First Test! Break a Conscious Barrier!
Ms. Author's POV
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"All applicants listen carefully! You will be dispatched into a Space Conscious. Your goal is to find a way to break out of it and return to this plane. The maximum time allowed is thirty minutes! You will all be given termination tokens. If your life is at risk, crush the termination token--"
There was a great buzz all over the plaza. The test was life threatening?!
"-- once you crush the termination token, you will be transported back and have automatically failed the test!" The elder emphasised vehemently, the strands of his wiry hair bobbing back and forth, "Catch!"
With a sweep of his sleeve, a termination token appeared in the hand of over four hundred participants. The peanut gallery all tittered. This was what they called ability! This was what separated the strong from the weak!
"Open the Space Conscious!"
CLANG!
A giant illusory entrance appeared in the middle of the plaza. It was very bright and several people covered their eyes with their sleeves. Those who didn't want to miss the show endured the burning sensations in their eyes and did all they could to keep it open.
"Enter!"
The participants poured into the Space Conscious. After the last one of them had disappeared, the illusory entrance vanished, to the great amazement of the spectators. No one would know that anything was there if they only arrived now!
The elder's face turned grim as he sat down next to his surbordinates.
"I do hope we find some prodigies this time around. The last assessment was just a waste of resources."
Cao and Zin held hands when they entered the Space Conscious, so they appeared at the same place. Before their eyes a rocky terrain stretched for miles, ending with a long strip of green canopy at the limit of their sight.
/Why are we the only ones here?! Where are the others?/ Zin queried as she looked left and right.
"They must have been transported to other parts of the space conscious. I wonder how we're supposed to get out within thirty minutes. Is there some sort of door we should be seeking?"
/We won't find out if we stay in one spot,/ Zin tugged his arm, /let's move,/
"No!" Cao stopped her. We can't be walking aimlessly. Remember we have thirty minutes. It's better to use that time to think!"
The cogwheels in Cao's head turned rapidly. He suddenly had an idea.
"Move back, Zin,"
He amassed his raw magic into his arm and punched the ground, resulting in a hole large enough to fit ten people.
/What are you doing-- kyaaa!/
A shadow enveloped the two of them. Looking up, they saw a two-headed rhino with wings. In Axihome, it was called the kazlid, a ferocious magical creature renowned for its hard purple scales which covered its entire body. It's red eyes locked on Zin.
"ROAAARRR!"
"Look out!"
Zin jumped out of the way as it brought down one mighty wing with a slap. It swung around just as Cao shot a wave of fire its way. It just dispersed as soon as it collided with the scales on the kazlid's body.
/Brother Cao, that's useless! Aim for the eyes! I'll control it to look your way!/
Within seconds, the kazlid swung around with fury. Cao had no idea what Zin had projected into it's mind. He had the fire ready. They morphed into fiery red arrows that shot towards the kazlid's eyes.
"ROAAAAR!!"
It was also not stupid. It countered the arrows with one sweep of it's wings. Cao summoned his defensive weapon. The spear blade glinted as Cao poured his energy into it.