Ray had been testing his new telekinesis abilities as he traveled toward the Red Zone, pushing his powers further with each step. At first, he could only move small objects, but after hours of practice, something incredible happened. As he focused harder, a sense of weightlessness overcame him.
I can fly... The thought hit him like a lightning bolt.
At first, it was a shaky attempt, his body lifting a few inches off the ground, then immediately falling back down with a grunt of exertion. But as he concentrated, the flying became smoother. With a mental push, he hovered just above the ground, controlling the direction with his mind. It was exhilarating.
However, the joy was short-lived as Ray soon realized how exhausting it was to keep himself airborne. The strain of maintaining flight with his telekinesis quickly drained him. His muscles ached, his breathing became heavy, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead. He had to land after just a few minutes of flight, taking a brief respite before trying again.
But then, as he hovered once more, something clicked in his mind. He remembered the Yellow Orbs—the power-enhancing orbs he had taken from the creature in the Ethereal Quarry. He reached into his space ring and pulled one out, studying it carefully. He'd already used one of these to enhance his physical abilities, but perhaps it could help with his energy.
Ray closed his eyes, focused, and consumed the orb.
A surge of energy coursed through him, and he felt his body revitalized. His senses sharpened, his muscles relaxed, and the exhaustion he had felt moments ago seemed to vanish. He tried to lift off again—and this time, he soared through the air effortlessly. The energy from the Yellow Orb had greatly enhanced his stamina and allowed him to sustain the use of his telekinesis for much longer. He could feel the power of the orb strengthening his connection to his abilities.
He took to the skies, flying higher and faster than before, reveling in the newfound freedom. The wind whipped past his face, and for the first time since the trial had begun, Ray felt invincible.
However, as he approached the Red Zone, a strange sense of unease washed over him. The air felt thick, charged with something unnatural. As he descended into the forested area on the outskirts of the Red Zone, he noticed the animals—well, the monsters—acting strangely. There were fewer of them, and those that remained were running, scattering in all directions as if they were fleeing from something.
Ray's instincts kicked in, and he immediately felt a spike in his awareness. Something was wrong.
He crouched down, trying to make sense of the situation. His eyes scanned the area, trying to find any clue as to what was causing the monsters' panic. Why are they running? He could feel an odd energy in the air, a presence that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
Then, suddenly, an announcement blared across the planet's communication system, interrupting his thoughts.
"Attention all participants in the trial! This is an emergency announcement. A Beast Tide is approaching the Red Zone. All students are advised to group together for safety and support. Help is on the way, but until then, stay alert and prepare for the worst."
Ray's heart skipped a beat. The words Beast Tide echoed in his mind. A massive surge of powerful creatures, all charging through the trial grounds, overwhelming anything in their path. It was a rare and catastrophic event, but now, it seemed like it was happening right in front of him.
The monsters running away... They were fleeing from the Beast Tide. And that meant whatever was coming would be unlike anything he had faced before.
Ray's grip tightened around his weapon, a surge of adrenaline kicking in as his body tensed. He didn't know what was coming, but it didn't matter. The Red Zone was already dangerous, and now the Beast Tide would make it worse. The only thing he could do now was prepare for the worst.
He quickly gathered his thoughts, assessing the situation. The announcement had urged the students to group together, to form alliances and help each other. That meant he wasn't alone in this—others were here, and they were in just as much danger as he was.
Despite his resolve, Ray couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out. He needed to move quickly. The Beast Tide could arrive at any moment, and he had to be ready to fight, no matter what.
Just as he was about to take off, he heard the distant sounds of crashing and the rumble of something massive heading toward the zone. The ground beneath him vibrated. Something huge was approaching.
Ray took a deep breath and readied himself, every muscle primed for action. The Beast Tide was coming—and it was coming fast.