"What the hell," I muttered, my mouth wide open.

"Do you have a shot?" Ash yelled, looking back at me.

I narrowed my eyes, focusing on the blob, but he stood far from an ambient sphere. Shaking my head, I concentrated on the blob's movements. "Not yet!"

Ash dashed to the blob as chains encircled his hand. He hurled a punch at the blob's face.

The blob stood still, jerking his head back.

Ash's punch slid off the blob's cheek from the sweat, causing him no damage.

The blob's head bobbled back and forth so forcefully that he struck Ash with his face. Sweat dripped off the blob, spewing into the air as the attack sent Ash backward.

Ash, a little dazed, wobbled on his feet but stood straight, glancing at me. "Any luck?!"

"None." I clicked my tongue, shaking my head.

"Fine," Ash lowered his gaze, breathing in. "This will have to do."

The blob rubbed his face, brushing the sweat off his eyes.

Ash ran to the blob, hopping to the blob's right. Ash used his palm to push into the blob's face.

The blob dodged the attack, grabbing Ash's arm and shaking him up and down.

I walked toward them, ready to intervene. I formed lightning on my hand as I neared Ash.

Ash's chains broke apart, revealing another chain that reached toward the blob. The blob fell to the floor, sprawling on the ground but unable to move.

Ash stood up, nearing the blob. His arms encircled chains attached to the blob's body. Like Ash did to me, he had numerous chains attached to multiple places, but this time, he made the chains from rough material.

I quickly caught up with Ash. Passing him, I hovered over the blob, inserting my hand through his neck, and he turned into mist.

"Well done," someone applauded. "Indeed, you have exceeded my expectations."

"No way." Ash darted up to the right as he recalled his chains around his arms.

"You might not be trash," Valis smiled as he sat on top of the Khausfallian woman. The female's legs and arms were enveloped in ice, and so was her mouth. "I almost want to savor this moment."

"Where are the others?" I asked Ash.

Valis interrupted, waving in the air. "They eliminated the impertinent fool I call a teammate." Valis palmed his face, allowing one of his eyes to show. He looked down and shook his head. "This brat's teammate took him out, so I had to do what I had to do."

"Forfeiture scheme," I whispered.

Ash nodded his head, gripping his fists as he gaped at Valis, not letting his attention get off him. His chains tightened around his arms as he whispered. "Now."

He ran towards Valis, but it would take a few seconds, considering we were quite far from Valis.

I launched a lightning orb towards Valis, who was thankfully near an ambient sphere.

Valis remained sitting on the female, continuing to smile. "Ash ZARATH... You sure are interesting!"

My lightning attack struck Valis, but he flicked it with his right hand, causing his hand to dissipate into a mist.

"Don't," Valis said, standing up and stomping on the female's head. "Disturb me!" The female turned into mist, and Valis gaped at me, launching an icicle toward me.

The icicles struck my already useless arm, causing my entire arm to turn into mist.

"Wryn, don't you dare disturb us." Valis smiled, looking at Ash. "Finally!"

Ash whipped a chain at Valis. The attack wrapped around Valis, forcing him at the mercy of Ash.

"This is all I asked for," Valis shook with joy.

Ash forced Valis into the air, bringing him down. "SHUT UP!"

The chains dripped water, turning into ice. Valis broke free, falling to the floor and landing feet first. Wailing his right arm in the air, he pointed to Ash as his arm turned into mist. "Now, was this too much trouble to ask? Was it too much to ask, my dear cousin?"

'Cousin,' I furrowed my brows, running towards them.

"Can't you ever just learn to shut up?" Ash said, gritting his teeth and extending his right and left arm upward to Valis. Ash clasped both his hands inwards, launching one attack to the left and the other to the right.

Valis stood still and gestured a clapping motion. "You're almost there."

"Just die," Ash huffed, clenching his hands even harder. He caused the chains to speed up even faster.

The chains wrapped around Valis, but what should have instantly killed him didn't. Instead, the chains shattered into broken metal, falling onto the ground.

"You'll need to use it." Valis grinned, showing his teeth. "There's no way around it."

Ash narrowed his eyes and puffed. "I'm not going..." He paused, pursing his lips, but he looked down, opening his mouth. "I can't..."

"You were doing so well, and you ruined it." Valis shook his head, staring at Ash. He put on a straight face, nearing Ash. "I guess I'll need to teach you something your daddy never could." He stopped walking and smiled, gaping at Ash. "It can't be too difficult considering he's dead."

