Chapter 15 The First Trial (2)
“Dragon’s Crystal. Some of you may know it, and some may be hearing it for the first time. As the name suggests, it refers to the crystals that grow in the High Dragon’s Nest, specifically in the spawning cave where entry is generally not permitted.”
Deshkin continued his explanation about the Dragon’s Crystal.
It was not an artificially created artifact but crystals that grew attached to the walls of the cave where dragons laid their eggs.
All dragons returned to the High Dragon’s Nest when it was time to lay their hatchlings.
They entered the spawning cave to lay and incubate their eggs.
“When a hatchling breaks out of its egg, the magic power emitted by that small life bursts forth, shattering the crystals growing in the cave. The task you must now undertake is to shatter the crystals using your own mana.”
A legend held that the number of crystals shattered indicated the innate power of a newborn dragon.
However, only a dragon by birth could shatter hundreds of crystals right after hatching.
For humans, shattering even a single crystal was no easy feat.
In short, this trial aimed to measure the participants’ mana quantity and their ability to control it.
Perhaps sensing the trial’s difficulty, many participants’ expressions darkened.
‘It seems doable, though?’
But I was confident.
The Dragon Heart within my heart.
This thing had been repaying me lately for all the hardships I’d endured.
“Each room contains 50 crystals. Once everyone stands before their doors, the doors will open simultaneously, and you must inject your mana to shatter the crystals. If successful…….”
The rules were simple.
Shattering even one Dragon’s Crystal earned 20P.
The first to shatter a crystal received an additional 3P.
Thereafter, it proceeded by relative evaluation.
The person shattering the most out of 50 crystals received 5P.
2nd to 5th place earned 3P.
6th to 9th place got 1P in additional points.
“The time limit is three hours. Failure to shatter a crystal within this time will result in elimination.”
As soon as Deshkin finished, everyone froze.
No one murmured; their faces turned pale.
But I gathered Siriel, Kiyot, and others from our procession and whispered.
“Don’t just pour out mana recklessly, even if you’re confident in your quantity; think of drawing it out long and thin like a line.”
“……Like a nail?”
“Oh! Nice! Long and sharp, like a nail!”
It was the same principle as popping a balloon: easier to poke it with a nail than to smash it with a hammer.
Well, if you could wield an overwhelming amount of mana, it wouldn’t be an issue.
As I shared a quick tip with my allies, Deshkin spoke again.
As the previous winner, he understood our feelings well.
“I’ll demonstrate. Watch closely what I do.”
“Yes!”
“The crystals aren’t artificial, so their sizes vary. The doors are randomly assigned, so picking a good one is also a matter of luck.”
Deshkin placed a Dragon’s Crystal on the platform, the size of an apple.
He, too, wore the armor of the White Dragon Knights.
His breastplate bore the Adjak family emblem—a dragon breathing fire.
Beside it, a horizontal sword was engraved.
The mark of enduring the first stage of Heart Engraving.
Many Coming-of-Age Ceremony winners died from failing to withstand Heart Engraving, so Deshkin seemed to have notable aptitude.
I grew curious.
‘How pure is the mana emitted by someone who endured the first stage of Heart Engraving?’
Deshkin placed his hand on the apple-sized crystal.
And said.
“I’ll say upfront, it’s not easy with physical strength.”
Deshkin exerted all his strength at his fingertips.
His arm trembled, but the crystal didn’t budge.
“But if you infuse mana like this…….”
The crystal glowed like a light bulb.
The mana surging inside was visible.
After about a minute.
Clang!
The Dragon’s Crystal shattered.
The light trapped within burst out momentarily, and I felt mana radiating around.
“……That’s how it’s done.”
Sweat beaded on Deshkin’s forehead, likely from concentrating and drawing out mana instantly.
But despite his apparent exhaustion, the power of his mana was formidable.
“Wow, incredible.”
“Took about a minute, right?”
“That’s what it takes to win the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, huh?”
“No! Senior—no, Supervisor—did it after receiving Heart Engraving.”
“Even so, you’d need some strength to shatter a crystal…….”
As the astonished participants reacted, Deshkin spoke in a slightly grumpy tone.
“You’ve had it easy getting here, so shall we start now?”
* * *
“Take one each. You’ll use it throughout the trial, so handle it carefully.”
Deshkin distributed a watch to each participant.
[00 hours : 00 minutes : 00 seconds]
Deshkin clearly said ‘throughout the trial.’ Taking that as a clue.
‘Whatever the upcoming trials, there’ll be time limits.’
I focused hard to catch every hint.
“For the next 30 minutes, choose the door you want to enter.”
As Deshkin finished, all participants scattered in unison.
Some strained their eyes to gauge the crystals inside.
Others stared intently at the doors, perhaps with a related Tune.
Some emitted mana to find a Dragon’s Crystal that resonated with their own.
“This one’s mine. Get lost!”
“If that’s how it works, you should’ve stood here; why pick elsewhere and try to claim it?”
Fights over doors were common.
But I was relaxed.
As I said, I was confident.
I also told my temporary allies not to waste energy.
“Leave the size of the crystals inside to luck and practice drawing out your mana long.”
“Yeah!”
Everyone plopped onto the floor, manipulating their mana.
“Time’s up!”
