"Oh. That. Coincidentally, we're 1 member short for the team we are fielding to the Triannual Mecha Tournament. I told them that we won't be participating unless we find a student with an RPL score of 95.

And because they have a lot of bonuses riding on the success of our academy in the Triannual Mecha Tournament, they have been frantically searching for someone like you for the past two years. That's probably why they are so ecstatic.

Of course, there are probably a few who were overjoyed sincerely for the country and for the academy because we've found yet another powerful Ace Pilot candidate, but for most of them.. Ha! They're probably happy for their wallets." Bruce barked out a laugh.

"But I am already participating in the Triannual Mecha Tournament with the Whitefrost Clan. And I won't abandon them for the academy." I said resolutely.

"I expected as much." Bruce nodded unworriedly. "That's alright. There are many competitions in the tournament, and I am only concerned about the Inter-School Tournament. You can represent the Whitefrost Clan in all the other tournaments, and represent our academy in the Inter-School Tournament.

Truthfully, even without you, I have the utmost confidence that our academy will still get first. Leaving that final spot open for a 95-RPL student was only my strategy to get all the staff members to give their best in their search. Afterall, the Ancestor will not accept anyone below 95 RPL, and it is ridiculously difficult to find someone with such a high RPL. And even if we find such a person, that person needed to pass the character test as well. It really was a tall order."

"Character test?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "I don't remember taking any character tests."

"Character is not formally tested. But that's the first and most intensive test that every student went through today." Bruce looked at me slyly and said. "You think your actions throughout the entire entrance exam went unnoticed? You probably did something good to catch the attention of the Elders. If not, little Shella wouldn't have brought you here."

"I see." I nodded in understanding.

historical

"What did you do, though?" Bruce asked curiously.

"Well.. I fought with the Longs and broke Victor Long's hands twice. I insulted the heck out of Elder Harris and made the entire Long Clan attack me and then run away in fear. I'm not sure where in all that I passed your character test." I answered in an amused voice.

"Hahahaha! Fought with the Longs not once, but twice? You must be a great defender of the weak. AND if even Elder Harris that grumpy old coot got involved, you must have really dealt a lot of damage to Victor Long." Bruce chuckled as he immediately read in between the lines and accurately deduced the real situation.

"But whatever the case was, you're here now, and if you're able to pass the Ancestor's tests, we'll finally be able to take another step towards reaching our full strength. Make sure to do your best in the test, and do not give up whatever the cost!" Bruce advised me.

"What is the test like?" I couldn't help but ask.

"It's different for everyone. But it will find and reveal the deepest and darkest side of your soul." Bruce's eyes glazed very slightly for a quick moment as he shuddered in recollection of his own test. "It will be up to you to face it and deal with it."

I looked at him wordlessly and withheld my judgement.

I barely knew Bruce at that point, but from what I had gathered, he was a person of strong character. If even he still had scars after taking the test so many years ago, then the test must be quite something indeed.

I glanced at Jeanette Wen and saw her face turn grim as well at the mention of the Ancestor's test.

"The test will be a real challenge mentally and emotionally. The risk of trauma is extremely high. In fact, it is almost certain that you will be scarred for life after the test. I am being extremely serious here. You will come out of this test with a trauma and an emotional scar of some sort.

I will only ask this once, think carefully before you answer. Do you want to take the test to join the Blood Moon?" Bruce Pang asked me seriously.

I was ten years old, and full of confidence in myself.

Emotional scar? Trauma? Pffft. There is a price for power. And if emotional scars were the only thing I have to pay, I'll gladly pay it.

And so of course I said yes.

"Yes." I immediately replied.

"Good." The Ancestor said softly. "The young should be bold, carefree and confident like that. You're a perfect candidate. Let us find out if you will be a perfect fit for the Blood Moon. Come here, young man."

I turned around and approached the Ancestor wordlessly.

A meditation mat had appeared next to him, and he beckoned me to sit there.

I immediately got into the lotus sitting position and waited for further instructions.

"Close your eyes and think about your life. Start from your earliest memory, and slowly think of everything that had happened in life. The good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the joy and the anger." The Ancestor commanded me in a soft and hypnotic voice.

I did as he said and began to visualize my life.

A fragrant smell of herbs and flowers of some sort wafted by and immediately, the images in my mind grew sharper by several factors. I could see everything I was remembering very vividly. In fact, I could even begin to hear the sounds and feel the wind on my skin.

I began to lose myself in my memories as countless images of things and people I had long forgotten appeared in great clarity. And then like a sledgehammer upon my soul, my mother and my father appeared.

"Hello, son." My father said with a familiar smile.

I could feel my heart almost bursting in happiness at that moment.

BA DUMP!

A sharp pain shot through my heart.

The memories in my mind lost a little bit of its clarity for a moment. But it soon stabilized once more.

"Justin. Mommy misses you so much." My mother said with a beautiful smile on her face.

BA DUMP!

BA DUMP!

Sweet, sweet bliss and joy intermingled with pain.

A more powerful surge of pain wracked my heart once more and I could feel the red energy in my body stirring and slowly multiplying!