"The announcer, with a flourish, granted the signal to the summoners, signaling the time had come to summon the magic beast. Finally, the mana field was flawlessly conjured, but the magic beast had not yet made its appearance.
The announcer gave a cautious nod to Tatsuki, reminding him to make his way inside the area before the magic beast arrived.
Tatsuki, in silence, took a few measured steps toward the barrier, but he abruptly turned around, pointing his finger in the direction of the third judge.
With a hearty bellow, Tatsuki declared, 'You listen too, baldy... Your wife is...'
The announcer swiftly intervened, delivering a deft kick to Tatsuki's back, propelling him inside the barrier where visibility was scarce.
Under his breath, the announcer mumbled, 'Didn't I say so? I'll push you in front of the magic beast myself. Hahaha.' He then directed his gaze towards the third judge and extended a thumbs-up, to which the judge responded in kind. Thus, two men from different ages found a curious bond."
The announcer, with enthusiasm, yelled, "It was a success! Now the trial will begin shortly. But before we proceed, let me provide everyone present here with a brief explanation of what's happening."
The eager spectators, anxious to witness the trial, protested, shouting, "We do not want to hear your half-ass explanation... begin the trial!"
Nervously, the announcer addressed the crowd, "I urge you to calm down. I hope you do not create a riot..."
However, the spectators were adamant, demanding the trial to begin immediately, leaving no room for the announcer to intervene.
Observing this situation, the second judge, with remarkable agility, stepped on the edge of his seat and leaped toward the stage, making an incredible and distant jump. The spectators quieted down instantly, and murmurs began circulating through the crowd.
Among the murmurs, spectators commented, "Did you see that? The old man just jumped 20 meters... that was so amazing." Another chimed in, "How is he that nimble at his age? Perhaps this is why his wife doesn't dare to leave with the florist, because she knows she'll be caught quickly. Kew kew," he laughed.
The second judge, once he had the attention of the crowd, spoke, "Oh, our wonderful spectators, you must remain prudent. Since there is no way to start the trial early, why not listen to Mr. the announcer, who has been working diligently for this examination..."
With tears of joy in his eyes, the announcer thought, "Finally, someone is here who appreciates my hard work."
The second judge addressed the announcer, saying, "Mr. announcer, you may begin anytime now. I doubt anyone will resist now."
The announcer, his enthusiasm renewed, continued with the explanation of the examination rules:
1. "The participant must fill a registration form before entering the trial stage.
2. The participant must clear the trial, which requires a single victory against any magic beast at the fighting stage.
3. If requested by a participant, a beast field can be summoned. However, it is incredibly dangerous, so its location will be inside a barrier that connects to someplace else. If the participant were to die in the process, the authority will not be responsible.
4. If participants successfully clear the trial, they are allowed to choose which institution they would like to attend. However, if the judges decide that the participant is not qualified for the specific request, they will be denied, and another choice will be given to them. The participant does not have any say in it.
5. Even if the participant unwillingly declines the judge's decision, he or she will not ever be permitted to partake in the exam ever again."
The spectators listened attentively to the rules, their anticipation growing as the trial was about to begin.
The announcer continued, "So, as our spectators have seen up until now, participants have only fought in the fighting stage. However, the child asked for a beast field, so he is now in a different location from ours, and a return is only possible if he attains victory."
The spectators, shocked and murmuring, realized the change in the trial's format. They muttered, "So that's what was going on... no wonder this didn't look..."
As the mana orb began to shine brightly, they started to receive the mana tether.
The announcer shouted excitedly, "Spectators, at last, we are finally receiving the glyph from the mana field!"
At the beast field, Tatsuki came crashing down from the sky, leaving a massive crack in the ground. He slowly opened his eyes and stood up, looking around. With a sneeze, he remarked, "Aaachu, so cold. Out of all the places they could have summoned, they managed to throw me here in the Frost Region. Just bloody great."
Back at the examination place, the announcer gave his commentary, preparing for the trial to unfold.
