Sage and the rest of the students stood on the grassland waiting to be transported to the venue of the exams.
But before that they were each handed a metallic tag, roughly the size of a playing card. The tag had a faint red light across it's surface.
Once touched, the persons fingerprint is read by the card. On contact with another person's finger print a loud buzz is heard signifying the end of the exam for the player.
"That's scary in a way", a blonde haired boy said talking to Sage.
"It means they don't have to even get the card, they just have to touch it", he added noticing Sages confusion.
"Yeah , that's really scary", Sage said thinking about the situation.
"I'm Kol by the way, number 137", The blonde boy said extending his hand.
"Sage, number 144", Sage said taking it.
"Try to make it till the end ", Kol said going to his line.
"Round one begins ", Arturo's voice bellowed slightly echoing.
Confusion spread across the faces of all the students. There was no glass dome no nothing.
Sage noticed some students scuttling to the side and he could see Beta slayer Elena walking past them.
Her feet were barely touching the ground. And it felt like she was gliding over it rather than walking.
Taking a stand, the code on her wrist shun green. The light was so bright causing most people to close their eyes in return.
By the time Sage opened his eyes he could see it , they were inside a dome and it was pitched black even though they were sure it wasn't yet night. There was also a half moon shining faintly in the so called sky.
"Illusion magic !! People exclaimed as the gasped.
"And it looks so real too", others commented as the touched the trees and rocks around them.
Buzzzzzzzz
All eyes turned to the direction of the sound. Ryker stood there holding the tag of a female student who had been too distracted by the scenery to take notice.
The buzz brought everyone's attention back to the reason they were in there in the first place, the fear starting to show in their faces.
Sage ran fast heading towards a direction with less people.
Although his primary goal was to protect his tag, he didn't mind the extra points. He could do it, he just had to think of a plan.
In a way the scenery worked for him. The forest and mountain side allowed him to hide.
But most importantly, thinking of the academy they couldn't make it as easy as protect your tag. There had to be something more and the only way to be sure is to get some extra points.
But he wasn't that dumb. Staying with a crowd would most likely not end well. So hopefully he would hide and catch someone who has trailed from their path. With a one on one confrontation he might just be able to do something.
Running in the forest trying not to make too much noise, he realised just how real the illusions looked. Branches snapped as you passed and even the streams of water gave out an evening hue.
Hiding behind two rocks, he waited. He was glad he wasn't as far from the others or as close either. And most importantly, he could see them before they see him.
He could hear the constant buzzing and he realised a large number would have been eliminated by now. His mind drifted off to the blonde haired boy.
He resembled a kid who was strong and typical popular in his school. But some thing felt more about him.
A snap brought Sage out of his thoughts. He was starting to get worried that no one would come this way.
He looked as his hands again holding the short daggers. His choice of weapons meant he had to come close to his opponent.
Which was not so nice considering the person heading towards him was.....Berg...
Sage stood up realising there was only one way to do this.
"I surrender", Sage said raising his hands slightly in the air.
"If it's not my lucky day", Berg said grinning ear to ear. Sage pulled out his card walking slowly towards Berg .
Berg was a fire code user meaning he worked best at long range. He just had to figure out a way to get close to Berg without him attacking.
Getting within range from Berg, Sage spun aiming for his tag placed in pocket. His speed was his greatest ally wanting to catch Berg off guard.
Sage's hand grazed the edges of the card as Berg stumbled but soon became supported by something, the katana.
Shit how did he get so good in such a short time
Sage thrusted his daggers not giving Berg anytime to breathe and most importantly stay in close distance.
Berg struck the katana causing Sage to go on the defensive.
"You almost had me there, but I won't be taken down by the likes of you", Berg said spinning the katana more in the air causing Sage to take a step back.
Sage noticed the presence of something in the air, and it was becoming heavier by the second and most importantly Berg was slowing down by each passing minute.
"What is this ?", Berg said not being able to take it anymore.
That's when Sage realised 'the catch'.
This fog was most likely to impair their abilities but most importantly why was it not affecting him.
Pushing back the thought, he held his blades and positioned himself.
"Time for round 2, shall we..?