Match Start

It had been a few hours since the start of the trials, many kids stepped onto the stages in the center.

But the biggest stage in the middle was occupied by a golden haired warrioress who took on a mid-ranked beast, a fairly strong beast.

Sigrun had been on stage for a little over an hour fighting these beasts, one after the other.

This was her fifth mid-ranked beast since she stepped on stage and she didn't use much effort to kill these beasts.

Though she had used more of her stamina than she ever had as she moved around the beasts blind spots and striking their legs and eyes, weak spots.

The beast roared as it turned towards her with its right paw up, aiming to slash her with its claws.

To which Sigrun calmly but swiftly rolled forward in time dodging the beast's claw and swung her spear upwards against the right side of the beast's belly.

*shiik*

She heard the hide of the beast rip as her spear tip cut through.

She felt the weight of her spear increase as her slash against the beast's hide gave resistance.

"KUGHHHH!"

But she exploded with more power, and pushed on with more of her strength as her spear slashed all the way cutting deeper before the spear blade finally lessened in weight and exited the beast's hide.

*KRAAAAGGGHHHH*

A bellowing roar and whine came out of the beast as it turned towards her again in fear and anger before slashing out with its left paw.

Sigrun expected the attack, no matter how hurt or cornered beasts are they would always keep up with constant ferocious attacks.

Unless they flee.

But the situation was different for the beasts, they were already anxious when they were captured and taken from the mountains but now they were surrounded by an endless sea of enemies, yet they were fighting fledglings.

So even though they were trying to devour these kids, they were still wary of their surroundings and are less predatorial.

*TINK*

The Asgardian metal rung as Sigrun stabbed the sharp end of it on the concrete stage.

"Come! Beast, taste my fury!" Sigrun stood, she smiled victoriously as she picked up her spear.

Stones made way as a small hole was left on the concrete from the spear's blade.

The movement of the beast was ragged as it tried not to irritate the injury on its right body made from Sigrun.

The beast growled as it suddenly ran towards Sigrun, which then pounced towards her in the air.

Sigrun's smile widened more as she bent her knees, stabbed the blunt end of her spear on the ground, on the hole she made earlier to be specific just as the beast jumped towards her.

She then pointed the spear tip towards the falling beast.

As the beast realized this it panicked and started waving its limbs as if trying to stop in the air, but it was too late.

*KAASHIING*

As Sigrun held the spear, the beast fell directly on top of the tip as it stabbed under its jaw.

The beast whined in pain as it used it's lasting consciousness to try and back off of the spear, but Sigrun wasn't gonna let that happen.

"HAAAAAHHH!!"

Sigrun shouted with all her might as she firmly gripped the spear and pushed onto the beast further as it came out on top of the beast's head.

She raised her spear higher as the front part of the beast was raised, its eyes rolled upwards as it died in the hands of Sigrun.

"GAAAHHH!!" She screamed as she swung the blade with difficulty and threw the beast towards the center of the stage.

She then slammed the blunt end of her spear on the ground before raising it victoriously.

"HAAAAAAAAA!!" She screamed out in satisfaction.

The crowd cheered as ale and meat were passed around.

For most of these people, they were just seeking entertainment.

But some came here to witness the future, for someone like Sigrun, Hilda and Kara have the reputation of being mighty in the Junior Academies.

Meaning they have the chance of being Asgard's most powerful warrior's in the future.

They may not be as strong as Ysmir, who holds the reputation of being the strongest in their district besides the adults and Senior students, but they were definitely not far.

After a few moments of shouting victory and such, Sigrun made another request for a beast towards Lord Logros.

To challenge a High-Ranked beast, a Mighty beast.

This amped up the crowd as they made more noise.

Any one of these adults who passed their twentieth name-day ceremony could knock out any one these beasts with either little effort or with a single strike.

But it was different for the kids on stage now, as it was a challenge for them and so the æsirs enjoy challenges from mightier beings, or to watch challenges themselves.

Just as Lord Logros accepted Sigrun's request, another beast was brought to the stage. One that was as big as an elephant and as durable as iron with its hard scales.

Sigrun focused on the beast, she had to give her all for this one.

"She is skilled, she will be a great warrior in due time." Roknos commented.

"Of course, teach. But not just your usual warriors of Asgard, they will fill the gaps in areas Asgard wouldn't be able to reach." Ysmir responded.

As unlike the usual brute of an æsir, the three girls followed a different path than that of pure strength or sorcery.

Balance, leverage, precision.

If used right, it could counter both power and speed in most cases.

The style they have could very well be used similarly like martial arts and close combat arts.

It could really change Asgard for the better if the people ever decide to put away their pride and look towards various cultures other than their straightforward habits.

"I'm going." Ysmir spoke as he stood up.

With some work he was able to take the weighted cuffs off his wrists and ankles as they dropped onto the boat with a heavy thud.

The power he felt earlier increased, he felt light and heavy at the same time.

Light movements but with heavy force behind it.

During the last three days he could ignore the pain and strain that the cuffs caused while also getting used to a small bit of the weight.

The æsir body could adapt quickly to physical strain it seems.

And so without the cuffs he felt his strength, his power that has been limited for a long time now, FREE.

Free without restraints.

And to add to that, he got more than a little boost from the warrior's stone in his…mind?

The increased strength from the stone felt like it had doubled his might, though the five vætt cuffs still had the weight but he could move as easily as if he didn't have it.

His instincts, senses, movements seem to bud out like it was spring.

