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Earth's Greatest Magus – Chapter 22 The Gauntlet

Chapter 22 The Gauntlet

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nVico impaled the spear on the ground and grinned.

"Now, ye soft bones follow me.

"

nThey made their way to the center of the stadium with a door placed on the ground. Vico said while caressing his pointy beard,

"We will contact a test for ye and 'tis divided into two parts. Yer ability in using a weapon or bare hands and an obstacle course.

"

nHe shouted,

"Bring it up, boys!

"

nFrom beneath the door, it opened and spawned a large construct made of wood, iron, and other materials that stretched for over 330 feet (100 meters) in length. It was a marvel of mechanical construction in Emery's beaming eyes, who also liked complex creations.

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"Let me introduce ye to the gauntlet!

" said Vico with a big smile from ear to ear. He added,

"If ye can pass this gauntlet to the end, then ye've passed our first test.

"

nThe construct cranked and started to come alive. It had at least a hundred pikes stabbing from beneath and the side of the walking platform, blades and axes swinging in all directions, spinning mechanisms that had a large bag that would ensure one would fall if got caught and all other manners of traps placed on the various areas of the course.

nThe first year acolytes, including Emery and his friends swallowed hard as the blades, axes, pikes appeared to be live weapons. Some acolytes actually even started walking away from the construct since this gauntlet looked so scary that they couldn't help but think this would be the end of their life. They were first-year acolytes; they weren't willing to waste their lives for this. After all for most of them, this institute of combat was just an extra skill not as important as the other institutes.

nVico simply laughed and didn't care about the acolytes running away.

"Hahaha, of course ye won't die from this course — on yer first try, at least.

"

nFrom the ground behind Vico, hundreds of boxes also spawned out and Vico pulled out an armor that looked like it was made of thick leather. He threw it to a man on his side.

nAfter the assistant finished wearing it, he then proceeded to get on the obstacle, dodged a couple of traps, making his way to the middle and purposely got hit on one of the swinging blades. He was knocked down from the gauntlet and some of the acolytes watching closed their eyes from how loud and hard the assistant had hit the ground. The assistant, however, got back up like nothing had happened and took off the thick leather.

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"This protector is one of our basic magic items made by our small craftsmans. It gives ye limited protection from attacks, but can only be used fer only once,

" Vico explained.

nThe first year acolytes discussed with their friends and didn't appear convinced they could finish this course. There were hundreds of traps after all.

n

"Aside from the gauntlet, ye can take the other test first if ye'd like,

" said Vico at the decreasing crowd of acolytes. He snapped his finger and dozens of small circular fields formed around them.

nThe circle was 33 feet(10 meters) in diameter, and in the center was a wooden puppet with hands, legs, and all with the size of the average youth, around 5 ft 4 inch(163 centimeters) in height.

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"Tis' 'ere is the main training equipment our institute provides to all ye soft bones. Ye all could fight with tis' puppets all ye want and learn as much as ye can. If ye managed to defeat the wooden puppets, the better,

" Vico said. Then a giant cube floated in the middle of the field and a list of names appeared.

n1. Damien – acolyte rank 3 – level 6

n2. Tori – acolyte rank 3 – level 6

n3. Vida – acolyte rank 4 – level 5

n4. Zurui – acolyte rank 3 – level 5

n

n5. Axel – acolyte rank 2 – level 5

nDespite hundreds had already run away after Vico's demonstrations of the institute's equipment, there were thousands first year acolytes names listed in the ranking who had taken wooden puppet combat test in the first three days.

n

"Tis' board here is the results of the rankings of those who have fought against the wooden puppets for the first time. Whichever of the two tests ye'd like to take, do what ye want. The ranking board, mind ye, is the real kicker in being selected as a disciple for one of the combat magi. They be selecting their disciples 'till nightfall arrive. Ohh, they seem to be 'ere,

" said Vico, looking at the five men who had just arrived. Most of them were also large people like Vico, except for the one on the furthest left appeared to be slender.

nEmery watched as the five combat magi made their way to the podium located on the side of the stadium. The one who had a slender body seemed to have noticed Emery's stare and Emery started to feel a heavy pressure bearing down on him before disappearing on the next second.

n

"Hey, you okay, Emery?

"

nEmery twisted his neck to see who it was that spoke and found Chumo looking at him. He asked,

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Chumo.. I hardly heard you speak.

"

n

"That… well… how should i say this.. actually I get too nervous when speaking if there's a women around… and Klea's… She's scary…

" Chumo answered, slightly shaking his head.

n

"…

"

nVico's booming voice drowned out Emery's and Chumo's discussion.