Ash remained silent, gazing at the floor. He didn't reply or say anything.

I knew something was wrong...

Ash fidgeted with his body, still not making a sound.

An odd sensation erupted from Ash, what I could only describe as an eery feeling. I had never seen such a sensation before.

Shaking as he formed a circle with his hands, Ash placed his hands near his chest, looking up. "THE CHAINS OF-"

I touched Ash's shoulder, walking past him. "Sub."

"Wryn..." Ash said, turning his head and looking at me. He held his hand out in the air, trying to grab me, but he failed to. "That's enough. You can barely move..."

Ignoring Ash, I stepped forward, no longer able to see him.

The mist reached my neck, and my left arm was no longer present.

Valis used his right arm to bang on his forehead. He slammed his mist-forming arm onto his head a couple times, then stopped. He lowered his eyebrows, pressing his lips together. "What have you done..." He narrowed his eyes like a man who saw a ghost. "What have you done!?"

'I'll go out with a blow,' I thought, directing the maximum amount of lightning I could onto my right arm.

Valis had tears coming down his cheeks, but even the tears turned into ice, dropping onto the floor. He formed a sword with his magic and held it in his left hand.

Running toward Valis, I twitched my right finger, forming two links. I held out my right arm, pointing to Valis. "Link!"

Valis swung his sword, trying to hit my chest, but the ice sword missed me as I tried to link.

The lightning around me violently stuttered, and instead, I made it halfway, where Valis unknowingly struck my right arm, slicing through it. I fell onto my knees, staring at the man who held me at their mercy.

Valis gasped for air, having difficulty breathing. Eyes wide, he looked at me in disgust, forcing his sword into my collarbone.

I smiled, turning my head to my cut-off arm. My right arm remained near us, turning into mist, but it also had lightning radiating off.

Valis let go of his blade, turning his head to my arm and the farmhouse. "What the-"

Turning my head towards the farmhouse, I narrowed my eyes, trying to get a better look, but I couldn't.

My arm exploded to the left while a gust of wind hit the area. The wind emanated from the farmhouse.

Valis quickly formed some type of magic around himself, but it was too late.

The wind struck us. An immense wave of force infiltrated the area, wreaking havoc. It made my explosion look minuscule in comparison.

The force caused my skin to rip, causing every part of my body to turn into mist.

Everything turned black until a voice echoed in my ears. "Quite the show."

"Who's there?" I asked, suddenly noticing a white room.

"Who else other than your favorite headmaster?" Headmaster Vafaren said, standing in front of me.

I held out my arms, gaping at them, then at the bright white room that we were in. Gripping both my hands, I tested their strength, and they were normal, maybe even better...

The Headmaster smiled, rubbing his beard. "Isn't this all fascinating?"

"Did I lose?" I ignored his question, gritting my teeth and gaping at the floor.

"Unfortunately..." The Headmaster paused, pointing at my armband. "You made it in the nick of time, and even if you didn't, Goode-"

I leaned forward, accidentally cutting off the Headmaster. "Was that magic from Allura?"

The Headmaster paused his sentence, nodding his head and smiling.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I cracked a smile.

The Headmaster narrowed his eyes, looking around. "Isn't this all fascinating?"

"I guess it is, but how is this even possible?" I avoided eye contact and pointed at the ceiling. "How is one person capable of all this?"

The Headmaster turned around, shaking his index finger in the air. "One person can't do this."

"What?" I muttered, stepping forward, but I stopped.

"One person can't perform this type of magic, and even if they could, it would end fairly quickly." The Headmaster said, turning back and facing me. "This magic does not belong to one person but to the people of Fech."

I leaned my head back, maintaining eye contact with the Headmaster. "How is that even possible?"

The Headmaster closed his eyes, shaking his hand in the air. "We have far greater things to discuss." He walked forward towards me. "Your future..."

Lifting my head up, I widened my eyes, not blinking once.

"Your future depends on your success." He said, standing tall. "Has Alren discussed this with you?"

I nodded, lifting my chin. "Yeah, I need to perform well in this tournament. Or I'm done for."

"The King doesn't have the time to invest in a mere rat," the Headmaster looked at me, adding. "But I do, so don't let me down."

"I won't let you down," I whispered. 'I won't let myself down...'

The Headmaster placed his hand on my shoulder. "Enjoy the victory meal with your friends."

"Victory meal?" I furrowed my brows. But before the Headmaster said anything, I instantly turned into mist.

