Sixth Bloodline [BxB]

CHAPTER 64: THE GATE [ THE ENTRANCE TEST]

cHAptEr 64:

tHE gAtE

[tHE EntrAncE tEst]

IT WASN'T hard to find the academy. Mikhael could sense two places dense with mana as a result of many spell-casters gathering together. One was naturally the Neo Academy and the second was the church.

As Mikhael already knew where the church was, it was obvious where the second source was — so he led Ethan around the city with such familiarity that made the later doubt if Mikhael was born here.

It was obviously not the case.

Although the church hated Mikhael, but Mikhael was someone who really wanted to spite the people who provoked him so he would visit this place from time and time and wreck havoc. Naturally, he would always make sure they are aware of his identity before retracting.

From stealing Pope's crown, to kidnapping the Pope and preaching in his stead during Easter, or baptizing people, even cleaning their prized century old wine — Mikhael's done everything one could think of. Otherwise, the church's hatred for this vampire wouldn't be as strong as it is, teaching their Popes to recognize him at a glance, first thing on their service!

He originally had nothing against them, but since they originally targeted him once and made him lose a target that had quite a bounty on his head, Mikhael already decided that their relationship would never get better. What a joke, he lost over ten millions because of those nagging priests attacking him all the time! How could Mikhael reconcile with them after this?

Anyway.

Thanks to Mikhael dropping by this place every so often, he already knew the entire layout of Vatican like it was his backyard. So as he walked with Ethan, he would often point in few directions and fell Ethan about some interesting stories he knew.

   "..."

Ethan merely kept silent the entire team, trying to figure out Mikhael's identity. This brat, how does he know so much? Is this even something a young human should know?

At that moment he paused.

Mikhael still looked young, but Ethan suddenly remembered that it's been six years since the parted back then. Logically speaking, any teenager would experience some changes to their bodies during this period, yet this brat still looked the same as ever.

Perhaps...

   "Are you... An immortal human?" He suddenly asked as Mikhael turned around to look at him. At first, he was confused before he realized what the other person meant, but...

   'Mr. Handsome. Aren't you a bit too late in noticing this oddity?'

Mikhael had long prepared an excuse, but since Ethan never asked, he never said anything either.

   "No," the taste of their blood was too unique for Mikhael to imitate. He could only make his blood appear human, vampire or mixed depending on will. But immortal humans all had the special blood that vampires couldn't resist, so they're easily recognizable.

   "I'm a spell-caster, so my lifespan is somewhat older. I assume I'll live over four hundred, at most."

It was only then that Ethan nodded, satisfied with this answer. Spell-casters all had longer lives than ordinary humans, but they weren't immortal.

   "How old are you then?"

   "Eight...y. Eighty, I'm already considered an old grandpa," Mikhael joked, but Ethan didn't feel like it. In his eyes, twenty or eighty years old make no difference, both are too young.

   "What about you, Mr. Handsome?" Mikhael felt quite frustrated by not knowing his name, but there was nothing he could do about it. He really didn't want to lose to this guy and take off his mask first!

   "..." Ethan wondered if he should reply honestly.

Two thousand years isn't a little to humans, so what if this brat gets scared once he hears that number? He furrowed his eyebrow before eventually patting Mikhael's head.

   "A bit older than you," let's wait for now. Although two thousand years are a lot, to Ethan — it feels like they passed in a mere blink of the eye. Compared to his whole life, the time he spent with Mikhael seems to have lasted much longer. The memories of it overtook all other memories he had.

   "I see," Mikhael didn't think much. A but older, so around hundred or so? Compared to his eight centuries, he felt like he beat Ethan with this advantage.

   "It's good that you were turned so young," he couldn't help but throw a secret glance at Ethan. Mn, indeed it was good. Look how handsome he is, it would be such a pity if he was turned as an old man. Though, it would be so bad if he was few years older, no one could resist the charm of wise and nature man. Mikhael estimated that Ethan looked like he was in his late twenties, but he couldn't be so sure because of that mask.

When he recalled how this mask prevented him from looking at the others handsome face, Mikhael had an urge to just smash it pieces.

But then again...

Noticing few curious glances thrown their way — Ethan's way, to be more precise — Mikhael felt like the mask was no longer as loathsome as he originally thought.

Standing at the entrance of the Neo Academy, forget about Ethan, even Mikhael was surprised with what he saw.

