Through the crowds mutterings the announcer continued. "Can all the competitors please make there way to the centre of the arena and stand within the magic circle." Upon saying this a glowing circle became visible within the centre of the arena.

Lupos, Lucio and Wing quickly walked into the circle. Upon walking into the circle, Lupos felt a rush of warm air and suddenly he noticed a pendant with the first Academy of Magic's crest had appeared around his neck. Looking towards Lucio and Wing he could see they also had the same pendant around their necks.

The announcer didn't waste any more time. Seeing that all the competitors were within the circle they began to explain the rules. "Ok so to start off all three hundred and twelve competitors will be transported into the labyrinth. Everyone will be transported to a different part of the labyrinth and no one will be within twenty meters of each other."

The announcer paused to catch his breath then continued on. "As well as other competitors there will also be other magical beasts within the labyrinth. The way to loose the game is to either have your pendant taken by someone else or to be placed in life threatening danger, at which point staff will intervene and you will be transported back into the arena. You will be in the labyrinth for two hours trying to survive and it is up to you whether or not to make allies or enemies with your fellow competitors. During this competition you will not be allowed to use your summons, only your magic."

There was an uneasy moment where all the competitors dismissed their spirits and turned to look at each other trying to size up who was their biggest competition. "The last thing is that whoever ends the first round with the most pendants gets an advantage in the second round so think carefully about whether you want to play it safe or risk it all. Well then good luck competitors, the spectators will be watching you using our giant magic crystal vision. You will begin now!"

That said the glowing circle shined even brighter as the competitors were transported into the labyrinth. Lupos looked around, he was no longer in the arena but rather surrounded by dirt walls ten times the size that he was, Lupos cursed silently remembering how the announcer said the spectators could see them, this meant he couldn't use his shadow magic.

Lupos sighed at least he could use his earth magic as well as his natural senses. He was about to reflect further when all of a sudden he heard footsteps approaching his location. Grinning wolfishly Lupos silently hid in the Shadows and listened carefully as the footsteps got louder.

Suddenly a large and slightly overweight student burst into the corridor with a pendant that had a crest showing he was from the second Academy of Magic. Of course, Lupos was currently looking at said pendant as he held it in his hand, the large student looked at Lupos, then looked down at his chest. However before he could say anything he was transported out if the labyrinth.

Lupos just laughed. "Too easy" he muttered under his breath. The other student hadn't even seen him move. Sighing Lupos sat down on the floor and used his earth magic to sense vibrations in the ground to try and work out where his next potential victim could be. Sensing a large cluster of students Lupos grinned and silently made his way over there, it was hunting time.

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Lucio's POV

On the other side of the labyrinth, Lucio had also started hunting. However, his opponents were not other students but rather the magical beasts that roamed the labyrinth. "Come on you stupid beasts." panted Lucio as he continued to fight and kill the beasts surrounding him. Although it had only been ten minutes since he was transported to the labyrinth, he had spent all ten of them fighting - due to being transported right next to a nest of the beasts.

Looking at the beasts he cursed their numbers and continued to fight, when he suddenly heard footsteps running towards him. Suddenly from around the corner came a familiar face, it was Lucio's cousin Marco.

"Marco come help me, for the Illio families glory." Declared Lucio passionately. Looking very much like he wanted to ignore his cousin, Marco sighed and joined Lucio in fighting off the beasts. "Let's do this quickly, I have to meet up with my other teammates." said Marco.

Lucio nodded in approval "good idea I'll come with you and be your leader!" inside his head Marco groaned. He had finally gotten away from his snotty cousin when he joined the third Academy of Magic and now here he was yet again stuck following Lucio's orders just because he was a member of the branch family. Sighing Marco tried to come up with a plan to ditch Lucio before then.

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Lupos's POV

Lupos had just identified a large cluster of students, softening the earth below him, Lupos erased all the sound of his footprints and edged closer to the students. As he reached them, he realised it wasn't one large group of students he had sensed, but rather two warring groups of students.

Smiling at the fact no one had noticed him yet, he very quietly whispered under his breath the words "earth trap" suddenly all ten of the warring students found themselves buried neck deep into the mud, their pendants lying atop the earth "What the hell is this?!" yelled the boy closest to Lupos.

"That," said Lupos, stepping out of the shadows "is my trap." As he said this, he smiled easily and one by one went around taking the pendants off everyone's necks. Most tried to resist, however, it seemed that within the entire two groups not one of the competitors could use earth magic making them unable to remove the earth laid on top of them.

Once the last of the two groups had been transported back to the arena Lupos smiled as he thought of an idea. Reaching out with his mind he found a pack of six magical beasts nearby and tried to communicate with them in mindspeak "Hello, my name is Lupos and I would like to request your assistance."

A laughing voice sounded out in his head "Hey kid you're human aren't you? How the hell can you speak mindspeak?" Lupos smiled "I was raised by shadow wolves." The creature let out a low whistle in his mind "Wow, now that's interesting sure we'll help, what's the request?"

Lupos smiled evilly "I want you to round up some of the weaker players and chase them to where I am, not too many and make it look natural if at all possible." The creature let out a laugh "sure kid we're nearing some of the competitors already. You've got five minutes."

Lupos nodded "thanks a lot just make sure you and your pack turn back before you get to my location." "sure thing." responded the creature. Smiling at his idea Lupos used his magic to create a giant pit trap and then sat back and relaxed waiting for the others to come.

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Authors note

Hiya sorry for the short chapter Iv been stuck revising all day, I promise to put up part two before the end of two days time so bare with me until then :) hope you enjoyed the chapter.