At last the day had arrived, the time when the patience of the eager finally yielded rewards!
The selection period was at hand where every village, town and city would separate its wheat from the chaff.
Participants who reached the body enhancement stage would be sent to Tora, carrying their heritages with them, representing those unable to accomplish such, remaining bound by the shackles of Hagi.
Every nation was ecstatic for this event, and the small country of Oni was no exception, with each decorated light that dazzled throughout the streets and stalls, circling around the giant stadium where the selection was held.
A large crowd gathered outside trying to get a glimpse of the inside festivities only to be met with endless futility.
Within the stadium was packed to the brim with people coming from every corner of the country, their cheers and excitement filling the broad space.
"Silence!" The priest ordered in a sharp tone.
Cutting through the loud murmurs and cheers in an instant, flooding the space in silence.
"May the next participant please enter with haste," he ordered once more, his black and white religious robes remaining spotless on the altar as his voice echoed throughout the silence.
Zack Ràchel dashed towards the center stage, his eyes averted contact with the audience, yet his feelings of anxiety were discernible to all.
Though why wouldn't he be nervous? He was a 60-year-old man who spent most of his life bedridden at the first stage of the foundation realm. Despite ascending to its second stage only a mere 4 years prior, today would determine whether it was worth it or all for naught.
Zack's robust figure stood in a circle at the center of the field like a living statue, his stance rigid as he took deep breaths, each heavier than the last, trying to calm his ringing nerves.
"Now release your mana throughout your body and let the meter do the rest," his stern voice laced with anticipation.
Though it wasn't just him, both the other contenders and the audience focused their gaze in silence, unable to predict the upcoming events, their anxiety almost palpable in the air.
After a while... well, 3 seconds, actually, the aura around him began to change as an increasing gush of wind swirled and danced around him.
A blue light, though slow yet intense, began to radiate brightly as it oozed out, mixing with the powerful wind his mana created, changing the stadium's atmosphere as the light clung itself to every nook and cranny. The powerful winds nearly sweeping away the audience.
Though as impressive as the display may have been, it lasted not more than 5 seconds.
The stadium's atmosphere reverted to its normal bright colors, along with the strong gush of wind, which slowly weakened until its presence faded, leaving only vague howls to remind people of its presence.
Woooooo!
The cheers of the roaring crowd echoed louder than thunder, their laden excitement pouring out in overflows.
Of course, Zack was a bit woozy after this, with his body tilting on all sides. Despite his sturdy build, a man of his age wasn't meant to undergo such rigorous tests, but then again, its payoff could be life-changing.
"That was so cool!" A loud voice escaped the roaring cheers of the viewers.
"Probably the best power display in the entire event," said another.
"He might have actually reached the Foundation realm's 3rd stage."
Little by little, the cheers and support of people became murmurs and chatter.
"Silence!" The priest's commanding voice ordered.
Silence flooded the stadium once again.
"Congratulations, Mr. Zack Ràchel, your years of perseverance and dedication paid off..." His stern voice softened, with his stiff face slightly loosening. "Raise your head high with pride; you've attained the final stage of the Foundation Realm!"
A rare 1 out of 100% chance. Various studies determined those above 50 were incapable of evolving realms due to various factors, yet he was the 1%. With proper hard work and cultivation techniques, he could attain Body Enhancement in a matter of months.
Tears streamed down his eyes like floods, widening his eyes in disbelief. The first cultivation realm robbed him of his childhood life and only mother who took her last breath struggling to pay for his medical bills. Her efforts truly did not go in vain.
The thunderous cheers and support of the crowd made his heart race in excitement, his emotions mixed with joy and pain, unable to determine which he felt. Thus, he swung his body in the opposite direction, darting towards the exit in a flash.
A slight smirk stretched at the side of the priest's cheek, his mood slightly brightened.
"May the last participant please come forward," his tough voice slightly lax.
Unfortunately, the next participant would break the light mood, drowning the stadium with his mere appearance.
