Whilst Jude was happy to see a familiar face in Jack he was a bit baffled. Trying not to rack his brains too much Nude asked the obvious question: “Jack how did you qualify before me?” Jack let out a small chuckle before replying.

“Well all three were basically made for me, right? So the first one I just walked across.”

“What do you mean you walked across? It was invisible.”

“Well yeah but my alteration kicks in by itself when I’m in danger so all I gotta do is walk with the intention of keeping going and when I feel time slow a bit I know to not go that way.” Gobsmacked by the matter-of-fact way his friend had described reaction time and his body automatically trigging self-preservation instincts Jude carried on.

“But the button one. How did you know which one to press?”

“Easy the correct one was a bit slower to turn off than the rest.” Jude had not noticed it but it was true. Almost all the buttons turned their lights off at the same time. Except one which was half a second slower. “And yes my power might not help me at throwing things at a target but I literally have spent the last three months training my throwing abilities in tutorials.”

Jude was trying to decide what was more embarrassing the fact that he had been beaten by someone who’s power had seemed useless for these tests or the fact he expected to be first. Though, there did seem to be a lack of others from their team. Forty-two other contestants had seemingly passed, par himself and Jack. Archie was off in the corner, clearly using similar tricks to Jack.

But from Norfield University there was just the three of them so far.

Jude was scanning the room. Whoever these other people were they came from other teams. No matter if they had to work together soon or not there was thing that Jude knew. They were going to fight in the league when the new year rolled in. Which meant every single person was a threat.

There were a few standouts that caught Jude’s eye.

Leant up against a pillar was a ninja. A real one. They were clad all in black, with the sandal style shoes and they even covered their face. What was noticeably was that the moment Jude moved his attention to them their piercing dark eyes stared back, letting nothing away.

The second was stood in a group of others yet they stood out. It could have been the fact they looked aimless or their seeming lack of a costume, they simply had a hoodie and jeans on. But what stood out most to Jude was the black lines from their eyes that stretched down to their jawline and that they were clutching onto their right arm.

The final two were a pair. They communicated through sign language so it was hard to tell what they were talking about but they were laughing along with each other. One was a tall slender woman with tied up blonde hair. The other was a shorter androgynous person with short curly dark brown hair. They should not have stood out but it was their outfits that stood out. The androgynous one was in a fairly stereotypical painters outfit. With white overalls splattered with paint and try carried a brush and paint board. The other one wore nothing but civilian clothes.

It was noticeable that the two most striking people were the ones who had not made an effort. Because that meant a few options were possible. They had no need of an outfit, nothing about their personality warranted one. They did not have one on them. Or they simply could not acquire one so came in their regular clothes.

It was puzzling as if you had the option to have a costume it would be beneficial to have one. Your costume not only communicates who you are but it also acts as a way to maximize your ability if you design it correctly.

Which lead Jude to the conclusion that the two without costumes were extremely strong.

Whilst deep in his own thought and dread, not only had he neglected his friend who had been speaking to him he had failed to notice AJ, Damian, Sahar, and Sol had all arrived. Along with other riffraff Jude did not have any interest in.

But with that there were sixty-three contestants for the next round. Only one spot remained and whoever came through there would be the last to finish and the one with the least time before the moved on. The room fell silent, as if everyone either had no investment in the final reveal or was fully immersed.

Then there was the clanging. The signature sound of someone’s body slamming into the slide. Followed by a cloud of dust being kicked up as the contestant bounced onto the floor.

“Ow that really hurt.” Came a familiar Greek voice.

“Contestant Sixty-Four Nerissa Zilla has qualified for the tournament. The tests will terminate in one minute. You will be free to go back to your accommodation and will be sent a message with your first fight scheduling for the following day. Congratulations to you all.”

Nerissa stood up and shook herself down angrily. “I hate slides.” Was the venomous entrance of the final person to pass.