During his month of training, Zander made good use of training with all the council members and having a spar with each of them. Each time he fought one, a quest was given, and due to the level of the opponent with Vincent, Zion, Eldrick and Tempest, he received an instant level up reward for a victory and a loss of level if he lost.
Juno and Bruno fought individually, and Zander honestly thought if those two fought together, it would have been the toughest of the council.
None of them were easy fights, but Zander had trained hard his entire life with Mrs. Lydia and Mr. Woo and trained even harder after his parents passed.
He overpowered Vincent with magic and eventually trapped him in a corner. Vincent surrendered with a bow. He applauded Zander's ability to fight hand to hand, and Zander was glad he spent time learning more hand to hand combat from Tempest and Zion.
In his matches with Juno and Bruno, he simply just had more magical stamina, a wide variety of magical attacks and despite not getting a level up, he was awarded a chosen one skill point for defeating each of them, which could be used on the chosen one skill tab.
Eldrick and Zion both struggled with the fact that Zander could fly so quickly and was even faster on his feet. Everytime one of them got close to landing one of their special, unique skills or one of their magical attacks, Zander would simply partially transform the area he was going to be attacked, whether it out of Phoenix form, or two it, to avoid the attacks.
He had the most trouble with Tempest, as Tempest was quite patient with his tactical approach. Tempest was actually able to land a couple of good, solid hits, and he was the only one who closed the retractable roof, denying Zander access to sunlight and his ability to restore energy through it.
Zoey declined to fight, stating that it would be unfair for the process, which Zander didn't mind. He wanted to give Ethan a spar, but he actually thought Ethan would beat him, given that Tempest, the other unique Chimera, gave him the hardest time.
"Ping! New Quest received. Break Cyrus' new record. Reward: instant level up, 5 skill points and 5 stat points," the system stated as Zander readied himself to get into the VR pod.
"Woah, that's one heck of a reward, Zintan, I guess we can't fail, time to use those 5 level up stat points to health."
"Name: Zander Elrod. Rank. Adolescent Phoenix. Strength 22, Stamina 23, Endurance, 22, Agility, 24, Mana, 23. You have used 5 stat points on health. Health 300/300, Energy 390/390. Level 24, 1200/50,000 experience. No remaining skill points, no remaining chosen one skill points," Zander checked one more time, because it was very important for Zintan to monitor his health and energy.
Zander was grateful the system also naturally gave him stat points, even in health and energy. He had grown leaps in only 4 levels, adding 2 strength, 3 Stamina, 2 Endurance, 4 Agility and 3 mana.
He also gained 40 health and 40 energy, 10 points each level up. After using his precious chosen one skill points, he decided to use the four he had for a higher costing spell, and that spell was what he was going to use for this initial assessment.
At last, it was time for Zander to enter the VR pod.
The randomizer began counting up from F to E to D to C to B to A to S to SS and stopped on SS (0%).
The crowd, including the King and Queen sat in silence and awe and knew they were in for a show. Juno was still in the hospital corridor with Cyrus, who was sleeping peacefully and she held his hand, smiling.
"I hope he isn't mad at me. I didn't want to over score him and show favoritism or anything," Juno thought.
Sophie laughed on stage, to which she quickly covered her mouth, as the council and King and Queen shot her death stares but she couldn't help it and she quickly apologized.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but I only laughed because I'm just as shocked as all of you are, even more so if you think about it. I'm married to the man and didn't expect this," Sophie said in a polite tone, with a bow.
"Don't worry dear, he is the chosen one after all," the Queen said.
Zander noticed in the VR capsule that only S (0.1%), which must have recently accounted for Cyrus's victory and SS (0%) were lit up and SSS was blacked out with a (undiscovered) marking.
"Well that's a shame, wouldn't you say Zintan," Zander said with a smile.
"Indeed. I'm sure Theo is above SSS and I'm also certain he's the only one with that level of beasts and maybe some above that. It would have been good to gauge your new skill in a safe environment like this," Zintan added.
