Chapter 50 - The Capital of Jakkom Part 1

On the morning of departure, all eyes were on the giant, emerald dragon with its master on top. Strands of golden hair could be seen beneath a crimson hood as a mask covered the lower part of his face. They could only see those glowing, orange eyes. As they looked upon them, they felt as if they were seeing through the eyes of a good, seeing the marvels of the universe in his eyes. What's more, he openly cultivated in front of them. They could see giant strands of blue green energy rise from the ground and enter his body.

One seventh stage student, not chosen to compete, did not like that Ivy talked to him. When he attacked Shu earlier, all that remained was his broken body in a pit next to the dragon. Seeing the seventh stage student defeated so easily, none of the other students dared to anger or disturb him. Even the principal seemed to favor him. There was no doubt that he was the strongest first year. They could only watch, enviously, as Ivy joined Shu on Bahamut's back. They also saw five of the other first years join Shu. Even Hinako, another member of the ancient clans joined them. The even saw her cousin, the rank 9 beauty Hailey Sano, also sit on Bahamut's back.

"We're getting a lot of attention," Joey laughed.

"It's not us. It's Ivy, Hailey, and Shu. Really, Shu. We haven't even left and you already beat someone up," Hinako sighed.

"He attacked me. What? Did you think I would just knock him out? In the real world, it is much better to actually kill the guy. You must kill to win all future battles. If you let even one of the enemy live, there will be unforeseen consequences that will make you wish you didn't," Shu shrugged. "He's just lucky we are at academy grounds. If we were already at the sky, I would have broken his limbs and watch him fall to death."

"We are now leaving for the capital of Jakkom! It is known as the Black City. Countless millennia ago, immortals returned to the Mortal Realm and created the kingdom of Jakkom. They left their descendants here, as they were too weak for the Immortal Realms. The entire city is appears as if it were made of black glass. Like obsidian glass. He head to that city now, to maintain our position as the number one academy in Jakkom! The top of the nine academies!" the principal roared as he rode a shining white phoenix that was even bigger than Bahamut.

It was a Saint level magical beast known as a Radiant Cloud Phoenix. If a student did not ride their own a magical beast, or that of another student, they rode on the backs of rank 6 magical beasts known as Blue Crown Sand Eagles . They were large eagles as powerful as a Spirit Knight with a circle of blue feathers on their heads. However, it was way too crowded and people had to sit, too close for comfort, and the eagle would have to slow down if they began to slip. Ivy and the others were glad Shu already had a magical beast. It was even a flying magical beast. Most students haven't bound a magical beast as the first is always the most important one. It had to have the most potential in order to control the other magical beasts.

Some could even call it a hierarchy. If a magical beast was stronger than the one bound before it, most of them end up killing each other. Higher classed magical beasts usually had a higher intelligence and did not do such things. However, it was rare to find such an intelligent magical beast at the lower, more affordable, ranks. Most people buy their magical beasts. It was just easier, safer, and had a higher success rate of making it obey.

After three hours in the air, they could finally see Black City. It really was as the principal said. The whole city was black and light reflected off the surface of the buildings, as if they were made of glass. The capital was seventy five miles long. Despite the black buildings and towers, the people wore bright colors, like white and sky blue. Each of the guards wore a full suit of gold armor. However, their armor was enchanted and they were all Spirit Knights. Even though the Yan Dynasty and the Kingdom of Kasara had the most Spirit Knights, they could only claim as such in their continent. In Jokkam, there were not a few hundred Spirit Knights. There were a few ten thousand Spirit Knights. However, compared to the Yan Dynasty, they had little Spirit Sages and Spirit Masters.

"Holy shit!" Joey said as he could not sense the spirit energy of all the guards. "They're all Spirit Knights."

"Yeah, man. Holy shit," Daniel agreed, shocked as well.

