While the closing ceremony of the entrance examination had started, out in space, all the way near the sun where the gods lived, something big had happened.
Iudicium was in disbelief. He couldn't believe what had occurred. His prediction was wrong.
Forget about predicting; none of it was a prediction. This was a chessboard of his own making; every piece had been placed to ensure that only what he wanted would happen.
How could a chess piece that didn't even exist, that was so minuscule that it didn't even matter whether he took control of it or not, how could such a meaningless element disrupt his grand plan, even if it was just a bet?
There was only one other time since the inception of his existence that he was ever unable to contain an unexpected situation that could ruin his grand plan.
It was right before he went to sleep last time
'Mesmer..'
A mere mortal whose existence made no sense to him whatsoever.
He came out of nowhere, had every trait of every mortal species, and he was an unstoppable force in that world.
If Mesmer really felt like it, he could have killed the Demon Lords with a single strike; if even the Demon God himself came to earth, Mesmer would have slaughtered him as well.
How was that possible? Because Mesmer's strength at that time was beyond the scope that could be measured through mortal means, Mesmer wasn't just a germinating god; he had become a demigod.
Even Iudicium's own champion at the time, The Everett Hoakim, was a disciple of Mesmer and had forsaken his own god when he sent him visions to tell him to kill Mesmer.
When Mesmer ascended to Demi-Godhood, he looked at the sky. People thought he was just admiring the scenery; in reality, he was looking straight at Iudicium, the only emotion he could feel being stared at like that was fear.
Fear due to the gaze of a mere mortal, it was unthinkable that something like this could happen, a god scared of a mortal.
Since that day, Iudiciuk vowed that he would do whatever it takes to never feel the same ever again.
Yet for some odd reason, even after all of his careful planning, something had gone wrong again.
Things hadn't gone according to his script once again.
Besides him was the old man Sun Wu, laughing at the result of their bet.
"I have to say, I didn't see this coming."
Iudicium looked to his right. The old man beside him was trying hard not to let out his laughter now that Iudicium was looking straight at him.
It seemed as though he was trying to control his laughter out of pity for Iudicium.
The point of controlling his laughter became moot, however, since the old man's face was red as he was barely able to hold on to his laughter.
At the end of the day, a bet was a bet; it was time to honour it.
Iudicium held out his hand, palm side up, towards Sun Wu. Slowly, golden light started emitting from his hand with the symbol of infinity inside it.
This was causality energy, the currency used by the gods of the known universe.
A million causality energy right in his hands, about to be taken away by an outsider.
Sun Wu, instead of taking the causality energy given to him, closed Iudicium's hand and said, "Keep it, you don't have to pay me."
"Sir, you won the bet fair and square, you should have this causality energy."
"This amount of measly causality energy doesn't do much for me. I only made the bet to have an excuse to give you some causality energy as payment for allowing me and my disciples to stay in your galaxy for our picnic."
'Allowing you to stay my ass, even if I have an issue with you being here, there's nothing I can do about it. Look at this bigshot trying to act all humble in front of me, does he think I'm a fool?'
Iudicium couldn't help but think he was being mocked.
This galactic traveller was a god amongst gods, which is why he could become a galactic traveller.
Causality energy has to be materialized before being exchanged between gods or when being used as blessings for the believers of the gods.
Once it is materialized, it cannot be absorbed back, and this must be used or else it would dissipate if it is materialized for a little too long.
There was something about the tone of the bigshot in front of him that really got on Iudicium's nerves.
Iudicium was rarely ever wrong; he hated being wrong.
This old man in front of him somehow proved him wrong it really pissed him off.
Iudicium had a mischievous idea that would kill 2 birds with one stone.
It would help him feel better about his loss and would also serve as a way to get revenge on the old man for humiliating him with the bet.
"Sir, I have already materialized the energy. It would be a waste if you don't take it since I can't absorb it again."
