My Divine system-Chapter 43: echos of battle

Come to think about it, Michael had really come far, clawing his way up from the bottom. But even now, looking at the hardened faces around him, he knew he hadn’t come far enough. There was still a precipice to be scaled, a summit still shrouded in mist. Just when these thoughts began to weigh him down, the instructor’s voice, sharp and devoid of warmth, shattered the tense silence.

"Each of you will be dropped at your location. Each of you will be responsible for protecting your designated zone. Understand this: if you find yourselves in danger, help might not arrive fast enough. You must hold your ground, regardless of the odds."

A cold wave of dread washed over Michael. He wasn’t sure what was worse: the impending danger, the crushing weight of responsibility, or the chilling certainty of possible abandonment. The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken consequences, and his stomach clenched.

He looked around at the other ninety-nine. Their reactions were unsettling. He didn’t know if he should be afeared about the impending danger and the high chance of not receiving help if he encounters any serious threat, or creeped out. Almost none of them seemed to blink. Some simply nodded, their expressions stoic, their eyes locked ahead. Keal, that enigmatic bastard, was practically smiling, a predator’s gleam in his eyes. Only the gods knew what was going through that guy’s head.

Come to think about it, did the gods even know what mere mortals were thinking? A strange, irreverent thought flickered at the edge of Michael’s consciousness. Wouldn’t it be incredibly weird, to know a person’s thoughts, to have that unfiltered access to their inner workings? Humans were prone to all sorts of crazy, chaotic thoughts, weren’t they? Look at Michael right now, for instance. Here he was, facing potential death, and his mind was already busily calculating escape routes, weighing the odds, and trying to plot a way to disappear from this fight.

The academy, in a rare display of... well, something, had decided to bestow a meager advantage. To, perhaps, increase their odds of survival. Each of them, the top hundred, would receive a small boost. The instructor’s words, still cold but tinged with a hint of... something akin to consideration, cut through the tension.

"To aid you in this endeavor, each of you will be provided with two echoes. These echoes can manifest as armor or a weapon, your choice. Furthermore, you will receive a healing enchantment. However, understand this: these enhancements will be of the lower tiers, but stronger than the equipment you received from the academy during your training. This is a special treatment, given only to the top hundred. I advise you to select wisely. Your choices could very well mean the difference between life and death."

The words hung in the air, a tacit acknowledgement of the danger ahead. Lower tiers, but stronger. It was a paltry offering, a bone thrown to appease the wolves, but it was still something. Michael’s mind raced, weighing the possibilities. Two echoes... a weapon and an enchantment seemed the most logical choice, providing both offense and defense. But which weapons? A healing enchantment, a small comfort in the face of inevitable wounds. The weight of the decision pressed down on him.

"Each of you is allowed to s

Pick your equipment your equipment now." The instructor’s voice cut through his thoughts, a sharp command. A collective intake of breath swept through the ranks as the one hundred began to consider their options and the choices that were before them. The time for deliberation was over. The moment of action had arrived. Michael took a deep breath, steeling himself for the choices he had to make, choices that could very well determine his fate in the coming trial.

Michael, wrestling with his options, considered the looming fight. His proficiency with daggers and bows was undeniable, but this situation demanded a decisive blow. A single, lethal strike. Daggers, as effective as they were, wouldn’t suffice. The answer, logically, was a sword. He recalled the countless hours spent training with a blade, even before his awakening. He’d just never wielded one in a real battle. "Well, there’s a first time for everything," he muttered, a sigh escaping his lips as he moved toward the selection area, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

Fortunately, Instructor Keal, a seasoned veteran, was overseeing the process. Considering the depth of Instructor Keal’s knowledge, the number of echoes within his own soul sea must be staggering.

"Ready to make your choice?" Instructor Keal asked, his voice calm and reassuring.

Michael nodded, steeling his resolve. "I would like a sword, sir," he stated clearly.

Instructor Keal raised an eyebrow, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Are you sure about this?"

Again, Michael nodded, his gaze unwavering. He knew the weight of this decision, the potential consequences, and he was prepared.

"Good," Instructor Keal said, his tone softening. "Stretch out your hand." Michael knew the drill. Physical contact was the conduit for transferring a memory, a fragment of experience, a piece of the past woven into the present.

The familiar mental chime echoed in his mind.

**You have received an echo.**

**You have received an echo.**

Michael offered a silent thanks to Instructor Keal, his mind already racing, preparing himself for the influx of information. He was about to turn and leave, eager to digest the echoes, when a voice stopped him.

"You can collect mine."

Michael turned to see Nick, his friend and classmate, standing there with a casual air.

"You can take mine," Nick repeated, a grin playing on his lips. "I have more memories, better ones than what they’re going to give me. It’s better you have it; you need it more than me."

Michael hesitated. He wasn’t the kind of person who thrived on the generosity of others, nor did he like to be indebted to anyone. He valued his independence and self-reliance. "I can’t do that," he said, his voice firm but laced with a hint of uncertainty.

Nick waved a dismissive hand. "Yes, you can, and you will. It’s pretty much wasted if I took it. I won’t be using it, but you will need it. Plus, you can just pay me back by doing my assignment again," he said, his smile widening, a clear attempt to ease Michael’s discomfort.

Michael considered his friend’s words. The logic was sound. He needed every advantage he could get. Finally, he nodded, relief washing over him.

"Hope it’s okay," Nick asked, turning to Instructor Keal, a touch of hesitation in his voice. Instructor Keal, who had been observing the exchange with a thoughtful expression, nodded with a smile. "It’s your choice, and I would also ignore the assignment part," he added, a twinkle in his eye.

Another wave of mental chimes washed over Michael.

**You have received an echo.**

**You have received an echo.**