PART 13 :-
SAME WILL SHARE BY WEAK
Erebus perspective :-
The B-rankers completed choosing their weapons. Now it was the C-rankers' turn. Nyx was the first to step forward.
He still looks nervous. I think they're good people.
He stepped into the circle.
"Please... please, let there be a weapon for me!"
A spear appeared. It was longer than a grown man.
"Ahaa… so you are chosen by a spear. It's name is Ithrael, although there is not much information about it. It's also known as 'The Nameless', don't know it's own identity."
"Then how does it have a name?"
"Well, it was given by its previous user. Now take your oath."
He touched the spear with his blood-stained hand.
"I, Nyx, am happy that Ithrael chose me. Together, we'll find the identity we seek and become warriors worthy of our title."
Now it was Dio's turn. He was shorter than Nyx, so a spear or a hammer might not suit him. He needed something that perfectly matched his size.
He stepped into the circle.
A bow appeared.
"Woo… Thank God! I was chosen by a weapon."
"Hmm… quite shocking. It's name is Aeterna, the arrows come back to it's user when they call them. A valuable weapon. A bow told it's owner 'Never abandon me', gets faithfull towards it's owner."
"I was chosen by something that great!!?"
"Indeed. It's considered a Mortal Arm, and its power can even pose a serious challenge to Divine Relics.
Now, take your oath."
"I, the owner of Aeterna, take my oath to become a warrior worthy enough to never be forgotten by history."
His oath was completed.
One by one, the other C-rankers completed their oaths as well. Now it was my turn.
I stood in the middle of the circle, and it started to glow. Then I heard a strange noise.
A chain sickle appeared.
"A C-ranker was chosen by a chain sickle!!!"
"That's because chain sickle users are considered top-tier warriors in war," Bond's master said to me.
"Were you chosen by Dragon!!!?"
"Yeah."
"A child was chosen by Dragon!!!!"
It looks like the priest is in shock right now.
"It's name is Morvain, 'the darkest hour', it's cut it's opponent brutally and bind it's opponent until they loose their breath. I presume you have curse inside you which is the reason for you to got chosen by it."
"That's only half the truth. Morvain indeed shows its darkness, but it also represents honor, bravery, and honesty. Whoever fails to follow those virtues, it takes their life. So, Erebus, the fact that it chose you means you are capable of becoming a fine and powerful warrior. It chose you because you possess everything a true warrior needs."
"Yeah, yeah. I was just going to tell him that. Now take your oath and don't waste my time."
"I accept Morvain. From now on, I will serve life as a warrior and uphold honor, bravery, and honesty. From this day forward, I will fight for them."
A dark purple rope appeared and wrapped around my hand, binding it to Morvain.
The oath was complete. Now it was time for the D-rankers.
...….
PART 14 :-
DOUBT BEFORE DESTINY
Tyr perspective :-
Thank God. Dio and Nyx were chosen by weapons. They can become warriors. They can fulfill their dreams.
Now it's my turn. Can I find something whose will is similar to mine? Can a weapon like that exist? One that would choose someone as weak as me!!?
I stood in the middle of the circle.
Please, God... even if it's an ordinary weapon, just let one choose me.
I saw a light coming through the wall.
Is God listening to my prayers!!?
A rapier emerged from the light.
"A rapier!! So you're this weak. A rapier appears when its user is too weak to be called a true warrior. They're not even considered frontline warriors or Faris in war."
I heard many students laughing at me.
"A rapier is an easy weapon to use, but its true strength depends on its wielder. It's all about skill. Skill can overcome strength. So yes, you can become a warrior—a fine warrior—if you work hard."
Bond's master placed his hand on my shoulder and said that to me. His words gave me confidence.
"What's your name?"
"Tyr."
"Tyr, this rapier name is Vaelis…"
"The weakest rapier of all time. You shouldn't give him hope. He can't even survive a mortal fight. Going to war is out of the question."
"We all live with a dream and want to fulfill it. Fear of death can't stop us from following our dreams. It's up to the user how they wield their weapon. Besides, I know people who were chosen by great swords but couldn't even survive a duel."
"Ahem... hey, boy. Take your oath already."
I placed my bloodstained hand on the rapier's hilt and took my oath—
"I, the chosen one of Vaelis, take my oath to prove my worth as a warrior. I will not let it be used as a weak weapon."
I left the magic circle and walked toward my friends.
Now only two D-rankers were left.
...….
Dex perspective :-
It's my turn now. Will any weapon choose me? Really? I mean, I just want to find a family. Is there any weapon that's as lonely as I am? One that wants someone by its side?
The old man walked toward me.
