I stared at my left arm. A long, dark, black scar was still left from when Leon had sliced open my arm. Smaller red scar were covering my arm. I quickly tied my left arm with a roll of white bandages. The bandages helped cover my strange scars. I made sure the clear orb was still around my neck. Anger, pain, urge. These were the only ways I could release the energy within me. I could change back sometimes but if I couldn’t control it one firm grasp on the clear orb around my neck would change me back. . I found out the clear orb was called the “Helix”.

“Good morning Adrian.”

I turned.

“Hey Kevin.” I yawned. I still had a hard time getting used to the fact my little brother was a dragon. I put on my White undershirt and put my Red Knucklevest set on. I rested my Dark Pilfer on my head. I tied the sheath of my Dragon Toenail around my waist. I picked up the old crumpled Beta Guards letter.

Today was my 13th birthday. Today I would join the Beta Guards. Hope your watching dad.

I ran downstairs to find Ruby making breakfast with Kevin trailing behind me.

“Hi. Bye.” I called out grabbing a few pieces of toast. I ran toward the door. Suddenly an arrow of light hit the door stopping me in my tracks. I slowly turned. Ruby was holding her Phoenix Wand and creating another Holy Arrow. She had learned all her mage skills like me but hadn’t learned Point Zero yet.

“Sit. Now.” She commanded. I sighed and sat down at the table. “You’ll need plenty of stregth to pass that test so eat up.” She stated to pile my plate with food.

“Just because she’s 18 now she thinks she can boss me around..” I muttered under my breath.

“What was that?” she asked smiling devilishly. I gulped. She was usually nice but when you crossed her path she got a little evil.

“Um…Nothing. Bye!” I quickly teleported to the door and left. I heard her yelling at me to come back but I kept running.

“Adrian I think Ruby is mad.” Kevin said flying beside me.

“Oh well. I just can’t sit still.” I argued happily. I stopped and dug through my bag.

I pulled out a Return Scroll to Sleepywood. Sleepywood was where the headquarters to the Beta Guards was. I unraveled the scroll the threw it in the air. It glowed white and started to circle around me and Kevin. The white light lit up brightly for one second, blinding me.

When I could see again I was in Sleepy. I saw the Beta Guards building at the center of the town. It was about the only place sunlight actually shined upon. I started to walk toward the building when I heard someone crying for help.

“Help! A Golem is destroying my shop.” An old man yelled.

I quickly ran toward the shop and flipped out my Dragon Toenail. I jumped in between the Dark Stone Golem and the shop. As it released a punch I quickly grabbed its arm. I closed my eyes and concentrated. Streams of blue light flowed through its body and came into mine. Crap! I was hoping I didn’t have to use MP Eater. I had always tried to not use my mage skills because incase someone saw me.

The Golem fell to the ground with a thud. I walked toward its head. I placed a hand on its stone head.

I need to save my friend now! I need those potions! It’s voice pierced my mind. I winced and took a couple steps back. I could read the minds of monsters ever since I Leon had transplanted some energy into my body.

“Where’s your friend? I’ll help.” I said to it as it stood up. It started to run towards the forest and I followed. It led me to a mob of Dark Stone Golems gathering around one on the floor.

It had a giant crack in one arm. I placed both hands over it and summoned up my magic and used Heal. The green light engulfed its arm as the crack slowly started to disappear. As the healing process soon finished I looked around to make sure no one was watching. I couldn’t have anyone see me using magic or helping a monster for that matter. Although most people would’ve just killed the Dark Stone Golem I wouldn’t. I was part monster anyway. It would’ve been like me killing a human which I would never do. Why kill another being?

I got up. “You’re arm is fixed now. Now go on. Go do whatever monsters do.” I said grabbing my bag.

“Interesting…” an unfamiliar voice called out. I quickly pulled out my dagger and turned. I turned just in time to see a Sniper stepping out from behind a tree, He fixed a crossbow arrow onto his Fire Raven. He aimed it at the Dark Stone Golem I had just healed.

