Chapter 34 - Theory Is Key

"I wish for you to participate in this year's Trial By Fire."

The Trial By Fire, a life threatening event that happens once a year. Every year, the Trial is initiated in the well known danger zone known as The Gauntlet. The Gauntlet is a quarantined city that is filled with medium and low level demons. Formerly being a centre for trade,he Gauntlet was once named Nagashima. It enjoyed centuries of growth and prosperity until demons overran the city 50 years ago. Due to this invasion, Haven quarantined the entire city and sealed it off from the outside world, of course after they evacuated all of the survivors they could find.

During the fifty years of occupation, Haven decided to used the city as an exercise ground for students, staying that it would be a good way for all students to gain practical combat experience. As such, since the exercise involved real demons, The Gauntlet became a well known test for so called geniuses to see whether a person can truely survive in a war against demons. Every year, Haven would send 10 teams of 10 students into the gauntlet for an entire week. The usual casualty rate averaged at 40%, serving as an important reminder to students that experience is key.

'Trial By Fire? Oh right, it's that time of the year. The one week trip to hell. I'd rather stay at Haven to be honest, I still have work to do.'

"I am sure Simon would live to participate in the Trial By Fire, but you can't just send him alone. Rules dictate that he should be in a team of 10, so could he at least pick his team?" Michelle asked.

"Ah, yes. Simon, I will allow you to pick your team. Choose wisely, this path is fraught with death and peril. I hope you pick a team that can survive with no deaths."

'You're making this really hard! I don't exactly want my class to die, and I certainly don't want to send people to their deaths! Like goodness sake, there are tier 5 demons in there, do you expect a group of barely rank 4 students to survive a week in their without any deaths? I know that this is a trope where the MC is supposed to awaken their immense power and all, but this costs to much.'

"I am sorry, but I'll have to-"

"I know what you are going to say, so I already picked out a team before you got here, they all agreed with surprising enthusiasm. If you don't want to be the leader, I don't mind, but I still d.e.s.i.r.e for you to participate. You drove a demon to tears a month ago, that is a strange but immensely powerful technique, perhaps if you become accustomed with more demons, you may learn how to better harness your talents." Feng praised as he held out a glass of wine.

'Ah, he must have found out about the demon ape incident.'

"Anyhow, your team has already been selected from members of Lord White's class, we only need your name on the form." Feng calmly spoke.

"You'll find out on the day since you didn't pick!" Feng laughed.

'I forgot he had a annoying sense of humour. Whatever, I guess I'll have to push the class into overdrive.'

"You will be leaving for the Trial in two weeks time. Prepare yourself, I have high hopes for you."

Simon left the room after offering a quick goodbye to both people. He didn't dare to look at Michelle after what Xander had said, feeling rather embarrassed at himself for fainting. Simon didn't d.e.s.i.r.e a physical relationship at this point in time, but he didn't d.e.s.i.r.e to be a monk for the rest of his life. At the very least, he knew there was a time for romance, at that time is not now.

"Bye bye~!" Michelle giggled.

"See you later."

He was a harem author in his last life, something that he would admit to himself. But he was not a guy that gave in to his hormones that easily, he had restraint. It's just what he thought would end up making the novel a masterpiece, and that's what got it the views.

'Trial by Fire, eh? I wonder how that goes...'

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A chance to prove himself had been offered to him on such short notice, the span of two weeks was all he had to prepare. But the call to bring glory to his teacher was one that Jack would never miss. Under Simon, Jack had grown by leaps and bounds, or 'Visions' and 'Ranks'. He went from a mediocre C-class student to one of the most highest achieving students of the lecture group, not due to talent, but purely because of effort. If talent was on a scale of 1-10, Jack could be a 5, just barely a visionary standard individual. He knew he wasn't a genius, but it did not matter now.

'Just do as you're told.' Jack thought to himself as he punched another target into powder.

And that was exactly what Jack did. Whenever he was stuck, he checked the book cabinet that was situated in the auditorium and took out what he needed. Yesterday, Jack took out a blue book on fist arts that didn't have a name. In this book were notes upon notes of 'professor White's' suggestions and explanations, featuring commentary that could be understood by anyone. With the help of the book and the notes, Jack progressed by many steps in the span of a single night. Every single day, one would notice the change in Jack's composure.

'From the conceited bully, to the fiercest learner.'

'Mother, I won't let you down, I will never let my loved ones die again.'

Such were the feelings he had.

"I have a name to claim, and I will only take it once I finish the trial. White."

BOOM

'As Teacher always says,'