Chapter 7

Another three hours have passed and there are only 26,000 participants remaining in the race. Almost half had already been eliminated.

How did this happen?

~ 1 hour earlier ~

While the participants were passing on a tree, the first tree that they saw was on this floor. They felt something odd. 

Knight noticed the boy wearing the hoodie closed the book he's reading. He watches closely through the monitor because of curiosity as to why the man suddenly did such action.

Almost simultaneously, one fall after the other. 

"What's happening?" He asked the Von who's watching carefully.

"The tree they just passed by is a warning that a new phase of the race has started. It's a Birch Tree." Von explained.

"What's a Birch Tree?" He asked.

"A Birch Tree is said to be a type of Tree from the planet once called Earth. It was described as 'a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus Betula, in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams.'

No one has ever seen a Birch Tree here on Starliege because it doesn't exist anymore. Birch Tree is said to be a symbol of new beginnings.

The 89th floor is a mysterious floor to be at. It shows us not only our nightmares, but also those who once existed. Memories from the past and forgotten sceneries will start to show up after passing through that tree.

If they will be able to survive this, they'll pass the first exam." - Von

"So that means."

"They're approaching the finish line"

___Present___

While running, Shó couldn't detect any anomaly entering his field of magic. It's like they all completely vanished into thin air.

"What is it Shó?" Layla asked. 

"Something feels wrong." He replied. 

"What do you mean?" 

"I can't detect any anomalies entering my field of scanning magic."

"Isn't it a good thing?" - Rhea 

"Shó's intuition is correct." - Lance

"A scanning magic is a powerful one so he should still be able to detect anomalies entering the area even if it's just a weak one." He added and looked on to his left.

"A lot of participants had fallen or given up as soon as we came across that unknown tree. 

But our group hasn't felt something strange unlike the others. Something's wrong." 

The man wearing a gray hood behind them smiled and opened the book that he's reading earlier.

'Is he… protecting them?' Knight asked himself. 

'If so, why?'

The participants started to notice a red flag in front of them and a sign.

"FINISH!" This is what the big flying sign says.

Many of the remaining participants started to propel themselves up in the sky towards the finish line.

The sky was filled with magic cast by those who're eager to finish it.

"Shall we?" Rhea asked her sister. 

"Don't get left behind." - Layla

Wind began to gather around Rhea and took the form of a surfboard and began to surf up in the air.

Layla used her earth magic and pull the ground ahead of her and jumped on it. She followed her sister by manipulating the earth ang making it hover using her wind magic item.

"They're really having fun aren't they?" - Lance 

"Try to keep up." Beatrice said who's already riding the the back of her flame familiar. A tiger that has it feets ablaze. It began running up in the air leaving Lance.

"It's on then."  

Lance unlocked his grimoire and it floated in front of him. While running, he summoned a lightning familiar that takes the form of a lion. He jumped on top of it and followed Beatrice.

"There they go." - Shó 

Water started to appear around him and enveloped him forming a bubble. He flew up to try to catch up with his friends.

The man behind them mysteriously disappeared, even Knight who's closely observing them didn't notice the man casting a spell and leaving the area.

He searched for the man but couldn't find him anywhere.

"He's already at the finish line." Von said to him.

"What?"

The scene being shown in the monitor goes to a man wearing a hoodie. Sitting on the ground where the finish line is located.

"He can manipulate space and is a very knowledgeable one." - Von

"So you mean he would have finished the race the moment it started?" A shocked question of Knight.

"No, he still needs to know the location before successfully transferring himself to that place. Otherwise he'll end up in a random location or worse, a random realm." Von explained.

"Space magic is difficult to control and is also powerful. There are still mysteries to uncover regarding space magic but they can control an area to dominate their enemies." He added.

Peter saw Lance's group passing him in which he didn't like. He began summoning a lightning dragon and flew hard. He passed Lance's group that were startled because of his aggressiveness.

"By the heavens Peter, watch where you're going!" Layla shouted. 

Peter just ignored her and continued his aggressive flight towards the finish line.

"What's his problem?" Rhea confusingly asked.

"He's always like that." - Beatrice 

As Peter approached the finish line, he saw a figure of a man sitting on the ground drinking a bottle of water.

"Tsk! Talk about easy-going." He irritatedly said.

He arrived at the finish line but the male professor there didn't really mind his arrival. 

One by one the participants crossed the finish line and the majority of them were exhausted and barely catching their breaths.

"Congratulations." The male professor said.

"You've successfully completed the first task. As you can see on the giant monitor, there are only 18,000 of you remaining on this exam.

Most of you didn't notice the mind manipulating magic and easily falls to the mind trick this floor is capable of doing. 

And based on my observation, most of you lack the intelligence needed to detect even a wimpy spell like that." A harsh statement from the professor.

"The next task won't be an easy one like this." He continued.

"You call this easy?" Peter asked him in an irritated tone.

"We just ran for hours without rest, water or food and you call this easy?"

"You wanted this right?" Peter became speechless after hearing this.

"Listen to me. If you're going to complain about the difficulty of each task you might as well quit now.

22,000 of you didn't make it to the finish line. Not all of them wanted to give up, but fate isn't on their side today. You're here because you chose to be here. 

It's your decision that brought you here, not the decision of others. The ones who failed won't get another chance.

You made it here.

The question is. Did you make it here because of your resolve? Or because of your selfish desire to be at the top? Is it to prove yourself? Or is it to serve this country and people?

Whatever the reason why you made it here doesn't matter. Your complaints also don't matter because you wanted this. I am here to assess and observe every single one of you.

But all I see are kids who are lucky enough to pass the first task. 

If you complain again, you'll be eliminated from this exam immediately, is that clear?" Nothing can be heard as a reply, only the silence of those who heard the professor's words.

"Do not be full of confidence in what you can do alone. It won't lead you to victory for the next task. 

Always remember the virtue of teamwork.

Not all of you are blessed with excellent talents. Others are just resourceful of what they can do. I may be harsh to all of you but that's because it's my duty. 

Otherwise, how will you get something to motivate you and prove someone that they’re wrong about you?" He added.

He then looked at his Seven to see the time.

"Tomorrow at exactly 6:00 in the morning. Being late will result in your elimination from the exam. 

Until then, good luck."

They were all teleported out of the dungeon back in the school quadrangle.

Peter with his fist closed, left the school and head home.

"That professor's kinda rude." - Rhea 

"He's right though. We chose to be here." - Layla. 

"Where's that kid earlier anyway?" Shó asked.

"Now that you've mentioned that. Where is he anyway?" Rhea turns to Lance to ask him but he's not there anymore.

"He was just right there a moment ago." - Layla

They soon noticed that Beatrice's also not there.

"Do you think they did it?" 

"Save your naughty thoughts till we reach adulthood sis." Rhea shut her sister(Layla). 

The man in the gray hoodie is standing on top of a tower and is currently watching the clouds. He took a locket necklace from his left pocket and opened it. He looked at the picture for a couple of seconds before closing and returning it again into his pocket.

He jumped from the roof of the tower but didn't land. It's like he disappeared midair without leaving a trace. 

A girl is walking in the streets wearing a white dress and is heading towards the central park.

~ Stargem: Rewrite ~