Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Surmised Expectations

"Can the same be said for you?" the plump man spoke loudly with a sarcastic smirk.

The excited crowd began to hush down as all gazes fell on Oz.

Oz squinted his eyes at the man as his mind raced.

'A double-edged game he's playing. If I have "talent" like Zee here, I'll benefit from the publicity while he'll no doubt be rewarded for "finding us," yet if my results are less than extraordinary... just another participant, nothing gained, nothing lost.'

He tossed those thoughts aside and quickly glanced at his system panel, a soft chuckle sounding out from his lips, "heh, who knows."

The fatso and Zee, who were close to Oz and heard this gave him questioning glances.

Nonetheless, he strode forward confidently towards the orb on the table, fully prepared for this test.

It was built similarly to a moderately sized snow globe but without mini artcitextures or buildings.

The murky white gas inside swirled upon itself, swooshing around as if beckoning toward him.

PLOP

Oz brazenly slapped his hand on the orb, causing the table legs to wobble.

The fatso flared up at this, his puffy face turning red with rage, "Hey, watch it, bra-"

Yet, his fury was halted by what he saw.

The chalk-colored gas inside, which had been softly fluttering as gentle snow, had spiraled into what looked like a snowstorm.

There was no glow yet; the table itself, which had been wobbly from Oz's slap, was now creaking and moaning more loudly.

CRK

CRAKKKK

Cracks splintered across the top of the table, sending bits of pieces and chunks of wood into the air.

Sweat was pouring down Oz's face as he grit his teeth and held onto his left arm, which felt like it was firmly planted against the orb.

"Oz!" Zee called out as he went to press his friend away.

WOOOOSH!!

The fatso had disappeared from his seat and could be seen pushing Zee away with one hand, sending him tumbling.

"Ugh..." Zee slowly got up from his stomach and shook his head before glaring at the fatso, "what are you doing?" he yelled out, his fists balled up in rage.

The fatso stood between Oz's, whose body was shaking, and his brown skin had taken on a paler hue, as exhaustion could be seen on his face.

Gusts of wind were rushing from the source, sending the crowd of spectators and waiting participants blasting away.

"Listen, brat." the fatso called out as he glanced over his shoulder and back at Oz before continuing, "This is for you and your friend's own good. Don't disturb this."

"Ughh...." Zee crawled forward bit by bit, fighting against the gust of wind as best as he could as his teary eyes held locked onto his friend, Oz.

The fatso walked up behind Oz, gazing in awe at the orb, there was no light, but the substance inside was swirling inside rapidly.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRR

A harsh, piercing scream rang out, blasting numerous glass windows nearby into little more than dust.

Any nearby spectators nearby had fallen unconscious, their bodies flailing and slowly taken away by the wind.

"Men!" the fatso shouted as the guards nearby all leaped into the air, recovering the unconscious townsfolk and preventing any casualties.

The fatso nodded his head in approval as he turned to behind Oz once more and began whispering in his ear.

Zee, who had barely held onto his consciousness, watched on with fuzzy vision and a nose that was gushing, "O-Oz..." he meekly called out.

The fatso watched on with fascination and greed, a perverted look on his lips as he stared starry-eyed at the orb that continued to swirl.

'Just how bright will this light be?' suddenly, as if remembering something, he shouted out, "Men, eyes!"

"Yes!" the guards all responded as now making sure all citizens were taken care of, they turned their backs to the orb, prepared for the blinding light that was about to occur.

However, the fatso's face only drew closer, looking on in fascination as he whispered, "have I finally found it?"

CR-

"Huh?" confusion replaced the fatso's face as a crack ran along the orb, and deep inside the white gas, amidst the purest of white, a small black speck had appeared, subtly shaking upon itself.

The fatso's eyes drew so close they were nearly touching the orb as he muttered out, "what in Yala's na-"

"AAAAAAGHHH!!" a primal roar erupted from Oz's mouth as he screamed into the air, booming through the skies and sending a shockwave upwards.

