Chapter 134: Monstrous Duo, Reappearance

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After Leone's test, various odd talents appeared with the highest being a Level 7 Wind Affinity. With a simple flick of their finger, they were capable of conjuring violent winds reminiscent of a hurricane. 

However, before it could get out of hand, Nivel slashed his hand, dispersing it with Sword Energy, "Very good. There are only two of you left to be tested. You two, who have been chatting all this while, come up and test your comprehension. After that, we'll be done with the basic exams. You all will then move on."

"Ladies first," Apollo gestured to Nadida. Due to the oddity taking place with his eyes, he felt it was best he allowed Nadida to go before him. Something told him he would cause this exam to go haywire as well. After all, what else could it mean for him to understand the inscriptions at such a level.

"Hmm? When did you become such a gentleman, but I'm curious as to how I'll compare to you, so I'll finish my test quickly!" Nadida giggled, before storming up to the stele. With a relaxed expression, she placed her palm on the stele's hand groove.

As she closed her eyes, wisps of fire birthed around her wrists immediately. Additionally, after a short moment, her hair fluttered in the wind with metallic lights emanating from it.

While he witnessed this, Nivel's jaw dropped uncharacteristically, but that was understandable. After all, what Nadida was performing wasn't normal. "S-simultaneous Invocation!" Nivel stammered, lifting his finger incredulously.

Even as he muttered his words, the elements Nadida stimulated continued to increase. From the initial Fire, Wind, and Metal, Lightning and Earth entered the mix. Luckily, before he could suffer a heart attack, the surpises stopped, or at least so he thought.

From Level 2, they all increased in tandem, until finally stopping at Level 7. At the sight of this, most of the present youths could only gape. Not only was this girl talented, but she possessed a monstrous comprehension. Five Affinities—that's how many she resonated with.

"Five Level 7 Affinities… 4 offensive and 1 defensive. SS Rank Spirit Aptitude and perfected Saint Root. This type of talent… you're already a Glory. No that's incorrect… you're one step away from the prerequisites of a Scion," Nivel uttered, taken aback by the situation at hand.

"Mn, this much is to be expected. Those Great Families will soon understand, they aren't the only talent in the world and soon enough… I'll come for the Scions and maybe even the Paragons as well," Nadida declared, filled with unhindered confidence.

"Those are some grand claims to live up to lass. Do you believe yourself capable of breathing life into your aspirations?" Nivel questioned, finding this young girl to be intriguing. Her personality was just as the elements she possessed suggested—straightforward, combative, and unyielding.

"I do," Nadida nodded fervently, before continuing, "This type of comprehension is only just the beginning. Anyway, my test is done, I've fulfilled all my affinities at once. You can test Apollo now," she finished with a giggle, tapping her foot.

As Apollo approached, he nodded to her, "I wasn't aware you were so talented. I thought you were just talkative," he remarked with a smirk.

"Whatever, let me see you beat that," Nadida uttered with a small scoff.

"Maybe," Apollo responded mysteriously. Although he reached the stele, he didn't put his hands on it. Instead, he pondered over the fact he could see the flow of the inscriptions so closely. 

While doing so, he lifted his gaze to match Nivel's. Unlike his expectations, there was no response from Nivel, 'Could it be there's no change in my eyes? If not...then what is taking place?'

Of course, what Apollo didn't know was that the Tainted Temple was doing its job albeit incorrectly. Due to him lacking the Sin to power it, he was unable to use this power properly. If he could, this meager use was nowhere near the height of his capabilities.

"You may begin at any time, you don't need to await my beckon," Nivel disclosed, thinking the youth standing him was awaiting his direction.

"Oh, no I'm just thinking about a few things. What Nadida did was overwhelming, I'm just considering if I'm capable of doing so as well," Apollo responded with a light chuckle.

"Have you ever come in contact with the elements and tried to sense them before?" Nivel inquired .

"Nope, I've never done that. Why?" Apollo returned a question as well. Despite being unfamiliar, he understood he possessed affinities due to the Wyvern. What he didn't know, was that he also drew his affinities from another source.

