Just as he spoke, an announcent suddenly echoed through the arena, cutting their conversation short.
Both Zyraena and the god turned their attention to the giant screen above, where Mr. Gideon's face appeared. His voice was clear and commanding, grabbing the attention of both the contestants and the audience alike.
"ATTENTION!" Mr. Gideon's voice rang out. "This is the Second to final stage of the entrance exam. Your goal is simple: Find the Center Sanctuary within the forest. However, you must hurry. There is a tir counting down. If you do not reach the sanctuary before ti runs out, you will be eliminated."
Zyraena raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Eliminated just for being late? That's harsh."
The god leaned forward, his expression serious now. "They're really putting the pressure on them."
Mr. Gideon's face stayed on the screen as he added, "You have until the tir reaches zero. If you are not at the Center Sanctuary by then, your journey ends here. Good luck."
With those final words, the screen above them went black, and in its place appeared a large red tir, ticking down steadily. The countdown had begun.
Zyraena and the god exchanged looks of amusent and curiosity.
anwhile, across the Skyland forest, the remaining participanys were already moving quickly, trying to find the elusive Center Sanctuary. But the announcent had hit them hard. The pressure was mounting.
Andrew, Lila and along with the others, frowned as they realized the stakes had just been raised to an unbearable level. All the trials they had passed, all the challenges they had survived, would an nothing if they didn't make it to the sanctuary in ti.
"This is insane," Soone muttered, staring at the ticking tir in disbelief. "We've already made it through so much... and now we're going to be eliminated just because we can't find this place in ti?"
Lila clenched her fists, frustration building in her chest. "It's not fair. They expect us to make it through this huge forest in such a short ti? How are we supposed to find the Center Sanctuary before the tir runs out?"
Andrew sighed deeply. "I don't understand it anymore, How is this related in the entrance exam? Huhuuu We'll be eliminated if we don't find it!"
Others around them were voicing their own doubts and fears.
"Are you kidding ?" one complained, shaking his head. "After everything we've been through, this is how it ends? Just because we couldn't make it to so stupid sanctuary in ti?"
Another particilant sweat beading on her forehead muttered, "This is unreasonable. It's not just about getting there—it's the fact that we have to get there before ti runs out. What if we can't even find it? We'll be eliminated, just like that."
Their frustration and fear were growing by the second as the tir continued to count down. The once-hopeful faces of the contestants now reflected the reality of the challenge they were facing: their past efforts, their determination, everything they had worked for, could all be wasted if they didn't reach the sanctuary in ti.
"This is madness," one contestant groaned. "What kind of Entrance exam is this?!"
As the tir above continued to tick down, Seojun sat on a large rock in the middle of the Skyland forest, lazily munching on an apple. He stared at the tir.
Sui, his sli familiar, bounced around excitedly at Seojun's feet, its gelatinous form jiggling with energy. "Kyuu! Master! Let's hurry!"
Seojun took another bite of his apple, unfazed by the commotion around him. "A week full of trials... and now they'll eliminate people just because they can't find the sanctuary in ti?" He shrugged, chewing thoughtfully.
"Hmm, they probably just want to reduce the number of participants."
He leaned back, resting against the rock, and the soft breeze rustled the leaves around him. The ticking of the tir, counting down relentlessly, echoed in the distance, but it didn't seem to bother him.
[They have already likely decided who they want to eliminate and now using this way.] The system spoke,
He wiped the apple juice from his chin and stood up, tossing the core of the apple aside. "Ah, they're probably trying to weed out the ones who can't handle the pressure."
He nodded to himself, "They definitely have their motives."
Sui, who had been hopping around and getting more anxious with each passing second, suddenly leaped into the air and squealed, "Kyuu! Let's go, Master! We can't get eliminated! We have to win, kyuuu! I'll show them how powerful Master's familiar is! Kyuuu!"
With a burst of energy, Sui bounced ahead, using the trees around them to launch itself even higher, moving through the forest like a ball. The sli ricocheted off branches, its fluid form twisting and turning in midair as it raced ahead, eager to keep up with Seojun.
Seojun watched Sui's antics with a small smile, feeling a rare spark of amusent in his otherwise calm deanor. "Alright, alright. I'm coming. Let's go then."
He stretched his arms out, feeling the tension in his muscles. The forest was dense, and the path wasn't clear, but it didn't matter to him. He had a destination in mind, and he'd make it there in ti—he wasn't about to let the clock decide his fate.
With a deep breath, Seojun started walking, his gaze focused on the horizon. Sui zipped ahead, bouncing and leaping with excitent, its high-pitched voice carrying through the forest. "Kyuu! I'll show them! We'll make it, Master!"
Seojun gave a slight chuckle as he picked up his pace, the sound of Sui's energetic bounces filling the air.
As Seojun walked through the forest, the sound of birds and leaves rustling was all he could hear—until suddenly—
"Move!" A voice shouted.
Seojun barely had ti to react when sothing—or rather, soone—was speeding towards him. He didn't move. He just stood still, watching as a blur of motion rushed towards him. The wind picked up, swirling around him, and he could feel the force of her speed.
The woman tried to stop, but she couldn't. She skidded to a halt right next to him, only just avoiding crashing into him. The wind from her fast movent hit Seojun, and the ground under his feet shook from the impact.
The woman lost her balance and fell to the ground with a soft thud, landing on her bottom. She groaned and rubbed her sore backside.
"Ouch! Why didn't you move?!" she complained, looking up at Seojun with frustration. "I tried to avoid you, but you just stood there! My bum hurts now!"
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