We are already exhausted from running, everyone is sweating and breathing heavily. Once the teacher announced the second phase the atmosphere became gloomy in an instant.

''Don't get too worried now, this time I will go much easier on you guys'' the teacher began.

The atmosphere became a little more bright, I could see some with a small smile on their faces.

''This time you'll have to swim a total of 20 miles'' he said.

The atmosphere became gloomier than before.

''Now, now, get going, this isn't everything'' he started.

''The more we do, the more I will explain'' he finished.

It was stale.

''Feh, this will be so easy'' Ryuu said and stood up.

He dove into the river and started swimming at full speed.

''Who's next'' the teacher asked.

After time more and more people began to swim, to the point that we couldn't see them anymore. The teacher left out about 5 people, including me. It was sad seeing Shoji go, but we are not teaming up, this is a competition.

''Soon all of you will have to start to swim, so be ready'' the teacher said.

Suddenly we heard a powerful scream coming from far away, sounding like it came from the direction of the river. I looked over at the teacher to see a grin.

''Now then, everyone can begin to swim!'' the teacher said with a loud voice.

After he slowly said people’s names, they jumped in started to swim. I was the last to jump in. I feared what would happen if you spent too much time in this phase.

The two people before me were taking it slowly, I tried going to the side, but they were blocking me.

I do not want to swim underwater and go past them, since that will take out my breath, but it looks like it is the only choice I have.

I took a deep breath and went underwater. Surprisingly, the water was quite clean, clean enough to open your eyes underwater.

To my surprise I saw the first one in my group to jump underwater. I do not remember his name all that good. He is chubby, brown and has short chestnut brown hair.

He looked back at me and reached out his hand to me, I quickly grabbed it.

I went super-fast through the water; I do not know what happened. It went so quickly. He stopped grabbing my hand and went up. I too went up to ask him what happened.

''Huh, looks like you made it after all'' he said.

I was breathing like crazy.

''W-What happened?'' I asked.

''Heh, that was my shoes'' he said.

His shoes?

''You see, these shoes have a feature to bring out the newest type of propellers, the IE-560's. These propellers work extremely well underwater, and a lot of divers now use it'' he began.

''Since I have an engineering, I took it to myself and built shoes, that have the ability to use these propellers when being pressed a button'' he continued.

That sounds cool, but that also means he will be a powerful enemy in the future. But how come he knew that swimming was a part of this? It came as a surprise for everyone when the teacher announced it!

''How come you knew about us going to swim?'' I asked him.

''You see, I have taken this test in total three times, this being my third'' he said.

THREE? But every exam is available every 20 years, that means, he must be at least 60 or above! But he looks so young.

''But that means you have to be 60, or even older, but you look much younger'' I said.

''I am, I'm 63, I look younger because I have a mask on'' he answered.

It was quiet for a moment.

''Oh well, we're starting to move to the second section of this phase, be ready now, I won't help you anymore'' he said and started swimming before me.

Be ready huh. Well, he has been through this two times already, I should trust him.

20 minutes later

I am tired of swimming; I feel like I am going to sleep any minute! But I will continue, even If a Sea Monster attacks me!

After a couple of minutes of swimming, I could feel rumbling. That cannot be my stomach, can it?

Then suddenly, a big snake-like creature appeared from the water and was standing right before me. It is yellow with black straps around Its body. Its head is shaped like a W.

This can only be what I think it is. The monster fishers call a monster of the sea, Serpens Draco!!

End Of Chapter 7.