PLOP.

He fell backward, finally set free from the orb's clutches.

The orb returned to its normal state once more, brimming with a mysterious white light and the gas swirling upon itself as the surface slowly repaired itself.

Now caked in sweat and breathing heavily, confusion was written in the boy's eyes, yet strangely, his gaze was without fear.

"Grr..." the fatso growled as he came forward, picking up Oz by the collar and shouting in his face, "What was that brat?"

Saliva splattered across the boy's face as he asked.

Oz, who was still semi-dazed, only stared the man in the eyes with his pitch-black eyes.

As anger flooded the man, a furious red surfaced on his puffy face.

WHACKKK!

He sent a powerful blow causing Oz to topple over; however, with a firm grip on the boy's collar, the fatso would not allow it, pulling him back up and asking once more, "I'll say it again, what was that?"

The two were caught in a cycle once more as they just stared at one another, Oz not speaking a single word.

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"Stop!" Zee called out as he struggled to his feet and ran towards the man.

"Stay out of this brat!" the fatso barked as Zee ran face-first into an invisible wall, falling onto his butt and his nose gushing once more alongside his tears.

The fatso brought his attention towards Oz once more, bringing him even closer to his face.

His eyes gleamed with a dangerous green light, "I'll ask one... more... time."

Yet Oz only stared on, but alas, the fatso saw it, or something rather, a glimpse of gold in the boy's eyes, "wait a second..." the man muttered as wind began to whirl around him, "what are y-"

"That's enough!" a rasp yet strong voice called out.

From the sky, a man could be seen floating down.

He had long, flowing white hair that ran down his back and a silky straight grey beard that flowed down to his chest.

This man looked old yet youthful.

"Can a simple assessment not be overlooked by you?" he called out to the fatso.

"B-bu-" the fatso stuttered out as he shivered.

Yet as the old man's feet gently touched the ground, sending out a gentle gust of wind throughout the cobblestone path, a glare shot from his eyes straight towards the fatso.

This gaze alone was enough to shut the fatso up, and could sigh to himself.

The man's rasped voice spoke out sternly, "announce the boys' results and send them on their way. We have many other waiting participants."

"Y-yes, sir!" the fatso nodded like a dog licking its master's balls as he pointed towards stadium doors whilst pointing with the other hand, "you two may go!

However, as if the two hadn't even heard him, Zee, who was still on his stomach, just stared with his mouth agape at the old man who had floated down.

Meanwhile, Oz was now on his knees and seemingly in a daze, staring at the ground like his mind was racing.

"Oz! Oz! We can go!" Zee shouted excitedly to his friend as he sprinted over, yet as he shook his unresponsive friend, the fatso just shook his head.

"Sigh, the kid must be exhausted after that test. Better make sure he's ready by then."

With that, he pointed with his thumb behind for the boys to head in that direction.

Now, with Oz seemingly still in a daze, Zee helped him up over his shoulder and, while wondering what the hell had happened, glanced back over at this mysterious old man and the fatso...

.

.

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After the pair had gone through the entrance, the old man glanced around before calling gently out, "Move the test location. This site is a bit messy," time dwindled by, "now." he finished.

WHOOOSH!

With that, the droops disappeared, off to complete their task.

All except the fatso, he knew just by the old man's gaze he was exempt from this command.

"Tell me..." the old man ask in his same raspy tone that carried a gentle danger with it, "what happened?"

He stood only a foot away from the fatso, standing a good head and half over him and needing to look down to even meet his gaze.

Even so, it was done in a way that laid out their differences.

The fatso couldn't help but gulp to himself as cold sweat ran down his back.

"Those kids are somethin' special," he barely kept his voice from cracking as he explained.

"Oh?" the old man raised his eyebrows, "well, we have some sponsors who have their eyes open, so do tell."

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