n

n

nWith only 60 players remaining, the voice announced a new rule which changed it all.

nPlayers from all around the island listened carefully to the announcement.

n

"Hidden rule: Last man standing

"

nFollowed up by those words came an earthquake, or so it seemed.

n

"What's going on?!

" Asked Serena as the ground started to shake.

nEverything around them was vibrating. Then before John had even realized it, particles of lights covered Eleanor and she disappeared.

n

"Wha-

"

nBefore John could finish, the three of them started glowing in the same way, and they all disappeared.

n-----------------------------------------------------------

n

"The true games begin now.

" Muttered the advisor.

n'True games...? I suppose this is the first time they've done this, but what exactly am I looking at...?' Thought Kurt to himself as he looked at the screen.

n

"Would you look at that! The island is changing shape! The players were all teleported somewhere! What could have caused this turn of events?!

" Shouted the commentator.

n

"What's going on?

"

n

"Must be a change in rules...

"

n

"But why...?

"

nThe crowd muttered amongst themselves as they watched.

nThe island shrunk down to half of its original size and seemed to turn over. No one had expected for this to happen.

nAfter the island turned over it shocked the whole crowd, the trees were all gone, and all they could see was a giant white cube in empty plains.

nThe cube was so big that it could cover around 90% of the shrunken island.

n

"What is that...?

"

n

"Were our kids teleported into that cube?

"

n

"So it's not gonna be on an island anymore?

"

nNot only the crowd but the people who watched from all across the city were confused, but their confuser was shortly cleared by the commentator's following comment.

n

"I've just been informed, there's been a change of rules, it will continue to be a battle royale, but instead of taking place on an island, it will take place inside of the cube.

"

n

"O-oh, I see...

"

n

"I was worried for nothing...

"

nSaid the people as they openly shared their thoughts.

n

"Well then, It's time for the second part of the battle royale!

"

n

"Y-YEAAAH!!

"

nThe crowd started to cheer

n'Honestly, why make the exams so complicated this year, what is that old hag thinking…' thought Kurt as he shook his head.

n

"Eleanor... be careful...

" Muttered Kurt to himself.

n---------------------------------------------------------------

nOne second they were in the middle of a forest, then after a single blink, John ended up there.

n

"Where am I...

" John muttered as he looked around.

nA white space with cubical lines all around the floor and walls.

n

"A giant white room...? This shape...

"

n'A cube? Why a cube? How big is this? It can fit all of these people.' John observed.

nHe continued looking around and noticed that most people were confused.

n

"What's going on?

"

n

"What happened to the exam?

"

n

"She said something about a new rule

"

n

"Are we supposed to start fighting it out?

"

n

"Silence.

" Said the announcer.

nAfter she said that, everything became quiet, no one said a word, or more precisely, they couldn't.

nJohn could not open his mouth either.

n

"New rule: Last man standing. You will all fight it out. When there are 30 players remaining, new rule will be announced.

"

n'Oi…' John internally muttered.

n

"Furthermore, from now on, underneath the badge number there is a count of how many badges you've taken, if player 1 is eliminated by player 2, player 1's badge count will be added to player 2 along with player 1's badge.

"

n'… Oi…' He repeated internally.

n

"Do not worry about killing the opponent, they will be instantly teleported the moment they are knocked out, surrender or their health reaches a low point. We have doctors on standby, do not worry, and let it all out. That is all, you may now speak... Let the 2nd round, commence.

"

n'Are you kidding?' John questioned the situation.

n

"I-I can talk...

"

n

"Are we supposed to start fighting...?

"

n

"What? Right no-

"

nBefore the man could finish, he hit was by a fireball from point-blank by the guy next to him. Since his guard was lowered, it knocked him out in one blow.

nEveryone watched as the fireball guy picked up the guy's badge.

n

"What? It's already started.

"

nShortly after, he said that it turned into a real battle royale.

n*boom!* *boom* *boom*

nMagic attacks were being sent from all directions, explosions happening from left and right. Everyone was at war.

n

"Who thought it was a good idea, to put a bunch of walking bombs in a room with each other...

