Antarctica’s Myth

For the past several hours, Katsuki has been enduring the most grueling training session that his body is capable of. K pushed him and pushed him to a point where his body almost broke.

The gravity training Katsuki went through was impossible for him, but results came through. After about an hour, Katsuki was able to withstand the torture. However, K increased the gravity once Katsuki was able to get used to the last few previous multiplications of gravity. As of right now, Katsuki is training at 12 times the Earth's gravity.

His other training is swordsmanship and the results are intriguing to K. At first, Katsuki barely knew how to swing a sword, but after being properly trained, he learned how to use a sword quite easily. He claims that it was as easy to learn as it reminded him of just remembering patterns. If he had to say what it was like, he'd most likely say a video game he used to play when he was younger.

However, there was one part of the training that made him struggle and that was hand-to-hand combat. Katsuki isn't as quite as athletic as, for example, Emilia, or any other Slayer for that matter. Though he did show some mastery of the basics such as how to throw a punch, how to position himself, how to breathe properly, and how to read body language. But that wasn't without taking a few beatings from K that left Katsuki on the ground groaning in pain, bruised, and bloody.

But even after all that, the progress that Katsuki showed throughout the basic training was enough for K to call it satisfactory and move onto one of the last one: allowing Katsuki to utilize Essence.

The two sit across from each other, legs crossed, and K has the palm of his hands toward Katsuki. There's an awkward silence between the two until Katsuki decides to break the silence,

"Erm… Is it working?"

"Not if you don't focus."

K's eyes are closed as he seems to be focusing on something that Katsuki can't notice. What could he be possibly doing?

"You have to close your eyes, Katsuki." K reminded him.

"Oh, yeah, sorry."

Katsuki closes his eyes and the silence comes back. All that can be heard is the wind blowing and the grass shuffling below.

Katsuki couldn't focus. His mind raced and it's as if his brain refuses to clear itself of all distractions.

"Can you focus?" K snapped.

"Sorry…" Katsuki softly spoke.

K continued to try and try, but ultimately couldn't. If Katsuki couldn't focus, he can't do what he needs to do.

"Alright, I can't do it. You need to do it yourself," K got up from the ground.

"I'm sorry, but I can't focus," Katsuki felt embarrassed.

"Yeah, I know. That's why I'm stopping. I can't do it if you can't focus and have a clear vision of the Essence within you. Your mind is elsewhere and it's infuriating."

Katsuki hung his head low in embarrassment. And as soon as he was about to respond with sorry, K vanished. He was gone. Katsuki checked around himself and even tried to call his name, but he was nowhere to be found.

Katsuki came to the conclusion that K left because of him. It was angering Katsuki that he couldn't focus and now he might not even get the chance to get the Essence he needs to be able to win in the Exam. He felt bad for K and Emilia. He thought of himself as a failure. He failed his mother, he failed K, he failed Emilia, and most importantly, he failed himself. All because he couldn't focus.

But where exactly was his mind? Everywhere. He couldn't stop thinking of the Exams, Valen, Marya, Emilia, and K. It was his anxiety and overthinking that was killing his focus. Could he win the Exams? Would all this training be enough? How strong is Valen? Would he win? Is he up to Emilia's standards to win? Is Marya, his own mother, hoping he could be the strongest? And now that K left, does he think of Katsuki as a bigger failure than Katsuki already sees himself as? The fire keeps growing by the second and he can't think of a way to put it out.

Tears begin to form around his eyes, but never fall. He never felt so weak and pathetic before.

"You really are something else, Katsuki," K's voice came from behind.

Turning around while wiping his eyes, Katsuki tried to look stoic, "K? Where'd you go?"

"Well, I had to go back where I was from. When I'm materialized I can't feel what you're feeling, so I went back to your body."

"O-Oh…"

"I will admit, Katsuki, I was a little too hard on you during our training. I don't think of you as a failure or anything, I just had wanted you to grow and become the person you dreamed of being... But there is one thing I can say for sure, and that is that nobody thinks of you as a failure. We're all just wanting to help you grow," K spoke somberly, "And if you want to give up and live a normal life, I will accept that. Ultimately, you're in charge, Katsuki."

Katsuki's heart strengthened listening to K's words and he took a moment to gather himself. He felt like giving up and living a normal life, but he won't. Giving up isn't an option right now.

"K, let's do this. I ain't giving up," Katsuki's eyes have determination.

K sat down across from Katsuki and positioning his palms towards Katsuki.

"Right," K nods his head.

Katsuki closed his eyes, his mind racing still, but he slowly got rid of those thoughts. Next thing he knew, he was standing before a wall with unknown markings and chains. He didn't know what was before him but he felt a sudden urge to touch the wall. Placing his hand onto the wall, the markings glow blue and the chains began to break one by one.

The wall began crumbling down and revealed an orb. It was a bright white orb that had a humming sound to it. Katsuki approached the orb, placing his hand out, and the orb began to get absorbed by Katsuki.

As he blinked while absorbing the orb, he saw K sitting in front of him with a smile. He returned back from wherever he was.

"You did it…"

Katsuki could feel the difference in his body. It was as if he subconsciously knew how to handle Essence already and how to fight. He couldn't explain the feeling, but it was as if he unlocked new memories without actually unlocking new memories.

"You did it, Katsuki!! You're ready! I'm the best teacher ever!!" K shouted with excitement.

With this new profound power, Katsuki felt better than ever. He was a completely different person. He never felt this way before and it was intoxicating.

