The gate leading to the bleachers rose and mom pounced to scoop from the ground. "My little [Amazon]!" She was trembling.
Behind her, the whole tribe pushed each other to get a vantage point to stare at . The monster of a horse-man, our Chieftain, pushed the sea of equine people aside to reach .
"A true [Warrior] of the tribe. None of the trial takers this ti took on EIGHT al-Mi'raj. It is a truly impressive feat for this little one, not even a year old to kill as much," he gushed with fatherly pride. Then he spoke to the tribe, "And what ferocity! What fearlessness! At one mont I thought she would bite the monsters back."
The centaurs celebrated with a raucous and boisterous display of tribal unity. A few of the adolescent trial-takers, especially the ones that failed, gave the stink-eye.
"However!" The chieftain shouted. "The difficulty of this trial was too high! But I am sure Queltphion is wise and fair! He knew our tiny filly was up to the task!"
Talk about veiled threats. For all the sinewy muscle that guy sported on his well-tanned skin, he knew how to toss a veiled threat. The gnolls that ssed up with the totem poles flinched and found sothing else to fix down below. I too wouldn't want to deal with the runaway train of physical punishnt an angry centaur chieftain could be. Then just because I ntally praised him, he took from my mother's arms and tossed up in the air like a paperweight.
Dammit.
To add insult to injury, I was taken over by the System.
[Temporary Activation start]
Oh, that's how they'll disguise their boons. As several trial takers undergo this, there shouldn't be much scrutiny to these award ceremonies from the Gods. We didn't even get a full Status sheet. I tried to access my Status but the System was in passive mode. I could only read the ssages and peek at my HP because it wasn't full.
HP 59,678 / 70,412 (53 HP/s)
Those freaking al-Mi'raj and the bruises I picked up from the trial dealt more than ten thousand HP of damage. Any other level zero would be dead. No wonder why my mother was shrieking like she was possessed. But at least my [Moonbound Regeneration] was doing its job.
For completing the Trial of the Abode of War, you are rewarded.
You defeated the Trial at the highest difficulty possible.
For brutally killing all the enemies in your Trial, Rabhorktaar offers you a bounty.
You are granted the Occupational Title [Defender]. This title grants 5 to Endurance and 10 Base HP
Your user privilege level has increased by 1. Your current privilege level is 3. All hidden traits are revealed.
You gained the Perk: Third Profession (ultra-rare): You can have a third Profession.
You gained the Perk: Soul Guide(unique): Souls purified by you can be sent straight to a chosen deity. This grants the divine power inherent to the soul's previous incarnation to the deity.
Queltphion, god of Soldiers, War, and Balance has noticed your worth.
You gained the Achievent title: [Disciple of War]. This title grants 10 Proficiency with all weapons.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Your base species received an upgrade.
You have higher quality options for your base Class. Please choose one as your initial Class. After your true activation, you'll select your other paths.
Warrior (common): A basic combatant. Has good physical abilitiesBarbarian (uncommon): A savage combatant. Has excellent physical abilities.Acrobat (uncommon): A combatant that relies on speed and agility.Knight: A valiant combatant and defender that excels at mounted combat.Centaur Barbarian (rare): A savage nomad of the plains. Has superb physical abilities.Savage Striker (rare): A frontline combatant that revels in heavy blows at the expense of defense.Dervish (rare): A fast combatant that delivers dozens of attacks in the ti their enemies strike once.Berserker (rare): A combatant that abandons all rationality to deliver powerful attacks.Centaur Knight (very rare): A combatant that uses their unique anatomy to fight as a two-in-one cavalry unit.Wild Warlord (very rare): One that leads barbarians by example, from the frontline.Trapbreaker Bulwark (very rare): A tough warrior that defeats traps by ignoring their effects.Centaur Berserker (ultra rare): A savage avenger of the plains people, they embrace their rage to destroy all in their path.Centaur Paladin (ultra rare): A magical man-at-arms and a knight all in one. They are sworn to protect their tribe.
Well, I knew I liked Attribute Points very much. I made my choice from the [ultra-rare] ones. Anyone knows the saying. When in Ro...
When you co of age, you'll be known as a [Centaur Berserker].
That promised to be loads of fun.
While that bounty seed lackluster at a first glance, I really didn't need more power. But now I had to call Rabhorktaar "Santa Claus" because he gave exactly what I wanted for Christmas. Even though I didn't know I wanted that until I read the Perk description.
[Temporary Activation end]
It was fun while it lasted. Enantinos caught back in his giant hands. "See? She is smiling. This is the toughest filly I've ever seen."
Well, it seed like ti to play baby again. I started to cry and call for my mommy. She took from the chieftain's arms and the big centaur went to have a "friendly talk" with the elderly priestess.
"What was that? The child almost died!" He shouted with a lot of spittle at the old centauress. If this was an ani, her mane would've fluttered and the flaps of her stola would've flown back, revealing the giant raisins underneath.
Unfazed by the rude display of barbaric intimidation, she answered, "The System itself never believed her to be in trouble. She didn't undergo an [Ergency Activation]."
The chieftain wasn't convinced. "That proves nothing! Nobody knows the criteria for an [Ergency Activation] and many a fool died trying to trigger one themselves!" He roared back.
"I can assure you she never went below sixty percent HP, chieftain Enantinos. Lord Queltphion offered her a challenge worthy of her might. Even the acolytes underneath were acting on the Lord's strict orders."
He grunted. She pushed forward. "Cherish the worthy accomplishnts of your warrior, chieftain. Do not decry it as unfair in the ho of the God of Balance!"
I wondered what was the relationship between these two. Because they talked more with their body language than their words. And she was the first one to make the chieftain move a hoof backward.
"I understand. We should now proceed to the branding ceremony!" He shouted and the centaurs behind cheered.
Oops. Branding ceremony? Is this when I get a mark on my flank that shows what I am ant to be? Is there a song?
Just kidding. No other centaur had a mark in their flanks and they wouldn't allow it either. The branding for those that beat the trial was carved in their hooves with divine magic. The priestess ca to my rescue.
"Not for her. She earned a title. She will be known as [Disciple of War]."
Enantinos raised a hairy slug of an eyebrow. "A title?" He stared at . I flinched and hid my face as any child would do. Give an academy award already! "I don't see any."
"She had to pick the title and you know the supplicants can't adjust their Status. We'll have to wait until the System activates for her."
The old lady nodded then shooed the chieftain. "Now, it is late. Your tribe should return to their camp as your young are all done with their trials. I expect to see you again soon."
It felt more like the monastery didn't want to give the tribe another free al. But the centaurs were already bothered by being inside walls for a long spell. We left and climbed down the hill, using a side trail that would put us away from the thick of the trading encampnt down there. Another tribe, this ti of bear-people was climbing up the hill from the other side.
The trials at the Abode of War happened every day. I had to take my hat off for Queltphion. It was quite the sche to harvest faith from the plains tribes.
We didn't pack. Of course not, Centaurs carried their personal belongings on their backs. Their human torso's backs, we weren't beasts of burden.
The tribe took off to the southeast. I heard we were going to the Persimmon peninsula, a place where most centaur tribes road. The young n were excited about that but I couldn't know why as the youngest ones were separated in a group away from the "adults". That should be enough of a clue as to what was coming up next, but I didn't put two and two together.
Passing the trials and getting the brand on their hooves was a mark of adulthood, even for those that didn't receive access to the System. In the eyes of my people, I would be an adult too at the tender age of nine years if I could receive the damn divine enchantnt.
However, my mom was happy I didn't get the brand. Relieved even. I would only understand why a year later. Another bizarre centaur ritual.
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