strength, Bond Skills, cunning, everything you learned in your classes, and to show you are the best amongst your peers! Every round will remove half of the students from the rankings, so only the best of the best may proceed to match after match. The first match..." Janus shouts,
"LUKAS!!!" He shouts, as...
"BRRR!!!" The Earth is being lifted by Professor Lukas.
"Woah!!!" Everyone gasps, as...
"A RACE!" All of you have your dragons in the Juvenile stage, so flight is unavailable to most. But... You have your Bond Skills. Allowing you to enhance your capabilities, even fly with wings! I am sure you all learned such techniques when you attended your classes." Janus said, as most nodded. Some, however, don't have flight due to their dragons having no wings.
"The field around is filled with mana." Janus swipes his hand, as mana shoots up in the skies, and rains on the area.
"Of which blocks you from going outside the boundaries. Keep in mind you cannot fight other students BUT you can throw them off! But that will also deduct points from your score." Janus explained, as many students nodded.
'I got this! Me and Buddy trained for months! We can't disappoint our family!' Jacob thinks to himself,
'This has to have some sort of catch.' Spoke a promising Diamond Rank Dragon Rider, the girl with long white hair, almost silver. Her eyes are pink as she wears extremely elaborate but simple clothing. If she wears it while training, she can wear it here too.
This is one of the members of the unofficial Big Five. A group of active, Diamond Rank Dragon Riders. (HUGE Retcon)
Since June, these five Dragon Riders have fought to uphold their spot in the society of the academy. They're praised, sought after, and...
"Isn't that-"
"It is!" Many immediately spot the five.
"It's the five Dragon Riders! Diamond Rank, the strongest in the school!" They explained, but...
"No... I heard there was someone more impressive than that..." Another from a guild is seen.
Guilds work by sending (Retcon?) Dragon Riders are out to fight monsters. They tend to be weak, Gold at best. But today is the day...
'I can feel it! I know one of these kids has to have some desire to join one of our guilds!' The (Retcon) Order, however, always scouts for Dragon Riders. These people would then travel around and become protectors of the kingdom. But rarely do the strongest guilds ever exist in the Castalix Kingdom. Like the Big Five, these are the BEST guilds. They hunt creatures beyond the scope of a normal dragon's power. The weakest being Gold Rank, the strongest... The strongest are Platinum Rank, at the low level, or the strongest Diamond Rank.
These five guilds became an army in their own right, but never were called into battle due to their importance in ensuring the monsters are wiped out, their population under control, and to bring their bodies for directing many of their parts. The meat for eating, skins for clothing, accessories, and their organs hold some value in medicines.
Many people eat this food, but unfortunately, the 5th Circle, before Cale interfered, never ate the food the guilds brought. These foods were put in storage and dried for further use. They kept it ALL, making bigger storage for them. But once Cale got involved, the hogs had to give up a ton of it, which was a LOT of meat just being kept. Some even expired, and the 5th Circle finally obtained food to eat. This helped in crop production and allowed them to have more children and live better lives. This decreased survivability rate, production, and everything.
But unfortunately, this made these businesses despise the 5th Circle. As if they did nothing for them, a LOT of the crops are from the 5th Circle and due to the increase of crop production bakeries and other jobs became a thing in the circle.
'When I get scouted... I'm going to make full use of it.' Thinking to himself, Janus explained much more...
"Remember, students. Play fair! NOW! LET'S GET THE MIDTERM UNDER WAY!!!"
'8 entire months...' Ashter smirked,
'Let's do this, Bismuth!'
***
The Midterm was underway, as many scouts from the Order and various guilds watched.
"As expected, one of the top students of the academy is capable beyond years." Spoke one, as the same silver-haired girl wields a sword, cutting obstacles in her way. Many of the students used their Bond Skill to form weapons, as they can't fly or use the skill in intricate ways until their dragon matures.
"Tsk!" Ashter, however, was growing frustrated; students purposefully blocked his way, sending boulders in his path,
"BRAM!" A punch smashes the rocks,
'I can't use my Bond Skill to fly, requested by Janus... But this is ridiculous!' Ashter growls to himself, as...
