"Oh, I don't think you'll need to explain anything."
Standing at the still sturdy entrance of the Silver Arena, was a 20-something man, looking at me with piercing blue eyes. How long he had been standing there would probably decide if he was a pervery or I was in big trouble, or both. He had a really heavy coat on, which was odd because it was in the heat of August and it was easily 80 some degrees Farenheit outside, and 60 degrees in the base. What was the need for a coat?
Sasha's face immediatly red, not with embarrassment, because her facial exprression only displayed pure, unthrotled fury.
"Samuel...finally arrived to defend your territory hmm...?" Sasha growled through clenched teeth. I was at first confused about what she was talking about, but then the voice of Allister played over in my head.
'"Defeating my sister used to be a skirmish anyone could take part in, until people started dying left and right against her. Since our S rank is far to lazy to get his ass down here and take her out himself, instead he has changed Challenging Meichi into an A Rank mission, which no one has been able to complete."
That's what she was talking about. It was the jackass S Rank.
"Samuel...what are you doing here?" Grace sounded a bit more timid, like she feared the summoner. She and Sasha must have very different perceptions of him.
"I was originally here to take Ms. Wendershelt on her rank up mission, but after seeing this new girl here..I might have to supervise hers as well." He said, looking at Grace and I. Consideringmy current attire, this couldn't leave that spectacular of an impression.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaRoktoZQq
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqa8TLNqk7S
"Examinations! ?" Sasha growled, take a firm step towards Samuel. "My friend just died last night, and there are a group of killers out in the streets of Richmond, and you sir, the North American S Rank, are here for fucking examinations!?" She sounded pissed, and that anger was beginning to transfer over to me. How thick headed is this guy!? Has he not heard the catastrophic news or does he live under a rock? I don't consider the State of Alaska the underside of granite, but you'd think it was!
Samuel stared straight at Sasha, with a straight, calm, unexpressive face. "Oh, I will be getting to the situation regarding Ms. Meichi James, but first, examinations. I need to know who's capable of going on the mission with me. Wendershelt, new girl, come with me."
Grace looked at me, her emerald green eyes looked like they were shaking beneath her glasses. "You can untransform now... it won't be that bad I promise...for you at least." Her voice cracked slightly, you could tell she was nervous.
A loud Pop! sound echoed through the room as I fell to the floor, no longer as the Drakonian Devil, but plain old Scarlet Evans. If those two words could describe me now, that is. I followed Grace, who in turn followed Samuel. He led us to a part of the base that I had never seen before, but that was to be expected.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvm7q9i4Je
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz1c7aeXpK
"He's leading us to the exam hall, it's a smaller verison of the Silver Arena. " Grace whispered in my ear, until Samuel shot an icy glare at her, leading her to cower.
The air was full of tension for the time it took us to get to the examination hall. Several hallways and a flight of stairs later, I was greeted by what looked like a colessuem arena, but more compact. My anger with Samuel's attitude quickly transformed into worry.
"Wait here." Samuel said, holding a hand up to me. He walked over to one end of the arena, and stood there like a RPG boss waiting to be challenged. His voice then raptured through the empty hall again.
"Wendershelt. Take your position and enter battle transformation. "
Grace then scampered to the other end of the battlefield, and closed her eyes. Her breath holding for just a split moment, her voice shattered the silence of the room.
"May my heart guide me through battle! I am Grace, the Serenity Soilder!"
Sheilding my eyes, my vision was overtaken by a now familiar light. Once it dimmed, Grace stood surronded by pink petals. A mix between princess and knight, the long dress she wore was plated with armor. She stood taller now, more sure of herself, but that confidence broke into peices when Samuel too, shouted a transformation mantra.
"I am one with the cold and the storm! I am Samuel, the Blizzard King!"
His armor was scraggly and pointed, and a mask of similar makeup covered his eyes and nose. His voice too, was amplified, as it shout out:
"Grace Wendershelt! Your rank A examination is to defeat me in a skirmish! This is not an option, failure to accept this challenge will result in expulsion from the Society!"
He sounded almost mechanical, and that ran a chill up my spine. Grace quivered for a mere moment, before clearing her throat and letting her voice match his.
"I accept your challenge, Samuel!"
A twisted smirk formed on the uncovered portion of the S Rank's face, as he continued on with his before exam speech. "The only rule is that no fatal blows shall be doneto either summoner, and the first one unconscious is the victor. If the challenged one is victorious, they will rank up. If the challengeris victorious, then the rank of the challenged will remain the same. Ready, set, Match!"
The moment the word "Match" left Samuel's mouth, a handful of small buttons appeared in Grace's palm. She touched the set with her other hand, muttering to the point barely audible "I summon the Guild Polaris!"
One by one, a set of figures appeared on the battlefield, each of which I seemed to recognize. A Fortress, a Runemaster, a Medic, an Imperial, and a Bushi. A full Etrian Odyssey guild. It actually seemed to be a sound strategy. I would've be able to see it in action as well, if the rest of the battle hadn't been such a blur. I had quickly blinked, and now I had found Grace out of transformation, and collapsed on the floor. I gasped and tried to run over for help, but I seemed to be locked in place.
Samuel walked over to the collapsed summoner, dragging out each and every step towards her, scowling as if she were scum of the earth.
"How many attempts does this one make, Wendershelt?" His voice was harsh, he almost sounded disgusted.
"...3..." Grace muttered, still trying to regain her breath.
"You understand that there's onlyonly so many times you can be examined, correct?"
"Yessir..."
"WELL THIS IS THE LAST GODDAMNED TIME!" Samuel's voice went from a soft whisper to a infuriated shout in no time at all, and I could see Grace flinch. Hell, I did too. Samuel wasn't to stop there, however , oh no. "I have no fucking clue how you even got past Rank C, Wendershelt! Your far to passive! I don't use this word often, honey, but you are, essentially weak. I saw you cower! Do you think Meichi would've pitied you? Of course not! Your guts would have been splattered across the floor if I had been Meichi! I simply cannot have you in my ranks, Wendershelt. "
"Please give me another chance, Samuel..! I'll train extra hard, I promise! " Was Grace, crying? I shook in fury in my locked location. I was so ready to beat that fucker up. How could he be saying things like this?
"I've given you two chances, Wendershelt, and both times you've dropped like a fly. These words will be leaving my mouth for the first time as a S Rank, and I pray to all creation that it will be my last- Grace Wendershelt, you have been expulsed from the Summoner's Soceity. If you could please hand over your items-" I was about to break guy's face in, but before he could finish, I heard the sound of something exploding.
BTOOM!
A dust cloud swarmed through the examination hall , I saw a small female figure, clasping some sort of ring. When I heard the voice, I knew we were in big trouble.
"I am the stars, the sky, and all of the heavens. I am Meichi James, the War Angel. "348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcblVGspaAl
and then Add to home screen.