The King spoke into the microphone, as Zander had slammed the SS option, "Young Zander Elrod, aka the chosen one, has chosen the highest option we have, as we have not yet discovered a SSS rank beast. Fortunately, we do have 5 different beasts at the SS rank. Best of luck!"
Next the randomizer chose the climate Zander dreaded the most, "arctic wonderland," and Sophie gulped, which didn't go unnoticed.
"Something wrong, Sophie?" the Queen asked.
"Let's just say we haven't figured out what extreme cold does to our bodies. Temperatures over 100 give us a stat boost, so I'm guessing there will be some sort of stat penalty for the cold weather as phoenixes are creatures who thrive in sunlight and heat," Sophie explained.
"Oh well, still stick to the plan Zintan, no matter what happens," Zander explained and Zintan agreed.
Zander closed his eyes to meditate as best he could, as he didn't really care which beast he would fight. He found out as the VR capsule opened the crowd sat in silence as the King stated,
"Zander will face Cerberus, the mythological beast falsely rumored to guard the underworld. Although the origin story is false, we were able to capture Cerberus, who goes by the name of 'Nightmare,' during an expedition near Phantoms Keep.
It took the entire council at the time, including my Father and Mother to subdue him, so Zander, at any sign of trouble please simply surrender and we will get you out of there safely."
Zander simply walked over to the monolith. Zoey touched and altered a much longer incantation than normal, and a black and gold teleporter appeared, to the oohs and awes of the crowd.
Zoey did not follow right away, but realized she had to, despite Zander's warning as she was the only way back.
"Ping! You are in freezing temperatures. All 5 stats are reduced by 50%. Ping! You are in sunlight, you will only regain 1 energy per minute due to the cold temperatures. Ping! All chosen-one skills are not affected by the weather."
Zander, who held no weapons, wore the clothing designed by Thomas Franklin that was designed to keep him warm and withstand heat. He also put on a hoodie of the same design before entering.
He stood in the freezing temperatures, trying not to shiver as he awaited the countdown. He asked Zoey one more time if she could teleport back and come and get him after, to which she responded no.
"Stay behind me and stay in the barrier I cast at all costs, do not move, even if I die." Zander said.
With a nod, the timer counted down.
When it reached zero, Zander used his Phoenix eyes and saw Nightmare walking, rather slowly, to his prey.
The crowd stood in shock as Nightmare was around 30 feet tall, all black with three heads. Each head had different colored eyes, the left were purple, the middle green, and the right red.
As he came into view, Zander told Zintan, "Watch my health and energy, it gets below 20, switch and stop the spell. If he's still alive, surrender immediately. Otherwise enjoy the cheers, it's your moment too."
"I'm ready, let's do this!" Zintan shouted inside Zander.
"Ping! New Quest: Defeat Nightmare. Rewards: 10 chosen-one skill points, 100 health and 100 energy. Failure: loss of a random skill. Good luck."
Zander cast, "Ultimate barrier," on Zoey and a Golden barrier surrounded her.
"Ultimate barrier will cost 5 energy per second and will provide an invincible barrier."
Zander simply walked forward, put out both his hands and shouted, "Wrath of Solace,"
"Wrath of Solace has been activated. You will lose 20 health points and 20 energy every second while this spell is cast."
From the sky, a golden meteor shower, containing thousands of large, flaming meteors were flying down rapidly from the sky.
Nightmare had nowhere to run and nowhere to go. He simply howled in agony. He was able to swat some of the meteors away, but due to the sheer amount, speed and weight, it was only a matter of seconds before his body began to disintegrate.
Zintan had switched with Zander just in time, as he kept an eye on his health and energy bar and when it reached 20 health and 40 energy, he switched, knowing that 14 seconds did the job.
He immediately stopped the spell, and all the meteors vanished at once. He also removed the barrier and walked toward the clearest looking beast core anyone had ever seen.
