After registering, the participants applying to become part of the Lethal Bite Clan totaled around twenty, including both Raze and Anna.
After learning of the strict requirements, many had turned around or simply hadn't shown up, not going forward with the small test that would follow.
Being a Pagna Warrior was never an easy task to do, and many, at the last moment, knowing that their lives could be on the line, had backed away.
It was true for the opposite as well; knowing this might be the only thing they could do, they had stayed.
All of the participants were lined up in a row, standing on the sandy field.
On the field itself, it was filled with a number of items, weapon racks at the back of the place filled with real weapons rather than wooden ones like the academy would have.
Then there were also giant boulders that had been placed on the field, two of them in total.
'These Pagna warriors sure do love their tests wherever they go,' Raze thought. 'But I guess it would make sense for them to do something like this. They need to filter out those who aren't worth their time.'
On the other side of the participants were members of the Lethal Bite Clan. There were ten of them standing on the other side, with the leader of the group wearing a pointed helmet made out of metal, standing slightly in front of the others.
There was also one more who stood out because he was the only person who was sitting down. A short, rather plump man with his arms folded and a large grin on his face.
"What is this!" The leader of the group was slapping a piece of paper in his hand as he looked at the results that had appeared. "Why do we have three no-names that have applied for us? Who did this!"
Immediately, one of the guards from behind came forward and placed his fist on the ground while kneeling on the floor with one knee.
"That was me, sir. The orders from the base were to try to get as many applicants as possible, as you know what type of situation we are in," the man answered with his head down.
The leader's face was shaking with anger. "Is this what the Lethal Bite Clan has come to? We are one of the top clans there is, and we are now accepting no-names to even take part. Do you know what that would do if a no-name was part of our group?"
"We would become a laughingstock of the other clans. Our reputation would fall, saying we have to rely on these animals! The three no-names on this list, come forward now!"
Raze and Anna stepped forward; the two of them had only placed their first name. Honestly, Raze didn't think it would be a problem, and perhaps he was being too naive.
It had been a while since someone brought up or tried to use the fact that he had no name against him since he had already proven himself with the skills of his blade.
When turning his head to the right, he could see another frail man, his long hair nearly covering his entire face, and his clothing with holes and covered in dirt.
"You over there!" the captain pointed as he hit the sheet of paper several times. "I'm guessing this is you. Did you not even have the decency to give yourself a first name? You just called yourself Man! Mr. Man, all three of you get out of my sight; we won't be accepting any no-names into this group."
There was a sour taste left in Raze's mouth. Perhaps his blood was still boiling slightly due to the comments Anna had made, but the man in front of him was reminding Raze a lot of how the mages acted to those that didn't know magic.
To take it a step even further, there were then those who lived on the surface and how they would act to the Dwellers underneath.
Although Raze was sure joining the Lethal Bite Clan wasn't too important for the goal of trying to find out the killer, to be rejected before even doing anything...
"Don't you think your view is short-sighted?" Anna said.
Out of all the people to say something, Raze was surprised that Anna spoke up. Shouldn't their number one thing be to stay out of sight, blend in? There were other ways they could finish the mission.
"Recently, I heard that there is a rising star in the Dark Faction, the hope of the Dark Faction, and that is the White Dragon," Anna claimed.
Raze's legs slightly wobbled hearing the name. The nickname that had been given to him, here of all places. Lifting up his hand, he ran it through his hair.
'Maybe I should use some magic to change my hair color… otherwise, this could cause serious problems in the future,' Raze thought.
"The White Dragon. I also believe that they are a no-name as well. The Pagna Academy, the rising star who managed to show greater strength than the five main families."
"I believe times are changing. The academy accepted the White Dragon, so you should at least test us before you say anything."
The man who was berating them just a moment ago was biting his lip. He had opened his mouth trying to say a few things, but no words came out.
Everyone knew the tale of the White Dragon in the Dark Faction. It had spread even further out to the other factions about what had occurred.
However, there was one detail that was hardly reported on, or wasn't the focus, and that was that the White Dragon was a no-name.
"Is that true, is the White Dragon really a no-name?"
"Come to think of it, I did hear about that as well, but I guess everyone was just focused on finding a new star!"
"That can't be right, can it?"
The people who were taking part in the assessment were talking, but those that were part of the five major clans knew more details of the story.
They knew it was more true than anyone because it had been a greater shock for them, since their main disciples had been the ones to lose.
'Those damned useless main disciples, they have ruined everything for our clan!' The man thought.
Just as he was about to say something, another clan member from behind had run up and started to whisper in one's ear.
The man looked back for a moment before turning back around.
"Very well, you make a good point. Let's start the assessment and prove yourselves here!" The man said, waving his hand to the two large rocks.
"To join the Lethal Bite Clan, every one of our warriors must know at least how to use Qi, but not just use it—use it in a way where one can show its destructive powers!"
While the examiner was explaining, Anna started to walk forward towards the rock. The details of what one had to do hadn't even been explained yet.
She had quickly made a fist and, throwing it out, it smashed right onto the large rock. Cracks appeared all over, and the rock shattered and fell to pieces.
The eyes of the warriors nearly popped out of their heads the moment they saw this.
'Hey, hey, you're showing too much power!' Raze thought as soon as he saw this. 'Crap... I guess she was right, this woman is trouble.'
