Two temple knights immediately stepped forward and "escorted" Corbin before the head examiner. The old Knight Captain, the head examiner, gazed at Corbin with a complex expression for a long moment before finally speaking: "Child, your combat skills are undeniable, even far exceeding the level expected for your age. But the War God's divine grace has rejected you. Tell me, have you come into contact with forbidden energies that conflict with our Lord's divine power? Or has your warrior's heart strayed from the path of pure valor?"
Corbin straightened his back, met the head examiner's sharp gaze, and replied calmly, "Sir, I have only followed the warrior's code and trained diligently. As for why the divine grace rejected me, I do not know. In every battle, I strive for precision and efficiency."
The old Knight Captain sighed deeply, a hint of regret in his eyes, but more so an unquestionable authority. "Child, the War God responds only to pure fighting will and burning Combat Aura. Throughout history, there have been exceptionally talented young people who could not receive the divine grace's favor. If they cannot find a path truly suited to them, they often stray, ultimately achieving little, or even inviting disaster. I hope you will take this as a warning."
"Sir!" Knight Owen hurriedly stepped forward, speaking earnestly, "Corbin is a child of good character and firm will. It's impossible for him to have touched any evil power! His fighting style may be different, but his valorous heart is beyond doubt! Please, investigate clearly!"
The old Knight Captain waved his hand, signaling Owen to say no more. "The choice of divine grace is not something mortals can interfere with." He turned to Corbin and announced the final verdict: "Corbin Thorne, given that you have not currently displayed any malicious intent and have demonstrated remarkable martial skill in the trials, the Temple of the War God will not punish you. However, your failure to receive the War God's blessing means you will be unable to break through the laws of Combat Aura application set by the War God, nor will you be able to obtain high-level Combat Aura certification from the Temple. You will retain the status and qualification of a 'Basic Combat Aura User'; this is the Temple's final recognition of your personal martial skill. But henceforth, you will not receive any divine art instruction or resource allocation from this temple, nor will you be able to learn Combat Aura techniques that require divine grace recognition to perform."
Then, he turned to Matthew, unconcealed admiration in his eyes: "Matthew, not only are you exceptionally talented and your fighting will ardent, but you have also gained the War God's additional attention and guidance. The Temple of the War God has decided to focus on cultivating you! Are you willing to enter the Hall of War and become a servant of the god?"
Matthew was overwhelmed with surprise and joy, dropping to one knee in excitement. "Thank you, War God! Thank you, Sir! Matthew will not fail this mission and will strive forward with valor!"
For Rhodes and Lianna, the head examiner also gave his affirmation: "Rhodes, Lianna, you have passed the trials and gained the War God's recognition. Your Combat Aura strength has been officially assessed, and more importantly, you have gained 'permission' to use Combat Aura to break through your own limits!" He handed them two emblems engraved with symbols representing their Combat Aura levels and added an extra word for Rhodes: "Rhodes, you understand how to choose appropriate weaponry based on the actual situation and demonstrated excellent tactical thinking and adaptability in combat. This is a very valuable talent. Utilize this combat wisdom well, and you will become an outstanding warrior."
The trials ended, and the four, along with Knight Owen, walked out of the Temple of the War God. The afterglow of the sunset stretched their shadows long, and complex expressions adorned each of their faces.
Knight Owen led them to a rough-hewn tavern frequented by warriors and mercenaries and ordered several large tankards of ale. "To you," Owen raised his tankard, his voice somewhat hoarse, "to your efforts, and to your official embarkation on the path of professionals!"
Setting down his tankard, Owen looked at the emblems on Matthew's, Rhodes's, and Lianna's chests, symbols of the War God's recognition. His eyes held gratification, and his tone became exceptionally solemn: "Young ones, you have now officially stepped onto the threshold of professional warriors. One of the most significant changes in this is the way you use Combat Aura. Do you remember when I taught you Combat Aura externalization techniques back in Windbreath Town? No matter how hard you tried then, at most, you could only barely envelop your fists, feet, or weapons with Combat Aura, enhancing their power slightly, but you could never truly project it from your body, let alone condense it into a tangible form to strike enemies from a distance."