" John muttered to himself.

n

"Deprehendre

" He muttered.

nJohn looked around and found the 3 lights belonging to them. They were all together.

n

"The three of them should be fine if they're together... There's no need to go help them. For now, I guess I'll farm badge-

"

nBefore John could finish, he leaped to back and watched as the area he was standing on was hit by an abundant amount of flames.

n

"Hoh... You managed to dodge... Not bad,

" said the girl that was in front of John.

nOne thing John noticed then was that the floor was magic resistant, it didn't burn nor heat up, and he guessed that the walls were similar too.

n

"That's a lot of flames,

" John said as he looked over at the girl.

nShe had long red hair which was tied up in pigtails and red eyes, and she used flames. John wondered if she had dyed her hair or if it was in genetics.

n'what a coincidence. Or maybe it's just part of the bloodline…' John thought.

n

"Of course, any last words?

" She asked as she started chanting.

nFlames started to form in a ring shape around her.

n

"Yeah, look to your right.

" John replied as he pointed next to her.

n

"I won't fall for tha-

"

nShe was interrupted by a giant water sphere which fell on top of her.

n

"Oh my bad, I thought you needed to cool down.

" said another girl as she approached them.

nAqua blue hair tied up in a ponytail and blue eyes,

n'Let me guess, she uses water.' John guessed.

n

"...

" the red girl stayed silent as she looked down.

nShe lifted up her face as she said,

"You...

"

n'Wow, I didn't know she could make such a scary face... What a temper.' John thought.

n

"Oh? Perhaps you'd like another round? Our fight was interrupted last time, but you won't get away this time.

" Said the blue-haired girl before she started chanting.

n

"Bring it on...

" replied the red-haired girl before she started chanting.

n'I guess I'll just leave. For some reason I don't feel like getting involved with this.' John decided.

nHe turned around and walked around with his guard up, looking for badges to steal. Explosions were still going off everywhere, everyone was fighting.

n

"I haven't used my daggers much since the exams started, huh...

" John muttered to himself.

n'Hmm, should I kill steal?' John pondered.

nHe wondered if it'll work. If he got the last hit on a player before they get knocked out, he should be able to get the badge. But he also thought that it was a jerk move.

n'Hmm, whatever, if I join in halfway, it should be fine.' John reckoned.

n

"Velox

" A smile was formed on his face as he muttered the words velox after fake chanting.

nIn mid-air John pulled out his daggers and charged right into where there were the most players and explosions.

n--------------------------------------------------------------

n

"Would you look at that! Everyone's giving it their all! Explosions being released left and right! The number of participants dropping like rain! Who will survive!

"

nThe crowd cheered as they watched live what was happening on the magic screen.

n

"Oh, currently, the player with the most eliminations is a black-haired young boy! He seems to have 11 badges after taking out 5 players inside of the cube! What a very unique way of fighting!

"

n'Black haired kid? John? No, their hairstyle is different, and this kid uses dark magic, John is an elemental wizard' Thought Kurt as he watched the screen.

n

"Why does this kid look so familiar... He looks like he's within my daughter's age group too...

" Muttered Kurt.

n

"Amazing! This is our first footage of him being displayed fighting and it's barely lasted 10 seconds! He's taking out his opponents one after the other before they even realized!

"

n'Wait this unique way of fighting... Dark magic... So he's their son…'

n-------------------------------------------------------------

n

"Surround him! He has 11 badges!

" Shouted one of the guys.

nAfter he said that, they hastily surrounded the guy.

n

"It's 4 on 1, give up.

"

nThe boy started chanting after he heard those words.

n

"Damn it! Don't let him chant!

"

nHis chant was short, and he finished it before they could stop him.

n

"Intermediate dark magic: Umbra Regnum

" muttered the boy before entering his shadow Translation: Shadow realm.

n

"Where did he go?!

" Shouted the guy.

n

"Advanced dark magic: Resurgens umbra Spika

" muttered the boy once he got out of their field of view Translation: Rising Shadow spikes.

nThe boy's shadow stretched out and, without them noticing, reached under each of their legs.

nSpikes rose from the shadows underneath them and pierced them each in their vital points.

n

"GAAAH!

" they all shouted in pain before light particles engulfed their bodies and teleported them.

nThe number being displayed under the boy's badge changed from 11 to 15.

n

"Too easy....

" He muttered as he rose out from his shadow.

n