As the bus strolled up to the parking lot, a line that seemed endless stretched across the front entrance.
"I don't think we're going to be able to get in there soon." [Adam]
"Don't worry about it." [Mr. Frank]
The bus came to a stop and they exited the vehicle.
"Alright class, follow me. Make sure not to lose your way." [Mr. Frank]
He threw a metal ball into the air and reconstructed itself into a sign that was able to float.
"If you do get lost, just follow the sign." [Mr. Frank]
The sign read "Mr. Frank" on it.
"With that, nobody could get lost. Right Adam?" [Felix]
Felix nudged his elbow to his left, but it only met air.
"Huh?" [Felix]
Panicking, he looked around, but Adam was nowhere to be found.
"Seriously…" [Felix]
Adam was already inside a crowd, being tossed around like a pinball.
("Where did the class go?") [Adam]
"I can't tell if you're joking right now." [Krino]
Adam tried pushing his way through the crowd, eventually escaping through a small gap.
"There, I'm finally ou- BUH!" [Adam]
Upon leaving, he slammed his chin into something.
"Hey, watch where you're going." [???]
Adam's eyes met a boy with white hair. He got back up and dusted himself off.
"My bad. Before you go, can I ask you some questions?" [Adam]
"I don't have time for surveys. See you never." [White Haired Boy]
He waved Adam off before turning around to leave.
"Wait! It's not a survey." [Adam]
He grabbed the boy's shoulder, turning him back to Adam.
"What." [White Haired Boy]
Adam flinched for a bit seeing the anger on the boy's face.
"I… was going to ask where the entrance was." [Adam]
"The entrance for spectators is right there, just get in line." [White Haired Boy]
Looking at where he was pointing, Adam realized that he was pointing at the unbelievably long line.
"Then, where is the entrance for contestants?" [Adam]
The boy looked up and down at Adam, inspecting every inch of his body.
"...You? A contestant? You look super weak." [White Haired Boy]
"It's true. Look, I don't care if you think I'm weak. It doesn't change the fact that I'm a participant." [Adam]
After thinking about it for a minute, the boy decided to show Adam.
"Hmph. Follow me." [White Haired Boy]
Adam was led past the astonishingly long line, to a smaller door on the side of the large entrance. At some point Adam saw Mr. Frank's sign and Felix waving at him.
"Looks like my class is here. Thanks for showing me the way." [Adam]
"So you weren't lying. I'll see you in the arena." [White Haired Boy]
He walked off into a different direction, sinking into another crowd.
("What a strange guy.") [Adam]
He linked up with his class only to have Felix scold him.
"I can't believe you just vanished as soon as we left the bus!" [Felix]
"But you guys disappeared first." [Adam]
"Are you seriou- you know what? Nevermind, just stand in front of me." [Felix]
Adam was ushered forward and stayed there until the class was at the entrance to the door. Mr. Frank spoke with one of the staff before they were allowed to proceed.
"Isn't it kind of dark in here?" [Adam]
Dim lights lined the ceiling as the class descended flights of stairs.
"That's because we're going to the center of the arena. It's obviously below spectator seats." [Mr. Frank]
After minutes of walking, Adam saw natural light flowing into the tunnel.
"Finally, an exit." [Adam]
Blinded by the light, exiting the tunnel revealed a dense forest in front of them.
"What's a forest doing here?" [Felix]
"I told you this already, I made it. It's going to be your battle ground." [Mr. Frank]
Mr. Frank leaned against the wall and checked his watch.
"And now we wait." [Mr. Frank]
A few minutes later, a voice spoke over the entire forest. It came from speakers that floated along with screens above the forest.
"All participants, please enter the arena." [Announcer]
As Adam and Felix were about to leave, Mr. Frank stopped them after a step.
"Before you go, take off your weights." [Mr. Frank]
"Oh yeah, forgot about them." [Adam]
"Yeah, we got used to them pretty quickly." [Felix]
The bracelets hit the ground with a loud thud and the two continued forward.
"I feel so light now." [Adam]
He rubbed his wrists as if to check if the bracelets were still there. Entering the forest made Adam a bit nervous and his eyes began to wander.
"Mr. Frank's creation ability is pretty great. It feels like I'm in a natural forest." [Adam]
A light shone on his wrist, leaving a strange watch with three separate numbers.
