Reinhard walked across the snow-covered expanse toward the mysterious sword. He stared at the wisps and light spreading from the sword, even noting how it seemed to shine brighter the closer he got to it. To his surprise the snow around seemed to get thinner as he got closer until there was only only a little bit.
When Reinhard finally reached the sword, he extended his hands toward the hilt. The moment his fingers made contact with the cold metal, sharp pain exploded through his body and mind.
It felt like his body was set on fire and the most intense headaches he ever experienced. He gasped as his vision began blurring and agony made him almost fall to the ground.
A voice suddenly rang through his consciousness. Either you pull the sword out or be buried in the frozen world.
Then instantly, the entire world began to tremble violently.
The ice at the edges of the vast clearing started cracking and breaking apart with sounds like thunder. Above and beyond the edge, the sky began fracturing and breaking into pieces that revealed an endless void.
Reality itself was collapsing, piece by piece.
The sky continued breaking down while the snow area that Reinhard was standing on continue shattering. The chunks of snow and ice faded away into nothingness slowly with the pieces in the sky fading away as they fell.
But Reinhard ignored the chaos surrounding him.
Reinhard gritted his teeth against the pain and began pulling on the sword with everything he had. He felt the weapon slowly rising up but he also felt resistance as if the weapon was rooted into the earth itself. He tightened his hold on the sword as he continued pulling while the pain intensified through his body.
As he struggled with the blade, countless images began flashing before his eyes in rapid succession.
Reinharn saw warriors in ancient armor, kings on golden thrones, people kneeling in muddy fields, children playing in the river. Then the images began coming faster and faster to the point he couldn't even process them anymore. He saw a torrent of lives and moments flashing past him as he continued pulling.
Then came the countless voices echoing in his mind. Some were begging, others were praising and cheering, another set were pleading, others were screaming, and then he heard sobbing and roars.
The voices grew louder and louder as he continued pulling on the sword. As the sword was halfway up, cracks began appearing across Reinhard's body like spider webs.
They spread over his skin, through the cloth mask that covered his face, and across his uniform. The fissures seemed to glow with the same black-blue energy similar to the sword light.
Around him the area continued collapsing with huge chunks of the snowy plain falling into the voice. Soon the area became a small patch of land with pure darkness swirling around him.
The voices in his head continued to grow, with it feeling like those people were around him and speaking.
But Reinhard continued pushing through, even knowing the pain can go away if he just let go of the sword. His muscles strained as his grip on the sword tightened to the point it added to his pain as the sword was almost out. Then as the voices reach loud enough that he couldn't hear even the breaking down of the world around.
Reinhard released a roar as he finally pulled the sword out of the ground with all of his strength and will. Just as he was almost swallowed by the void with the little land around.
Instantly a massive column of black-blue light exploded upward from the blade, illuminating the void. Then a burning shockwave of light-pink energy burst outward from where he stood, pushing away the encroaching void. The wave spread in all directions, turning the darkness into a world of light-pink.
Then a familiar voice rang out in his mind. You passed the trial. But this is only the beginning. Remember what I said before, be more selfish...
Reinhard's eyes grew dazed as he blinked once before opening it to see the divine being on its eight-legged horse staring down at him from somewhere above. The figure's presence was even more overwhelming but also warmer and comforting.
My name is Odin, the Allfather and Hanged King. The being known as Odin says softly to him.
Reinhard blinked again and then opened his eyes.
Suddenly he was seeing a symbol floating in the air before him, a black-blue horned helmet with a single crimson-blue glowing eye. Above the helmet was a long spear while below were two swords crossed in an X pattern and below that were three letters.
SSS.
Reinhard eyes widened in disbelief at the sight that his beast was an SSS-class beast. The highest possible ranking, reserved for beasts at the pinnacle of the Throne Of Myth.
But this made him wonder, who was the being known as Odin? And what was his myth to be rated so highly.
Then Reinhard closed his eyes as darkness took over before he opened it once more.
He blinked to find himself suddenly back in the academy courtyard, kneeling on the familiar stone pavement. His hand flew to his chest, expecting to find the gaping hole that had sent him into the trial realm, but there was nothing.
His uniform was intact, and energy was rushing through his body like a river of liquid fire.
Around him, he could hear the sounds of other students experiencing their own returns from the trial realms. Some were gasping for air, others were screaming in terror or pain, and still others were crying tears of relief or despair.
The courtyard was filled with the sounds of dozens of young people processing whatever they had experienced in their individual trials.
Reinhard flinched as sharp pain suddenly flared across the back of his hand. He looked down to see the same symbol from his trial materializing on his skin. The horned helmet with its single glowing eye and crossed swords beneath.
But this time it appeared in stark black ink, no glowing eye and only one of the swords was shaded in with black-blue coloring.
This must be my beast symbol… Reinhard thought before a line shined behind him and he glanced back to see. The SSS wording appeared behind before it began fading away as he blinked his eyes.
"Reinhard Grimr."
He turned to see Rosaria approaching, her expression completely blank despite the chaos surrounding them in the courtyard. Other students were still processing their returns - some clutching their heads in confusion, others examining new symbols on their hands with wonder or dismay.
"Come with me," she said simply.
Reinhard glanced around the courtyard one more time.
Teachers and academy staff were moving between the applicants, checking on their conditions and documenting their beast classifications. People in white uniforms were attending to students who appeared to be in distress or injured from their trials.
Or worst.
Reinhard nodded and followed behind Rosaria, who walked past the sounds of crying and celebration with complete indifference. Her heels clicked rhythmically against the stone as they left the courtyard behind.
They passed through the academy's grand halls, their footsteps echoing in corridors lined with tall windows framed by ornate stonework. Decorative iron curved along staircases, and gas lamps cast warm light across marble floors.
They walked through the main hall columns and passed the grand staircase that swept upward in graceful curves. Rosaria led him to an elevator cage of iron and brass, its operator nodding respectfully as they ascended.
When the elevator doors opened, they stepped into a corridor lined with mahogany paneling and portraits of stern-faced individuals in academic robes. Crystal chandeliers hung at regular intervals, their light refracting off surfaces.
Rosaria stopped at an imposing door marked with brass nameplate and pushed it open without ceremony.