Deshkin’s booming voice rang out.
Those who’d chosen doors stood before them.
Others approached the remaining doors.
“Enter.”
The doors opened automatically with Deshkin’s command.
I entered my room confidently.
“No, this is a bit much.”
Fifty watermelon-sized crystals surrounded me, like a cave.
Beep!
- Everyone, place your hands on the crystals.
As I touched a crystal, a cold sensation spread from my fingertips through my body.
- We’re monitoring each room from the supervisor’s office, but don’t overdo it until mana exhaustion. Begin!
My Dragon Heart was already churning fiercely.
I poured out mana with all my might.
* * *
[First Destroyer : Polarin Adjak]
[Time Taken : 4 seconds]
[Crystals Destroyed : 1]
A scream echoed through the supervisor’s office.
“4 seconds?”
“Makes sense? Hey, didn’t you inspect?”
“No time to inspect…… Argh!”
The supervisor twisted the trial clerk’s joint.
Even a supervisor couldn’t shatter a crystal in 4 seconds.
Tibou was lost in similar thoughts.
‘How long would it take me? Even with mana pre-gathered, over 10 seconds.’
Fortunately, except for Polarin Adjak’s crystal, no other crystals posed issues.
This gave the supervisors, staring at the monitors, more time to discuss.
“Did the trial leak?”
“How could it leak…… I only learned an hour ago.”
Tibou’s brow furrowed.
The first Coming-of-Age Ceremony in 300 years since Adjak’s disappearance.
Being chief supervisor for this monumental event wasn’t purely joyful.
Then, another loud voice came.
“Huh? Chief Supervisor, that guy…… instead of shattering another crystal, he’s absorbing mana.”
“Where? Show me!”
In a magic device resembling a modern monitor, I saw Polarin sitting cross-legged on the floor.
He still had 49 crystals left but showed no panic or joy, absorbing the overflowing mana in the room.
The light clusters escaping the crystals were visible through the screen.
Polarin absorbed every bit of mana within them.
‘That guy knows exactly what the Dragon’s Crystal is.’
Everyone in the supervisor’s office shared the same thought.
After some time.
[Second Destroyer: Soler Adjak]
[Time Taken: 39 minutes 24 seconds]
[Crystals Destroyed: 2]
“……Two at once?”
Those standing out began to emerge.
* * *
“Done.”
I absorbed all the mana that burst from the first Dragon’s Crystal.
The bright light illuminating the room vanished, and the mana density that filled the room when the crystal shattered stabilized.
Playing as the half-human, half-dragon Adjak, I learned that the idea of a newborn dragon’s strength being proven by the number of crystals it shatters is only half true.
True, more power means more crystals shattered, but absorbing the mana emitted from many crystals is key to building a foundation as a strong dragon.
It was just one crystal, but shattering and fully absorbing it made me feel both the quantity and quality of mana in my Dragon Heart increase.
I stood and placed my hand on the next crystal.
Clang!
Soon, the next crystal shattered.
I sat cross-legged again and began gathering the overflowing crystal energy in the room.
* * *
Soler fanned her collar with her hand as she stepped outside.
In the cramped room, concentrating mana suddenly made her body hot.
But the sight upon opening the door was thrilling enough to erase two hours of struggle.
“I’m number one!”
With about an hour left, Soler came out early.
[Soler Adjak]
[Crystals Destroyed : 20]
Though 30 crystals remained, Soler left without lingering.
‘Three years ago, a similar trial was held, right? The winner broke 16, I think. This should be safe!’
She hadn’t poured out all her strength, but it was enough.
The Coming-of-Age Ceremony was a long game.
Exhausting all her mana in the first trial could affect the next.
Elated, Soler jogged to the plaza, tireless, and flopped down.
In District 3, Dmong, she couldn’t even do this in her room due to the noble decorum drilled into her since childhood.
But during the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, she wanted to be different.
Unbeknownst to her, suppressed traits emerged.
Soler was still a girl, longing for freedom beyond nobility.
“Ouch.”
Brushing back her sweaty silver hair, Soler touched a bump on her forehead.
Her good mood vanished; she frowned, staring at the firmly closed doors.
Soler felt uneasy.
Her innate mana quantity and control had earned her genius status since childhood, but recently, an unexpected guy had struck her.
Until now, she’d only considered Keldric from District 1 and Balan from District 2 as rivals.
‘……No way that rookie broke more than 20.’
She had to prioritize competing with Keldric and Balan.
And in this Coming-of-Age Ceremony, she had to take first place.
Soler recalled the resolve she’d repeated for years.
Then, a door opened.
Soler sprang up, composing herself.
Her back straightened, and the sweat on her forehead dried.
“Keldric, you’re out.”
Jet-black hair and gleaming eyes.
Those eyes met Soler’s.
Keldric sat a short distance away.
Soon, another door opened.
This time, it was the supervisor’s office.
Deshkin, the first trial’s supervisor, approached them.
“Keldric, Soler. Already out? Impressive.”
“You broke one in a minute, so what’s that say?”
At Soler’s sharp remark, Deshkin chuckled.
Also from District 2, they’d occasionally interacted since childhood.
But there was no time for pleasantries.
Deshkin continued in a subdued tone.
“The special participants just arrived at Chilgong Fortress.”