YM778.TV Chapter 31: Test
The three of them froze just steps into the arena.
Everyone was looking at them.
Jael looked up and was shocked to see his face staring back at him in the projection up there. When did I start looking like a begger? The three of them looked like that with torn clothes and dirt covered body.
As promised, they had grind the whole three days with little rest and did a bit of resting before running to the testing area. "We\'re not late are we?" Jael\'s voice rang loud in the silent crowd before everywhere exploded with the loud murmuring of Awakeners.
As if in answer all the gates in the arena shut, including the one behind them. The projection changed to that of the Host. "Now! We are complete! Let\'s go straight to the point! The test of floor 102 which will determine if you\'re worth to climb to the next floor!
The Host leaned closer to the screen and faked whispered. "I\'ll let you in a little secret. This test is to cut your size. So it\'ll depend on luck and your own abilities to pass. Currently you are all together up to seven hundred thousands!"
Jael was stunned to hear that amount. Seven hundred? And how many do they want to cut them down to?
"We\'ll be cutting you down to fifty thousands!"
A loud murmuring began, the Awakeners shifted among themselves. Failing to climb this low is a like a bad stigma on them. Even if they go back to their worlds they\'ll be tagged as people who failed before even starting.
And if they fail now, is there any hope of even climbing again?
"Isn\'t that a bit too low." Temur muttered.
"I heard admission is always like that and it gets even harder the higher you climb. Technically, this is the easiest." A guy replied, he has brown hair and yellow eyes. What really is strange about him is that a green viper was coiled around his neck.
Litha looked at him suspicious, but then that\'s the way she looks at everyone. Jael quickly asked. "Who are you?"
"I am a fellow Climber, Josh."
"I am Jael. That is Temur and this is Litha."
"So you are the ones who make a grand entrance. You look as if you have be fighting monster all day."
"If only you know." Litha muttered.
Their conversation was interrupted by the Host. "Oh come on! From the fifty thousands three hundred gathered here, five thousands will have the chance of climbing up. Isn\'t that generous? You simply have to do what it takes to be among the five thousands!"
As if a switch was flipped the Awakeners\' face darkened and they looked at each other with narrowed eyes. The air suddenly became tensed as if a fight might begin at anytime.
Up above, the Host\'s eyes glowed a hot pink as she grinned.
Jael looked around, \'why did it look as if someone is suddenly going to attack me?\' "What is happening?"
Litha scowled. "The test has already began. With that announcement everyone will start thinking how to secure their place. To everyone, they deserve to climb up. It begins."
\'It must be done intentionally\' Jael thought. "Won\'t we be doing the same? Fighting for a spot?"
Temur nodded. "Yes. But what\'s the use when we have not even leave the arena? Just relax until it officially began."
The Host continued. "I will now explain how this test will go!
"You will be transported to a place where there\'s five thousands platforms. Your task is to be on a platform by the time a single hour is over. That\'s it. Not two people can occupy a platform, they\'ll both be disqualified."
"Hey!" One of the Awakeners shouted. "Can we claim a platform by force?!"
The Host paused. "Humm what\'s that? Once the test began, there\'s nothing like illegality! It\'s a free world!"
"Bastards. There\'s going to be a lot of blood soon." Litha said.
Temur groaned. "More fighting?" They have been doing that nonstop for a while now.
Jael turned to Josh. "What do you think?" The guy have been looking at them for a while now.
"I think there\'ll be no friends in this test. Only blood and more blood." Josh said.
Jael agreed. While he won\'t go for Temur and Litha, he knew he would go for anyone else to secure his platform. A question stuck his mind though – what if there\'s only one spot ever to climb the Tower will he give it up for anyone?
He felt a bit uncomfortable that he didn\'t know the answer to that.
"Since that\'s all. The test begins now! Goodluck to all involved and congratulations to the five thousands!" The projection winked out.
Jael slapped Temur on the back before he does and he shook his hand. It\'s as if he slapped a rock. "You better come back alive big guy and advance too!"
Temur grinned. "Why won\'t I advance? I have a restaurant in mind already to celebrate our victory!"
"Idiots. Just don\'t die. The monster cores are still in your rings." Litha said.
Temur shook his eyebrows. "Are you sure that\'s the only reason you don\'t want us to die...." he suddenly dissolved into blue light and shot off into the sky.
"It\'s starting...?!"
All around, Jael saw people turning into blue light and shooting off. He turned around and Litha was already gone. He looked at Josh. "Well..." a warmth filled him and his face was filled by suddenly brightness that blocked everything else.
Josh put his hand around the snake on his neck. "And there he goes."