The Rise of the Black Plain

Variant abilities were those that had unusual characteristics. They could be very different from the skills of the father and the mother, as if they were a fusion that takes a little from each side, forming something completely new.

But contrary to what one might imagine, skills like these could hardly be passed on to later generations. After all, this kind of heredity would only work with abilities with many similarities.

However, those of the variant type used to be much more different when compared to other skills than the 'traditional' ones. Consequently, it would be tough for two people with similar characteristics to procreate!

And for the variant-type, there was a specific problem that could also make this issue even more difficult. That was the lack of information!

While traditional skills had entire families, organizations with information about them, these variant skills did not.

Information about traditional skills was widely spread, and people, even outside large organizations, knew a thing or two about them. In addition, there was a much deeper common knowledge about them, which let people know how powerful a young person would be in the future.

These people could be valued from the beginning in a specific power, where they could be guided in the most suitable path, improving their efficiency, strength, etc.

Consequently, these traditional skills were often easier to develop, and those young people with the best ones would be valued.

On the other hand, for the variant abilities, something different happened. As there was little information, in some cases none, it was seen less significantly.

They could have as much potential, or even more, than traditional ones. However, one couldn't tell how important it could be until someone grew up completely.

But not everyone would be willing to wait for something like this as if it were a gamble. So, either that individual would bring minimally decent results, or he would be a complete waste...

Coupled with the fact that skills like these could hardly be replicated, these people became less attractive to most organizations.

Innate abilities may or may not affect an individual's potential for specific areas as well. For example, Abby's ability didn't empower her one bit to become a doctor. On the other hand, someone could have a skill that enables that person to use techniques focused on hand-to-hand fights.

And for this second type, individuals who had them, if they were directed to learn spiritual techniques aimed at these areas, they could have a terrifying development!

For example, there is Roger, who had fought in the Spiritual Tournament. He possessed an innate skill related to using the spear, so he had specialized in this weapon.

Consequently, he was one of the young men who had the highest fighting proficiency in that competition, ranking second only to Minos!

That justified the fact that he could fight stronger opponents than himself, even with techniques of the same rating!

Such was the effect of innate abilities!

For all that, abilities like Alina's, in many cases, were underestimated due to the little information and the lousy development that its users had.

Anyway, the old man sighed for a moment and then said. "Can you demonstrate your skill? As it is one of the variant types, I'm afraid I can't describe its without seeing it."

That wasn't the only reason he asked for it. After all, they needed to know if each of these competitors was telling the truth about their innate abilities.

It wouldn't be impossible for some funny competitor to show up pretending to have different abilities...

Because of this, these examiners were asking for demonstrations for all these competitors.

Of course, there would be no need for that if a given competitor decided not to talk about his ability... It wasn't mandatory, just something that could help those who could pass the selection.

And finally, Alina took a metal hairpin from her head and held it in her left hand.

It was silver, looking like a small boomerang, smaller than the palm of a grown woman's hand.

And while she held that in an open hand for the examiners to see, Alina finally activated her innate ability.

In that instant, the three examiners could see an incredible sight to behold as the staple disintegrated into several different particles, forming a fistful of dust in Alina's hand.

That had happened in just 3 seconds since the activation of Alina's innate ability and the complete disintegration of that. However, the three people who had paid attention to this had seen every detail as if time had slowed down.

The hairpin had first started to turn into 'dust' across the surface, as if it were 'shifting skin' rapidly, as the substances mixed with each other, forming a handful of dust.

It looked like a small mound of sand, with several mixed colors. There was silver, gold, red, yellow, which gave different sensations when touched...

'Interesting, that would truly be useful for eliminating evidence…' One of the three examiners thought about it for a moment, trying to find a use for it.

'In her house for sure, there is no accumulated garbage...'

'Ahh, if she joins the army, surely she won't feel disgusted cleaning the headquarters...'

And after those people thought for a moment, the old man with a clipboard in his hand finally said. "Well, young Alina, we can't tell if your skill is something we're in need. But, it is fascinating. Anyway, keep an eye on the mural that's in your neighborhood. If you pass to the next phase, your name will appear there. Just like it happened before."

Hearing this, Alina didn't change her expression much, as she didn't expect to be approved right away just because of her innate ability. However, she still had one question in mind. "I thought that this phase of selection wasn't to eliminate candidates."

"Hmm, it wasn't before. But at this time, it is. Remember the questions I asked you a few moments ago?" the old man asked.

"Yea."

"There is more than one acceptable answer for each question, but there are certain answers that can eliminate the competitors that give them. And other answers that are considered negative. For these, a competitor can accumulate at most two of these. If there is a third, then one would be eliminated from the selection."

"I see..." She said in a low voice as she thought about it. 'I thought the questions were just to determinate the profile of the participants... But it seems they want to eliminate certain types of people.'

After that, Alina said goodbye to those three examiners, heading back to her house. Right now, she still had a few hours to spare until her next shift at work, so she wanted to relax a little more.

She had been quite anxious the night before and had barely been able to sleep...

Finally, as she left the Black Plain Army's headquarters, Alina could see the crowd of thousands of people in that place, already forming a few lines at the entrance there.

Not everyone had arrived early for this day, and with an arrival rate higher than the departure rate, the place had quickly filled up.

On the other hand, the soldiers were still handing out passwords to the newcomers, who couldn't enter that arena until they got this.

And as she walked out of there, heading for one of the city's residential neighborhoods, Alina had several thoughts in mind. 'I hope I haven't made a big mistake. Some of those questions had truly made me feel a little doubtful about what should be done.'

'But as Mr. Minos is so kind to us simple citizens, I believe that simple and direct answers are the right ones. As long as nothing too immoral is said, I think anyone can pass…' She thought, sometimes showing a particular concern on her face, and at other times, certain anxiety.

The questions commissioned by Minos indeed took into account common sense, simplicity. In fact, many questions had several acceptable answers, even if some were even a little problematic.

But as long as an individual wasn't too extreme or did think about his responses, then it wouldn't be that hard to get through.

However, if a competitor didn't even know how to answer what should be done in a given situation, or rather, someone who didn't know how to follow the rules... Then someone like that couldn't join Minos' forces.

Finally, some troubled individuals could drop certain tips and lose points with negative responses. With this, Minos hoped to eliminate some 'bad apples' from the selection already at this stage.