At the entrance was a tall gate the size of an building, inscribed with various runes that flashed whenever someone passed, but did nothing other than that. Still, Mikhael could easily see though it's function with a glance — it was meant to screen out humans and vampires.

Well, technically, it was meant to let anyone with mana pass through or block those who had none.

He tsked, only to enter — one had to be a spell-caster. Isn't this bullying people too much?

   "Just being able to come here was already great, but what a pity that were unable to pass though," someone in the crowd said.

   "Yes, this gate doesn't let just anyone pass. Only the most powerful could have the chance to enter the Academy."

   "The first test if one wants to be accepted is precisely to gain recognition of this gate. Or else, how could one study inside this place if they can't even enter inside?"

   "Right. I heard that only after passing through this place, one would be ranked among the lowest tier. Lowest! It's already hard to pass through here, but it's worth nothing in the eyes of Academy!"

Listening to the voices of the crowd, Ethan also curiously eyed that marble gates before his sight turned to Mikhael. His eyes appeared to be asking, will I be alright?

He felt stupid for even worrying when he saw the other party.

Mikhael could only discreetly roll his eyes at Ethan before he proceeded to enter and the later had no choice but to follow behind. Ethan body had some mana, but it wasn't his. Instead, it came from the black talisman in his body.

This gate, although created with meticulous care, would not different between people as long as they had mana inside their bodies. Its creators would never have though that someone abnormal like Mikhael would try to infiltrate a vampire in this place and even use a black talisman to hide his aura! So as Ethan's body passed through, he only felt a prickling sensation of his body being scanned, but nothing special happened.

Looking at Mikhael, he felt like it would be possible to go anywhere in this world with his help with no problem.

This entrance was for the newly recruits. Although the gate was tall, but not many could pass through it so it most of the crowd could only gather around it and chat. There was naturally another entrance for students in this place, though they could also pass through here.

So Ethan and Mikhael who carelessly entered from this gate stood out in the crowd.

   "Did you see those two who entered?"

   "Those black clothes, I saw few like them enter this city and I've been told that they were all accepted without exemption! Not only that, but even the weakest one appeared to be of the green grade — everyone else was among the blue and indigo.

Yellow. Orange. Red. Green. Blue. Indigo. Purple.

The seven grades used to measure the ability of a spell-caster and even those who could change the weather and call upon thunders could be labeled in the orange grade, at most. So one can only imagine the ability of those spell-casters.

Although Mikhael knew that none of them could beat him and would often act with disdain towards an enemy spell-caster, he didn't really look down on them all. He himself knew how arduous of a task it was to use mana, and this grading system actually had some sense.

That girl he met before, although she was among the lower ranks, Mikhael was certain that she had an ability to be so arrogant. When he came inside and saw all those spell-casters from the rainbow squad — cough, belonging to different grades — Mikhael finally understood why this place was held in high regards.

The flow of mana in their bodies clearly told him everything he needed to know about them.

But...

   'Aren't they showing off too much?'

As a proper spell-caster, Mikhael was well aware that it's no good to let mana seep out of one's body. Even the weakest spell-casters would try to contain all that mana inside in order to not waste if, but these guys...

On another note, he could understand them a bit. In this era where spell-casters are as common as cabbages in the market, they need to show their ability in order to gain a sense of superiority. Especially those who aren't on the top — places like this Academy are bound to have harsh competition and Mikhael doubted that this Academy would take care of just anyone.

Compared to them, Ethan and Mikhael who had not even an ounce of mana around them were truly inconspicuous.

But looking at their clothes, no one dared to underestimate them.

Those spell-casters have long heard about special someone arriving today and there were many priests like this who appeared — only to be ranked at the the top.

Once the two stepped inside, there was naturally someone to greet them.

   "The two gentlemen over there, are you here to enroll the Academy, or just to tour this place?" He wore the yellow robes, belonging to the lowest category. If he was outside, he'd be treated with utmost respect, but in this place — he was only a henchman.

   "May the blessing of the merciful God above shine on you, brother," Mikhael began, back to his role, "Under the will of the almighty God above, the three of us were chanced to meet in this lifetime. This lowly one and my brother have, with our meager skill that pales in comparison to brother, under His love and care on our arduous journey ended up in this place of talent where His beloved children gather to share experience and grow to be worthy of His name."

   "..."

