On the western side of the island, a huge lake situates there and around it is a big swamp that makes the area note beautiful. It's looked very calm around the place as you could only hear birds and animal sounds but then suddenly a huge explosion came from the north side of the lake.
*Boom* *Boom*
In fact, there are 10 other groups situated around the lake and each one is having its own battle in its own little area just like Alex's group. One of these groups is group 23 which Abrat, Wanda, and Emelia belong to.
Emelia: "I wonder how father and Saya are doing. I'm really worried that I got separated from them at the Altar".
Wanda who saw Emelia so much worried tried to reassure her and said, "Don't worry. I am sure that they're doing fine. After all your father is still an advanced rank-1 master warrior and Saya is a 9th stage rank-3 Mage. I am sure that everything will be okay and that we will need them after this".
Emelia who heard that tried to smile and only think about positive things and said, "Yes, you're right. They must be doing okay ".
AN: [Oh boy, how wrong you are]
Abrat who stayed silent for some time decided to interrupt them and talked, "Stop chatting and watch for your number. You, red hair, your corresponding number is 34. Wanda, yours is 125. You must find your pairing number to qualify for the next round or you will have to go to the bloody massacre".
Wanda who was surprised by how much Abrat spoke only nodded and thought in her mind, 'Wow! Sister was right. Since Mister Abrat came, he started talking more and more. I wonder why?'
Abrat noticed Wanda's weird look and just ignored it. Right now, Abrat and the two girls are on the sky as Wanda is holding Emelia while also waiting for anyone with the numbers they want to appear so that they can finish this trial quickly.
Emelia then remembered something and asked Abrat, "What is your corresponding number mister Abrat?"
Abrat down at the ground while answering her, "It's three hundred and one".
"Oh, so you have number 2200".
"...."
Wanda smiled awkwardly as she knew Abrat won't speak anymore so she decided to answer instead of him, "For now let's just wait for any of our numbers to appear and we will think about what comes later after that".
Emelia: "Okay".
"..."
________________________
The same thing was happening to all the 25 groups scattered through the 4 areas of the island as people are doing their best to get their pairing number and pass this trial. Olenna and Konstantin are in group 11 in the north snowy area batteling on frozen water while Nolan is alone in a group in the southern desert.
Alexia is also with Morgan in the southern desert in another group which is group number 14. The whole island is divided into 5 different areas with 5 different environments and weathers.
The east side of the island is a huge forest with some little mountains and big lands covered with grass only surrounding the forest. It's also the location that Alex and Lyssia's group is at right now trying to pass.
The west side is a huge lake surrounded by a swamp and fog all year. It also sometimes rain around there turning the place into a land filled with more mud. The north area has ice, snow, and storms all year and also three big and tall mountains covered with snow and ice from the bottom till the peak all year.
the south, on the other hand, is a huge desert that could make any mortal body completely dry in only one day. It is also filled with magic beasts like earth vultures that can eat your whole body in one gulp. If you die there then you won't find any trace of your body afterward. There also have many moving sand areas that can trap anybody forever.
Finally, the central area which is the place with the mild weather and also some ruins that show that an ancient civilization existed here. Most of these ruins are old and destroyed buildings that you could find almost all around the area.
All the 25 groups are scattered on the 4 outer areas in different places protected by a special magic barrier so that the groups don't meet each other. of course, the location of the final trial will be at the ancient city ruins in the central area.
What most intriguing is the existence of a high tower in the middle of this area that didn't resemble the structure of the buildings from the old ruins but looked new and also shined with a blue light at the top.
________________________
Inside the tower in the center of the ancient city, a huge round table is on the highest floor. 4 people are sitting around this table. Each one of them is having a seat representing the 4 cardinal directions.
One of these 4 people is Aiden sitting in one of the four seats and looking right now at different watch screens that are in the big table showing different places where different people are trying to pass the first trial.
Although Aiden tried to look at different screens, the one he focused on is none other than the screen that showed group 8 and the young man, the nameless titan number 8. Aiden than looked at the terrified Saya through the screen and how she barely almost died if it wasn't for Dian Long protecting her.
Saint Charles is right now sitting on the east chair that is close to Aiden's seat and he's also watching how Aiden tried to act calm even though his hand is about to destroy the table and even some of his magic power started leaking from his body.
At the west chair, you could see has a large and big humanoid tiger sitting on it. This tiger was tall as his height passed over the three meters and he also has a large build because of his clothes that showed that.
He is wearing what seems like samurai clothes with a long black and white robe with little golden flowers around the shoulder and big blue flowers around the sleeves and at the bottom of the robe.
He also wears a black sleeveless shirt under the robe together with black pants. Finally, he has a black obi belt sash with orange flowers around his waist.
