Chapter 526: The Mortal Trial of Phases

Kai hadn't heard about "mortal" phase testing before, but since the other elites treated the proposal as a normal one, he decided to act the same. He didn't object as they stepped through a new portal, just kept his wives close. Zae Zin Nim was vaguely hostile in all directions while Omilaena looked more contemplative than he expected.

On the other side of the portal, he felt the change in the air and knew that they were somewhere within the Frontier wall. There was a stocky building, mixed Goralian and Earth Union construction, that told him nothing about the purpose of the location.

"We'll be testing you just there," Sheiri told them as she passed. "Give us time to spin it up. You'll want that time to focus on your phases."

While she walked past, she lowered her shroud in order to begin some work, so Kai got another look at her soul.

<

Name: Sheiri Kagskan

Total Power: 652

Path of Steel: Truesteel 9 (108)

Windborn: Twiceblown (294)

Physique Level: E-7 (101)

Soul Level: 7 (49)

Emergent Class: Whistling Steel (+100)

>

Her Power of 652 was no longer insanely far above him, in fact his first impression was that she was weak. However, he recognized that all her growth had been hard-won with limited Deadwaste resources, and she had years' more experience with phases. He thought he would still win, but he wouldn't want to underestimate her... or any of the other elites.

As the other elites passed, Yuinafal shot them all a harsh glance. Kai was tracking his gaze this time: the elite might focus first on Kai, but he was glaring at his wives as well. None of his attention seemed to be on their connection, such as Omilaena's arm on his waist, and unlike many men he didn't ogle the women. Whatever his problem was, it seemed to be with them as individuals.

"I don't think this is likely to be actually fatal," Omilaena said in a low voice, "but you should go first, just in case."

"Were you pushing for this?" Kai asked.

"Not this in particular, but I wanted to get past the squabbling and get on with it. You want to talk to the leaders, right? I just want to get my hands on Krysali and Irunians, with more official sanction this time. And Zin Nim... well, she can get off glaring duty."

"This is not so unreasonable," Zae Zin Nim said quietly. "We are a potential threat to them, and many sects would be less hospitable."

Omilaena rolled her eyes. "I think your standards are a bit skewed."

While they spoke, power had been rising near the building, but it had yet to produce anything visible. That changed when a great ring of metal floated into the air, and Kai realized that the focus was actually the field beyond the building. The ring was easily five times his height, which he could estimate easily because it rotated into an upright position.

As they approached, he saw a second metal ring, just slightly smaller, rise as well. Both circles rotated directly into the earth, into great grooves that seemed to exist for that purpose. A total of three rings spun within one another, each nearly touching the others as they rotated in different directions. Within all three, an intense power was growing, but all he saw was an arena that seemed to be composed of the same dark metal as the rings.

Yuinafal stood within it, warming up with a martial arts exercise.

"You could think of this as a phased space." Sheiri approached them again, brushing off her hands. "Power within is compressed, like a reverse phase: a Class that normally produces an inferno will barely produce a tongue of flame unless phased. It also prevents any power from escaping the rings, so you can cut loose and show us what you can do."

"That's the test?" Kai asked. "Confirming that we can use phases?"

"In a manner that can't be denied, yes. But due to the obvious use of offensive phases, it has great potential to be lethal, so it is only permitted to confident elites. You're jumping over the normal procedures by coming here, so hopefully you're ready for it."

"Forget that," Omilaena said, "where did you get this thing? No offense, but I don't think we could make something like this on Rosemount."

"That is... a bit of a story." Sheiri shifted uncomfortably, eyes wandering south. "Some of our number attempted to explore Lostwreck, a generation ago. Unfortunately, most of them perished, but they did bring back a number of other resources, including this."

"Ooh, after we finish your test, we need to talk about that."

For his part, Kai watched the spinning rings with a new sense of understanding: these were another reminder of how risky the elites considered the other continents. They understood the power that could be found there, but too many of their own had died or been seduced by easier lives than fighting a never-ending war on Deadwaste.

"What are we waiting for?" Yuinafal spread his arms to either side, addressing the group. "We have a quorum. Let the outsiders prove themselves or die in the attempt."

None of the others objected, so Kai decided that it was time. He walked forward, timing his steps so that he reached the spinning rings at a gap in their patterns. As soon as he was on the inside, the air itself pressed from all sides as if trying to suffocate him. Trying to achieve a defensive phase was instinctive, and made him feel a little better, but it was difficult to maintain here.

Or maybe it was the man across from him: Yuinafal had dropped his shroud and adopted an offensive stance.

