"Raise your back and become my chair." Karl said coldly.
His words were loud enough to be heard by everyone sitting in the ground.
Now most of the adults were standing as they tried to take a look at what was Karl doing, unable to do so because of the chairs and kids.
Some adults even tried to shout something but stopped when Harry gave them a glare.
Taner's expressions were a sight to see. At first he felt relief as the bombardment on him stopped but after hearing Karl's words his mind became numb before... he received another kick but this time at the left side of his stomach.
Taner felt his breathing stop because of the pain.
As soon as he removed his hand from his face to cover his side, he felt another kick on his cheek.
Karl after saying what he wanted continued kicking Taner.
He only kicked Taner where his hands could reach and he continued kicking the are where Taner could not cover.
Taner, only having two hands, found himself being beaten again and after his body started aching due to kicks he lost any will to oppose.
"I-I will!" Taner shouted, wanting the kicks to stop.
Karl took back his lifted leg and finally put it back on the ground.
"On your fours. If you move even a bit, I will keep beating you everyday from today onwards." Karl spoke as he glared at Taner.
Taner flinched at Karl's words but slowly did as he was told.
***
"Everything done?" Kevin asked an old butler.
"Yes sir, all the children who will take part in the ceremony have came." The butler replied with a slight bow.
Kevin nodded at the butler's reply and then stood up from his chair and the next second he disappeared.
The same second Kevin appeared at the elevated platform in front of the ceremony grounds.
As soon as everyone saw Kevin appear at the stage, everyone stood up and gave a 90 degree bow towards Kevin.
All other than two people.
Taner was still on his fours, his face which was red from embarrassment and anger was now becoming pale from fear as he saw everyone stand up to greet the patriarch but the guy who was the cause of his misery was still sitting on him.
Karl looked at Kevin with a smirk as if taking fun in the disrespect he was showing along with the problems Kevin will have to face due to him doing the things he did.
Kevin's lips twitched as he saw Karl looking at him as if mocking him.
"Sit back everyone." Kevin said as he stared at Harry who understanding his stare quickly ran up to him.
Harry stood close to Kevin and whispered all the events that transpired.
Kevin nodded at the explanation as he started giving a speech.
'Wait so we have to simply get inside that machine and every thing will become known? In the novel it said about different tests and such. Another difference, fuck.' Karl thought as he heard Kevin's speech.
But as the speech continued Karl's expression became uglier.
'How could I also not notice such a plot hole!
Of course people can not form a mana ring or an aura core in the ceremony! It would take time for them to first to learn to control ether!
The novel being wrong was bad but worse is me not noticing such things!'
Karl sighed to calm himself down as Kevin completed his speech followed by claps of the crowd.
"Now everyone will come and take the test as Harry calls them." Kevin said as he stepped back and sat on a chair.
Harry gave a slight bow to Kevin and then shouted out loud, "Karl Hearth!".
Karl stood up at the shout and started walking towards Harry, his mind nervous and anxious not because of the fact that everyone was looking at him but because all his life will be decided here.
'Fuck! Never did I think I will feel this way! All of my future will be decided here!
Of course, with my ether control I can become very strong even if I get the worst result but that also means I will have to be answerable all my life about how I got such powerful without talent.
Whatever I want to just get done.' Karl thought as he climbed on the platform and stood in front of a huge machine which looked like a high tech capsule.
After Harry clicked some buttons on the capsule, its lid opened and inside was a platform where Karl had to lay on.
As Karl laid on the platform, the lid closed again.
All Karl could see for the next few minutes was darkness.
'When I had just reincarnated, I had been so scared of darkness. Big bro Ralph thought it was due to my fear of ghosts and always tried to scare me heh. It was just scary to lose the ability to see at the start.'
Karl thought as he also closed his eyes just waiting for the time to pass.
He could feel his skin tingling and his head aching but it was only slight pain so he ignored it and kept lying.
After 10 minutes passed, the lid opened again and Karl came out of the capsule.
The first thing Karl saw was Harry's shocked expression.
'Is it that good or that bad?' Karl thought anxiously.
"Karl follow me." Kevin who was now standing beside Harry motioned to the back of the platform.
'FUCK! Is it so bad that he wants me to prepare mentally!?'
Karl's heart was beating very fast as he stood up and followed Kevin to the back of the platform.
"Raun Hearth!" Harry shouted continuing the ceremony.
"Is it bad?" Karl asked Kevin in a worried voice.
Kevin looked at Karl for a second then smiled softly.
"Don't worry. It is good. It is just too good to be true." Kevin said softly as he patted Karl on the head.
"What is it?" Karl asked with a frown as he backed a bit to dodge the patting.
Kevin's lips twitched at Karl's actions but he continued.
"You have unforeseen physical and mental potential. I wanted to tell you that I will help you form the aura core after the ceremony so come to the training grounds." Kevin said as he looked at Harry calming down Raun's nerves.
"And what about a mana ring?" Karl asked.
"Mana ring? Are you trying to become a mage?" Kevin asked with a frown.
"No. I am going to become an arhat." Karl said, his tone showing his resolve.
Kevin stared at Karl for a few minutes with a huge frown covering his face.
"Who told you about becoming an arhat?" Kevin asked finally breaking the silence.
"What does it matter?" Karl retorted.
"Do you know that becoming arhat is considered.. the worst one can do?" Kevin asked back.
"I know but I want to become one. That is it." Karl said as he turned back and went to sit back.
Taner was now standing and sitting on the corner of the first row.
'Why is he coming here!!' Taner thought as he saw Karl cross the seat where he was sitting earlier and come towards him.
Karl stood in front of Taner and just glared at him which made Taner's heartbeat faster.
Taner quickly looked at Kevin but he was not even looking there.
"You want me to do this with you everyday?" Karl asked coldly.
Hearing Karl's words, Taner's eyes became watery as he stood up and started to get on his fours.
But as soon as he got on his knees, Harry shouted his name which made his face brighten as he jumped up and ran towards the capsule.
Karl sighed as he looked at Taner's action and just walked back to the area he was previously sitting at as he waved his hand to Raun asking him to hurry.
"How was it?" Karl asked as Raun sat beside him.
"Father said it was good." Raun said as he scratched the back of his head shyly.
The ceremony continued till it was evening.
The time everyone stayed inside the machine was only two or three minutes max only Karl being the exception.
Also, every child's parent also followed the kid to the stage but there were a few exceptions like Taner.
'Is his father not here or not coming because of what I did?' Karl thought as he looked back at Taner who was now sitting on the other corner of the last row, barely visible to Karl.
"From tomorrow onwards, everyone child present here will go to the Children's Hall where your further studies will be done. This ends the ceremony." Kevin said as he disappeared from the spot.
As soon as everyone saw Kevin disappear they all stood up as the kids also stood up and went to their parents.
What only Raun noticed was that Karl had also disappeared along with Kevin.