There was a loud clanging sound inside the metal tunnel. Jude, Nerissa, Aria-Mae and Camelia were running down the corridor trying to make their way to the other zones to warn their teammates.

As they burst through the door, they felt the air dry around them. Moisture suddenly vanished and the arid desert heat began to dance on their skin. A harsh orange light engulfed the group. As they stepped through, they felt each step seep into the ground.

Movement was hard, the sand clung to them as they tried to escape. Each step was a chore, but they moved, nonetheless. It was after about a minute they heard the battle raging on.

Ahead of them were Jack’s group and another four teammates. And just as they were taking in the battle that was being fought another group of four approached behind, this one led by the red head from before. His hand found a resting place on Jude’s shoulder,

“Any idea of how we should handle this?” Red said.

“Well, if there’s only sixteen of us we need to be efficient with our Alterations.” Jude said placing his thumb on his chin to think. “I could use my earth to try and take out a bunch of them, but it might not be as effective with all this sand.”

“Just let me know before we move. I trust your judgement.”

“Cheers Rin, but I think we need those with larger scale Alterations to work here.”

Before he could think about it any more Nerissa tried her best to run down the sand dune they were talking upon. She ran headfirst into battle kicking into a girl that was beating Rafe.

“Okay…” Jude sighed out as if automatically, “Well that means that we’ve already got nine of us in battle. We can’t rely on the other eight coming down and Red Team could be on us any time.” Jude was struggling to think. The amount of information and the heat of the desert had him running circles in his own mind.

He took a deep breath. “Okay if you guys trust me, I have a kind of plan. Aria-Mae you’re our main healer and possible secret weapon. Heal people until you can basically take out three people with one punch. Kuna you’re going to teleport people out of battle who are injured so Aria can heal them. Camelia defend those two. Rin scout out using one of your vessels to help Kuna. Leo you try and get behind them and hypnotise people and Zoe try and help in the fight. I’m going to use my powers from afar.”

With that Jude and Rin locked eyes, nodded and Jude slid down the dune and ran (as best as someone could in a sandy desert) into the battle below. Zoe tried to follow him. Zoe was a short girl so moving through the sand was even more a chore and she’d been wearing thick black top and trousers, so the heat was making her sweat. She did not keep up with Jude and was there a little behind him.

Tumbling into the fray below Jude scanned around him trying to find the specific people he wanted to make his plan work. His eyes darting from side to side before spotting someone with long hair in black clothes.

Ducking and weaving through the flurry of attacks that ending up coming his way due to the crossfire he eventually made it over. As he did there was a giant orange ball of heat hurtling towards the man he was after.

Jude’s foot slammed into the ground and the second it did the shockwave caused a giant slab of stone to appear from the ground. Smashing into the slab the fireball exploded and curved around Jude and the man.

“Sol!” Jude cried out tapping the man on the shoulder. The man had braced himself for the fire and was now confused, he had felt the heat but there wasn’t a burn on him. “If I can guarantee you a distraction could you make a tornado to pick all the enemies up?”

“Yeah. Of course, I can.”

“Okay good, when the ground starts shaking make it.” Jude ran off to someone else. He met up with a group of three, encasing them in a stone dome so they could talk privately.

“Okay when Sol makes the tornado that’s when we move. Agni you hit it with fire, so it burns. Connor you lay metal on the ground in case they survive and then AJ you send some electricity into the metal, so it shocks them.” They all thought about for a second before agreeing.

Once they had agreed the dome retreated back into the ground exposing them to the elements.

Taking a deep breath in and focusing Jude placed his hands into the sand. After a few seconds and a lot of concentration the floor of the whole arena shook. “Okay everything is in place now they just have to do their jobs.” Jude thought.

With the ground shaking it took everyone off guard for a second the only one to attack immediately was Sol. Air spiralled in the palm of his right hand and as it grew bigger, he reeled himself back. Throwing out the tornado with force it suddenly grew rapidly. Now picking up the remaining members of Yellow Team and some of his own teammates.

Fire boiled and bubbled in Agni’s right hand. A blast of white-hot flames shot towards the tornado. The now orange disaster burned bright. The dry arid air becoming unbearable as it ignited. As soon as it appeared and became a force of nature it vanished.

Only a few people had not been teleported out, who swiftly fell on the grey sheen of metal that awaited below them. At one end AJ place a hand on the sheet. Yellow electricity spike and danced across the board simultaneously. Ending with the final teleportation of those who had survived. The sparks illuminating AJ’s caramel skin and blonde hair streak.

A big green circle spread across the ground beneath them and before anyone realised what had happened, they were at the other end of the arena. Kuna had brought them back to the main group. Though they still had a test to do they spent a few minutes celebrating.

Jude was heartily congratulated for his quick thinking. Nerissa seemed confused that he had not been able to do that in the forest.

Jack and Rin slung their arms onto Jude’s shoulders. “Way to go buddy. That was amazing. First the pair plan for the test and now this, I might make you my permanent strategist.” Rin spoke with a big grin on his face.

“Nah. I’m sure someone else would have come up with something.” Jude replied embarrassed.

“Oh, come on bro, that was awesome.” Jack reassured him.

“Anyways we still have a test.” Rin said bringing his arm back out. Clapping a couple times, he began to speak to everyone. “Right, everyone go back to your arenas we’ll continue the test as intended. Yellow team has to wait out the respawn timer so our desert team will try and find the remaining artifacts.”

With that the group split off again. Jude and his team went back to the forest for the last portion of the exam.