"I told you before, but now I'm going to tell you again. Sometimes we search for someone, hoping to find love. But maybe we're already with the one we're meant to be with. You may wonder if any will is the same as yours. But it's not only about will. Sometimes destiny has already chosen us. The soul is waiting for us."
What he was saying went right over my head. But that's okay. There are many things he says that I still don't understand.
I stepped into the circle. It started glowing. The light was brighter than ever before.
What was that!?
I saw two battleaxes flying toward me. They were identical, like twins, just as the old man had predicted.
"What's that!? They've never appeared together before," the priest said.
"Though they are identical, they have never appeared together before. They have different names, and their values have always been different. But the fact that they have appeared before you means they have changed their will," the old man said.
"What!!? Is that even possible!? They have the same will as me now!?"
"Hmm… They're twin battleaxes, famous for allowing their wielder to copy techniques."
"What's their name!?"
"You can give them a name."
"How can they both have already...?"
"The will of those weapons has changed. They have become one now. You are their first wielder, and every first wielder has the right to give such a weapon a name. It is your right."
How does he know so much? And why does everyone listen to him without asking any questions?
"Kinmir, I want to name it that."
"A fitting name. A mirror name that perfectly suits your style of fighting."
"No. I gave it that name because I thought it also wanted a family."
"Very well. Take your oath now."
"I give you the name Kinmir. From now on, we are family. We will live for each other's will and find a place where we truly belong."
I completed my oath and left the circle.
...….
PART 15 :-
THE REFUSAL TO THE POWER
MC perspective :-
I was about to go for my turn.
"Wait, Bright. I suggest you wait until every other E-ranker has taken their turn." The old geezer stopped me right away.
"It would be an abandonment of the rules," the priest said.
"Nowhere is it written that the students have to go in order of their ranks. Am I right? And more importantly, don't you realize his presence?"
His eyes started to glow.
"What!!!? What's that inside him? How can someone survive with this much curse!!??"
"And that's why I told you. If he goes before the others, they might not be able to survive."
[Bright waits until the other students' rituals end.]
"Now you go," the old geezer said to me.
I stepped into the circle, and the light began to glow like never before. It filled the entire hall.
"What!!!? There isn't just one or two... at least more than ten different weapons have appeared.
"How????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's never happened before."
A blue light emerged from the floor, spreading across the entire circle. Then, a sword rose from within it.
"This can't be happen, an Astra!!!! It's Aegyros, 'The Guardian's Blade', one of the strongest blade."
That sword started glowing intensely.
"How can someone be chosen by an Astra at this age!? No one has ever been powerful enough before."
The priest was in shock as he said that to the old geezer.
"You has the potential to surpass everyone. It's up to you now. I know what Chiron told you. Now it's your choice what you want."
[Bright past memorie]
"Oya, Juha, what if no weapon chooses me? What should I do then?"
"Hmm… you'll be chosen by many."
"Many!? How?"
"Because of your inner power, those weapons that hunger for power will want you. But you'll also be chosen by weapons that share the same will."
"The same will!? Is that possible?"
"Yeah. No matter how unique or creative a will is, there's always a weapon that possesses it."
"So I'll be chosen by a weapon!?"
"Yes. It's up to you whether you want to accept it and take your oath with that weapon. But I would suggest that you don't. As I explained before, you're better suited to fighting without a weapon. You don't need one to protect others."
[Present time]
"What's going on?"
Every weapon present there began to glow once again. Even the ones that had already chosen their wielders shone with a brilliant light.
"What's your name?"
I heard a voice... but whose was it?
"I'm Aegyros."
"You can talk!?"
"Every weapon can speak to the one it wishes to be bound to. Besides, every Astra possesses its own soul. It's been a long time since I found someone who shares the same will as I do."
"What's your will?"
"I was not created to end lives. I was created to ensure they continue. Your dream is to erase hatred from this world and create one filled only with love. You need my help because I know you won't kill anyone. You'll protect life, just as I was meant to."
I bowed my head to the sword.
"I'm grateful that you want to stand beside me. But I'm sorry—I don't need a weapon to protect others. I can do that on my own. My dream is to become a protector, not a warrior who fights in wars."
"What!? You're refusing an Astra!?"
"Very well. I respect your decision. I promise that whenever you need my assistance, I will come to help you."
I showed my respect and stepped out of the circle.
"Did you see that, Master? Someone refused me, just as you said he would. He is truly worthy of that will."
I didn't know who he was talking to. Then the sword vanished.
"Is he stupid? He refused an Astra!"
"He can't become a warrior without a weapon."
Everyone started murmuring about my decision.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! It's just as I expected. You passed this time."
"Passed what?"
"No, it's nothing."
What is that old geezer talking about?
And with that, the ritual ended for me.
...….