There was no other way to explain how Jet had fired off those multiple spells in quick succession, and was able to keep it up to the point where the man couldn’t even put up a fight.
Zephyr didn’t want to end up like that man. So he really hoped there was a general standard he could use to accurately gauge a person’s strength before a fight even began. Though some part of him doubted it.
Zephyr sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. ’We might have to take our time to create a standard that we can use to at least get a rough idea of other people’s strengths, Aegis.’
I’ll get started on that. In the meantime, how about we get a gauge on your strength.
"What, like right now?" Zephyr said out loud. "I’m not even fully healed yet."
I believe this is the best time to test yourself. Jon has just left in a state of excitement to report about you being a Pathfinder. In a few minutes, depending on who Jon reports to, this place would be full of higher-ups who want to see if what Jon claims is true. From then on, it’s safe to say you would not have as much freedom as you’ve been given so far. Even if they claim you would be free, with the way Jon weighted a Pathfinder, you would always be watched. If only for your safety. It would be a very sensible decision on their part.
So, again, if there are abilities you don’t want anyone to find out, this is the best time to test them out.
Zephyr immediately shook off the covers, climbing off the bed despite not feeling at a hundred percent— In fact, barely past fifty. But it was better to take this chance now rather than when he had people watching him at all times.
He quickly grabbed a cloak and a few coins of the local currency from his bag, and walked out of his quarters while still adapting to his stiff body.
It was dark outside, still at the very early hours of the morning. It looked like the worst time for him to have stepped out, but he kind of preferred it this way. He already knew a place he could test out spells as he pleased. During his talks with Rita a few days ago, she had offhandedly mentioned that the platforms with tournament arenas had private training rooms where people could pay money to try out skills they didn’t want anyone to see. So that was his destination. The cover of darkness only helped him even more.
He left Jon’s compound, keeping his head down and walking fast enough that he covered ground quickly, but not too fast that it was weird and drew attention.
After walking briskly for a long while, Zephyr finally reached the platforms where the tournament arenas were, cursing Jon for having his house so far away from the main platforms.
There were still a few people moving about here and there. Most were students, while some others were adults, nightcrawlers and early risers, either coming from a night session or just arriving early like him.
He quickly entered the arena on the platform he had picked randomly, moving in the general direction everyone else was, and careful not to show his face much without being suspicious-looking about it.
He paid a fee just like the rest of them and was given a room number. He had two hours before he had to pay another fee, or leave the private room.
Zephyr found his room— number 23, and quickly entered.
"Phew... made it." He let out a sigh of relief, before getting down to business immediately. He might have paid for two hours, but he knew he had less than that.
By now, Jon was probably discussing him with a higher-up, probably Grandmaster Oswald. And the old man didn’t look like someone who was likely to wait around till the day broke fully before coming down to check on him together with Jon.
Zephyr scanned the training room. It was very basic and straightforward but had exactly what he needed. Dummies of various sizes lined the opposite side of the room. They were built solidly with some kind of special stone material, with concentric circles for target practice drawn on their chests. The dummies also had intricate runes on strategic points that Zephyr could tell were meant to help reinforce their structure and also get...readings?!
A standard! This was a standard right here!
’Aegis, mirror this standard!’ Zephyr quickly sent a thought. ’Record how they measure damage points and raw power so we can draw reference!’
Acknowledged. Commencing data capture,’ Aegis replied promptly. Begin with low power attacks to set a baseline, host.
Zephyr nodded, taking a deep breath and stretching his stiff joints and muscles, before conjuring a very simple fire arrow spell and letting it fly weakly at the dummy. It barely made a sound as it hit, causing a section of the wall behind it that had various markers ranging from one to a hundred, to light up, barely reaching the ’one’ mark.
About 0.4% damage. Aegis stated. Try replicating the exact level of power again. I’m recording your mental readings as you try to cast the spell with that level of power.
’Alright.’ Zephyr tried again, the same way he had previously.
0.33% Aegis reported.
’Not what I was going for.’ Zephyr shook his head, trying again. This time he tried to be very conscious about it. He let the fire spell fly again.
’Closer.’ Zephyr nodded, trying again. And again. And again. He tried for a total of thirteen times repeatedly before Aegis prompted him to move on to another power level. This time, the maximum he could go. To test his limits, and to also get a gauge on the higher levels of the meter.
He closed his eyes, visualizing the fire arrow spell, but denser and hotter... way denser and hotter. It materialized right above his hand, brimming with energy, but he wasn’t satisfied. He needed even more. His brows furrowed in concentration as he decided to shrink the spell, compressing it further and further till it shrunk into something so tiny, it had totally lost any resemblance to an arrow. It was now a small white dot of pure fire energy, radiating intense burning heat. The pressure built up as Zephyr visualized even more fire being addedto the spell, making it begin to oscillate madly from the insane pressure.
Host! I recommend to release that spell immediate—
Zephyr let the spell fly.
The concentrated fire spell whizzed across the breadth of the room nearly instantly, leaving a visible trail in the air and an eerie after-sound of gases deforming abruptly behind it. It blasted a hole through the dummy like it wasn’t there, continuing on to hit the heavily reinforced stone wall behind it with an explosive boom that shook the room violently and sent shards of rocks scattering in the air at dangerous speeds.
"FUCK!!" Zephyr yelled over the noise and ruckus he had caused, falling on his butt from the recoil of the spell. He never expected it to be this dangerous and overkill. He had only wanted to go as far as he could to make the meter go as high as possible.
But right now, the wall with the meter had nearly been blasted to smithereens, while the dummy, which had surprisingly suffered less damage, had a glowing red-hot hole right through its chest, dripping molten rock onto the ground.
As the dust and shakes settled, Zephyr stared at the chaos he had wreaked, "Yeah... if anyone was having trouble finding me, they for sure aren’t anymore..."