Years had passed since Theo began his training with Ethan. After years of training conditioning and teaching fighting techniques to his possible successor, the time had finally come for the tests. 

Theo was already fifteen years old and was someone completely aware of all his goals. 

Capital of the Order, Grand Empire, Major Coliseum. 

Sitting in the waiting hall, he waited anxiously for his name to be called. Wearing a typical test suit, a thin, light plate armor, his anxiety was still evident. His amber eyes were the only part exposed under the visor of his helmet. 

'In here, I can use my elements, attribution and conjuration…' Theo pondered, remembering the rules that were explained. 

Being a test, participants had complete freedom to demonstrate their techniques and potential completely without worrying about the examiner, as he was a higher-level agent. 

'However, I can only use one of the elements, since they do not guarantee the participant's well-being in case of loss of control… It makes sense, since manipulating and controlling two elements requires a lot of experience. I will need to choose.' 

He had already partially made that choice. Theo had developed his proficiency in two elements, the first of which was fire. However, he immediately disregarded it. 

Excessive control to maintain a small flame requires perfect self-awareness of one's own energy. Because he has parts of the knowledge monopolized in the Great Orders, Theo still does not know what type of energy he has, nor the color of his core. 

However, during the ten years with Ethan, he developed the ability to control the elemental attribute (quantum). Thanks to this, he was able to control two distinct elemental attributes. 

'The battle is ending…' thought Theo. 'I'd better convert some of my energy into elemental attributes, so I don't suffer…' 

Like any deviant, Theo has more than one core. Of course, there is the main core determined by the color and type of energy, however, there is an internal system called chakras. 

An ordinary deviant, without any training, carries seven of these chakras; by sending the energy from the main nucleus to the secondary nuclei through the chakra channels, the energy is converted into an elemental attribute automatically. 

By emptying a portion of the core, Theo acquired enough for a long-lasting battle. 

'I hope I learn how to increase my reserves quickly in the gym. And I hope even more that it is not an external energy…' 

For Theo, energies such as ether and mana would be problematic, since they would depend on some artifact or external generation to increase their reserves. 

By meditating for five minutes, he managed to convert the values and generate enough elemental attribute, and furthermore, he condensed the energy so that it would not run out easily. 

"Theo Caesar," Etrbak, a man with a clipboard, called out at the end of the hallway at the entrance to the coliseum. "Please prepare yourself." 

Walking to Etrbak and looking at the coliseum arena, Theo saw the other participant being led to one of the gates. 

He feared the gravity of that confrontation… 

"Great grades on the written tests, huh… Hybrid deviant, two elemental attributes… Right. Chask, call Jackl," he asked another examiner, dressed in a suit and tie like Etrbak. 

For each classification of a deviant, there was a specific examinee: conjurer, attributer, and hybrid. Jackl was the hybrid examiner… 

Theo was aware that he would face a high-ranking deviant. 

"Okay… The rules are simple, challenger number 911. Those Velcro tabs on your armor determine whether you're participating, or if you've already been defeated." 

Another examiner stuck Velcro on Theo's armor; small circles varying in colors such as blue (for safe regions) and red (for critical regions). 

"If the examiner hits one red Velcro or five blue ones, you're out. However, if you hit all the examiner's Velcros, you'll be graded 100% and may receive a class promotion. Also, he won't use elemental powers unless you put your life at risk. Any questions?" 

"Can I use both of my attributes?" Theo asked. 

"Yes, you can. However, if you do not have control over a specific one, we recommend that you do not risk it. As you may already know, it can intervene, but its nuclear health is not under our responsibility." 

'Understanding your own limits is Vagus first lesson… And they're charging you from here…' Theo analyzed, looking at the coliseum. 

"With that in mind, you can go to the arena," said Etrbak. 

A steel-barred gate rose, opening the way for Theo. Taking a deep breath and steeling his mind, he took the first step. 

His grades on the theory test were perfect, so he was already guaranteed a place in some average academy. However, he wanted to aim for the big names… If possible, the biggest name. 

"This way," Chask called, pointing to a weapons rack beside the gate. 