The silhouette of a young man appeared at the gates; his footsteps dragged across the stadium floors, nearly unnatural jet-black hair filling his head, grey sacks beneath his eyes, his rugged and worn-out clothes invoking despair.
The sense of repulsion and dread enveloped the stadium and the people within. Only one human being was capable of such.
"Is that him?" Zack's thoughts leaked as he watched from the lobby where he and the previous participants sat.
Whilst in the main stadium, the unpleasant murmurs and bitter chatter of the audience overshadowed the event.
The sounds of Booing reverberated through the walls
"What the hell is that filth amongst filth doing here?" Mark Homen uttered in disgust, nearly about to wretch where he sat.
"Do they just be letting anyone in?" The crowd's negativity diffused, heading towards the center where he stood.
"Mr. Phonzo, you came? Why grace us with your... special presence?" The priest's words held a mocking tone beneath.
"I've come to gain my redemption," he replied, though his expression lacked any and all sincerity.
Phonzo Fredrik was the last kin to the Fredrik Henes, a bloodline second to only the king himself. As far as he could recall, his father always held a bias against him. Be it at the dinner table, PTA meetings, school events, or even just a warm smile as a morning gesture, he'd never received any form of attention from his father, almost as if he didn't exist.
That was until the day he clocked 14, the day his life became hell.
His father took him to the roof of their manor when the moon was full, then began to curse Phonzo and the mother who gave birth to him.
He was a failure in his father's eyes, the only Fredrik unable to evolve nor ascend beyond the first cultivation realm. His very life was a smear on the family's legacy, a true black sheep amongst the herd of white.
Thus, his father gave him two options:
"Either you die trying every cultivation technique that exists till you evolve into the Manipulation Realm or..." His cold words sent chills through Phonzo's body.
"Be rebuked from the Fredrik household and stripped of your surname. Once this happens, all bonds and connections you have here in Tora will cease to exist, and you will be banished to the place where failures like you reside."
Naturally, being as young as he was, Phonzo chose the option that let him live longer, thinking it was all a joke. But now he's 18 and broke, so the first was the better option.
At least with hard work and perseverance, he could have attained the 0.00001% chance of evolving by a stroke of luck.
Yet there he stood, his mere presence a jest to what the celebrations meant, soaking in the curses from others.
He muttered to himself, "They can scorn me all they want, but I'm going through with this either way." His voice lazier than his fashion sense.
However, Phonzo was ready to stand his ground, literally.
By obligation, the priest commenced the last trial despite the objections of the majority.
"Silence!" His order bore the weight of customs and traditions.
He too was hesitant but had to press forward indiscriminately.
At last! Phonzo's turn had arrived, a smug grin stretched across his face, dreadful eyes lit up with confidence. His positive demeanor sent mixed feelings through the observers.
Could it be he had mastered a new technique that evolved him? Or did he save money to enhance himself through unknown methods?
All and all, his rare gleaming expression was a clear sign he had something impressive up his sleeves, possibly more impressive than Zack's display.
Anticipation slowly crept back into the hearts of the crowd, with the priest being no exception.
A little while passed, maybe 5 - 6 seconds, after which the ground began to tremble, heavy thuds echoed from beneath, darkness invaded the stadium from almost nowhere, leaving the only visible figure being Phonzo.
"Could it really be this boy behind all this?" Zack wondered at the back of his mind.
A strong beam of light began to consume Phonzo, its rays so bright it was equivalent to staring at the sun. For many it was a difficult pill to swallow, the same person who lived as a street urchin moments ago could become the strongest recorded cultivator in Hagis history.
Their hearts beat like a slammed drum, keeping everyone at the edge of their seats until...
It stopped. Completely.
Not only the dramatic mood change but the display of power which kept the people mesmerized.
The tension dissipated almost instantly, leaving only confusion and the cold, bitter taste of disappointment on their tongues.
Perhaps expecting a normal exhibition of failure was asking too much of Phonzo.
"You're kidding... it didn't work?!"