“Stop!” I shouted angrily. I could feel some of the dark power within me release. I quickly locked it back up with my mind.

“I’m not going to shoot him.” The Sniper said lowering his Fire Raven. I kept my dagger up. I couldn’t trust him.

“So how did you use Heal?” he asked curiously.

Kevin come back into my body! Kevin’s makeshift body disappeared in a poof as blue waves from where his body was flowed back into my body. I could feel his soul in my mind.

I quickly turned and ran away from the Sniper.

“Hey come back!” he shouted chasing me. He’ll never catch me. I held my hands up as I ran through a bush. I kept running but I saw him stop. I abruptly stopped. He had the Helix in his hand.

“Give that back!” I yelled.

“Answer me first” he said rolling the Helix in his palm. I ran toward him and struck my dagger out.

He quickly jumped away. I created an Energy Bolt in my left hand and shot it at him. He already saw me use Heal. What could a little more magic do?

The ball of energy dispersed as he whacked it with his Fire Raven. I sheathed my dagger. I stood still on the ground. I released my energy into the air. It started to grow cold. I used Ice Strike and created giant slabs of ice. I shot my hand forward and the ice pieces rushed forward at the Sniper. The Sniper expertly dodged them. I’m not done yet. I shot my last ice slab at him but I quickly jumped on top of it and headed towards him.

I released more magic into the air. As I neared him I used Explosion. The air around us exploded in a fiery inferno. I was protected from the Explosion but he wasn’t. As the force of the Explosion blew him away he let go of the Helix. I twirled in the air before I caught it. Before the Sniper hit the ground I Teleported away. That was close.

I quickly made my way to the Beta Guards HQ. I stepped through the giant, open, oak doors into a giant room. It was crowded with people. There was a small circular desk at the center. A girl with a black bandana with a red maple leaf on it was sitting in the desk with a computer in front of her.

“Hi. I’m came to register today.” I said holding out my invitation letter from. She took it and read it thoroughly. She did some stuff on the computer and gave me a small, silver badge that read “Beta Tester”.

“Go through that room and you’ll be given instructions.” She said pointing at the door opposite of the entrance. I thanked her and walked towards the door as I put pinned my badge on to my White Undershirt.

It was a pretty small door. I turned the handle and went inside. Inside were about 50 people all sitting on the ground in a large room. There was a guy at right near the door.

He took a quick look at my badge and told me to sit down with the others. I chose a spot near a corner and sat down leaning against the wall. The minutes rolled by as more people crowded the room. After about 2 hours the room was full of about 500 people.

A male voice filled the room through speakers.

“Congratulations on coming here today. I am sorry to announce not all of you will be making it into the Beta Guards. We will hold 250, 1 on 1 fights. Winners will advance while the losers will go home. Further instructions will be given to the winners. For now please make your way towards the battle grounds.”

Everyone got up and made their way through a giant, open doorway. Outside there was a table which everyone went to. Each person got a number. After everyone got a number each person was paired up and 5 fights at a time were held. I checked my number. It was 13. Lucky 13? I sighed and went to watch all the fights.

I Breathed deeply after the first fight finished. These guys were good. I pulled out my Dragon Toenail and stared into it. I wished Dan was here but he was in Orbis visiting a friend. I sheathed my dagger and turned and watched the rest of the matches.

After all 5 matches had a winner they called up the next 5.

“Number 13 and number 14 please make your way to arena C.” said a guy into a megaphone.

I walked towards arena C. Each arena was just a giant field with a metal cage fence surrounding each one. I opened the cage door of arena C and went inside to find a Cleric as a referee standing in the middle. My opponent walked in. It was a Warrior at least 20 years older then me. He was holding a Chrono. I pulled out my own Dragon Toenail.

“What no shield? He asked tauntingly.

“Don’t need one.” I replied calmly. He chuckled but stopped as the ref started talking.

“You will fight until one person either gives up, is unable to fight, or is dead. There are no boundaries except the fence.” He said. He teleported away. “BEGIN!”