"Ping! Quest complete. Defeat Nightmare. 10 chosen-one skill points awarded. Your health is now 120/300 and your energy is now 130/490."
"That thing is so beautiful," Zander said from the white space Zintan usually stayed in.
"Indeed it is, I wonder if it can be used to help this Kingdom in some way?" Zintan thought.
"That's a great idea, I was going to see if it could be forged into armor or a weapon but helping Solace is a much better idea," Zander said.
"I'm switching. I don't like being this drained and cold while having to use your body," Zintan said as he switched with Zander, who turned around, with his grey eyes, crystal in hand and simply bowed, walked to Zoey and teleported back.
"Can't you still feel it anyway?" Zander teased.
"Yup but you're the human you do the walking," Zintan and Zander both laughed at that comment.
When they returned, there was simply dead silence. Zander met Sophie, who ran up and jumped on him, giving him a big hug and a kiss.
"That was amazing. It looked so beautiful, yet so powerful at the same time. Is that one of your chosen-one skills?" Sophie whispered.
Zander nodded and asked to be taken to the medical bay to be restored. That was the only reason he tested the skill in the first place. He knew he would be fully restored.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, let us all pray to Solace and thank the Blessed four for the three heroes we had set record after record in the trial!
This is a great day for Solace, and the scores are all in, no need for the dramatics, Zander scored a perfect 50/50 per every council member and I wholeheartedly agree with this decision," the King said with a grand smile.
The crowd cheered, but were still mind blown as to what they had just witnessed.
After he was restored, he went over to Cyrus, who was awake, and he said, 'you're SSS in my book, and you and Sophie, there's no one else I'd rather have by my side.'
The camera and microphone picked this up, and the crowd finally roared and cheered and the King and Queen greatly respected Zander's humility.
Ethan came over for the interview and Zander kept it short and sweet.
"I'd like to thank Solace, my parents, my beautiful wife Sophie, Zintan and Scarlett, the Hart family for the warm reception, the council for their gracious scores and my best friend, Prince Cyrus, for being a great best man and an even better friend. I hereby donate this SS beast core to the King and Queen of Haven in hopes it will advance the technology. My only ask is that the noble trial take place tomorrow, as I promised my wife a date," Zander said to the crowd.
The King and Queen both literally welled up with tears in their eyes and said to the people,
"This is graciousness of the chosen one of Solace, who considers our son family. We will adhere to his wish and we will enjoy the noble trials tomorrow," the King said.
"Ping! Quest Complete. Beat Cyrus's record Reward: instant level up. 5 stat points and 5 skill points have been awarded. You are now level 25. Evolution process will begin."
The camera caught Sophie running to hold Zander's hand after he burst into flames. He was laying naked, the camera blurred his private parts out, writhing in pain and for the first time, screaming in agony.
"You promised me a date, don't you dare fail an evolution now. You're progressing too quickly," Sophie said with tears flowing from her eyes.
"I need a medic right now, his heart has stopped!" Sophie screamed in horror.
It was Ethan who came pouncing forward, from a good 50 feet away. He put both hands on Zander, praying in a language the others couldn't understand. He was pushing some of his golden lifeforce into Zander, and could hear Zintan.
"He needs heat and he needs Cyrus to shock his heart when his temperature gets to 140 degrees Fahrenheit," Zintan said calmly.
Ethan gestured for Sophie and Cyrus to come over.
"Miss Sophie, your husband needs heat. Do what you can to help," Ethan said.
Without hesitation, Sophie transformed into her Phoenix form and laid on top of Zander while Ethan continued praying. She emitted all the fire she could and after about 30 seconds Zintan told Ethan, "Cyrus, now,"
"Prince Cyrus, please shock his heart with electricity, now." Ethan stated.
Zander's heart restarted and Cyrus, Juno, Sophie, Ethan, and the medical team escorted Zander to Cyrus's house, on his request and they had a medical bed setup.
It was now up to Zander to wake up.