Upon arriving in front of the support, the man entered the corridors before the gate closed. 

Swords, bows, spears, axes… All kinds of wooden weapons were on the rack. Without hesitation, Theo took up a wooden long sword. 

"Ready?" Etrbak asked over the loudspeaker. 

They both nodded yes. 

"Start!" 

Theo waited five seconds for his opponent to move. However, there was no sign of attack or hostility. Therefore, Theo decided to act. 

Carrying a vortex of wind in his hands, he launched it towards Jackl, causing the spell to collide with the ground and kick up sand. 

"Yeah… Fire and wind. But, I figured you would use the wind attribute," Jackl pondered, standing still and analyzing Theo's movements. 

He waited to see where Theo would emerge. However, appearing faster than Jackl anticipated, Theo appeared on his left, wielding the wooden sword and prepared to attack him horizontally. 

Jackl put his arms in front of his body, increasing his guard and demonstrating a defensive posture. Theo couldn't find any openings... 

'You only have one way out!' he thought, predicting that Theo would continue and hit his forearm. 

But Theo was bigger than that thought. 

Drawing back his sword, Theo used his right heel to pivot and change the direction of his body. Spinning around the examiner's back, he grabbed the hilt of his sword with both hands and prepared another strike, but on the side where Jackl's stance was open. 

The examiner acted quickly, jumping back before the sword collided with him. But, it was an even more advantageous move… 

The blade grazed his chest and made a vacuum sound. 

Drawing wind from his sword and feet, Theo created a wind thrust and charged toward the red Velcro on Jackl's heart. Analyzing the speed and intensity of Theo's attack, the examiner had no choice but to throw himself aside. 

Theo slid a few inches past Jackl and, turning to look at him again, he returned with a slanting cut. Shifting his spine back a little, Jackl easily dodged it. 

Continuing with the series of attacks, Theo did not allow the examiner any rest. 

"Aren't you going to let me breathe?" Jackl joked, seeing that Theo wouldn't let him counterattack easily. 

The challenger's response was silence, and more attacks. 

However, from his perspective, Theo was completely nervous… He was thinking about his next steps as he attacked, and that was a mistake… At any moment, a conflict between thinking and acting would determine his defeat. 

Still, his fighting style of pressuring the enemy was coming in handy. 

"Pressuring the enemy with clean, targeted attacks…" commented Mosper, the scout of the fifth-largest academy in Vagus; Viet. "It's a good mindset for an aspirant." 

"It could still be better," said Holper, a scout from the seventh-largest academy in Vagus; Honskner. 

"Don't you want to ask too much of a challenger, even if he's from a noble family?" 

"Nothing. Expectations should be even higher. Right, Rikard?" 

The scout from Wispells Academy, the largest in Vagus, remained silent as he watched the practical test. 

Tripping the examiner, Theo created a small implosion of wind and pulled Jackl towards him. 

'Oh… Is he pulling me with the force of the wind?' Jackl analyzed, trying to resist. A smile was sketched on his face. 'Too bad you have inferior control…' 

Just by placing his leg on the ground, Jackl managed to resist the force of the wind. Closing his left hand, which was creating that gale, Theo attacked the examiner again. 

But before every strike, every slash, and every direct move, Jackl dodged while boasting about his speed. He could see Theo's movements, almost as if the boy wasn't moving at all. 

Without the wind attribute, Theo was slow for that deviant's level. 

Realizing that attacking so many times was the same as throwing energy into the trash, Theo took a step back and adopted a defensive stance, shielding his left hand as he conjured a small fireball. 

'Energy is the fuel, wind would be the reaction…' he thought as he prepared himself. 

'Is he really going to try?' thought Jackl. 'If he's shown such an affinity for wind, it means he hasn't trained fire properly. At this rate…' 

The small sphere of fire created a flaming mist around Theo, casually reacting with the wind attribute the boy was using. 

'Two attributes at once?!' Rikard, out of all the scouts, was the only one to realize what Theo was doing. 'Damn… He's losing control…' 

Sparks of energy erupted around Theo's palm. Uncontrollably, the entire energy sphere collapsed. An explosion of light shot out from the center of the arena.