Good luck, Kevin said but I didn’t have time for a reply. The Warrior had already charged forward. He slashed forward with his axe but I quickly used Dark Sight making him miss. He opened his mouth and used Shout.

I was instantly thrown a couple yards away. It probably wasn’t mastered yet because it wasn’t that strong but still gave me a good size cut on my cheek. Although Dark Sight was impervious to physical attacks it left me wide open to magical attacks.

“Hey kid. Just give up before I accidentally kill you.” He chuckled.

“You’re really annoying. You know that?” I called out running towards him. He slashed horizontally at me but I quickly crouched down. I shot my Dragon Toenail forward towards his knee but he banged me with the flat of his axe. I fell to the ground as I felt a throb in my head. He turned his axe to vertically slash me so I quickly used Dark Sight again but once again he used Shout. I was thrown away again. I stabbed my dagger into the ground as I kept sliding across the ground.

I slowly got up again. I almost used Heal but just remembered I couldn’t. This time he rushed towards me. He jumped into the air and brought his Chrono on me. Metal clashed.

“That won’t help you that much.” He said looking at his axe trapped into one of the grooves of my Dragon Toenail.

“Yes it will.” I argued kicking him in the stomach. He stumbled backwards pulling his axe out.

“That’s it. You’re dead.” He said angrily raising his axe. I opened my left hand and sprung it forward using Steal. A shadow hand came out from my palm and grabbed his axe. I pulled my arm back and the shadow hand slipped back into my arm as it reeled in the axe. I threw the axe into the air and used Savage Blow on the handle. The blade part of the axe dug into the ground.

I raised my dagger to the face of the astonished Warrior and said, “Dead.” I brought my dagger to my side.

“Hey ref. Do I win?” I asked turning away from the Warrior.

“Umm…Unless he gives up.” The ref said checking a book.

“But he can’t even fight!” I argued.

“Is that what you think?” the Warrior hissed into my ear.

I turned to find him reaching his hands out towards me. I quickly jumped away and slashed open his hand. He recoiled and grabbed his hand. He cried in pain as I cautiously watched him.

He lunged at me again but I sidestepped and slashed his hand again.

Adrian. Aren’t you being a little mean?, Kevin asked. His voice was dripping with mercy.

Don’t worry. I won’t do any permanent damage.

“Now will you give up?” I asked holding my dagger to his face again.

“Never!” he yelled. He grabbed my left arm. “I’ll just attack your injured arm.” He tore away some of my bandages. Crap! I could already feel the monster inside me awake. I quickly grasped the Helix. I felt the monster inside me crawl back into its cage but some of its power wouldn’t be tamed.

The Warrior fell to the ground. “Y-your eyes! They turned red! ” Crap! This was bad but I couldn’t help liking it as I felt a small rush of energy boosting me. Dan told me normally my hair would turn black during the transformation but they were already black so it stayed normal but my dark brown eyes turned red.

I jumped on the Warrior and pinned him to the ground,

“Give up or I’ll kill you.” I warned holding my dagger to his neck.

“Ok. Ok. I give up!” he screamed tears filling his eyes. I quickly got off him. I concentrated and locked the monster energy back up. I could feel my red eyes revert to dark brown.
“There ref. Now do I win?” I asked sheathing my dagger.

“The winner for the second match of arena C is number 13!” the red proclaimed. The crowd stared cheering.

“Go back to the room we came from.” The ref said to me handing me a small card. It was blue and blank. Puzzled I started to walk out of the arena.

Congratulations!, Kevin said happily.

Thanks. I walked back into the building and handed the card to a guy with a black bandana with a red maple leaf on his head. It was the same as the receptionist before and the ref.

“You can rest for now.” He said patting me on the back. I nodded and made my way back to my spot.

I leaned on the wall and closed my eyes. I ignored my pain and the anxiety of the next challenge but for now I forced myself to sleep. I would need my energy for later.

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Hope you guys find the first chapter to my new series enjoyable. I’m so glad to see so many people enjoyed my prologue. I hope you enjoy this one as well.

~The Cleric, The Bandsin, The Warrior and……..The Noob?!?!~