Chapter 196: Unbelievable
Tyr almost couldn't believe the words he was hearing.
"I failed? Is this an evaluation exam... how could I have failed?"
The monk swiftly replied with a stinging tone: "Evaluation or not, it is still an exam. An exam run by me..."
Tyr remained silent as the elder continued:
"It goes according to my rules, and my rules alone." He paused, catching a plum blossom on the tip of his finger.
"However... as an instructor, I still must proceed with the test and have you take your final exam. Just know that even if you catch 20 petals, you will have to stay here for a few months. You will learn non-arrogance and selflessness. After those months, another three-part evaluation exam will come. You will not know the date or time, so you will have to be on your best behavior at all times."
"Can it, you old bag," Tyr abruptly replied with an annoyed tone. From his face, one could tell he was infuriated.
"Selflessness... what a pathetic goal. I don't give a damn about sacrificing myself for everyone else. I want what's mine... what's the best. I want everything to myself." His tone was deep.
The monk ignored Tyr.
'Who does he think he is? Even if he collects 30 damn petals in one week, that is still five shy of the highest ever collected within that time span. I even tested the current Grand Sovereign of the Ten High Peak Faction, who got 35 petals in one week.'
The monk changed the topic: "Begin your third and final task..."
Tyr frowned.
'Like hell I'm going to stay here for months. I don't give a damn; I'm getting out of here whether this old cunt likes it or not. Even if I have to take his head... I'm not going to be stalled like this.' He gritted his teeth.
'I'm the Dragon Tamer... continents across the world want my well wishes. I'm sure I'm worth more to this faction than a lying old geezer.'
Tyr turned, walking toward the plum blossom tree.
The elder was slightly confused by this.
'Hmm? He's missing the petals that are falling... why is he walking toward the tree? Is he going to hit it to get even more petals to fall? That's not necessary... there are already plenty of petals falling down.'
'Soul Mend: Polaris Tiger.' Tyr's body transformed accordingly.
He arrived three feet away from the trunk of the tree before swinging his leg around, pivoting on his heel, and slamming the middle of his shin right into the tree.
In one kick, the tree was broken in half. The vibrations of shock sprawled across the branches, releasing hundreds of petals into the air.
The elder monk's jaw fell to the floor in shock. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"W-what in tarnation!?" he raised his tone.
Tyr took a step back, de-transforming as he took in a deep breath.
Raising his hand, he pointed his index finger toward the sky.
The monk began to count how many petals rested on Tyr's finger...
'1... 2... 3... 4...'
Tyr moved, following the pattern of the wind around him.
'5... 6... 7... 8...'
It looked like a dance, how Tyr was effortlessly capturing every petal with ease.
It looked as though Tyr already knew where the petals were going to be. This was even more evident as the monk saw how Tyr's eyes were closed half of the time.
'12... 13... 14...'
Tyr danced across the field, not missing a single petal whilst managing to flawlessly balance all of them.
'20! 21... 22... 23... 24... 25... 26... 27...'
At that moment, the monk's face contorted with disbelief.
'He's... not struggling at all. What in the world am I witnessing?'
'30... 31... 32...'
Without warning, Tyr began to move even faster. So far, he had only been testing whether or not he had 100% mastered the wind and petal formations.
Now that he was certain of his ability, he wasn't scared to go all out.
He began to catch so many petals that the monk could barely keep up—stunned with bewilderment.
'38... 42... 56...'
A smirk appeared on Tyr's face after he glanced at the monk's shit-faced look.
'78... 99... 115...'
The counting continued until Tyr finally stopped out of nowhere.
The young man exhaled, staring up at the enormous tower of petals all balanced on his finger as he said:
"How disappointing... it looks like my stack has grown taller than the tree itself. I could have continued had it not been the shortness of that tree standing in my way."
The monk was speechless.
'301... 301 petals... more than 30 feet of length stretching into the air.'
Tyr allowed the petals to drop. The leaves drifted, floating their way over to the monk before slowly showering him.
'A... a god,' the monk thought for a second as he stared into Tyr's eyes.
'Has a god graced this planet?'
Tyr gazed back at him.
"So? Did I pass the last test, at least?"
"You..." The monk was finding it difficult to get his words out even now.
"You pass the exam, young man. You must go to the faction."
Tyr raised an eyebrow with slight confusion.
"What? But I thought you said—"
He was cut off.
"No..." The elder was staring forward with a blank gaze. He was in his head as he spoke.
"I can't possibly stop you from advancing... it would be one of the most foolish decisions of my long lifetime."
Tyr was still a bit confused.
"Huh?"
'I guess I amazed the geezer way more than I thought I would. I mean... it really wasn't that difficult.'
The monk finally gathered his thoughts enough to talk again:
"Wait here..." he said before disappearing behind his cloak.
Tyr breathed out a sigh, relief flushing through his body.
"Well, I can't complain. I was a bit worried there..."
***
The monk summoned into a chair behind a desk, drooping over the table without blinking even once.
"I—I—I can't make sense of it. What in the—argh!" He seemed frustrated.
"Whatever... it's not my job to make sense of it. Miracles happen, I suppose, even at my gray age."
On his desk was a metal band with blue glass connected to one side of it.
He clicked the blue glass as a hologram of another figure popped up above it.
"Yes, Elder Heshang?" the figure spoke.
Heshang replied hastily, his breath slightly ragged and erratic:
"Tyr Evolion has passed the evaluation exam."
"Oh? At record speed I see. He rivals many Peak Captains and even the Grand Sovereign."
"Yes..."
"He must have passed the first two tests with flying colors then... and what about his final petal score?"
"Erm... ahem!"
"..."
"301..."
"..." After a pause, the transparent holograph spoke again:
"Excuse me? I believe that came off wrong somehow. Did you say 301 as his petal score?"
"Yes."
"3—301... wow."
"..."
"Are you sure you haven't miscalculated anything?"
"Do you take me as a fool?"
"No..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Alright then... I shall relay this information to all of the Peak Captains. Thank you for this information."
"..."
"Medium out."
*Click*
The hologram disappeared. Discover exclusive content at мѵʟ