"A test?" A student gulped, whispering, "Will the Director kick us out of the Imperial Academy if we fail?"
"Who knows?" Another student whispered, tense. "The Director's influence is greater than the headmaster here. Even in the Empire, it's only second to the Emperor. So, we cannot say anything."
Countless discussions happened amongst the students as Krune clearly heard them all through Sonic Radar, smiling as he looked at the student that talked first, causing the other party to shiver. "The test is a simple one. There are no punishments for failure."
The student's face was ashen, fearing how the Director had known about their conversation when they had been whispering all along.
'Strange, since when did my image turn so frightening?' Krune wondered as he continued speaking, "However, if you pass the test, you'll obtain great rewards."
"Now." He pointed at the first row, motioning for them to follow him. "We'll go through groups of 50 for each round of test. You can rest or do anything in the meantime. However, you cannot leave the training grounds."
The group of fifty students trembled a little, cursing their luck for being at the front today. Though, they didn't express anything, silently following Krune.
Soon, they entered a massive building, the biggest in the County Arms Division. Here, Krune had used all three rings of his Star Ring to unleash the effect of lightning. Thanks to the property of a Star Imperial Arms, even after he retracted the three rings, as long as he didn't will otherwise, the effect would never vanish.
It would sustain itself by absorbing energy from nature. Above it, Krune laid a formation using Mental Energy. This formation worked by absorbing the unleashed lightning bolts, using them to power itself.
Hovering in the center of this formation was the Cloud Whale, possessing all the knowledge related to manipulating the formation. Even though it didn't have Mental Energy, it was able to morph the energy in its body, causing it to affect the formation.
That was how he had designed it.
The students entered, noticing that they were in a massive dome of sorts. Within, mini caves had been created along the dome walls, enough for a person to be seated within each.
"Now, take a seat and close your eyes. I'll relay the rest of the instructions once everyone is seated," Krune said as all fifty students hurriedly took their spots, closing their eyes.
Though, the moment they closed their eyes, the formation took effect, plunging them into a realistic hallucination. It tested their character, mettle, ambitions, and so on.
"Alright, it's working pretty well." Krune nodded, sensing various emotions being emanated from the students. With his Mental Energy being used to its true potential, and thanks to his various encounters, he was able to feel this, at least in this place, with his power amplified by the formation.
"There's already one?" Krune was shocked, hurriedly arriving before a cave, noticing a familiar figure seated there. She was Hong Lian, Chen Xue's best friend. And now, a vast surge of Mental Energy gushed into her as the Cloud Whale's body shone in the center of the formation.
Krune felt a tad weak for a moment before recovering.
Of course, the process he was performing now was exactly what Little Cally had done to him by employing the Galki. While stuck in a mysterious altar, when the Galki prayed to him, they obtained part of his power by weakening him.
But here, Krune modified the same formation, making the Cloud Whale he created bear the brunt of the load. It was still his abilities that were being taken, but the effect was almost negligible.
After all, thanks to its ability to grow by absorbing the emotions of peace and justice, the Cloud Whale would be able to recover the loss in power quickly. After all, for a person to be chosen by it, they would have to possess an enormous sense of righteousness in them.
They must have a strong sense of justice and earnestly wish for peace.
'Hong Lian had lost her parents to a Nightmare when young. So, she knows the feeling very well.' Krune nodded, watching the Mental Energy continue to gush into her body as he felt a tiny Cloud Whale form in her.
At present, its size was only equivalent to his nail. But, as time passed, it slowly continued to grow, stopping when it had reached the size of his palm.
"With this, she has obtained the power of the Cloud Whale." Krune smiled contently.
Of course, power corrupted people. So, suppose the Empire manages to eradicate all threats, then the people itself would turn on one another after that. To prevent that, having heroes of justice was a necessity.
Then again, it was more like a police force, one driven by a strong sense of justice. Krune had made it in such a way that the people with such traits were bestowed the power of the Cloud Whale.
And if one day, they lost their sense of justice and wish for peace, the Cloud Whale would vanish from them. However, it would reappear magically the moment they regained their sense of justice and wish for peace.
It was a foolproof mechanism.
"These heroes are what would ensure the longstanding of the Empire's peace even after the eradication of external threats." Krune sighed in relief.
Though, his expression turned sour when he realized that only Hong Lian inherited the power of the Cloud Whale. There were a couple others in the batch that was close to it but failed in the end.
After an hour since their arrival, all the students woke up one after another, looking around in confusion, unable to understand just what had happened, failing to recall the hallucinations they were put through.
"Everyone can leave," Krune said. "Send in the next batch of students."
Krune then nodded at Hong Lian, telling her, "Congratulations on passing."
"This…is…?" Hong Lian was surprised, sensing a mysterious power welling up within her. "What's…this?"
"I call it Krune's Blessings." Krune smiled, saying without even an ounce of embarrassment. "This is your mark as a hero…"
"The Empire's Police Force."
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