"I can't take that energy from you since you have so little compared to me; you should find another way to use it."
"So I can use it any way I want, right?"
The old man's nonchalant face suddenly showed a hint of emotion, as if he were waiting for Iudicium to say it.
He showed a slight smile with a clear hint of gentleness and warmth accompanying it.
"You can use it however you want."
"So you don't mind it if I use it on your chosen candidate for the bet, right?"
Iudicium was sure that this comment would get on the old man's nerves since the old man seemed to like that mortal that he bet on.
However, even after such a provocative comment, the expression of gentleness and warmth on the old man's face didn't change, and he said, "I have no problems with it whatsoever."
Though Iudicium couldn't understand how the old man remained unfazed, this was the best case scenario he had thought of in his mind.
He will get rid of the variable that had ruined his script and also get vengeance on the old man.
Either way, it was a win-win situation for him.
" Well then, don't mind if I do."
The materialized causality energy shaped into a token in his hand with a golden glow.
The token then shone a ray onto Klienova and slowly dissipated into light as the ray travelled towards its destination.
All of a sudden, loud sirens started to ring all around Iudicium.
A red holographic window popped up in front of him.
|| WARNING! TIER 1 GOD IUDICIUM HAS EXPENDED TOO MUCH CAUSALITY DIRECTLY. ||
|| THIS ACTION GOES AGAINST CAUSALITY LAW 1111 FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF GODLIKE MANAGEMENT. ||
|| APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT WILL BE GIVEN TO THE GOD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS OFFENSE. ||
||PUNISHMENT DETERMINED: 100 YEARS OF PETRIFICATION. ||
Iudicium couldn't believe what he was seeing. He opened his eyes so wide it looked like they were about to fall out of his eye sockets.
"A 100 years? Sir, did you know something like this was going to happen?"
"A 100 years seems to be a little too much for a young god like you. This is your first offense against Godly Law, right?"
"Godly law? What's that?"
"Eh? You don't know Godly law? It's from the Constitution of Godlike Management that every being that ascends into godhood receives the moment they first open their eyes after becoming a god. Don't tell me you never read it?"
"Oh, you mean that big brown book that came out of nowhere? When I became a god?"
"Yes, that book."
"Hahaha, who reads such thick books in this day and age? Do they have it as an audiobook? It has been collecting dust since the day I first got it."
Sun Wu couldn't believe what he was hearing right now. How could a god be so arrogant as not to read The Constitution of Godlike Management? His smile had vanished, and he had an unamused look on his face.
He was almost offended by the arrogance of the young god in front of him.
|| AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE TIER 1 GOD IUDICIUM IS A 1ST TIME OFFENDER. ||
|| PUNISHMENT WILL BE DECREASED BY 95%. ||
|| PETRIFICATION WILL NOW COMMENCE. THE FOLLOWING JUDGEMENT WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SOUL OF THE WORLD GOD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM V1.11. REMEMBER TO LEAVE US A REVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE. WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT! ||
Iudicium had his mouth open due to the shock from what he had just read; he didn't know whether he should laugh or cry.
Imagine if a cop sent you to jail, and right before you enter the isolation prison chamber, he advertises his family business before locking you up for the next 5 years.
That's the last thing you hear someone say for the next 5 years before you are finally released from prison.
Must be very depressing.
By the time he finished thinking about how absurd the situation was, Iudicium had already turned into stone.
The old man Sun Wu looked away from Iudicium; he looked at where the causality energy had dissipated to.
A smile crept back up on his face as he talked to himself.
"These kids, they make it too easy sometimes.... Hahaha..."
As the Old man laughed in empty space with nobody present to witness it, the closing ceremony in the Academy Arena had commenced.
Archmage Cain, the interim principal of the academy, had come to give a closing speech and announce the rankings of the examination.
" Greetings to all the humble servants of the empire watching the first-ever worldwide broadcast of an extracurricular activity of our world-renowned academy.