He took a deep breath and continued, "This wasn't entirely due to your insufficient cultivation at the time. More importantly, Combat Aura externalization is not merely a natural result of cultivating Combat Aura to a certain level; it's more like a manifestation of divine law, a privilege bestowed by the War God upon warriors he recognizes. Only by passing the Temple of the War God's trials and receiving the blessing and recognition of divine grace will the Combat Aura within your body resonate with the War God's laws, thereby breaking that invisible barrier and truly allowing Combat Aura to leave the body, transforming into substantial attacks or defenses. Otherwise, no matter how profound your Combat Aura cultivation, without this recognition from the War God, your Combat Aura will forever remain at the 'internalized' or 'adhered' level, unable to be projected like a true professional warrior, let alone like high-ranking knights who can infuse Combat Aura into their steed companions, achieving unity of horse and rider, galloping across battlefields."
"This is one of the true significances of 'divine grace recognition,' and the fundamental difference between official professionals and apprentices. Just as mage apprentices, after promotion, can attempt multiple spellcasting, and temple acolyte priests, after becoming official clerics, can master more powerful offensive divine arts—these are all leaps in ability after gaining recognition from the corresponding deity's laws. Now, you have received the War God's recognition. Feel with your hearts the changes that blessing brings within you, try to guide that power resonating with the law, and release it!"
Upon hearing this, Matthew's eyes lit up. He took a deep breath and suddenly threw a punch! "Whoosh!" A torrent of fiery, pale red Combat Aura, like flames, erupted from his fist. Though still unstable and somewhat crude, it had already extended several inches from his body, causing the air to distort slightly. He looked at his fist in joyful surprise: "I did it! I really did it! This is the resonance of the law!"
Rhodes also closed his eyes, carefully sensing. After a moment, he extended a finger, and a faint cyan, willow-leaf-shaped blade of aura slowly condensed at his fingertip. Though small, it was sharp and pulsed steadily. "So that's how it is... This is Combat Aura externalization, a permission granted by divine grace," he murmured, his eyes glinting with contemplation.
Lianna, on the other hand, placed her hand on the hilt of her sword at her waist (though it was an empty scabbard at the moment). A soft yet solid white Combat Aura slowly surged from within her, covering her arm like a thin mist and showing a tendency to extend towards the hilt. Feeling this nascent power, a determined smile appeared on her face, and she whispered, "I feel it. That former restraint has disappeared."
Owen nodded in satisfaction and turned his gaze to Corbin. Corbin also tried to mobilize the Combat Aura within him. He could feel it was more condensed than before, but when he attempted to externalize it, he always felt an indestructible barrier originating from a higher level of law. The warmth brought by that divine grace seemed incompatible with his own power and, more so, unable to shake that barrier of law. It merely caused a slight surge on the surface of his body before subsiding. He clearly realized this wasn't an issue of skill, but of "qualification."
Owen saw his predicament, patted his shoulder, and spoke in a gentle yet encouraging tone, "Corbin, don't mind it. While Combat Aura externalization is a powerful ability recognized by the War God, it's just one form of a warrior's many abilities, not the only one. Your understanding of combat and your skills already far exceed those of ordinary people."
After a few rounds of drinks, Knight Owen gave them his final admonitions individually:
To Matthew: "Very good, Matthew! This nascent power is fierce and domineering. Guide and control it well, don't let it backlash against you. The Temple of the War God will teach you more refined methods of application. Seize the opportunity, but true strength comes from inner tenacity and unremitting effort. Don't fail this favor."
To Rhodes: "Rhodes, your Combat Aura is more agile. Combined with your wisdom of thinking about how to overcome enemies even before battle, your future is limitless. Remember, an excellent warrior needs not only strength and skill but also a keen mind. Observe more, think more, and you will find the fighting style most suited to you, becoming an unpredictable opponent."
