At that moment, the instructor shut down the machine.
"You failed to manifest your True Soul Weapon."
The instructor's blunt words cut through the air. His voice carried no pity, not even a shred of warmth.
"Step aside."
Lucien gave a faint nod, the realization that the demon went back on his words did not shock him.
He walked back to Arthur, steady but slower than usual.
"Next."
The man called.
Arthur did not move immediately, instead his gaze followed Lucien.
Arthur had known that this would happen. He knew that Lucien would be unable to awaken his True Soul Weapon, it went the very same way in the game as well.
Arthur already knew what would happen.
But, he didn't expect Lucien to act like this after realizing.
Arthur had thought Lucien wouldn't even care at all, that was the way it felt in the game-and while it seemed like his demeanor was still the same, it was clear to Arthur that Lucien wasn't acting the same way he did when he went up there.
He definitely had his failure to awaken the True Soul Weapon on his mind.
"Did something happen?"
Art asked.
Lucien looked up, and for a fraction of a second Arthur thought he would reply honestly.
"It's nothing."
'Yes, there's definitely something wrong.'
Lucien always ended each sentence with "young master" to annoy Arthur, the lack of the title in his words were more than enough proof to get it over with.
"Next!"
The instructor called harshly.
'But, he'll get over it soon enough.'
Lucien wasn't the type of person to dwell in the past.
He always moved forward, driving on with his ultimate goal in mind.
Arthur walked towards the machine with a casualness that didn't quite reach his eye.
To everyone who saw him, he looked calm, prepared and even arrogant. His face was relaxed and his movements were deliberate.
However, underneath it all he was hiding his anxiety, his heart pounded so hard that he felt that other people could hear it.
"You know what to do."
The instructor said flatly, already moving the crystalline tubes into place.
"Now, are you ready?"
"....Yes."
If it was possible, Arthur would have said he wanted a few more minutes to prepare.
The man turned it on, the machine humming to life.
Arthur closed his eyes, preparing for what was about to come next.
Then it hit him like a delayed reaction.
Contrary to his expectations, the machine did not send essence into his body.
Instead he felt a surge of emotions.
Hatred.
Rage.
Sadness.
Disgust.
All hit him with the force of a freight train.
He dug his teeth into his lips to stop himself from screaming out in pure rage. He pushed back the tears that threatened to fall.
The world blurred around him, fading into nothingness.
His essence began leaking out, it was as if his body could no longer contain the essence in him.
"Control it! Don't allow it to move freely! Direct it into your hands and form a weapon!"
The instructor shouted.
However, Arthur didn't hear the man's ramblings, the emotions were suffocating.
Arthur's breathing turned ragged.
Instinctively, he tried directing the essence into his arm.
"Control it!! Control it!!"
The instructor shouted.
This time, Arthur heard him, but he didn't want to control it, his own essence didn't even seem interested in listening to him.
He forced the essence down into the grip of his arm, forcing it to take the shape he wanted it to take.
At first, the energy resisted, refusing to be bound. His veins burned, his skin pricked with static and it felt like his essence was going to make him explode.
At that moment, the instructor shut the machine down.
The swirling blue essence had formed a shield around him, pretending everyone from seeing Arthur.
"Of course." The man turned the machine off. "Always one fool who's a natural at trying to kill himself."
The instructor shook his head, his tone carrying his irritation as he waited for the essence blocking the view to die down.
—Clang!
Just as the view finally cleared a metallic clang sounded, and a powerful wind exploded outward.
Even the instructor was pushed back by a step.
"I did it."
Arthur's chest heaved with every breath, his hand trembling.
The small crystalline tubes had already come off.
And in his grip was massive katana with a long and broad black blade, essence overflowing from it's steel like running water.
"...."
The instructor was left silent.
His jaw dropped.
The people who were still waiting for their turn showed various reactions.
Perhaps it was from the sheer width and length of the blade, or maybe it was because of the overpowering essence radiating from it.
The instructor quickly brought out a golden card from his pockets, examining the weapon in Arthur's hands.
"What is it?"
Arthur huffed.
The instructor had not brought out this card when the other two awakened their True Soul Weapon.
Arthur wasn't sure if he should feel proud or uneasy.
The weapon was so special that the instructor had even brought out an appraisal card to examine it.
And that made Arthur feel a wave of uneasiness.
The pride he had felt when awakening his True Soul Weapon dissipated, replaced by a sense of unease.
"Is there a problem?"
Arthur finally asked.
".... I'm sorry."
The instructor finally said.