7
As their laughter died down, Dai couldn't help but feel grateful for meeting Narco. It was clear that the boy had a mischievous side, but he also had a certain charisma that made Dai feel at ease. With the start of the real exam looming, Dai was grateful to have made a friend, someone he could rely on in the difficult days ahead.
As Orion's voice boomed over the intercom, he shut down Dai's thoughts, bringing Dai back to reality. "Stage one of the exam will begin in ten minutes. You will need to form teams of three to participate," Orion announced, his tone brisk and business-like. "Choose your partners wisely, as the fate of your success in this exam will depend on your teamwork," he added before signing off.
Dai looked around the room, scanning for potential teammates. Narco stood beside him, a smug grin on his face as if he had already won the exam. Dai couldn't help but feel annoyed at Narco's overconfidence. He knew that the challenges ahead would require a team effort, and he didn't want to risk failing because of his partner's arrogance.
As he continued to survey the room, Dai noticed a nonchalant girl leaning against the wall. Her hair stopped just above her shoulders, and she wore boy-ish clothes, with a bucket hat on her head. Despite her casual appearance, there was something about her that caught Dai's attention. He nudged Narco and pointed in her direction, silently suggesting her as their third team member.
Narco shrugged, his eyes scanning the room for other potential teammates. But Dai was determined to have her on their team. He approached the girl, and Narco followed closely behind. "Excuse me, would you like to join our team?" Dai asked, hoping that she would agree.
The girl opened her eyes, revealing a piercing gaze that seemed to see through them. She spoke in a monotonous, bored voice, "Sure, why not."
Her lack of enthusiasm took Dai by surprise, but he was grateful that she accepted their offer. "My name is Mira," she added before turning her back on them.
Dai and Narco introduced themselves, feeling a sense of relief that they had found a third member. As they prepared for the first stage of the exam, Dai couldn't help but wonder what challenges they would face. He knew that they would need to work together to succeed, and he was determined to do his best.
Dai and Narco introduced themselves, feeling a sense of relief that they had found a third member. As they waited for the exam to begin, Dai couldn't help but wonder what challenges they would face. He knew that they would need to work together to succeed, and he was determined to do his best. With just five minutes left until the start of the exam, the three of them stood in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Mira leaned against the wall, her arms crossed and her expression blank. Dai watched her curiously, wondering what kind of person she was. He noticed that she didn't seem interested in making conversation, so Dai decided to focus on his own thoughts.
He felt a sense of unease as he thought about the upcoming exam. He wasn't sure if he was ready. He had trained hard, but the competition was fierce, and he knew that he would need to work well with his team in order to succeed.
Narco, on the other hand, seemed completely unconcerned. He leaned against a nearby table, his arms crossed and a smirk on his face. "Relax, Dai. We've got this in the bag," he said confidently.
Dai furrowed his brow, deep in thought, as he mulled over Narco's words. A hint of doubt gnawed at him, making him question if he was taking things too seriously. He couldn't deny the tension in his body and the tightness in his chest, as if he had been holding his breath for far too long.
Looking at Narco's calm smile and laid-back demeanor, Dai suddenly realized that maybe he had been too caught up in his own head. Maybe Narco was right, and he needed to take a step back and relax. He took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs, and slowly let it out. As he did, he felt the tension in his body start to ease.
Dai's gaze flickered over to Mira, who still seemed disinterested in their conversation. He could feel a flicker of annoyance but quickly quelled it, reminding himself of Narco's advice to relax. Instead, he decided to focus on things that calmed him down. The sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore, the warm sun on his skin, and the salty sea breeze blowing through his hair. These were all things that would calm him down on Saltwater Island, even on the most stressful of days.
As the countdown to the start of the exam continued, Dai felt a sense of anticipation building within him. He was eager to face the challenges ahead and learn about the truth. He decided to trust his abilities and the skills of his team members. But he knew that they would need to work together and communicate effectively in order to succeed. With this in mind, he nodded at Narco and Mira, signaling his readiness for the exam to begin.