   "Indeed, though there is no other home in this lowly one's heart other than the one where beloved God resides, and no other teacher worthy of this lowly one's time other than the One who spreads the ultimate truth and salvation — as His intention to have brought this lowly one here is clear, I have no other choice but to be grateful to his mercy and wisdom and seek more knowledge, ultimately spreading the word of his benevolence and acceptance to the world."

It would be fine if Mikhael said nothing, but when he did — the guard who was used to people with various personalities entering this place, was left speechless. He originally wanted to hear a single word "enroll" or "tour", but when did such s simple thing become so long?

What gathering of talents? Whose name are they supposed to be worthy of? What's with this nut-job?

There were too many thoughts that crossed the guard's mind, but he was unable to figure out what Mikhael wanted to say.

Not even Ethan could stand it anymore, fearing that if Mikhael was left to his own — this conversation might take him a whole day to finish.

   "Enroll."

Hearing the cold voice that was enough to freeze his blood, the guard turned to Ethan before finally noticing his outstanding aura. But his glaring eyes made him unable to continue to ask what he wanted, and he felt conflicted all over again. One looked like he'd kill him if he was forced to say another word, while the other — despite smiling so brightly — seemed like he wanted to convert him to follow the God and was prepared to preach about His greatness for entire life.

He could feel a headache coming his way.

   'Motherfuckers!'

Why are those protectors all crazier than the previous one? There was even one guy before who didn't speak and would make hissing sounds like a snake, while carrying few white snakes on his own! This guard was afraid for his poor life!

   "Well, then please follow me," but he had to work of else the Academy will kill him if he ignores his post!

No one will understand the pains of working class.

   "Since you managed to get inside, as long as you want to, you can officially be considered as this Academy's student. However, as you most likely have heard about it before, those who enter this place are graded according to their power. The higher rank you obtain, the better treatment you'll receive."

Mikhael appeared to somewhat disappointed.

  "But all are equal in his all-encompassing eyes..."

The guard heard him, but since he considered Mikhael to be a crazy fanatic who only had God in his eyes, he gave up on trying to reason with him.

   "Worthless scum is worthless scum. How can everyone be equal?" Ethan sneered, acting like complete opposite to Mikhael.

The guard thought that the two were friends, but...

As expected, once he looked at Mikhael, his face was pale as paper as he parted his lips before biting them angrily.

   "That... Don't be like that, they are all His beloved children..."

Even the guard could feel uncertainty in his voice. It would appear that with a slight push, this person would bawl his eyes out.

   "Beloved children? What a good parent he is, watching his children slaughter each other and not do a s**t!"

   "..."

Ah, Mikhael felt like he found his idea partner for the first time in his life! Not even doing missions with Amelia gave him this feeling of synergy!

But he didn't show happiness on his face, and his expression turned solemn. He obviously wasn't someone who would curse and fight back, so the guard decided to intercept them before things went too far.

To be a protector, one needs to be quite powerful — the guard was clear on that as he saw so many of them pass this place already. If the two somehow began to fight or if the fanatical decided to leave and academy lost a powerful student...

Scary. Too scary to imagine what would happen to him who was in duty and didn't stop it.

   "Gentlemen, please calm down! Although we do treat everyone according to their ability, but every spell-caster here is a special existence, so none of the suffers! In fact, by dividing them by levels, they all become motivated to improve, you see!" He said the last part to Mikhael and he seems to completely have forgotten about Ethan as he smiled at the guard.

   "I see. If certainly must've been God's will do have imparted the founder with this wise idea."

   "..."

   'In the end, it all comes to back to your God again?'

   "Please come inside, we'll be testing you power in this place." He led them to an odd building with no doors nor windows, but when they came closer, two guards touched the wall at the same time and the entrance appeared. Ethan seemed to be a bit curious about this place, but he masked it with a gaze of indifference while Mikhael studied inscriptions and began to think where he should use them.

Although he's powerful, he's but a single person. His imagination isn't the best out there, so seeing some novel things would always attract his attention. Those spell-casters are different — bundled up together, they could naturally think if  of more ideas than Mikhael alone.

But no matter how much Mikhael admired those spell-casters, it all changed in the next moment. Once he entered inside, what awaited for him wasn't training grounds of sorts, nor place filled with various spells and targets to play with.

In the blinding white square room were rows and rows or cages created with some powerful spell — lined orderly to the point of inducing madness to someone who stayed here for a long time.

And there, inside each of those cages, were vampires with their rationality gone, waiting for slaughter like pigs.

Such scene, no matter how good at acting Mikhael was, induced rage in him that could not be curbed easily.