We have done this for the first time ever due to the growing fear within the public about the dangerous future that lies ahead, due to the cataclysm that occurred recently.
We hope that through these broadcasts, the people will have faith in the abilities of the pioneers of the future generation who will ensure the safety and comfort of all people who live in Klienova.
From this Academic year, special broadcasts like these will be fairly common to show the growth of our students and put the minds of the people at ease.
The students of the academy will also be sent out for special missions throughout our continent to help the people combat any disaster that may occur due to the cataclysm or any other occurrence in the future.
Our king has agreed with the other great rulers that live on this continent to have a symbiotic relationship where we help each other overcome the many hardships that are yet to come.
We hope that through these special provisions, we can overcome the challenges that endanger mankind.
Now, without further ado let's move on to the top 10 participants.....
10. Shaheen Dracarys
9. Charlotte Sia Loredan
8. Alexandra Argento
7. Mikhail Vander Puth
6. Cassandra Ein Yenalova
5. Mia Ivrea Arlae
4. Jake Kennedy
The top 3 candidates should make their way to the podiums as their names are announced.
3. Onigahara Yaketsuku
2. Kexin Mortem Obire
The pioneer of this generation is....
Adam Alastair Dacre! "
As Adam heard his name, he made his way towards the stage. The staff had already gotten hold of him before the ceremony and made him stand right in front to ensure that he got to the stage at a steady pace.
Behind him were Kexin and Yaketsuku, both had their eyes glued to Adam's back, their stares were heavy enough to ensure that Adam knew they were staring at him.
Adam didn't hold it against them; however, some random guy they have never heard of ends up becoming the top student in the entrance exam. Anyone would be curious about how something like this could happen.
As Adams' name was called the entire crowd in the Arena started booing in unison because unlike these foreigners on the podium who were clueless about Adam's identity, the crowd actually knew all the rumours that surrounded Adam.
The crowd was angry about losing all their betting money along with the universally favoured candidate Jake losing to someone as infamous as Adam.
It was understandable to Adam about why they would boo him, but it still made him angry.
As Adam finally made his way to the top podium, he was then given a golden brooch to signify his title as the pioneer.
Yaketsuku and Kexin got bronze and silver medals instead of a brooch.
There was only 1 winner, there are no consolation prizes in the academy.
As the awarding ceremony was just about to end golen halo above the arena turned dark, the clouds became darker and grew until they covered the entire sky above the arena.
After a while thunder started crackling in the sky the thunderous roars were loud enough for everyone to hear.
While the public began to get restless at the sudden change of scenery in the sky, Cain chose to ignore it and moved on to the final part of the awarding ceremony.
"Now without further ado, please welcome the pioneer of this new generation of students Adam Alastair Dacre, to address the gathering."
Adam had no idea he would have to give some sort of speech, he hadn't had the slightest idea of what to say, in the end he decided to just address the students and say some gibberish about being hopeful for the future and motivating the students to give it their all to serve the people.
As he was about to adjust the mic in front of him, dark thunder originating from the halo directly struck him causing him to fall.
After he fell, another thunder struck him as soon as he fell down on stage causing the floor to give in, Adam fell through the floor of the stage.
The entire Arena was in an uproar about what had just happened, it was as if the gods themselves had an issue with the result and had inflicted judgement upon the top student.
In just a few minutes Adam recovered from the shock, numerous system windows had popped up in front of him.
Whatever was written in those windows seem to anger him even further.
He climbed his way back up on stage and made his way back to the the mic, his clothes were tattered, his face had ash on it and he was bleeding from his right cheek.
He then grabbed the mic by hand and said,
"If anyone here has a problem with me being the pioneer, challenge me to a duel any day.
If you defeat me, you can have my spot.
But remember this, I'm taking an arm of anyone who challenges me if I win! "
These were the first words heard by the world from the Academy's pioneer of this generation.