<

Name: Yuinafal of Spring

Total Power: 1068

Sprinter Class: 66 (76)

Windborn: Thriceswept (401)

Ironbody Monk: Amber Rank (105)

Physique: D-1 (205)

Soul Level: 9 (81)

Hybrid Essence: Hastened Wind (+100)

Hybrid Essence: Steelwind (+100)

>

Finally getting a glance at Yuinafal's soul, Kai was impressed: the man was the first elite he had seen with over 1000 Power. Not only that, he had trained as an "Ironbody Monk" on Rosemount. The ability alone was only moderately powerful, but with the usual elite resourcefulness, it had produced a second hybrid essence that increased his power another 100. Based on that, it was possible to guess his trajectory... as well as why he might be so aggressive.

By power alone, Kai was unquestionably superior, but Kai could see that the thin chakra around his opponent's hands was phased. If Kai lost focus and a blow struck him without a defensive phase, it would tear through him no matter the difference in power.

"Ready?" Yuinafal bounced on the balls of his feet, ready to move in an instant.

"This is just sparring?" Kai asked.

"No, you need to prove your mastery of phases. First you need to survive one blow from me, via speed or defense. If you do, then you get to return the favor. We have other tests for other phases, but for fighters like us, this is what matters."

"Fine." Kai dropped into a combat position, hands at his sides, beginning to curl into claws. "Whenever you're ready."

Yuinafal was apparently ready that instant, because he leapt forward, one hand sweeping out in a knife blow. Kai had been ready for a speed phase, so he managed to step back, dodging the knife-hand that seemed slow by comparison.

Then Yuinafal vanished: when he used his own speed phase, he was shockingly fast, equal to a Sky Soul. In an instant he was at Kai's back, stabbing out, and all Kai could do to react was focus his defensive power on his back and desperately hope that his defensive phase held.

He felt the man's fingers bite into his back, hard as steel, but his body was too tough to be blown apart. Kai grunted in pain and turned on him, chest still open, daring him to attack again.

Instead Yuinafal vanished, again targeting his back, but this time Kai was ready: he rotated as well, still facing Yuinafal head on. Yet he didn't dodge, just spread his arms as if welcoming the attack.

Without hesitation, Yuinafal took it, his hand glinting like metal as it slashed out again. The fingers struck across Kai's chest, cutting open a long wound, but failed to penetrate deeper. His blood splashed out across the dark arena floor, but he didn't go down.

In the silence that followed, everyone could see that Kai's chest was beginning to heal. The phased injury didn't regenerate as quickly as normal, but it was visibly closing. If that wasn't proof enough, Kai didn't know what was.

"Is it my turn?" Kai asked.

"It is." To his credit, Yuinafal took a firm stance, lowered his fists to his sides, and bared his chest. "Do your worst."

Kai didn't want to actually do his worst, since killing or injuring his opponent would only turn the elites against him, but that made it harder. It was easy to achieve a power phase with his monstrous abilities, particularly Tyrant's Claw or Manticore's Spine, but those might be dangerous. And even if the rings were supposed to block all power, he didn't want to risk the possibility that Baleful Breath would be an exception.

Instead, he tried to do everything deliberately, clenching a fist beside his head and also compressing all his physical power into it. Maintaining the phase wasn't as easy as achieving it briefly, but it wasn't as hard as he remembered, perhaps due to all his growth.

Then he stepped forward and slammed the fist into Yuinafal's chest.

The elite skidded backward, almost losing his stance. A phased defensive technique had leapt into being the instant before Kai's fist connected, but it had cracked at the impact. Yuinafal stood just beneath the smallest ring, unable to hide his grimace at the blow.

Honestly, Kai was impressed: he had held back a little, but that blow would have instantly killed a lot of cultivators.

"The result is clear," Aeglien of Torleen announced. "Kai Clanless has demonstrated clear control of offensive, defensive, and speed phases. He is fit to join us."

That moment was something Kai had been waiting for all his life, yet now he was so caught up in other things, he couldn't even enjoy it. While the attention was off him, Yuinafal rubbed his injured chest and continued to watch him sourly. Meanwhile the other elites seemed largely approving, though a few were commenting, perhaps noting his limitations.

"Thank you," Kai said with a Goralian bow. "But I know my phases still fall short of mastery. I had hoped to train with you in preparation for the incursion."

"Don't get ahead of yourself," another elite said. "Nobody gets to join us by association or reputation: the women have to prove themselves too."

And so Zae Zin Nim and Omilaena stepped into the rings to face the mortal trial.