Chapter 6 — The Day Before
The days passed quickly, and before Kil Ful realized it, only one day remained before the annual power examination. The entire kingdom had become more crowded than usual, as people from different cities and villages began arriving for the event. For many young people, this examination was one of the most important days of their lives. A single result could determine how others would see them and what opportunities they would receive in the future.
Kil Ful stood outside his small house that morning, looking toward the distant city. He had spent months training for this day, but strangely, he did not feel nervous. He had no idea what rank he would receive, and he knew that his result might not be as impressive as others expected. Still, he was satisfied knowing that he had given everything he could during his training.
A few minutes later, Morry arrived at his house. He looked more serious than usual, carrying the equipment they normally used for training. "One last training session," Morry said. Kil Ful looked at him and smiled. "You really don’t know when to stop, do you?" Morry laughed. "Not until the examination is over."
They spent the rest of the morning training together. Neither of them talked much about their future this time. They simply focused on their movements and pushed themselves harder than they normally did. Every strike, every step, and every moment of training reminded them of how far they had come since they were children.
When the sun began to set, the two friends finally stopped. Morry looked at Kil Ful and smiled. "Tomorrow, we’ll finally know our ranks." Kil Ful nodded calmly. "Yeah. Whatever happens, we’ll accept it." Morry extended his fist toward him, and Kil Ful bumped it with his own.
The sun disappeared beyond the horizon, leaving the kingdom beneath a dark sky. Tomorrow would be the day when countless people would discover their place in the power system.
And for Kil Ful King, it would be the first time the world officially measured his strength.