Her decision left the other trainees stunned.. forming a team with the weaklings from the preliminary training camp, and not even as their leader, but as a member. It was unbelievable!
Yet Lyra stood perfectly calm, her arms folded as she lazily chewed her gum. Her eyes met Selena's, who was glaring at her with disbelief and irritation. Lyra flashed her a smug smile before shifting her gaze to the two frozen nerds and Marlon, who had a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Don't get the wrong idea," she said coolly. "Just because I joined your team doesn't mean we're on the same level."
Marlon chuckled softly. "Relax, we wouldn't dare think that."
Lyra let out a short scoff and looked away, her expression unreadable.
The Survival Matrix stood gallantly in the cleared area as several uniformed men moved around it, adjusting cables and controls to ready it for activation.
Five minutes passed, and then, with a low hum, ten separate doorways opened, releasing bursts of white steam into the air.
Each doorway was a perfect rectangle, over eight feet tall and wide enough for even an obese person to walk through with ease.
At their centers spun bright blue vortexes that shimmered like liquid light — clear proof that they were portals.
In Arden, portals were no rare sight; even non-hunters could recognize one instantly.
Still, murmurs rippled through the trainees as they whispered among themselves, wondering where each of those portals would lead.
Just as the questions gradually settled in their mind, Gigaman clear voice announced, "Dear youngstars, it is time to step into the unknown. Please form ten straight line according to the portals and enter gently."
Following his announcement, the lines were formed and with a trained orderliness, they began matching into the portals one after the other.
Marlon and his teammates stood close together on the same line, positioned behind more than a hundred other participants. Lyra stood a few steps behind them, giving the three just enough time to make a quick survival plan — one that mainly involved staying near Marlon at all times.
Lyra, of course, didn't bother joining the conversation, and the three didn't bother inviting her either.
They already knew her type. With her fiery personality and her ongoing feud with her sister — something everyone in the preliminary camp knew about — they figured she had only joined their team to annoy her.
Still, none of them complained. Having someone like Lyra Whitlock on their team wasn't exactly bad news.
For Ashton and Logan, it was something to brag about to others in the future.
For Marlon, it meant one thing: attention. The cameras would no doubt linger on them more, especially since the Whitlock Sisters were celebrities. And really, who better to steal the spotlight than her?
The line moved at a steady pace, faster than they expected, and before long, Marlon was already standing in front of the portal.
He flashed a calm, confident smile and stepped through without hesitation. Lyra followed right after him, then Ashton and Logan.
====
Marlon felt an ethereal sensation wash over him the instant he passed through the portal, followed by a brief plunge into darkness.
When his vision returned, a wave of cold slammed into him.
The air was freezing, sharp enough to pierce through his clothes. Around him stretched a vast, endless land of white.
Ice covered everything. The ground beneath his boots was slick and hard, a thin layer of frost cracking with every step, threatening to shatter beneath him.
The sky above was pale and heavy, thick clouds drifting slowly while silent snowflakes fell through the air. A faint wind howled across the frozen plain, carrying strange, distant echoes that faded into the horizon.
All around, other trainees who had arrived earlier stood scattered across the icy expanse, trembling violently as they tried to take in their surroundings.
Unlike them, Marlon stayed calm. His passive skill, Rock Body — the one he'd obtained from the Sand Raiders yesterday — dulled the cold's intensity, making the temperature bearable.
One after another, more trainees appeared beside him, light rippling around their figures as they emerged from the portal. Some gasped, others cursed under their breath, while a few simply stared at the frozen wasteland in disbelief.
Marlon quickly did a rough headcount. There were about four hundred of them here — the ones who had entered through the same doorway as he did. The others who went through the remaining portals were clearly sent to different areas within the Survival Matrix.
With that realization, he turned to check on his teammates. Ashton and Logan were already on the ground, shivering so hard their teeth clattered. Lyra stood a short distance away, visibly struggling to endure the freezing air. None of them were as lucky or as prepared as he was.
Before Marlon could step forward to help, a glowing window appeared in front of everyone, floating mid-air.
[ Welcome, players, to the first run of the Survival Matrix. ]
Despite the biting cold, every trainee focused on the words that shimmered before them.
[ Please note the following:
— Every scenario within the Matrix is being broadcasted to the outside world, except for private moments.
— Each player is assigned an ID bracelet (check inventory to equip). The bracelet tracks your contributions including contributions to survival of others, monsters slain, and other achievements.
— Removing or losing your bracelet will automatically eject you from the Survival Matrix.
— Time within the Matrix flows exactly as in the real world.
— Death within the Matrix is real. Be careful.
— If you find the Matrix too difficult, you may quit at any time through your bracelet interface. ]
Marlon and the others studied the message carefully, their faces showing a mix of tension and curiosity.
[ These are the general details of the Survival Matrix. ]
[ The specifics and conditions of the danger zone you've entered will be revealed next. ]
[ Please proceed with caution. ]
[ Good luck. ]
The translucent window blinked once and then vanished, leaving the trainees in silence.. alone with the wind, the snow, and the creeping chill that filled the air.
...
SORRY FOR DELAYED UPDATE, here is 4 Chapters, enjoy (1/4)