"The gauntlet and fighting wooden puppets, 'tis two will be yer tests for today and ye all can start whenever ye like!

"

n

nRemaining hundreds of acolytes dispersed and made their way to their preferred test. There were only a few that walked toward the obstacle and the wooden puppets were the more popular choice.

nThrax was cracking his fist and was raring to give the wooden puppets a good beating.

"Alright! Action! I'll imagine those Kalios pigs as these wooden puppets and beat them up real good!

"

nHe entered the circle and a list of items appeared in front of him and he unhesitantly chose a spear. The wooden puppet sprang to life and a wooden spear appeared on both him and the wooden puppet.

nThrax got into position with the spear above him and so did the wooden puppet. A countdown appeared in Thrax's vision.

n3…2…1… Fight!

nThrax let out a loud shout as he thrust the spear straight to the wooden puppets chest. It missed as the wooden puppet jumped to the side but Thrax was expecting that and he spun toward the wooden puppet direction and punched it on the face, felling it to the ground, before impaling its chest with the spear.

nThe wooden puppet stopped moving and a tiny light like a floating dew seemed to have exited the wooden puppet's broken body and entered Thrax's chest.

ncomplete level one combat puppet – reward received

nThrax breathed out as his muscles tightened. He checked out his status and said,

"Oh wow! My battle power has gone up by one!

"

n

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Chapter end

<<Prev
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Catalogue
Chapter 1 Magus Academy
Chapter 2 Emery
Chapter 3 The Lioness
Chapter 4 The Princess
Chapter 5 The Dream
Chapter 6 Half Blood
Chapter 7 The Raid
Chapter 8 Magus Class
Chapter 9 The Universe
Chapter 10 The Elements
Chapter 11 A Person's Talent
Chapter 12 Shocking Result
Chapter 13 Institutions
Chapter 14 Uniform
Chapter 15 Reality
Chapter 16 Day One
Chapter 17 Stone of Origin
Chapter 18 Stronger than Yesterday
Chapter 19 Enough
Chapter 20 A Fight
Chapter 21 Path of Combat
Chapter 22 The Gauntlet
Chapter 23 Wooden Puppet
Chapter 24 Level Up
Chapter 25 Trembling
Chapter 26 Choices
Chapter 27 Water Element
Chapter 28 Droplet
Chapter 29 Elder's Respite
Chapter 30 Moon Clover
Chapter 31 Deep Marsh
Chapter 32 Senior Acolyte
Chapter 33 Spoils
Chapter 34 Entangle
Chapter 35 Run Away
Chapter 36 Eyes Opened
Chapter 37 Mortal Enemies
Chapter 38 Orcs
Chapter 39 Live saving Items
Chapter 40 Euphoria
Chapter 41 Silva
Chapter 42 Shadow
Chapter 43 Last Day
Chapter 44 Compensate
Chapter 45 Golden City
Chapter 46 Path of Crafting
Chapter 47 Contribution
Chapter 48 Incomplete
Chapter 49 Proposal
Chapter 50 Rare Spells
Chapter 51 Supreme Magus
Chapter 52 Oath
Chapter 53 Just a Number
Chapter 54 Restriction
Chapter 55 Return
Chapter 56 Marauders
Chapter 57 First Kill
Chapter 58 Druid
Chapter 59 Herbs
Chapter 60 Chumo
Chapter 61 Julian
Chapter 62 Thrax
Chapter 63 Klea
Chapter 64 Fragmentation
Chapter 65 Concoction
Chapter 66 On the Road
Chapter 67 Tribute
Chapter 68 Marke
Chapter 69 My name is
Chapter 70 Hide in the Darkness
Chapter 71 Surrounded
Chapter 72 Swordsman
Chapter 73 Her Duty
Chapter 74 Hesitation
Chapter 75 Eerie Silence
Chapter 76 Betrayal
Chapter 77 Ritual
Chapter 78 Rage
Chapter 79 Dying
Chapter 80 Pure Energy
Chapter 81 Breakthrough
Chapter 82 Spirit Core
Chapter 83 Core of Darkness
Chapter 84 Invitation
Chapter 85 Favors
Chapter 86 Portal
Chapter 87 Beggars
Chapter 88 The Stronges
Chapter 89 Quintin
Chapter 90 Ques
Chapter 91 Silhouettes
Chapter 92 Standing Alone
Chapter 93 Downstream
Chapter 94 Negotiate
Chapter 95 Indebted
Chapter 96 Morgana
Chapter 97 The Village
Chapter 98 Lady of the Lake
Chapter 99 The Fey Sisters
Chapter 100 Warrior Trial
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