However, he needed to test it out. Standing up from the ground, he closed his eyes and let his Essence pour out like a waterfall. It felt as if the entirety of the pocket dimension shook then he quickly suppressed his output.

"K, thank you. I will always be in your debt." Katsuki spoke softly.

"Just worry about winning, Katsuki. That's all that matters." K smiled.

"Hopefully I can talk to you again when I leave this place."

"I'm sure you will, Katsuki. Not like I'm going anywhere."

Outside the wardrobe…

"Katsuki, time to come on out. I hope you progressed," Emilia opened the wardrobe to see no one in there. "Hey, Katsuki!?"

"Right here."

Emilia turned to see a much more confident, brave, and smiling Katsuki. Emilia's eyes widened at the sight of this new and improved Katsuki, her eyes darting up and down to see if this is the same person from a few days ago.

What? What the? What happened? Emilia thought to herself as she noticed that Katsuki's Essence wasn't let loose like before and his demeanor seemed as if he was a different person.

THE DAY OF THE EXAM.

Everything was in order. The entire Guild seemed to be in an uproar on the day of the Exam. But why? Because the Exam is kind of a draft of sorts. Those who win can be chosen to be Juniors of Slayers who registered to accept a new Junior. However, to limit how many Slayers can register, there are limited spots and only Slayers who have less than 2 Juniors are allowed to register. This rule is complying with one of the laws of the Guild.

"When it comes to Juniors, a Slayer may only have 2 Juniors (Interns, Appentices, Trainees, and other names related.) Those found guilty of having more than 2 Juniors under their care could face any of these charges: a fine, stripped of Slayer status, exiled and branded as a Rogue, or jailed up to 15 years that carries hard labor with it.

Subsection A: For exempts for Slayers, there are none; however, the Head of a Family may be exempt if they meet certain requirements. These exempts are as listed

1. The Head of the Family is a Grandmaster while holding Head of the Family or has been a Grandmaster for more than or equal to 50 years.

2. The Head of the Family has more than or equal to 200 members.

3. The Head of the Family is more than or equal to 150 years old.

4. The Family of which the Head is from is 300 years old to the current day.

Subsection 4A: If the Head is the last remaining member of their Family of origin, assuming the Family of origin is 300 years or older, the Head may adopt Juniors to become members of the Head's Family of origin, in which they will be considered family instead of Juniors. However, to limit the Head's power, to equal the 200 member rule the Head may adopt 100 Juniors to become apart of their Family of Origin and 100 Juniors as they may not exceed 200 members."

The original text is longer than this, but this is a simplified version that could be easily understood by most Slayers and Juniors.

And since Emilia didn't exceed the 2 Junior limit, she was able to put her name down in the system.

To enter the Exam, Katsuki had to go the Guild Hall where he and many other Juniors all were in a single file line entering a portal. As for Emilia, she was in a viewing room where her and many other Slayers all waited in anticipation to see what Juniors might pique their interest. The cameras, which were hundreds of orbs, zipped around outside a Tower in an environment that was reminiscent of a city. The city was a copy so there was no civilians and nobody was in any danger.

One by one, the soon to be Juniors entered the city and saw the Tower stand before them that casted a shadow on all of them. Some were intimidated, some didn't break a sweat, and some were even further determined to win. But all had the same question: was this a real Tower?

No. It is a Tower by design but not an actual Tower like the ones that grow out of the ground.

"Welcome to the Copy Cat City, newcomers," the voice echoed throughout the city. The voice belonged to Grandmaster Paradisya Gryeen that stood on a floating platform above the soon to be Juniors. "Let me explain the rules of the Exam and how it works,

1. You and your teammate have 7 days to get to the end of the Tower and complete the Exam. If you do not complete the Tower within the given time, you will be disqualified.

2. The amount of Colossus you and your teammate kill will not matter if you complete the Exam or not. However, if you complete the Exam it might make you more likely to get picked.

3. Killing your opponent, or opponents, is permitted.

The Exam will begin in ten minutes so get your warm up in and get ready to fight." Paradisya then disappeared via teleportation.

Within the viewing room, Emilia raised concern, "Killing is permitted..?"

"Ah, you wouldn't know that because you were stationed in Eyon for a year. It was a rule that was just implemented a couple months ago," Arcanis approached, "Katsuki won't last with Valen in the mix. Valen isn't scared to kill a few people to get what he wants."

"I'm going to assume Valen is alone?" Emilia raised a brow.

"He doesn't need help for an Exam as trivial as this. But I'll make sure to put a timer on for Katsuki," Arcanis smirks as he walks away.

Then set two timers… Emilia thought to herself.

Katsuki glanced around his surroundings to see people stretching, meditating, talking to one another while he closed his eyes.

K, you there? I could use your help. Katsuki talked to himself to try and reach K.

"I finally found you," a young man's voice spoke to Katsuki.

Opening his eyes, Katsuki sees a man just as young as him.

"Who are you?" Katsuki asked the man endowed in a black and white suit with a single layer robe around him.

"I'm August. I'm Emilia's Junior."

"She didn't mention that she has another Junior…"

"It was last minute."

"Listen, all of you, you're going to work together," Emilia's voice comes from one of the orbs floating beside them both, "Look out for one another and don't get killed, please."

The orb flies away and the ice between the two felt like it was broken.

A rumbling noise shakes the ground and a portal forms at the entrance of the Tower. Katsuki and August both nod to each other as they begin to approach the portal.

"I know you're still new, Katsuki, so stick close to me. I can protect us," August informed.

"Okay," Katsuki nodded.

DAY ONE OF THE EXAM BEGINS!!