We're almost there. I can see the dungeon entrance. Don't let him enter!" The voices of the pursuers clang behind him.
**********
"Kikikikiki. Why are you so afraid? Stop running and come here!" Jordan's taunting laughter echoed through the air, his excitement palpable.
"This is the thrill of being a hunter. Witnessing the desperate struggle of your prey. Kikikikiki."
***********
"Just do it. I'll recharge you as soon as we can, but right now, we need to survive."
Swoosh.
A sudden surge of energy coursed through Ethan's nanochips, reactivating their dormant state.
"Try to remember the feeling…" Nova's voice trailed off abruptly, leaving Ethan alone with his decision.
Uncertain of his emotions, Ethan had found solace in the presence of Nova, his closest companion besides his family. But now, faced with the need to power up Nova at the risk of losing that connection, he had to make a difficult choice.
Zzzzzzt.
The nanochips began replenishing his mana reserves, filling him to the brim.
Bambumbambum.
His heartbeat quickened, and he felt the magic surging within him.
Then, it happened.
Baaaaam.
It felt as if a dam had burst inside his body, unleashing a torrent of mana. The sensation was like squeezing water through a tightly clenched fist, now flowing freely and effortlessly through his meridians.
"Holy s…" Ethan's astonishment mingled with delight. Not only had he achieved a breakthrough, but he was also brimming with mana.
"That's the way to go." Empowered by his newfound reserves, Ethan unleashed his full speed, relishing the surge of energy. "What a magnificent feeling. Unfortunately, I won't have time to enjoy it for long."
"I estimate about 10 seconds to reach the dungeon entrance. I sense a large group ahead, blocking the way. Looks like I'll have to use Gravity Crush again."
Suddenly, darkness engulfed everything around him. Shadows stretched and loomed, obscuring his vision and casting an eerie ambiance.
"Where do you think you're going, boy? You're my prey! Behave like one," a sinister voice taunted, echoing in Ethan's ears.
The voice shook him, sending shivers down his spine. For a split second, Ethan hesitated, his steps faltering. His eyes were useless; he was blind in this dark abyss. Was this the end? Would he be captured now, just steps away from his destination?
His mind raced. Every second spent contemplating was a second lost. The sound of footsteps grew louder, and Ethan knew his pursuers were closing in. Doubt clouded his mind, but then he thought of Nova's voice, their moments together, and his family waiting for him.
With renewed resolve, Ethan shook off the paralyzing fear. "If you believe I need my eyes to see ahead, then you're gravely mistaken!" His voice rang out, filled with determination.
Heart pounding, he drew upon his mana reserves, ignoring the risks, and shouted, "Gravitational Sight!"
Closing his eyes, as they were rendered useless in this situation, he tapped into his power without concern for mana output. Instinctively, he shouted, "Gravitational Sight!"
Swoosh.
In an instant, his perception shifted. It was not merely a counting of steps on the ground like before; it was the same skill, but with an entirely new sensation.
It was one of the most beautiful experiences Ethan had ever known. Crystal clear images flooded his mind—the falling leaves, crawling insects, immobilized shadow energy monsters, and even the martial arts-clad individuals blocking the dungeon entrance. He could perceive every obstacle in his path.
Ethan's senses were on high alert as he approached the human barrier before the dungeon. He could feel the gathering mana and the trained eyes of martial artists on him. "If you think blocking my path is enough, then you underestimate me," he whispered, feeling his newly found mana swell within him.
He took a deep breath and launched himself forward. Time seemed to slow; Ethan weaved through gaps that seemed to open and close in mere fractions of a second. A hand reached out to grab him—missed by a hair's breadth. Another swung a blade, only to slice through empty air. His heart pounded in his chest, each dodge and weave a calculated risk.
"Almost there, just a few more steps," he thought, eyeing the entrance now just an arm's length away.
With a final burst of speed, he broke through, entering the dungeon without touching a single person. As he passed, he couldn't help but chuckle. "I must thank you. It would have been quite a hassle to outmaneuver your comrades. Hihihihi."
Swoosh.
The most astounded by this turn of events was Jordan. He witnessed Ethan gracefully navigate through the course, as if he were gliding through a parkour challenge. The shadows posed no hindrance whatsoever.