"Krnk!" His gun is aimed...
"Wrrmmmppp!" It charges and...
"POWHN!" It fired, as...
"BAM! BAM! BAM! WHACK! WHAM!" It hits plenty of the obstacles, causing the students to grow horrified, as...
"See ya." Ashter passes them, causing the students to snap back to reality.
"Who's the kid with that gun?" Some of the scouts grew curious,
"It's weird to see such a powerful attack..." They go through-
"!" And their eyes widened,
"P-P-Platinum Rank!?!" They soon recognized Ashter's rank.
"How didn't you know this kid was Platinum Rank!?!"
"W-Well, you told me to organize them by their homeland! H-He's the only 5th Circle resident, s-so-!"
"He's...!" Their eyes widened,
"Hup!" Using mana, he enhanced his speed.
"!?!" The other student's own eyes widened,
"!" Even Janus' own eyes widened,
"He's capable of doing this?" He's surprised, none of the reports show he-
"... Hehe... I am so ignorant." Talking to himself...
"What is it, Janus?" Lola wondered, sitting amongst her colleagues...
"Don't you remember, Lola? That kid has personal tutors and access to the Royal Archives! He must've learned a few things from books!" Fran explained,
"Books... Yes, of course. I completely forgot about that."
"But it isn't simple. Unless... It's the perks of being a Platinum Rank. Normal dragons from Bronze to Diamond... Of course!" Lukas had a VERY humble reminder!
"Of course! The mana difference! Bronze Rank Dragons have so little mana that it takes longer to learn how to utilize it! While Diamond Rank Dragons go through a similar cycle, they have more mana to work with! THIS is why he's... This is why he's capable of such feats!" Lukas was writing this down,
"Yes... Because he has a Platinum Rank Dragon... He is capable of things beyond the normal growth of a dragon!"
"!?!" The girl's eyes widened,
"H-How in the-!" She didn't think...
"!" But soon, a platform is seen. Or multiple.
"We have to-"
"HMPH!" Soon, the girl jumps.
'I am not going to be beaten by him.' She thinks...
'Even if he has the Platinum Rank.' She was a Diamond Rank.
"Hm..." But soon a man is seen, a lot older but definitely young. Seems his work took a toll on his physical appearance.
Sean Lionheart. The leader of the Lionheart family.
"Good, June. Don't disappoint us just because he got lucky." He said, as the girl's name...
Was June Lionheart.
"!" But Ashter noticed...
"A red and black blade? It's like Blackfire's scales." Ashter said, as he jumped-
"HNG!" But like most, he lagged behind.
"!?!" His eyes widened,
"Hell no...!" He jumps, he enhances his body with mana, becoming beyond human strength. It's only until a dragon fully matures could someone use their mana without issues, but Ashter did it far earlier due to his mana being insanely high and concentrated. So, with some struggles, he managed to put it to use.
"Hng!" He was halfway-
"Hmph!" Another comes by,
"Jacob!?!" Ashter's eyes widened,
"Sorry, Mr. Lake!" Jacob apologized, as gusts rushed around, as above...
"It's the 4th!" Spoke others, as the 4th of the Big Five is on winds, being pushed along as if nothing is going on.
"!?!" This ticked Ashter off even more.
'HOW ARE THEY GETTING PAST ME!?! ME OF ALL PEOPLE!' Furious, he-
"!!!" He remembered something...
Light Refraction
It makes light pass through one medium entirely. It's an armor piercing move that, due to Bismuth's strength, is beyond the ones that came before.
Light Reflection
By bending light in a certain way, that light can travel via these things that reflect it.
'If I concentrate...' Ashter thinks, as his mana spreads out.
'When I shoot, I make invisible platforms... If I coat myself in the Light Refraction, making my body into "light"....' Continuing...
"Hm!" Opening them...
"...!!!" Everyone gasps, as Ashter WALKS in the air!?!
"Haha!" Ashter was amazed at himself,
"W-What the hell!?!" Gabriel from earlier chapters is horrified,
"H-How in the...!?! Wasn't his skill Light Refraction and Reflection!?!" He remembered clearly... He, a Diamond Rank, and the 5th of the Big Five... Embarrassed and defeated by a mere 5th Circle peasant.
