"hah...hah...hah... 2-20! Urgh!"
"Oh? Good work. A couple more minutes and you wouldn't have made it." (Kurt)
Panting heavily, I collapsed onto the ground forgetting to respond to the instructor. Even with my gift... that was brutal!
With no proper foothold at all, the course became much harder than it should've been. Although I did manage to get used to it as time went on, throughout the course, I was probably only able to exert about 40% of my speed.
Add to that the 2-hour time limit then you'll see yourself slowly losing confidence in your stamina just like me.
"Shi-shi-shit... and we're supposed to do this every single day!?"
"Hahahaha! Come on don't be like that, you should be proud of yourself right now! I mean your 1 of the only 6 participants who were able to actually finish on time."
After resting for a while and restoring a bit of stamina, I finally reacted to the instructor's words and forced myself to sit down.
I then looked around to see who was the other 5 who finished and saw them sitting in different areas far from one another.
There was 1 girl and 4 boys, all of whom came from the advanced class.
The girl had brown skin and red hair that was darker than Millie's. Her eyes had a shining brown color to them and although she was supposed to be only a year older than me, she was about the same height as Orson.
if I remembered right, she was the current rank 7, Kira. She didn't have a last name like me so I guessed she was also an orphan.
The other participants present were also familiar to me.
Panting Heavily, a boy of very above-average height and a well-built body. Orange spiky hair along with orange eyes, 3 years older than me, rank 8 Mac Green.
Panting slightly, a boy of below-average height, with a thin frame that makes him look swift and agile. Black hair and black eyes, the same age as me, rank 9 Camilo Gutierrez.
As for the other two...
With his back resting on the body of a tree and arms folded, there stood a handsome young boy staring at me with both a surprised and amused face. His hair was yellow like the rays of the sun and he had a distinct mole below the right side of his calm-looking azure blue eyes.
He didn't seem that tired at all as his breathing was still very steady and calm, with the only thing that showed he exerted effort just now was the left undried sweat at the collar of his shirt.
A boy of above average height, and is 2 years older than me, current rank 2, Elric V. Edwards
He kept staring at me as if I were some sort of unique species that you'll only be able to see once, it felt extremely uncomfortable.
{Ignore him, ignore him, Ignore him}
Opting to ignore him, I then looked at the final participant who stood there looking no different from before the course started. A monster with dark permed hair and cyan-colored eyes, A boy of above average height, and is currently 2 years older than me, current rank 1, Chao Yuchen.
{...And his also staring at me, sigh* is the sight of a standard participant managing to keep up with the advanced participants really that amusing?... shit, it is.}
Wanting to have no interactions with them just yet, I distanced myself as far from them as possible and sat near the instructor as we watched a few more people making it on time.
It was a good thing that none of them really approached me because if they did I wouldn't know what to do.
[2:00 pm]
As soon as the screen on his watch showed those digits, instructor Philip's voice started playing all around the forest.
"Attention! Time has now ended. Out of 432, only 25 were able to arrive on time, 19 standard and 6 advanced. All participants head to the arenas now!"
Beckoning us as well, we followed instructor Philip to the arenas.
----------
Looking at the heavily panting children in front of him, the obvious disappointment could be heard in instructor Philip's voice as he talked.
"407 didn't reach in time, 191 were injured, and 30 passed out... sigh... utterly disappointing."
Hearing his words, many in the crowd of children lowered their heads in shame. Among the 25 who passed, 10 were non-combatants who accomplished their 10 laps. Thinking that it was unfair, the combat class tried to voice it out but stopped after further deliberation.
"Hahh... I expect better next time... for those who weren't able to pass on time, tomorrow your meals will be below 1 level. Meaning the portions will be lower and the advanced class who weren't able to make it will have their meat confiscated. The meals will stay that way until you manage to accomplish the course on time. Disperse."
Sending the dejected away, the CC (Combat class) went in the direction of the indoor gym led by Kurt and another instructor, while the NCC (Non-combat class) went back to their rooms alongside their instructors.
With only the 26 of us left in the Forest, Philip's mood then slightly brightened as he looked at us.
"As for you guys, seeing as there will be excess meat, you'll be receiving portions according to your time."
{Meat!}
I haven't tasted meat ever since the start of the phenomenon so I was obviously excited for tomorrow.
"All of you head to your respective courses. Also, make sure you brag about your prizes to the others."
Finished with his words, we then left him as instructor Philip decided to stay in the forest to do something.
On my way to the indoor gym, I noticed from the corner of my eye that someone was getting closer and closer to me. It was Elric.
{What is he doing.... don't tell me!?}
He was trying to strike up a conversation with me! His eyes are screaming that his curious about me.
Just before he could say a word to start the conversation, I immediately started running while talking to myself in a monotone voice.
"Ah, gotta go to the bathroom."
And left the group.