"You make me desire you even more! Kikikiki. Do you truly believe that entering the dungeon will yield a different outcome?" Jordan taunted, disregarding the rules of his role as supervisor. His actions blinded those in the vicinity, preventing the fist school from carrying out their duty of blocking other schools from entering.
"Enter the dungeon. A formidable presence is obstructing our vision. We cannot proceed under these conditions," a commanding female voice echoed in the minds of everyone from the fist school.
"Roger, boss! Everyone, retreat into the dungeon."
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.
Just like that, the remaining 30 individuals from the fist school entered the dungeon, becoming the only school in the competition to reach it unscathed.
However, it didn't take long for an angry voice to resonate through the surroundings. "What is the meaning of this, Jordan? Are you not ashamed to interfere in our juniors' competition?" An old man with white hair and a long beard exclaimed.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Is the Shadow School afraid that their students cannot fight the Fist School fairly?" A voice, filled with anger and mockery, reverberated, dissolving the shadows.
Apologies for the confusion. Here's the revised version:
Jordan's words hung heavy in the air, his move calculated to shift blame and divert attention. His mastery in maneuvering through the shadows had honed his knack for manipulating situations to his favor.
"I was chasing down a criminal who had set his sights on members of the Big Five, baiting them into a trap," Jordan reiterated, his tone tinged with cunning. "But it seems to me that the Fist School had this all orchestrated, making way for an easy entry."
The accusation draped itself like a thick mist, casting doubt and suspicion among the gathered group. It was a tactic Jordan had down pat, sowing seeds of uncertainty and sowing discord to muddy the waters.
The old man, with his white hair and lengthy beard, squinted, his gaze filled with suspicion. He grasped that Jordan's words were a tactic to deflect the blame, but untangling the web of deceit would need a closer look.
"Enough with the tales, Jordan," the old man declared firmly. "We'll delve into this later. Right now, let's keep our eyes on the contest."
Though the old man's words carried authority, skepticism lingered among those present. Jordan's effort to shift blame had planted doubt, casting a shadow of suspicion that would influence their interactions in the future.
In the midst of this tension, the students who followed Ethan arrived.
"The Portal's open for the next minute. Considering the Teachers' interference, we ought to let all students enter."
"What kind of twisted logic is that?" Allen, a Fist School elder, burst out. "You young ones only got here by following us, and now you demand a free pass? The Big Five is nothing more than a joke, not caring about fair competition!"
Allen's point made sense, yet none of the others would admit it, and a quick solution to let their students enter the dungeon was crucial.
To Allen's relief, a voice echoed through their surroundings.
"Permission granted for all students from the other schools to enter." The words resonated in everyone's minds at once, a surprise from a high-ranking member within the Fist School overseeing this.
"Hmph, don't think your scheming goes unnoticed, I'm just too apathetic to deal with your mind games."
The realization that a Sun Rank expert, equivalent to a hundred Planet Rank awakened individuals, was supervising rattled the participants. Only 20 people on Earth had ever reached such a level, each wielding immense authority.
The elders' faces flushed crimson; they knew a Sun Rank could see their actions as nothing short of childish.
Allen, relieved yet perplexed, questioned why a Sun Rank was involved in a competition of this level. Regardless, he trusted his superiors' decisions.
With mere seconds before the portal closed, the elders transitioned from shameless to genuinely grateful.
"Thanks for this opportunity, the Eagle School will remember this favor."
"Appreciate the chance, the Tiger School will keep this in mind."
"Grateful for this opportunity, the Fist School won't forget."
Reluctantly, Jordan echoed their sentiment. "Thanks for the chance, the shadow School will remember."
Like that, Henry, Eric and Jacob entered the dungeon followed by their fellow comrades.
Josef the leader from the tiger shamelessly was postering, he felt like something was amiss. He could not put his finger on it, but everything was way too easy. Anyway, it was a chance for him and his fellow comrades to enter the dungeon, so he did not ponder for long before leading his comrades to the dungeon portal.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh
5 seconds after the last person entered the dungeon a loud sound echoed through the jungle.
Zzzzwiish
And thus, the remaining students entered the dungeon, leaving the elders to an awkward silence.
"Since the exit will be in another area, I'm off," Jordan said somberly.
Being cautious and calculated, he sensed something awry. A Sun Rank overseeing a contest for Foundation Rank awakened individuals, and now an unknown prodigy emerging... Jordan couldn't brush it off as mere coincidence. Informing his school about this remarkable boy became his top priority.