"This is the most powerful, and largest, nation in the entire planet. While Spirit Knights guarding cities are rare in most of the other continents, they are plentiful in Jokkam. They all belong to the Black Guardian Dragons, a powerful sect in charge of guarding the country from mages and Practitioners who are not representatives of an army. By creating a sect separate from the army, Jokkam is protected from all kinds of people, no matter their cultivation or lack of. The main branch is situated in the balley to the east of the capital," Hinako explained. "If the Hyperion dare come to Jokkam, they'll already be annihilated before they set on shore as there are several branches on islands going south east. In the Jokkam Empire, the nobles and clans fear no one. Well, they fear the imperial family."

Shu gazed around, with his special eyes, observing all the cultivations of the life forms in the city. While there were many guards in sight, there were far more hiding in the shadows. They landed in the palace courtyard. The palace, alone, was ten miles. They all looked around as knights in gold armor, with golden horns on their helmets, walked toward them. Each of them walked in military formation, shields raised and swords drawn. They only lowered their shields when the principal, and all his students, had their identities verified.

All the contestants were shown to their tents as they were set up in front of a segregated part of the city. Within was a large forest with rivers and a waterfall. There was also a large, outdoor stadium, similar to three times the size of a football field. These areas were the ones the Practitioners would have to compete. On the other side of the city, closer to the palace, were several buildings and clearings for the mage competitions.

Shu and Ivy said goodbye to the others as they headed to the tent where the sixth stage Practitioners of Black Lotus Academy would be resting. Inside, Shu and the regular fifteen members were waiting. After an hour, a man in a lavish, dark blue tuxedo walked in. He was accompanied by many maids and servants. He smiled and bowed his head as they gathered in front of him.

"Welcome to Black City. In our fair city, it is our great pleasure to host the inter-academic competition once again. It is customary for our city to host a feast. Tonight will be the feast for those of the fifth stage participants and all the mages will be the next day. The third day will be for the sixth and seventh stage participants. The fourth stage participants will not be allowed to join the feast. After the day of your designated feast, your competition will begin. Each day, the stages will participate in different areas of this section of the capital. I hope to see you all at the feast on the night of after tomorrow," the man smiled. "Feel free cultivate and prepare your mind and body for the competition. Farewell and good luck."

Shu spent most of his time sleeping. He had always been hunting and training. Sometimes, the body needed rest to adapt to the changes. When the night came for the feast for the sixth and seventh stage Practitioners, Shu was told to take off his hood. People would stare at him as he entered the palace. Shu narrowed his eyes as he saw some people who also had inhumane characteristics. He made sure to remember their faces.

"What's wrong, Shu?" Ivy asked as she appeared with a tray of fruit.

"There are a lot of powerful people here. Some are clearly hiding their power. Some have their intentions obvious, by the looks on their faces. They're trying to gauge our spirit force," Shu grinned.

"You're pretty assertive," a beautiful girl noted as she walked up to them. "Hi. My name is Rian Hong, a member of one of the ancient clans. Nice to see you again, Ivy. Who's the boy? He seems strong."

"This is Shu Lu. He's from the Yan Dynasty's Lu Imperial Clan," Ivy said. "Shu, this girl won first place amongst the fourth stage Practitioners. She's a true Archon who studied the Titan Creator technique."

"Just like you," Rian smiled, causing Ivy to stare at Shu.

"I see. You have a high sensitivity to spirit energy, but what you are sensing is not my spirit energy. You're sensing the planet's life force," Shu realized. "Now that I think about it, I sense it within you as well. Did the tattoo form on your back as well?"

"Yes," Rian nodded. "I don't really like it though. However, my clan's main branch cultivates the Titan Creator true Archon body technique. I have a single spirit reactor, but I have two kinds of energy in my body. It's very difficult to cultivate as the spirit reactor can't change the planet's life force into two kinds of energy all the time."

"It's different for me. I have two spirit reactors," Shu nodded. "It is quite convenient."

"I heard, from my clan's intelligence reports, that you gained a second spirit reactor by absorbing it from a Mystic Stone you ripped out of a spy of the Drakon clan. It looks like a skull, right?" Rian asked.

