Chapter 153: Great Treasure
Even though everyone now knew there was a fifth faction, and even though the young Mages had seen Priam stand out a lot, both in the inscription and while climbing the staircase... why would they want to join his faction, when the others were made up of Super Geniuses born in the Sect?
Besides, Priam clearly wasn’t willing to recruit anyone. He was in an isolated corner, just waiting for time to run out.
When the two hours were close to ending.
Of the initial 12 thousand, three thousand women joined Daraen’s faction. Added to the thousand born in the sect who were already with her, this faction of four thousand was the largest of all.
The other three Super Geniuses selected around two thousand people each. In the end, they had three thousand in their factions.
To complete the count, approximately two thousand Young Mages were completely rejected by the four factions. They tried to enter more than one, but were coldly refused. The answer was the same: they were too weak and would only get in the way of the rest of the group in the short and medium term.
This large group of rejects gave Priam a brief look. But seeing that he didn’t want people, and feeling deeply humiliated by their current situation, they didn’t try to go to him.
They didn’t need a faction right now.
After being accepted as disciples, there were old factions inside the outer sect that could accept them. The only problem was passing this final test, but since there were two thousand of them, they all looked at each other and decided to temporarily join forces.
They had the numbers, but not the power. However, there was no way around it. If they didn’t unite, their chances of surviving the trial would be even lower.
Uswyn finally opened her mouth. "Time is up. The sect’s final trial will begin now. I wish you good luck surviving until the end!"
*BUZZ*
All the space around that plaza began to vibrate.
Suddenly, everything stabilized, and then everyone found themselves in a gloomy valley surrounded by mountains. Ahead of them, there was the only visible open passage.
There was no sunlight, much less vegetation. But the skies were strangely colorful, emitting a glow of seven colors that lightly illuminated the area below.
*RUMBLE!*
Suddenly, a rumble coming from the North shook the Mages.
It didn’t take long for them to see waves of light in seven different colors coming toward them, like ocean waves. The waves were perfectly divided into five colors.
Each color was clearly a different natural element.
"The test has begun. To pass, you must reach the end of the valley. You cannot retreat, so either you win, or you die." Uswyn’s voice echoed in their ears, but they couldn’t see her.
That five-colored wave was slowly approaching and would hit them in a few seconds.
All the young Mages swallowed dryly and clenched their fists.
The level of power coming from that wave was terrifying. They had never felt such a strong sense of mortal danger before.
If they faced that thing alone, their bodies would be completely destroyed in a single second. Possibly, not even a Sage alone could take that head-on.
In other words, to endure it and still advance to the end of the valley, each faction had to work together. Everyone had to help control the elemental power.
It would be like an immense barrier crashing against the elemental power.
But, obviously, each Mage race had a different elemental affinity.
"Come!"
The four Super Geniuses roared, commanding their soldiers.
The four knew perfectly well what to do, because obviously, they already knew about this final test.
Only at that moment did everyone understand that the four hadn’t recruited people just because they liked someone or their talent. They had chosen people with similar elemental control ability.
Everyone in Daraen’s faction were women who could manipulate the water element, or pure Yin subtly. So, Daraen moved them toward the direction of the correct element.
The others did something similar. Walhart moved everyone to the fire side. Sallya to the earth element region. And Inigo to the lightning element.
As for those two thousand rejects... all of them had bitter expressions. They had no unity in elemental control. And even in what they were good at, it was nothing incredible.
The elemental wave quickly approached.
Priam took a deep breath, taking a step in front of his group.
Lumiere and Shione positioned themselves behind Priam, on both sides. Flaris stayed in the center. As for Dandara, she was placed behind Flaris, because that side was the easiest.
**BANG!!**
An intense impact, like a colossal wave crashing against a wall, echoed.
"Attention!"
"AHH!"
Right in the first instant, several young people were killed.
The elemental power was too strong, and even with thousands working together to block it, many couldn’t endure maintaining the blockade. Because of that, the power hit them directly.
That was only in the four factions. As for the two thousand rejected ones...
It was as if an evil calamity swallowed them.
They chose the wave of the earth element, the same one as Sallya and her faction, because earth was a balanced Yin and Yang element. Since everyone in that large group had different affinities, this seemed like a simple choice.
Besides, Sallya and her faction were in front of them, receiving the first impact.
After her faction absorbed the impact, the elemental power moved to the sides, flowing backward.
It wasn’t even 20% of the true force. Even so, almost a third of them died immediately.
The others were terrified.
As for Priam and his army, they moved toward the wave of the wind element and received it without any problem.
There were only five of them... but none of them even frowned.
The reason was that Priam simply dominated 99% of everything in front of him, leaving only a tiny remnant for the others.
"ADVANCE!!!"
The four Super Geniuses gave commands right after the Mages got used to it.
The elemental wave kept hitting them without stopping, as if it were a contest of strength. They were forced to push it forward so they could move ahead.
"!"
At that moment, Priam’s senses caught something incredible farther ahead within that elemental power. His heart sped up, excited.
Suddenly...
"Priam, you little shit! Why don’t you show your strength as a commander? Is this tiny ability all you have?"
Just as Priam was about to order the advance, Daraen’s provoking voice sounded. Even in front of an attack of such magnitude, she didn’t forget to look at Priam.
Although it was already incredible that only the five of them were fine, they were standing still in place, while everyone else had already begun advancing.
Even the surviving rejects, after getting used to the first impact, moved forward since they had no choice.
Priam was speechless. Didn’t she have her own problems to deal with? Why was she so obsessed with him?
But being looked down on and targeted like this, if he didn’t act, he wouldn’t be living intensely!
"Since you want to see me shine, then I’ll show you my power."
Priam answered lightly, then turned to those from his clan.
"You got lucky. A great treasure is waiting for us. Let’s go!"
The three roared in response.
"GO!"
At that moment...
All the Elders watching everything from far away widened their eyes.
After all, Priam simply began advancing with calm steps, as if he were walking through a field. And everyone in his group followed close behind him.
"What is happening? How could only five people be alive and well, and still moving?"