"Then it is impossible. To perform that feat, you would have needed to familiarize yourself with your identified elements beforehand. Of course, even possessing prior familiarity doesn't take away from the difficulty of actually doing it," Nivel said, before continuing, "Just go at your own pace."

Naturally, Apollo wasn't one to just sit back. Now that Nadida had sparked his interest, he, too, needed to attempt was she did. As such, Apollo made up his mind. 'I'll just familiarize myself now then.'

Shortly after, he closed his eyes, placing his hand in the groove. At first, what he discerned was a jumbled mess, but in a single moment, he found a few instances he was familiar with.

'This warmth...this should be the Fire Element. Ah, this vacancy should be the Dark Element. Hmm, the freedom; the Wind. The solidity; the Earth, that piercing feeling is undoubtedly Metal. I can also feel an unsurpassed lethality… Lightning! Oh, but what is this?'

Before Apollo very eyes, the Dark and Fire Element fused in his mind giving birth to a dark flame. Needless to say, he understood the familiarity of the fusion, 'Hellfire,' he thought to himself.

Meanwhile, on the outside, both Apollo and the stele showed no reaction. What he was doing wasn't comprehending the elements, but instead feeling out their presence. Hence, the lack of response from both.

Nevertheless, this didn't stay that way for long. It started with the Fire Element increasing rapidly first. It went without saying, this was due to the presence of the Infernal Ira Stigmata, Wrath was a Sin that burned all, thus, achieving the pinnacle of flames.

Similarly, the Dark and Wind Element deepened simultaneously. In light of both his familiarity with the Partial Shade Silhouette and Xezym's teachings, his understanding couldn't be compared to its former state. 

To make the Partial Shade Silhouette appear, one had to blend the shadows with the fleeting wind, becoming a phantom. In exchange, he resonated with these affinities effortlessly. 

While Apollo continued, the atmosphere fell silent. A nefarious aura was leaking from his palm but it couldn't be classified as an element but Nivel understood what it was, 'Oh? This boy has an intent. Furthermore, it's the one all soldiers must acquire; murderous intent. Could he already possess the makings of a ruthless soldier? To be so young yet possess this, is surprising.'

Amidst Nivel's shock, Apollo took the exam up another level. Unlike the others, he retained the ability to control his body while still sensing the content of the stele. A smile appeared on his face, "Are you ready? 3...2...1!"

Once the countdown reached one, an explosive shockwave emitted from his body. Every affinity jumped from Level 2 to Level 5 in an instant. Moreover, it continued to steadily climb gaining speed with each comprehension.

"H-holy fuck! How is this possible? Didn't he say he was unfamiliar with the elements?" Nivel muttered. The sight before his eyes was appalling, but when he took a step back and thought about it, it wasn't too astonishing.

After all, this youth before him was capable of both an Empyrean Root as well as SS Rank Aptitude, why would his spontaneous comprehension be lacking. When he realized this, Nivel's eyes glimmered.

'W-wait...is that the Spatial Element? Monster! Now, I really want to see how far he can take these 7 Elements,' Nivel grew ecstatic when he witnesses the spatial distortions taking place around Apollo.

However, Apollo was more surprised by something else.

〈System Alert! The Demon Monarch System has completed its upgrade. For more information, open the interface. Many new options have been added. Additionally, your traits have been condensed into the beginning trait of your race. However, as compensation for the current world, the standard will conform to this world.〉

〈System Alert! All stats have been changed to match your current standards.〉

Due to the message, Apollo was shocked. What weird timing, if the system appeared beforehand, he wouldn't be surprised by his own result. He would have already possessed a general idea of the situation.

Nonetheless, now that the system was back, he felt almost complete. All that was missing was the guidance of Azridan, but he understood it would take time for his soul to properly heal.

Soon enough, his trial came to an end. When he opened his eyes, the first thing that met his eyes was Nivel's astounded expression followed by his loud bellow.