The Tests

Inside the crystal ball.

The world was plain and filled with nothing but grass. Standing in the middle of the grass was Clinton.

"Welcome, challenger," an old voice said.

"Um, hello?" said Clinton, unsure of what to say. He looked around but couldn't see anyone.

[You don't have to reply. This is just a recording and he won't hear what you say.]

<Oh, okay.>

"Behind you, challenger."

Clinton turned around and saw an old man with his hands behind his back. <System, if he was a recording, how did he know to tell me to turn around.>

[... Um, it's recorded. It was just set so that he would appear behind the test taker.]

<Oh?> Before Clinton could say anything else to the system, the old man spoke again.

"The Nine-tailed Empire is currently in need of help. You must pass this series of tests to be qualified to help the empire. You can use anything at your disposal, except for consumable items that have limited uses. Do you understand?"

10 seconds of silence later.

"Maybe I wasn't loud enough and you didn't hear me. I asked, do you understand?"

"Yes," Clinton answered after a few seconds.

"Good. No I will explain the instructions for the first test. Listen carefully." While the old man was saying that, a few monsters with the body of a lion and head and wings of eagles appeared. "They are griffons, and we, the nine tailed foxes, have been friends with the griffons for millions of years and helped each other through countless times of troubles. Now, however, the griffons are unable to help us this time, for we are facing an unprecedentedly weird danger. They are powerless against the dnager this time, and so they have decided to help us test and see who can be qualified to help us."

"For this test, you must be able somehow move across the this field of grass and reach that tree in the distance under 1 minute with the obstruction of the griffons. Do you understand?"

"Yes," answered Clinton. "But where's the tree?"

"Behind you," the old man said.

Clinton turned around and saw a tree 3 kilometers in the distance. <Strange. I'm pretty sure it wasn't there before.>

"Do you see it?"

"Yes."

"Good. The test begins now."

The griffons reappeared in-between Clinton and the trees. Some tried to blow him away with their wings, while some just dived at him.

<This is going to be easy.>

[How?]

<{Blink}. {Shadow Body}. {Shadow Walk}.> Clinton disappeared and appeared under the shadow of a griffon, and disappeared again, reappearing in the shadow of the tree.

Skill: {Shadow Body} (Level 1 -Max) (Active Skill)

Description: User is naturally affiliated with the shadow element when skill is active. Strength of shadow element skills are increased by 10% and consumption of some specific shadow element skills are decreased. (Only one element body can be active at one time.)

Consumption: None

Cooldown: None

Skill: {Shadow Walk} (Level 1 -Max) (Active Skill)

Description: User can move from one location to another, as long as the user is in a shadow at the start and the end. User's fatigue will increase after use depending on the length the user travels. (Consumption is decreased by a factor of ten with skill {Shadow Body}.)

Consumption: 10 mana per meter.

Cooldown: None

"Okay, I'm done," Clinton said, touching the tree.

The old man appeared in front of Clinton again. "You, was that {Shadow Walk}?"

"Yes, you know about it?"

"Of course I do. It's a strong skill that requires an insane 100 skill points to learn. Although it is costly and has a large consumption, it is a very important skill as it can help you escape dangerous situations, especially since there is no cooldown. You must save all the skill points for 500 levels and not use them. Do to that, not many people have that skill. That skill alone qualifies you to pass the first 5 tests."

<I knew it wasn't a waste to buy that skill.>

[That's only cause you had like 3,000 skill points.]

<... We don't talk about that.>

"Okay, the next test," as the old man said that, large, red, scorpion-like monsters appeared behind him. "These," said the old man, gesturing to the scorpions, "are Flame-fiend Scorpions. Their stingers contain some of the strongest poison, and their shells are one of the strongest defense in this world. Your test is to do at least 50,000 points of damage to all of them in 30 seconds while dodging them attacks. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but I have a question," said Clinton.

"What is it?"

"What is it exactly that your empire needs help with?"

"I am sorry, but I cannot tell you before you pass all the tests."

"Then is there a way for me to directly pass all the tests without taking them?"

"There is."

"What is it?"

"You must have the title of 〖Low-leveled Master〗."

"..." Clinton was speechless.

"Well, if you do't have it, let's start the test."

"Hold up," said Clinton. <Equip title 〖Low-leveled Master〗.>

"Oh, so you do have the title. You should have shown that earlier."

<I would if I knew I could skip the test like that.> Clinton silently retorted in his mind. However, he only said, "I didn't know that."

[Ha. That's called karma.]

<...>

"Well, now you do know. That title is very important. The title represents..."

(Omitting the following few hundred words.)

<What a weird and amazing title it is,> Clinton thought.

"Well, you have passed the test. You will probably arrive at the Nine-tailed Empire in 2 hours. For now, here's your reward." The old man held a bronze medal in his hand, holding it in front of Clinton. "Touching this medal will grant you the title of a Baron in the Nine-tailed Empire."

"Thank you," said Clinton, touching the medal.

[Ding. You have been granted the title of Baron in the Nine-tailed Empire. Fame +200.]

"Next, this is the..."

(Omitting the following few sentences.)

15 minutes later.

"So what exactly is it that you need help with?"