"Yeah. Does the type of spirit reactor have a special purpose? I haven't read a book about spirit reactors," Shu asked.

"First, are you a seventh stage Practitioner?" Rian asked.

"No. I am a first year sixth stage Practitioner," Shu answered.

"First year?" Rian gasped, seeing Ivy nod silently. "I'm impressed. Most people who are that strong, at thirteen, are scions of the ancient clans, like Ivy and me. I'm thirteen too. However, I was at the peak of the fourth stage. Ivy was just at the beginning of the fourth stage. I can see her spirit force, but I can't sense yours. Either you are hiding it, or your power is too high among Practitioners of the sixth stage."

"HAHAHA!" Shu laughed, as Ivy walked over to Isabella and Miguel as they beckoned to her.

"Well. Their true purpose is different per person. They reveal their hidden characteristics when you reach the peak of the ninth stage of Spirit Shaman cultivation," Rian answered as they sat down on a table after getting some food. Some boys stared at her dark brown hair as it curled down her shoulder. Her pony tail fell onto her left shoulder and she had blue green eyes that glowed as well.

"Your eyes, is it an effect from your transformation upon gaining a true Archon body?" Shu asked.

"Yes. I was afraid I would gain horns or wings," she said. "Besides a bias towards magical beast meat, the only other inhumane change was my eyes. I can see the life force of the planet. My sensitivity to it allows me to see past any methods to conceal it. However, I can only see it emanate from your Mystic Crystal. You are not absorbing it, but signatures still exist in the body as well as the tattoo on your back."

"Interesting," Shu said. "Thanks. I hope you get a good rank in the competition."

"Wishing luck on the opponent? I am a student representing Gold Crow Palace," Rian teased.

Shu smirked and said, "You're not mine."

That girl had left a good impression in Shu. She was knowledgeable and had many interesting features. It was a pity they were on opposing sides. Shu sighed and went to talk with Miguel, Ivy and Isabella. Ivy seemed a little sad, but Shu didn't notice it as he asked about the other eight academies. Six academies did not really stand out. From the fourth rank down, they were Iron Bull Academy, Red Dragon Temple, Blue Phoenix Palace, Green Hare Tower, White Lion Temple, and Violet Jade Academy. These six always competed against each other, not challenging the top three as they had blood debts to each other. Their Practitioners only cared about killing each other.

"Why?" Shu asked. "Their ranking might be different if they stopped and consolidated their strengths."

"Each of the six schools lie in the outskirts of the continent, like a six star-point formation. Their schools existed first, after Black Lotus Academy. They're like warring tribes, each one fighting for dominance. If someone from another school ventured into the self-proclaimed territory of another school, that person would be dismembered and have his head sent back to his family. Even now, the only reason they are only glaring at each other is because the empire does not allow their in-fighting in certain cities. The empire tolerates it because they provide protection from foreign nations," Miguel answered.

"I thought Practitioners at the Spirit Knight stage, and above, could not interfere with mortal affairs. They can't kill the army or the ruler of the royal house," Shu frowned.

"That rule only implies if they're the ones attacking. If it's defense, the rule only applies to not killing the ruler. The only exception would be if the ruler personally killed a relative of the person in question, or gave the order," Isabella answered. "Usually nations employ academies and martial sects to take care of others, avoiding the rules altogether. Since each of the academies want to kill each other so badly, they obviously train to become very powerful. The more powerful they are, the less likely the empire will be attacked."

"This is good for us as we can focus on our real competition. They are far more powerful than the six other academies. They alternate between the second and third rank. The third ranked school is Steel Horn Temple. Last year, Gold Crow Palace took the second rank back after four years of defeat," Miguel said. "One of them, Rian Hong, even beat our Ivy Shao for the top rank. Ivy got third because she was lost and had to face the loser of Rian's next opponent, who became second place. I expect you two to get the top spots for the sixth stage Practitioner division. Our school is ranked first. We like to keep it that way."