I spawned, seated on a table. The magic placed me in a massive hall with multiple tables and seats. However, the most eye-opening scene was the front of the room, a table with the board members and Headmasters.

"You're here!" Ash smiled, sitting to my right.

Allura shifted her head to the left, looking at me, but she turned her head, looking forward. "You guys did alright."

"Alright?!" Ash jerked his head back, placing his arm around me. "I think we did amazing!"

"Now that's the Ash I know." I closed my eyes, shaking my head and smiling.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ash let go of me, yawning. He stared at the plate in front of him, opening his mouth wide. "I sure am hungry."

I ignored Ash, looking at Allura. "Where's Bertin?"

Allura continued darting forward. "Anyone eliminated or not part of our group isn't allowed in the dinner. That means even the other groups in our faction."

"That's harsh," I muttered.

"It's not like they can feed all the factions every match that ends." Allura sat tall, keeping a calm expression.

"I guess you're right," I whispered, continuing to stare at her.

Allura stuck out like a sore thumb, not in a bad way, but she posed herself differently. From the way she acted to how she would breathe, Allura's actions were diverse.

I gazed at her sparkling blue eyes, wondering why she acted as she did.

Allura turned her head to me, creating eye contact. "Do you need something?"

Jolting my head back, I shifted my gaze to the ceiling, then at her. "Were you the one who destroyed the farmland?"

She glared at me but quickly nodded her head.

"Hold up, that was you?" Ash stopped playing with his plate and furrowed his right brow, looking at Allura. He placed his hand on his head and tilted his head. "Why didn't you help us sooner?"

Allura partially tugged her lips upwards but quickly reverted the smirk back into a neutral face. She closed her eyes and shrugged. "I was just testing you guys."

"You call that testing," Ash opened his mouth, wrinkling his nose. "You almost killed us, and then you actually killed us!"

"I can't disagree." I placed my hand on my head, chuckling. "She's a maniac."

"Hey, at least I helped at the end," Allura interjected, leaning forward and trying to get our attention.

Ash and I ignored her, and instead, we looked at each other.

Ash shook his head. "Imagine going solo and thinking you're cool."

"I want to test something," I said, mocking Allura. I laughed, slapping the table. "She really tried testing us."

"I was actually-" Allura tried speaking, but Ash used his index finger, shushing Allura.

Ash sat tall and lifted his head. "While she was out there just watching us, we eliminated multiple teams!"

"Imagine just watching," I said, shaking my head and looking at Ash. "Couldn't be us."

"Of course, it couldn't." Ash puffed his chest out.

Allura pressed her lips together and rolled her eyes. She let out an exasperated sigh, ignoring us.

I felt a little sorry for her. Maybe we took it too far, but I wasn't sure. Nonetheless, Ash didn't care as he continued laughing.

That was until a firm voice echoed in the area. "May I have all your attention?"

The once noisy room fell silent. Everyone stared at the main stage, looking at the board members and Headmasters.

Headmaster Mishal stood up, looking around at the room, but the way he did so was in an odd manner, almost like he was looking for something. He cleared his throat, clasping his hands behind his body. "Today marks the start of..." He paused, tilting his head at Headmaster Vafaren. "The Culling Game?"

Headmaster Vafaren nodded his head and smiled, but that smile slowly lowered.

"An odd name, if I say so myself, but that's beside the point," Headmaster Mishal quickly said, peering at the crowd. "The new concept of thinning the competition was more than just a success. It was brilliant!"

Everyone around seemed displeased, but who could blame them? After all, this new idea almost eliminated them.

Headmaster Mishal tapped Headmaster Vafaren's shoulder and sat down.

Headmaster Vafaren stood up, maintaining eye contact with the crowd. "I understand if there is animosity."

Ash and Allura were both paying attention and honestly weren't too emotionally affected compared to the others in the room. Many people seemed upset, but of course, that wasn't everyone.

I was honestly glad Ash seemed better. He had me spooked for a second, but I guess it really wasn't anything to worry about, at least not until later. Right now, everything's fine... Just fine. I didn't need to ruin it.

The last thing I wanted was for it to be ruined.

The Headmaster sneezed, shaking his head, though it brought my attention back towards him. He continued speaking, letting a half-smile develop. "At the start of the event, the number of participants was phenomenal. 1507, to be exact, but we had to fasten the tournament." The Headmaster paused, quickly breathing. "There are now 335 students left!"

'No way,' I thought, bending forward and seeking a better view of the Headmaster.