Michael remained unconscious, his body bearing the weight of the damage inflicted upon him and the newfound energy he absorbed. This left Zoey and Timi in charge of Group A, tasked with guiding them out of the forest. Timi had utilized his teleportation abilities to survey the area and returned with a pale face, urgently shouting, "Everyone, gather up! We must leave now!"
The group, curious and concerned, inquired about the urgency of Timi's command. "After teleporting around, I discovered that we aren't standing on a mountain or ground," Timi explained. "We are standing on a sleeping beast, and the only escape route is to cross over a river rushing at massive speeds, capable of sending even beasts to their demise." The crowd fell into shocked silence, halting their activities of gathering food and resources.
Carefully, Zoey placed Michael on the ground, arranging her hair into a ponytail before addressing the group. "Everyone, we've come this far due to Michael's efforts. If we choose to give up now, we don't deserve to be in Towlex. Michael has outperformed all of us. It's either we cower in fear or rise up, pack our things, and prepare to escape this land alive. But remember, people may die, and we mustn't let that deter us."
Zoey's inspiring words ignited a fire in everyone's hearts. A short boy with glasses and a Towlex uniform stepped forward. "My name is Buchi, and I am ready to fight for my spot in Towlex." Zoey smiled and nodded. "Nice to hear that, Buchi. Now let's move, everyone! Team A, move out!" The students gathered their resources, ranging from food to wood to weapons.
As they prepared to depart, the boy with peculiar ears approached Michael's unconscious body. Transforming into a horse, he gestured for Timi to place Michael on his back. "My name isn't Animal Boy; it's David," the horse spoke. "I have the ability to alter my DNA to animals I've seen or touched. However, the bigger and stronger the animal, the more energy it consumes, meaning less time." Timi, still in shock from the day's events, simply nodded in response.
With Michael now secured on David's back, Team A proceeded to the river, aiming to leave the gigantic beast they had unwittingly been standing on.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the unknown state, Team B ran in one direction as fast as they could. "What are they, and why are they so fast?" a student screamed, looking back at an abnormal creature resembling an ostrich with a lion's head and a scorpion's tail, instilling fear in the entire team.
Except for one girl, Amy, with red hair, red eyes, and a slim, curvy build. Amy moved to the front of the group, channeling energy into her fist and delivering a powerful punch to the side of the abnormal beast, causing it to collide with a rock and perish instantly. "Quite weak, aren't they?" Amy smiled, leaping from beast to beast, dispatching them effortlessly.
Addressing her fellow students, Amy commanded, "Stop running! They're dead." As the students turned back, they beheld the lifeless bodies of the beasts, shocked by Amy's prowess. Yet, Amy wasted no time, focused solely on reuniting with Michael to mend their strained relationship. She quickly organized the group, seeking those capable of defending themselves and others among them.
Fifteen out of the thirty-three students stepped forward, each with varying levels of confidence. However, one stood out—a boy with no expression, his gaze reminiscent of Michael's, but colder. Amy gestured for them to introduce themselves, and after they did, she nodded in approval. Just then, a voice, low yet commanding, resonated through the air. "You forgot me," the boy said. His name was Bishop, and he exuded an aura of authority, instilling fear in Amy, [Amy move back now!!] Amelia said with so much urgency "My name is Bishop, your worst nightmare. Ground, open up, and swallow them."