"Did Mr. Frank just prank us?" [Adam]
"Dear contestants, we have sent a watch to every participant that holds the number of voidlings and people within the arena. You all must gain as many points as you can within the allotted time. If you are in danger press the SOS button at the bottom of the watch. Your points will also be represented near the SOS button." [Announcer]
("Oh, so that's what it was.") [Adam]
"As for points, a level 1 voidling will give you five points. A level 2 will give you fifteen. A level 3 will give you twenty five. A level 4 will give you fifty points. And finally, a level 5 will give you one hundred points." [Announcer]
("A hundred points? Isn't that too low for a level 5?") [Adam]
"In a few seconds, all participants will be transported to a random location. As soon as you are transported, the voidlings will be released." [Announcer]
A ring appeared around Adam and his vision blurred. A few moments later, he was alone in the forest. A bell rang in the distance and screaming came along with it soon after.
("So it's already started.") [Adam]
"Alright, now summon me." [Krino]
("Did they say I can?") [Adam]
"Did they say you can't?" [Krino]
("...You're not wrong.") [Adam]
"Requesting access to the cele-" [Adam]
"Wait!" [Krino]
("What now?") [Adam]
"Omit the chant." [Krino]
("But I don't want to use you at half power.") [Adam]
"I can tell you how to use me at full power with it now." [Krino]
("You're teaching me in the middle of a tournament?") [Adam]
"Would you rather waste time or would you want to learn how to be effective?" [Krino]
("...Let me check the area first.") [Adam]
Adam activated Scout, but he sensed nothing within his area.
("We're clear. Tell me how to do it.") [Adam]
"All you have to do is say the keyword and my name." [Krino]
("What's the keyword?") [Adam]
"You already know it." [Krino]
The familiar rush of information entered Adam's head once again.
"Balance the Scales! Krino!" [Adam]
Krino appeared through a lightning bolt, shocking the audience. They were confused as to why a lightning bolt struck the forest through clear skies.
("Wait. That's not a keyword.") [Adam]
"Fine. Then a key phrase. Just get a move on." [Krino]
With his Scout on, Adam casually strolled through the forest.
"You sure you should be taking this lightly?" [Krino]
("It would be inefficient if I wasted my energy looking for a voidling. Besides, nothing can hurt me with you around.") [Adam]
"You sure have a way with words." [Krino]
After walking for a bit, Adam picked something up in his Scout.
("Looks like we have our first victim") [Adam]
It turned out to be a level 1 voidling. Adam ambushed it from behind and sliced it in half with ease.
"Easy peasy." [Adam]
"Don't be cocky yet, you're behind in points." [Krino]
("Yeah, yeah.") [Adam]
He decided to quicken his pace. Around almost every corner was a level 1 voidling. Although there was a fair amount of voidlings, Adam was able to dispatch them quickly and moved on. At some point, his Scout sensed something else.
("Is that… a person and some voidlings?") [Adam]
He hid behind a tree and observed the situation. It seemed that the white haired boy from earlier was protecting someone from a group of voidlings.
("Hm. Should I help him?") [Adam]
"If he gets disqualified, then that means less competition." [Krino]
Adam checked his watch. The number of participants had dropped considerably along with the amount of voidlings.
("I have 115 points. If I kill that group, I should have around 130 to 140.") [Adam]
"I think you'll have more than that." [Krino]
("Why's that?") [Adam]
"Some of them are higher than level 1." [Krino]
("Are any of them level 5?") [Adam]
"No." [Krino]
("Then it's no problem.") [Adam]
"Scales of Libra!" [Adam]
He gunned down multiple voidlings, but the higher level ones were able to withstand the attack.
("Weird, why do higher level voidlings have feathers on their wings?") [Adam]
He charged at them with his sword raised. In opposition, the voidlings pointed their wings at him.
("What are they…") [Adam]
The feathers launched off their wings in Adam's direction.
"Oh that's super weird!" [Adam]
He halted his sprint and rolled to the side while the feathers stuck themselves into the ground next to him.
"That won't stop me!" [Adam]
He continued his charge, but the voidlings were already preparing another volley of feathers.
("Not again…") [Adam]
He prepared to roll, but Krino stopped him.
"Don't dodge! Ignore the feathers!" [Krino]
("I'm going to get hit!") [Adam]
"Just trust me!" [Krino]
Adam raised his arms to block and ran through the feathers.
("It… didn't hurt?") [Adam]
"Did you forget my passive ability? You know, the one that protects?" [Krino]
("Oh, it's kind of hard to keep track of you.") [Adam]
Knowing he won't be affected by their attacks, he quickly closed the distance and cut down the remaining voidlings. Afterwards, he turned towards the white haired boy and reached his hand out.
"What was that about me being weak?" [Adam]