If he had to guess correctly, and he hopes he was right, then his strength and reaction time might have been doubled.

This was an amazing discovery.

He was this strong because he merely touched a stone with an image of a warrior?

What would happen if he went back and touched the sorcerer's stone? Would his strength go back to normal? And his desire to learn more magic increases once more?

Ysmir breathed out, calming himself.

"You feel it, boy?" Roknos asked aloud. "Your might without restraint? How does it feel?"

"It feels astonishing." Ysmir turned to his teacher. "Thank you, teacher. For crafting these amazing devices."

Though most of his gratitude was aimed at the two stones somewhere out in the dark, he was still thankful to his teacher.

And though their teacher and student relationship hasn't been for long, he was still able to progress thanks to the pointers and protection of Roknos.

But it's only the beginning, they literally have thousands of years to progress further.

Roknos nodded as he grabbed something wrapped in cloth under one of the boat seats.

"Here."

"What is it?" Ysmir grabbed onto it and felt the weight, most likely 5 vætts as well, but after having that weight in his four limbs and the strength boost from the warrior's stone, a lonely 5 vætts is as light as a pebble.

Ysmir uncovered it to stare at the beauty he was holding.

A double-headed ax over 5 feet with the blades over 15 inches wide and 14 inches in height.

All metal, though there was leather wrapped around the handles and nordic patterns all over the ax.

"Beautiful." He continued to stare.

"All students have gained a weapon of their choice days past, as you were busy I requested for one that suits you."

"So this is mine?!" Ysmir asked excitedly.

The fact that children who turn 16, who crave to be warriors or sorcerer's would receive a weapon of their choice.

That's how it has always been.

In fact, those who aspire to be warriors and sorcerer's would receive gifts at a certain age.

A student graduating at Undergrade Academy at 10 years old would receive a bracelet, one specifically worn at the biceps to show their achievements and such.

Junior Academy graduates at 16 are gifted their very own Asgardian weapons, which will be personally owned and conveniently used for the entrance trials to the Senior Academy.

While Senior Academy students at 19 would be given their own armor.

Though depending on how well you do in the Academies, one can receive better equipment than the rest.

The bracelet he received was shining gold, showing he was the most wise and comprehensive in Undergrad Academy.

While the Axe he had was great, it was forged by the specific request of Lord Roknos, a warrior only under King Bor himself.

Meaning it was better than what he would have gotten if it was a request from the Junior Academy.

He swung the axe with one hand as if it didn't weigh 5 vætts, then with two hands.

Using all his strength he could feel the heavy resistance of the air, meaning he was swinging so hard and fast that even the air couldn't keep up. At least that's what he was thinking.

"I'm going down, I'll be back, teach." Ysmir looked down for an open stage.

There were about ten small stages and the big stage in the middle.

The big stage was more so for the bigger beasts and top mighty and skilled students.

He was able to see a small stage that was occupied, but the student on it was having a hard time going up against a Fairly strong beast.

Now most of these students have never touched a real weapon in their lives until a few days ago, let alone fighting beasts. The instructors in the Academies might have trained them their whole life but it still wasn't enough for these ferocious beasts.

The student on stage faced a beast that looked like a giant brown gorilla with long tusks on its head and a long thick tail.

The student on the other hand crouched as he struggled to catch his breath, his hands and arm feeling numb due to the weight of his greatsword.

It felt like just hitting something drained his energy more than it should, and he wondered if this is what real fighting is like.

The beast walked forwards towards him with his heavy footsteps.

"Come, I will smite you down if it must be the last thing I do!" The student yelled with vigor even though he was full of bruises.

*GGRRRAAAWWRRRR*

The beast began to rush towards him.

*SWOOSH*

*KLING*

An asgardian Axe flew in between the two contenders and stabbed onto the concrete stage as both the contenders and some of the crowd looked towards where the axe came from.

"Is that…?!"

"THAT'S YSMIR!!"

"THE MIGHTIEST OF OUR GENERATION!!"

"He finally came."

The students shouted in excitement, though many of them either haven't gone up stage yet or didn't have good results, they would still want to see a great battle from strong people in their generation.

And though Ysmir was considered the strongest in their district, many of them still believe that he was the strongest in their generation.

Even among the other two districts in Asgard, such things would give them pride.

And if it was proven true in the future than that was even more honorable to have walked the same academy with a future warrior.

The crowd focusing on the stage and near stages also cheered, they knew well who Ysmir was and what he represented.

Ysmir dropped from the boat near the stage as he walked up to the stage with his head held high, it was embarrassing for him with all the attention and such but he had to keep up appearances.

The slab that Lord Logros sat on floated to the stage and looked down with a smile.

"I see you have arrived, young Ysmir."

"Lord Logros?! What are you doing here?" Ysmir blurted out confused.

"Am I not allowed here?"

"No no, I was just curious."

"It's good that you've arrived, but do you think your intrusion to a match is acceptable?"

Ysmir and the crowd nearby looked towards the stage, seeing the two on it.

The beast looked wary, and the student frowned. Frustrated that his match was being taken away by Ysmir, the embarrassment of his honor being snatched while everyone watches.

"I just thought I'd help." Ysmir looked at the student. "Don't worry, you'll get a chance at a much higher rank on the second trial."

"I am not done yet!" The student said with gritted teeth.

"Very well, you may go on. Forgive my intrusion." Ysmir said as he jumped onto the stage and took his axe before jumping back down.

'Should have known considering how determined they are to keep fighting until they fall.'