Despite the awe-inspiring display and learning several tips and tricks that could aid his own movement technique, Lassim’s mind remained focused on his goal.
As the lecture had progressed, he edged closer to the front, hoping for an opportunity to speak with the Sect Master when the moment presented itself.
Finally, after what was roughly a two hour demonstration, the lecture concluded. Volten turned to face the assembled disciples, his expression jovial and smiling once more.
"That concludes our session for today," Volten announced. "Remember, practice and dedication are key to mastering these techniques. Dismissed."
As the crowd began to disperse, Lassim stepped forward, his heart pounding.
"Sect Master Volten," Lassim called out, his voice fighting to stay steady with confidence despite knowing he was most likely going to be rejected.
Volten turned towards the voice that called out, his eyes narrowing slightly and his smile disappearing instantly as he recognized who it was. "Yes, Lassim, what is it?"
Lassim bowed respectfully before speaking. "Sect Master, I have a request. I seek permission to enter the upcoming Lightning God’s trial ground. I know I haven’t earned enough merit points, but I believe it’s crucial for my cultivation journey."
Volten’s expression remained unreadable, his sharp eyes studying Lassim intently. "And why do you think you deserve such a privilege? Many disciples work tirelessly to earn their place. What makes you so special?"
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Lassim took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "I understand the importance of earning one’s place, Sect Master. However, my situation is unique. My soul crystal is… unexpectedly hard, and I am unable to shatter it to advance to the Spirit Ascension stage. I will be unable to advance at all unless I’m able to obtain something that would help.
Elder Taltos suggested that a… special artifact or material from the trial ground might be the only way to weaken the crystal enough for me to break through."
Volten’s face started to darken as a vein on his forehead started to bulge, "It’s a little hard? Oh, by all means!
I can just give you every slot right away my dear prince!" He said sarcastically, before adding, "Now… Before I get so angry I make you a sect servant once more for even suggesting such a ridiculous idea, tell me, child, why should I believe that you are capable of succeeding in the trial ground and obtain whatever this special item or material is?
What assurance do I have that you won’t waste this opportunity that could be given to the actual disciple that earned their entry into the God’s trial ground?"
Lassim felt the weight of Volten’s scrutiny, but he stood firm. "Sect Master, I am determined to overcome this obstacle and continue my path. I believe that with this opportunity, I will definitely succeed and with the additional power I gain, I would be a great asset to the sect!"
Volten’s eyes narrowed further, his gaze piercing. "What use do I, someone about to break through to the Spirit Prince realm, have with a puny Spirit Transformation warrior? My pinky toe has more strength in it than a million of you combined. Your words alone are not enough.
I have observed your progress and ability to succeed in a difficult assignment at the servant rank, Lassim, and while you have shown promise, you must understand that the trial ground is not to be taken lightly. You have also not earned the right."
Lassim nodded, his determination unwavering. "I understand the risks, Sect Master, but I believe that this is my only chance to advance! I am prepared to give it my all."
Volten’s eyes suddenly hardened and his spirit pressure on Lassim grew, his voice turning cold. "You’ve been in the Spirit Transformation stage for what… a couple of years at most? Absurd! Here you are, you’ve achieved a feat which takes the most talented spirit warriors in a generation nearly a hundred and fifty years or more to accomplish, before you’re even 15?
You think that just because you’ve hit a tiny roadblock, one that can be overcome with mere patience of a single year’s time, that you deserve to skip the requirements everyone else must adhere to? You believe you’re more deserving than the other, ordinary disciples who have worked tirelessly for years to obtain the necessary merit points with their average talent? Your arrogance is astounding!"
Lassim felt a pang of guilt and frustration. "I don’t think I’m more deserving, Sect Master. I just—"
"Enough!" Volten’s voice was sharp and unforgiving. "You need to learn humility, Lassim. Do like the rest and wait another year. Earn your merit points like everyone else."
As Volten finished his tirade, the storm cloud that perpetually hovered over the sect seemed to react angrily. The skies darkened further, and the air filled with a tangible tension. Lightning bolts cracked through the sky and converged overhead, some striking dangerously close to Volten.
Volten looked up, his eyes narrowing at the storm. "Famthar, if you want this boy to be given privileges and handheld through life’s challenges, then teleport him into the trial ground yourself! He won’t get my permission without having earned it himself!"
The storm began to swirl, and the lightning turned golden with a divine pressure. A silhouette of a human body made entirely of heavenly gold lightning formed within the storm at a distance nearly 1 kilometer away from the pair, but it was wielding a lightning bolt directed straight at Volten.
Despite the distance, Lassim could feel like that raised bolt could end all life on the entire continent, should it be released. He wasn’t even the target of the attack, yet the sheer sense of death shook his spirit sense hard. He felt incredibly nauseous just staring at the tip of the bolt aimed in their direction.
Just as the arm of the figure made of heavenly lightning winded back and was about to strike, the figure dispersed, leaving the Sect Master standing alone in the sky as he had shot upwards into the air to greet the incoming attack.
"Coward!" Volten shouted at the heavens, his voice echoing with defiance, despite his back covered in cold sweat.
He then turned back to Lassim, who was on the ground, his expression stern. "Return to your studies or head to the mission hall if you want to earn enough points for a spot next year. That’ll be the end of this discussion."
With that, Volten disappeared, teleporting away from Lassim’s sight.
~~~~
In the celestial heavens in a giant golden and grand palace in the center of this universe, an angry and shouting Famthar, God of Lightning, was being comforted by his wife and partner, Ava, the Goddess of Water.
She gently massaged his shoulders, her soothing touch attempting to calm his fury.
"Calm down, my love," Ava murmured. "Volten is correct. The trial ground is under the Lightning Sect’s protection in this age, and they have earned the right to allocate spots as they see fit. As gods, we cannot interfere so heavily, even if the sect has a monopoly on it. He is also at least being fair to everyone.
All mortals deserve a chance, no matter their innate talent, and Lassim stealing the chance away from others would not be just or right."
Famthar, still fuming, argued, "The Abyssal will is awakening more and more since the weapon that injured our senior, Khaalseru, was destroyed. I see the changes in the river of fate. The war against the Dragal will escalate within the next hundred years. If Lassim has not reached demi-god strength by then... we might lose more of this," He gestured vaguely to the surroundings, "... our universe.
Where would we run next if we can’t push them back? Yet, facing such peril, our greatest soldier, our future general, is being held back by something as petty as allocated slots at the whim of a mere mortal."
Ava smiled, her fingers working out the tension on Father’s shoulders. "My love, do not worry. I think that anger has filled your head too much. Have you forgotten that you’re not the only one with a God’s trial? There is that, which isn’t too far from where he is now."
She pinched his left shoulder as her dainty figure and stunning face leaned over to look over her husband’s shoulder, directly into his lightning filled eyes.
Famthar’s anger began to dissipate as he realized what Ava was suggesting.
A laugh then began to bubble up from his chest, turning into a deep, hearty roar like the booming of a far off thunder cloud. "Of course! How could I forget? Ah, how I do love you my wife!"
He then turned around to wrap her in a hug that swept her up in a manner to where she landed laying across his lap with him looking down into her eyes, "Let’s see how that stupid Volten reacts when Lassim succeeds elsewhere!"
Ava’s smile widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "He will still have to work for it a bit as the trial is already set and unable to changed for him to overcome, but he should manage well enough. There is always another way, my love. That’s why he possesses two elements from both of us. After all, one path alone is not enough to succeed against our enemies."