AN: [ https://pin.it/pmsmounccgi7f3]
What is eye-catching in this big tiger is the long katana attached to the black sash. It was a very long katana for a human but perfect for a tall and large beast like him. The scabbard, handle and guard of the katana are dark blue while a light blue cloud-like design circling around. This sword also had a little orange gem attached in the middle of the handle. This gem has a number 12 inside it.
The tiger of course was one of the people living here and he's also one of the overseers of the trials. Finally, The other one sitting on the north seat is a little white and red dragon. This little dragon has red lightning marks on his back and also instead of the blood like red eyes, he has little yellow eyes.
Yes, He's in fact the dragon Dianlong who is overseeing the first trial right now but in his true form.
AN: [When he transforms, his eyes become red, and also his little yellow fur is a mix between red and yellow. https://pin.it/gnt6b5wrlgy3jb].
Dian Long who tried to ease the tension said with a tone that showed little anger, "Man, Aiden, your friends are really giving me no respect. 3 of them even discovered that it wasn't my real body. How're they so smart, hmph? Also, that little wolf, I am 5 thousand times older than him and he thinks that he can try and fight me. If I was just one percent serious, he would've died a thousand times already. Hey, Charles, say something".
Charles smiled and said, "I think that he would be the perfect user for you, what do you say? He also uses lightning like you".
Dian Long, who heard became immediately annoyed and forgot about his goal as he said, "Huh? what are you talking about Charles? didn't you see it? The guy uses his claws as his weapons and I also don't like his personality. I am a great dragon spirit sword and he is nothing but a little wolf magic beast which makes us completely incompatible. Did you lose your mind or what?"
Charles who tried to annoy Dian Long laughed and said, "Hahaha, seeing you angry really makes my day wonderful just like old times, I really enjoy these little things".
Suddenly, the tiger that was silent the whole time started speaking and said, "Sigh, Can both of you stop it a little. I mean we have Aiden as our guest and you can't show your dignity as legends from the old era at all".
Dianlong who heard scuffed and said, "Guest? then what about you Hu Zhao? aren't you also considered a guest since you came here only two hundred years ago? I mean you have been staying here since that time but you're old enough now to go on your own now hmph".
The tiger named Hu Zhao felt a little embarrassed and scratched the back of his head and said, "We don't need to point that out you know".
Charles who noticed that it got a little more akward tried to stop it and said, " Well, can we stop quarreling little and focus on the challenges more. We need to find the right people who deserve our attention and also gave the chance to get to the final trial".
Dian Long who heard that just hmphed and said, "You don't need to care too much. It's only been half-day since the trial started and I don't think that someone aside from that little wolf can finish it in few minutes like that wolf".
Hu Zhao who heard that smiled and said, "hmm, it seems like some groups have already finished".
Dian Long turned where Hu Zhao was looking and said with a shocked face, "What! how is that possible".
Hu Zhao: "Yeah, look. Groups 2, 7, 18, 20 have all finished. You see. Because they all belong to the black market dark alliance, they easily gathered the needed numbers and killed everyone else they didn't need and just passed immediately. You should send one of your spirit forms to prepare for the second trial".
Saint Charles: "Sigh, they really had a good but also an evil plan. The strongest in these groups allied together and killed all the people until only five hundred stayed. It seems like along with the time, the future generations of this continent became even more brutal than before".
Hu Zhao who saw that could also only sigh and said, "Don't feel down Charles. No matter what race they belong to, the greedy people only believe in benefits and not kinship. I mean even demi-humans and Oni are the same".
Charles who heard felt a little better and then turned to Aiden and said, "Yes, maybe you're right Zhao. Aiden my boy, what do you think about this?".
Aiden who has been silent the whole time and just continued looking at number 8 through the watching screens and who's right now coming to the central area.
He then turned at Charles and said, " Honestly, It's your fault for letting anyone with a dream he believes in to come here. your question didn't care about the answer itself but whether someone believed if his answer is right or not. As long as he thinks that his answer is the right one, then it will be easy for anyone to go up here".
"....."
Before Aiden could hear Charles reply, He rose from his seat and started walking towards the huge door at the end of the room. the three who were thinking about Aiden's reply noticed him leaving so they wondered where he was going and Dianlong asked him, "Hey, where are you going??".
Aiden didn't stop but continued walking and didn't turn at Dianlong. He just answered him back without any care, "I am going to see Saya".
Charles then asked him again, "Do you think that I'm wrong to make bad people like them come here?"
Aiden stopped walking and then turned at the Charles. He then pointed with his index finger at the screens showing the groups.
"They're not bad people they're just people who go after their dreams and would do anything to reach that goal and dream. I don't know what's your purpose of these trials but you must take responsibility for all the lives that are being killed whether they're evil or good".
He didn't wait for Charles's reply as he opened the door and left the room. Hu Zhao then rose from his seat and followed Aiden as he didn't want him to cause a ruckus. After all, he's now one of the supervisors and not a challenger.
Hi Zhao: "Charles, I'll follow him. You can just monitor the groups". He then left the room and followed Aiden.