Legend of Niyonika

Element Defining Stage (Ch.17)

~First and last, what is demanded of genius is love of truth~

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Big brother Kain might not need the closed door cultivation but I certainly do need it. I must turn down your offer." Niyonika replied calmly, swallowing down her distaste as she dismissed Kain's offer in the most polite way possible.

Kain looked momentarily surprised by Niyonika's confident rejection as though he never expected that Niyonika was capable of saying 'no' to him for whatever reason.

Kain was about to speak when a quiet scream interrupted him.

"Senior brother Falcon is here!!!" A disciple screamed in awe, excited murmurs broke out as all the disciples instantly turned to face the gates in anticipation.

"Senior brother Falcon, the undefeated No 1 of the top ten outer disciples!" Raila whispered to Niyonika quickly, Niyonika raised a brow, slightly curious about this undefeated elemental that was the No1 of all outer disciples.

A figure dressed in white robes approached the gates in slow and calm strides, his expression was relaxed and easy and his gaze bore no emotion in particular, his facial features were handsome and he was highly attractive, a clean and reserved attractiveness that was extremely pleasant to the sight.

Falcon's white disciple robes bore a sect insignia that was a deep shade of blue, displaying his water element.

"Senior brother Falcon is the outer sect elder's pride, his cultivation prowess, element, fighting skill and natural disposition are all excellent." Raila informed from Niyonika's side, Niyonika raised a brow slightly.

Falcon approached the gathered disciples and they hurriedly cleared a wide path for him as he made his way through, seeming not to notice the presence of anyone not even his fellow top ten outer disciples as he moved past them, ignoring their greetings and taking his place calmly, focusing his gaze on the elevated wooden dais.

The top ten outer disciples as well as the rest of the outer disciples seemed to have gotten accustomed to this Falcon's nature as none really seemed bothered about him ignoring their greetings, apart from Kain who's brow twitched slightly in annoyance.

"Little Niyo really wishes to turn down my heart felt invitation? Big brother will be hurt." Kain resumed his conversation with Niyonika, Niyonika shrugged casually in response as the earth elemental elder mounted the elevated dais to begin the first stage of the ranking contest.

"Then little Niyo, we will continue our conversation after the contest." Kain insisted calmly, Niyonika resisted the urge to scoff.

"No big brother, I already gave my answer, this conversation ends here." Niyonika dismissed respectfully before turning her gaze to concentrate on the elder's words.

Niyonika failed to notice the multiple stunned gazes now fixed on her due to her words, or perhaps she did notice but simply could not be bothered.

"Greetings to all the outer disciples of our prestigious Heavenly Sage Pavilion. I am sure we all know the reason for our gathering today." The elder began.

"Today marks the beginning of the ranking contest, the most important and certainly the most awaited contest in the Heavenly Sage Pavilion. The ranking contest occurs every three summers and gives each and every disciple the rare chance to rise in the ranks and for the most lucky ones, it allows you to be one step closer to becoming a true elemental, to reach the very summit of excellence and achieve great heights, respect and reverence in the Seyr empire...it is a rare chance to change your lives!" The elder announced proudly.

The gathered disciples were already rendered breathless with anticipation at the elder's words, probably imagining themselves reaching the summit of excellence and achieving the great heights and respect the elder spoke of.

Niyonika rolled her eyes at this regular sight, numerous different timelines but some narratives never changed, everyone craved power, craved respect, craved to be exalted, desired and revered, some were willing to do anything to achieve this, and who could blame them?

In this corrupt world, whether past or present, power was the universal language. Only the strong was recognized, the world belonged to the strong, as long as one possessed strength, everything else would be under one's feet.

Humans craved for this power, the ability to hold the world within the palm of their hands.

Niyonika herself was no different, it was for this very reason she had worked so hard and risked her life countless times without any hesitation to rise to the top in 2099, this was because if one did not posses strength, one could only be trampled upon by the strong.

Power gave one the ability to protect that which one desired to protect, with power, your loved one's would be safe.

Who in 2099 had dared offend anyone with even the slightest relations to Niyonika of 2099?...there was simply none who possessed enough guts.

Being the most renowned time traveler in the most respected and treasured institute of 2099, Niyonika held a great amount of influence, both in government and otherwise.