The announcer continued, "Behold, esteemed onlookers, as the tapestry of destiny unfurls before our very eyes! The time has come for us to witness the grand spectacle within the sacred boundary of the mana field. It seems like the competitor has made it safely, but it appears that his luck does not favor him, for he finds himself destined for the frigid and unforgiving embrace of the Frost Region!"
The spectators whispered among themselves, their voices carrying a dire foreboding. "He is surely bound to meet his demise... and in his fall, I shall reap a bountiful harvest."
The announcer encouraged the spectators, saying, "Spectators, let's watch all together what's going to happen next."
In the Frost Region, Tatsuki shivered from the intense cold. He attempted to move around, but his legs quivered from the frigid temperatures, making it challenging to navigate. With no other option, he decided to use mana to create a thin layer around his body to suppress the chill he felt.
Tatsuki spoke to himself, "Sigh, I did not want to use mana this quickly. I'm sure the mana beast has sensed it and must be rushing toward me. If I were to fight it in such conditions, it will drain all my mana in no time... I must find the beast and eliminate it as quickly as possible."
Tatsuki began searching for the magic beast, feeling an unsettling presence around him. He quickly looked sideways.
Shivering, he muttered to himself, "Wuh! Creepy. Do I have a stalker, or is it just the chill from the Frost Region?"
From somewhere higher up, a fierce gaze closely observed Tatsuki's every move, his breath, his actions, and more. These watchful eyes awaited the perfect moment to strike.
After more than 20 minutes of searching, Tatsuki couldn't locate the beast anywhere. Exhausted from his efforts, he sat down for a moment.
Breathing heavily and shivering, he thought, "Haa... What the hell am I supposed to do? My mana is burning up, and even after all this time, I don't see any sign of the magic beast. It should have come to me by now, but it's hiding and preserving itself, almost as if it's aware of the most efficient way to hunt."
Back at the examination place, Bao Chi worriedly considered the situation. "This isn't right. Brother seems to be having a harder time than he originally planned. If he doesn't find the beast soon, his mana is sure to run out, and then he will..."
The announcer spoke with a hint of concern, "Folks, it would seem like the end is approaching. Our participant has yet to find the magic beast. However, that's not enough. If he wants to survive, he needs to do a lot more. Unfortunately, he's running low on mana, and there is no sign of the magic beast anywhere. Will he freeze to death, or will he survive the Frost Region? Let us see."
Bao Chi felt a surge of anger and thought, "What do you people know? Even if he were to freeze, nothing can kill my brother. He is supreme."
In the Frost Region, Tatsuki's thin layer of mana began to dwindle, starting from his legs, then his hands, and finally his chest. Within a few breaths, it completely vanished, leaving Tatsuki alone to freeze in the frigid tundra.
He muttered, "Not good... Aaahchu." Sneezing, he continued, "Even if I were to find the beast now, there's no doubt who will get killed..."
As Tatsuki's consciousness began to fade, he felt drowsy and began to hallucinate. He saw a warm and inviting bed in the midst of the extreme cold, and suddenly, a blizzard raged around him. Helpless against the harsh weather, Tatsuki reached for the bed, tucking himself under the blanket for warmth.
He mumbled, "Guess I'll just sleep here until the blizzard is gone... Ah, so nice and comfy."
As Tatsuki's consciousness slowly faded away, the sound of heavy footsteps could be heard, approaching him. But suddenly, the footsteps ceased, replaced by an eerie sense of uneasiness in the air. Tatsuki struggled to open his eyes, and as his vision cleared, he was met with the sight of a massive, wide-open jaw, drool overflowing from it. The jaw was as big as Tatsuki's upper body, ready to swallow him alive.
Back at the examination place, Bao Chi screamed, "Brother, what are you doing? Why would you bury yourself in the snow? In that situation, you must move away..."
In the Frost Region, Tatsuki tried to look around and caught a glimpse of a colossal figure, sending a shiver down his spine.
Tatsuki muttered, "Those big feet, that overgrown pale-looking fur, and those giant fangs attached to the jaw... he really is here. So the uneasiness I felt before wasn't just my imagination. He was hiding, waiting for this moment... I guess it's the end then."
Back at the examination place, the announcer, his voice trembling, said, "Spectators, it is... it really is..."