"Tch!" He needed to get stronger to bypass whatever THIS thing is!
"!!!" June's eyes widened, but she kept looking forward,
"You're fast for someone who uses no mana!" Ashter said,
"Of course. Mana isn't the only power in this world." June responds,
"Hm? Do tell, Ms. June! I'd love to know!" Ashter asked, as they continued running, seeing the finish line, the place they started.
"No way in hell. It's a Lionheart secret." Denying him...
"Hmph!" She slashed the pillars,
"PEW!" Shots fired, as the pair were somehow even!
"That sword is pretty strong! Feels like a strong dragon's own scales are made from it!" Ashter smirked,
"It's too expensive for a 5th Circle resident to comprehend."
"Ouch! Well, this "5th Circle Resident" here knows his stuff! I can write and read, even do math, so you can suck it!" Ashter smirked as he leapt into the air.
"!!!" June's own eyes widened...
***
Long ago, mana flourished as dragons ran rampant. But it's one group of people who used it without the need for dragons. These people are the Lionheart family. Their secret doesn't come from utilizing mana... But using it. Mana can be bent to a Dragon Rider's will, so when the age of 13, dragon's blood of the highest quality is tattooed onto the person's body, their body is coursed with mana, and it enhances their body and gives their internal body access to mana. It flows through their veins yet never leaks, enhancing their physical body beyond normal human capabilities.
This is the Lionheart secret, and with their Draconic Weapons, they're machines.
Then June gained access to external mana from her dragon. Fate made her into a machine of mass destruction. Her dragon acts as a ranged fighter, and June acts as a melee fighter. They know what to do and what not to do.
She doesn't need the dragon, and vice versa. But together they're unstoppable.
June is just lucky she got such a dragon who understands the art of war. After all, many dragons take after their owner soon after birth/marking them.
***
"Huff..." June breathes a bit, as her pink eyes glint, as throughout her body, the muscles are fueled with mana.
"Hnnnnggg..." Her muscles bulk a bit, as...
"BOOM!!!" She is seen dashing at insane speeds,
"!?!" Ashter, who feels something coming to him...
"What the-!"
"WOOSH!!!" Dashing past him...
"WOAH!?!" Everyone's eyes widened, gasping even, as June's boots scraped on the floor, as if an engine, she stopped and breathed a bit.
"Hehe..." Sean smirked,
"That's my girl." He said, as June continued to breathe.
"Hng..." But she felt a bit of pain, as due to this tattoo being relatively old, around 5 years since then, her body, being frail and fragile, can't handle the full extent of it, unlike men.
"You'll learn in due time, June." From the chair, Sean can only say this to her.
"In time... You'll learn."
"What..." Coming in second... Ashter can only see everyone chanting June's name.
"How...?" Completely winded, Ashter just can't figure it out...
He felt something... But it was faint... But that faint signature provided incredible results.
"It's as if... As if a dragon was flying past me..." Saying that to himself... More and more finish the race. Many of which were amongst the best of the students. From around (Possible retcon) 50 students in the 1st year...
Only 25 could pass.
***
"Hm..." The king sits, unsure of how to explain the situation he was presented with.
"A-Ah..." Cale was shocked...
"W-What did that girl do!?! How did she... Did she use the Bond Skill? No... She controlled her mana but... But-"
"It's simple, Cale." The man sighed,
"It was... A process done long ago, where the Lionheart family harvested the deceased dragon's blood. This blood lasted for centuries but is used to amplify a Lionheart by tattooing it on their body. That grants their internal body mana like that of a dragon. That... It is the secret to the Lionheart's strength. It's only a relief that they're loyal to us." The king explained, as Cale looked on...
"Poor Ashter..." She said,
"He got 2nd place!!!" But Zariah was SCREAMING with joy, as the man only calmed her,
"P-Please, Zariah. Not in front of the kid." He explained, as despite Ashter being unable to see them... He wished that he didn't get spotted, as the man was highly against her working the brothels but having another man, who knows what he'll think.
"... You're right. Calm down, Zariah." She breathes,
"Sigh..."
End of chapter 10.