Niyonika had amassed great wealth in 2099 as well, she possessed assets, gold, precious stones, overflowing bank accounts, fleets of cars, houses, you just had to name it and eighteen year old Niyonika had it... she had worked hard to attain this, in this corrupt world, Niyonika had learned early in life that this was the only method to survive.

"To begin this contest, like every other ranking contest before this, we shall commence with the first stage, the element defining stage. This is a routine process to confirm your elemental abilities and element cultivation level hence there is no cause for alarm yet. I have a roll possessing your names and relating details here, when your name is called, approach the elevated dais and your element will be tested by the element defining rock."

"The process the element defining rock uses to test your element is simple. Once you step unto this elevated dais, you are to stand in the circle created by these elemental runes, once within, each disciple must place their hand on the element defining rock. The element defining rock supported by the magic in these elemental runes will transport the disciple to an illusionary world based on the disciple's element."

" A series of simple but real to life tests would be given, this is to ensure your elements have not been forged by any artificial item, in the event of failure or success, the disciple will be transported back here. Every disciple is expected to pass these tests in order to qualify for the next stage of the ranking contest." The elder explained, the gathered outer disciples began murmuring uncertainly at the elder's words.

"Honored Elder, what happens if one is not able to pass the tests not because one is a 'false elemental' but because one's element cultivation level is simply not strong enough yet?" A reluctant looking disciple spoke up, other disciples echoed their agreement to his words.

"Ah... this fact must sound daunting but do not be fazed, the elemental defining rock can ascertain one's cultivation level and will only give tests that are possible to succeed at your level, this stage of the ranking contest is after all not intended to do any harm to the disciples but is merely due procedure, furthermore, all the tests are illusions like I have mentioned before hence no real harm can actually be done to you, rest assured." The elder assured the disciples calmly, many of the outer disciples heaved sighs of relief at this revelation.

"Honored Elder, we number in the hundreds here, if we all have to wait for every disciple to finish their illusion tests no matter how long it might take them, it would not be possible to conclude the element defining stage today." Another of the disciples spoke up, the elder chuckled softly.

"That is indeed a reasonable concern, this elder momentarily forgot that outer disciples lacked a lot of cultivation knowledge and would naturally not know these things."

"The illusionary world created by the element defining rock runs with a different time from that we have here, as it is with any illusion spell, the details of time is decided by the caster, you outer disciples who are lucky enough to qualify to join the middle disciples will naturally gain this knowledge soon. However this elder assures you that even in the case a disciple spends days in the illusion world, only a few minutes shall pass by here." The elder promised, the gathered outer disciples nodded in awed understanding.

Niyonika nodded as well, this fact of different time rates was not new information to her, it was the same idea that applied to the 2099 and the different ancient timelines, the only difference was that in the illusion world, the difference in time flow was not natural but orchestrated by someone.

"Now, we shall begin, please approach the elevated dais once your name is called." The elder instructed finally, flipping open the thick scroll and letting it fall down all the way to the ground.

"Drake, eighteen summers of age, Earth elemental. Element cultivation level at the mid stage of the third level of the elemental novice realm."The elder read out.

Various disciples quickly turned to the mentioned disciple, staring at him in awe and envy, with an element cultivation level at the mid stage of the third level of the elemental novice realm only at eighteen, such speed could still be considered reasonably good.

The disciple in question quickly stepped out and headed for the elevated dais, stepping into the circle created by the rune, on the directions of the elder, he placed his hand on the element defining rock and his eyes fluttered shut, his body stiffening as though his soul had left him.

The disciples watched and waited in apprehension for one or two heartbeats before the disciple on the elevated dais finally jerked back to life, his eyes fluttering open hurriedly, a look of horror in them.

Niyonika assumed whatever he must have experienced in the illusionary world in what had been a mere few seconds to them in the real world must have been traumatizing enough to put such an expression on the disciple's face.

Before the disciple could speak, a voice sounded from the elemental defining rock that elicited a scream of shock from some of the faint hearted outer disciples.

"Drake, eighteen summers of age.

Claimed element- Earth elemental.

True element- Earth elemental. Claimed cultivation level- Mid stage of the third level of the elemental novice realm.

True cultivation level- Peak stage of the second level of the elemental novice realm.

Item used to induce temporary cultivation increase- Low level earth crystal...