The crowd was triggered and roared fervently at the rare opportunity. With the promise of the dragon's favour dangling tantalizingly before them, the spectators erupted into a frenzy of excitement, knowing that this was their chance to fulfil their wildest dreams. The moment Kareem declared the start of the hunt, he unleashed the thrill of the hunt upon the eager crowd. The monster waves stormed toward the exit, but Sam stood firmly in her place with Cori. "If only I still have my skill- 'Qing gong'," Cori thought with a prick of bitterness in his heart, knowing he would be out of the colosseum in an instant with his previous skills.
"Come," Sam said seizing Cori by his nape, traversing against the tumultuous sea of bodies toward the middle of the mist. Sam's footwork was akin to a mysterious dance, light and strong, swift yet accurately dodging every single slime and monster in her way. Nearing the centre of the mist, she leapt into the air and landed elegantly in the thickest part of the red-cloudy haze. With Cori in her left hand, she reached out to her right and combed through the fog as if searching for hope. Hiding in the thick red column of cloud, she felt a glimmer of hope. She grabbed onto the elusive stranger's sleeve and said in a calm voice, "Excuse me, Master Kareem, please wait."
The hidden figure stopped in his steps as quietly as a mouse. (Cori discreetly used 'observation' but he discovered his attempt was futile when the system showed the information of the mist instead.)
"Master Kareem, please give me some clues," Sam pleaded. The mysterious figure slapped her grubby hand off his sleeve and vanished into the smoke. "Shit," Sam cussed with anger. Sam decided to dash toward the exit knowing she had to make up for lost time.
"Wait!" Cori yelled at her as she got ready to sprint. "What's that on your hand?" he asked noticing words on her right hand.
Sam looked at her hand and read, "Through veils of mist, the path unfurls, seek thy treasure, dragon pearls."
Cori knew that the key to finding the clue lay in removing the thick fog that was blocking their view. "We must clear this mist!" he exclaimed with urgency. In response, his senior acted swiftly, pulling out her wand and directing it towards the ceiling. With a focused intention, she tapped into her mana and uttered the incantation, "Orkan." Soon, a gust of wind swirled around the arena, sucking in all the fog into the centre of the eye. With their visions no longer obscured, they saw open boxes emitting thick red fog. "Close the box!" Sam yelled and released Cori, the hurricane weakened as her mind became momentarily distracted.
With determination, Cori sprung toward the tiny boxes on the ground and closed them shut. With the last box tightly shut, they could feel a sense of relief washed over them. Sam dropped her arm and collapsed on her butt while the remaining mist ventilated through the exit. With a clearer view of vision, a radiant white dragon pearl shone with a single spark before them.
"There's a dragon ball!" someone yelled, the words echoing through the cavernous chamber like a battle cry. Instantly, the air crackled with excitement, igniting a frenzy among the remaining participants. Cori, his heart pounding with adrenaline, wasted no time. With a swift leap, he leapt into action, determined to claim the coveted prize before anyone else could lay their hands on it.
As Cori dashed forward, his eyes fixed on the gleaming orb, he felt a surge of determination coursing through his veinless body. Each step brought him closer to their goal, the anticipation building with every heartbeat. But just as victory seemed within reach, a sudden movement caught his eye—a dark shadow sweeping across the chamber floor stole the pearl before everyone's eyes.