Legend of Keys: Huntik's Adventure In Paradise

Part II: Physical Exam

The gymnasium was jaw-dropping. A place wide enough to fit millions of people with ceilings so high, it rivaled mountains.

Master Ajax lays out the Exam. " Listen up brats! The first exam was about intelligence. This exam is about physical capabilities. Which is the ability to enhance your body's capabilities with magical energy. What we call body magic. You are to jump or scale this rocky wall, swim across the great 5-mile lakes, and make it through the training woods toward the field. Where your very last Exam will begin. Do you all understand?"

Everyone yelled with excitement." Yes, Master Ajax!!"

He cast a wind spell. " Wind cast- explosive air bubble." Creating a large spherical pocket of air to pop. The large sound signals the start of the exam.

Apollon took the lead. He remembered what Ueman taught him.

*Flashback*

Ueman and Apollon were in their backyard. In an open field.

Ueman surged mana throughout his body with intensity. "You're very fortunate to have an amazing teacher for body magic. Magic itself is both natural and a skill. There are three criteria to perform magic. It is control, change, and manipulation. When it comes to learning control. Body magic is a great gateway."

Ueman explained that mana energy flows through a network in the body. It's pumped by tube-like organs located at the joints and the neck. Once a person learns to manipulate their mana organs. They could learn to control and release mana energy.

Inside mana organs, there are import and export ports. If you simply stand still and meditate. You can feel them open and close. By closing the export ports you could increase the storage of mana within certain parts of your body. The opposite happens when you close your imports. Releasing the mana energy flowing through or stored up. This will naturally increase your physical capabilities. When it comes to coating your body. It's far more difficult.

Apollon felt the mana energy flow through him. A light tingling feeling that encompasses every inch of his body. " How do you close the ports ?" He asks.

Ueman flow in magic felt powerful and natural. "Both export and import are easier for beginners to strain a bit to get an imaginative feeling. Both have to be mental but with different thinking."

Ueman begins showing off weird movements with his hands to show a demonstration. "Import closing is like stretching your arms and Export closing is like clenching your fist. Then think of that as you progress throughout your whole body."

Apollon nods and does the same.

*Flashback ends*

Apollon is in the lead near the top. His friends are far but close behind. He looks down and saw someone not trying. Not climbing or hyper jumping between the huge rocks. Helio's eyes of burning flames could be seen from far up. Apollon ignores him and rushes to be the first on top. Once he stepped on the top of the wall. He sensed someone just stood the same time as he did. He turned to see a dark brown complexion and the same eyes he saw before.

Apollon was shocked." How did you hyperjump that high?"

" Just a little practice. Not the most surprising thing." Helios said with cockiness.

Both fall at the same time. Enforcing the legs with mana energy. Master Ajax create swirling winds to surround them. To decrease the impact a little. Priestess were on stand-by just in case of anything fatal.

Once they reach the ground. They landed safely with no injuries. Apollon opens his eyes. He laughs and stands up.
Everyone was in relief.

Both of them race towards the lake. Helio was much faster using mana energy to increase his speed. He's the first to dive struggles into the lake. Apollon does the same, but feels a light pain in his legs. He kept on going and amplifies his arms and legs to dash through.

As that's going on. Many are coming from the walls. Diving into the waters. It took no time for others to catch up to him. Few of them with gills on their neck.

He thought from the many times he took strict swimming lessons from Ueman in the rushing rivers. He would be unbeatable, but he's mediocre. Compare to the others that dash by him. Once Apollon reaches the other side. He was a bit tired out. Needing to take his breath.

He couldn't stop to rest now. He rushes out the back door, and into the forest. Filled with traps at every turn.

Many mages were already caught in gruesome traps. Trails of blood or broken bones. It seems the priestesses will be working overtime.

Suddenly a large bang was heard from afar. Anyone could see the blackest cloud of smoke race into the sky. This causes Apollon to be caught off guard. Stepping on a wired trap. He was swooped up by Lycaon. Before the trap hits him with flying knives. He was only left with a scratch.

Flora and Fauna weren't too far ahead and join the boys. Flora quickly took a look at his wound. Apollon explains his situation with his legs. Everything from scratch and the pain.

Flora cast a spell to help. Shevlay his led flat. "Mystical healing plants."

A spell that quickly grew plants to be used for healing purposes. She uses them to pierce into his legs, and connected to his vein. It then wrapped around his bones. To help heal the bone fracture. For Apollon, the feeling of pain was replaced with the feeling of discomfort.

Lycaon got him up slowly. He seems fine to move around. As if nothing has happened. Flora warns him not to put any extreme force on his legs for a while. The group rushes through the forest. Each one is on high alert. Lycaon and Fauna trigger traps with throwing knives to clear off paths. Dodging bombs, launched knives, electric and sharp wires, spellbinds, and much more.

They soon ran into a huge Blazing path with smoke freshly rising. Through the smokey view and ash path. Someone was standing alone on the field.

A mage appeared behind them." Helio is always a show-off, but that's what makes him special. I'm Nile by the way. A friend of Helio."

Nile cast a water spell. "Water cast: great water wave." He manipulates the water in the area to create a large wave to cool down the ground. It consequently spread wet ash further.

He runs off to the field and the group joins him.