To Lianna: "Lianna, your Combat Aura is stable and resilient, the best shield for protection. This steadfastness and resilience are your most precious assets. Whether you become a guardian knight or another type of warrior, remember, the most indispensable person in a team is often not the most dazzling one, but the cornerstone who can hold the line and protect comrades in the most critical moments. Maintain your true heart, hone your skills, and you will become a truly trustworthy and dependable outstanding guardian."
Finally, he clapped Corbin heavily on the shoulder, his tone grave yet carrying an unquenchable hope: "Corbin, the temple's rules are rigid, and the laws of deities are sometimes not aimed at individuals, but a person's path is flexible. Failing to break through that barrier of law today doesn't mean you won't be able to in the future, and it certainly doesn't mean you are inferior to others. Don't be discouraged by today's setback, and certainly don't belittle yourself. Find your own strength, forge your own path. I believe in you; you are by no means mediocre!"
Knight Owen was then pulled away by a group of newly acquainted mercenary friends, leaving the four young people to silently drink the ale in their cups, each digesting the day's experiences and Knight Owen's words.
As night deepened, the four returned to their inn but felt no desire to sleep. Someone suggested it, and they quietly climbed onto the inn's somewhat crude rooftop. The myriad lights of Falling Leaf City spread out beneath their feet like a glittering sea of stars, while above them was the truly vast and boundless, brilliant starry sky.
"I will become the strongest warrior!" Matthew was the first to break the silence. He clenched his fists, feeling the Combat Aura that could resonate with the War God's law and erupt forth, his eyes shining with excitement and aspiration. "I'll use my power to tear apart all enemies, protect my home, so Grandpa and Mom and Dad never have to worry about me again!"
Rhodes extended his hands, making grasping motions in the night air, as if the touch of that faint cyan aura blade, the new permission granted by divine grace to control Combat Aura, still lingered on his fingertips. His gaze was sharp and focused: "I want to understand the secrets of all weapons in the world, whether longswords, heavy axes, strong bows, or those rare and unusual weapons. I want to be able to wield them all freely, to grasp their core techniques. On the battlefield, I will use the most suitable weapon, execute the most exquisite combat techniques, perfectly combine Combat Aura and weaponry, and become a true master of arms!"
Lianna quietly looked at the myriad stars, her voice gentle yet imbued with an undeniable firmness: "I will strive to become a qualified warrior. If possible, I wish to become a guardian knight, as Father hopes, using this nascent power, recognized by the law, to protect Windbreath Town, to protect all those I cherish. Perhaps I don't have Matthew's dazzling talent, nor Rhodes's unique insight, but I will walk forward step by step, never retreating. This externalizable Combat Aura is the foundation of my protection."
Corbin leaned against the old railing on the rooftop, the city lights flickering in his deep eyes. He no longer spoke of a warrior's glory, nor was he dejected by his failure to break through that barrier of law. He merely said softly, "This world is vast, and forms of power are far from singular. The War God's divine grace rejected me, and the law of Combat Aura externalization is not for me; perhaps this is a form of guidance. I will go see, go adventure. I will find my own path, a path... not limited by the War God's laws, perhaps one that can pioneer an entirely new system of power."
Flashes of Elder Lysander's mysterious study crossed his mind, along with scattered records about magic. He also felt the stirring deep within his soul, incompatible with the divine grace yet undeniably real. Beneath the starlight, his gaze was no longer lost but filled with an unprecedented determination. If the War God's divine law excluded him, then he would find his own law.
They raised imaginary tankards, clinking them silently beneath the starry sky, blessing each other's futures and the vows imprinted on their hearts tonight. Though their paths ahead were different, and the threads of fate, due to divine laws and personal choices, were already leading them in different directions, at this moment, their young hearts, bound by shared experiences and pure friendship, were closely connected.
The night wind blew past, carrying a hint of coolness and the boundless aspirations of the youths for the future, drifting into the distance. The lights of Falling Leaf City remained, and the stories of the four young people had only just begun.