As the countdown to the start of the exam continued, Dai felt a sense of anticipation building within him. He was eager to face the challenges ahead and learn about the truth. He decided to trust his abilities and the skills of his team members. But he knew that they would need to work together and communicate effectively in order to succeed. With this in mind, he nodded at Narco and Mira, signaling his readiness for the exam to begin.
As the contestants gathered around him, Orias turned and walked towards a large metal door at the end of the hallway. He stepped up to the door and placed his hand on a scanner, and the door slid open with a soft hiss.
"Follow me," he said, gesturing for the contestants to enter the room beyond.
Dai and his teammates followed Orias through the doorway, and as they stepped inside, they were struck by the sheer size of the room. The walls were made of smooth, gray stone, and the floor was a soft, sandy dirt that cushioned their footsteps. It was so large that it almost felt like they were outside.
"Welcome to the first stage, everyone," Orias announced, his voice echoing through the chamber. "In the first stage of your exam, you will be facing a survival run. However, there's a catch. In order to pass the first stage, every member of your group has to make it to the end. If at any point one of your team members is unable to continue, your entire team will be eliminated. Is that clear?"
Dai felt his stomach drop as he heard Orias's announcement. He knew that this would be a tough challenge, but the added pressure of having to ensure the success of his entire team only added to his anxiety. He glanced at Narco and Mira, who both seemed to be taking the news in stride. Narco was already stretching, his eyes fixed on the finish line, and Mira stood quietly, her eyes scanning the room.
"Also," Orias continued, "there is a time limit. If all three members of a team don't make it to the finish line within 6 hours, the entire team will be eliminated."
The contestants' expressions shifted, their brows furrowing as they considered Orias's words. They exchanged glances, silent communication passing between them as they came to a shared understanding. Some nodded, their jaws set in determination, while others raised their eyebrows in surprise or concern. The room fell silent as they processed the weight of the challenge ahead, their expressions revealing the range of emotions they were feeling.
Orias looked at the contestants, his gaze scanning the crowd, searching for any signs of fear or uncertainty. He cleared his throat, his voice booming through the hallway. "Good luck to all of you, and may the better teams make it to the second stage. "
With that, he stepped back, gesturing towards the entrance to the survival course. The contestants rushed forward, their excitement palpable as they jostled for position. Dai could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he followed Mira and Narco towards the entrance. He glanced around, taking in the details of the surroundings, and he took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. This was his chance to prove himself, to show that he was capable of handling whatever challenges lay ahead. He looked at Mira and Narco, drawing strength from their presence. He nodded, showing his determination.
Mira nodded in response, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for something. Dai wondered if she was looking for potential threats, as her gaze was sharp and focused. She seemed alert and ready for anything, which made Dai feel a sense of comfort knowing he had someone as vigilant as Mira on his team.
On the other hand, Narco appeared to be lost in thought as he leaned casually against the wall. His arms were crossed tightly in front of his chest, as if he were trying to protect himself from something. His brow furrowed in deep concentration. He seemed to be processing some sort of information. Despite his calm exterior, Dai couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his mind.
"Are you ready, Narco?" Dai's voice held a hint of curiosity as he addressed his confident friend. Narco straightened up, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Of course I am, Dai. I was born ready," he replied, his voice brimming with confidence. Dai couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Narco's unshakable self-assurance, even if it did border on overconfidence.
Mira rolled her eyes at Narco's bravado, but a small smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Just don't get us killed with your overconfidence," she said dryly, her tone conveying a mixture of amusement and concern.
Narco chuckled in response. "Relax, Mira. We're in this together, right?" he said, placing a hand on each of their shoulders in a gesture of solidarity. Dai felt a surge of camaraderie, grateful for the two people beside him who he knew he could trust with his life.
"Right. Let's do this," Dai declared with determination, a sense of unity washing over the group. The three of them stepped forward as one, ready to face whatever obstacles lay ahead in the grueling survival course. As they made their way forward, Dai felt a sense of confidence and determination welling up within him. No matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, and come out stronger on the other side.
