Scale of Reality

Intermission: Final

Muji POV

"All remaining contestants please report back to the arena! The next event will begin shortly! I repeat, all contestants please report back to the arena!"

I looked to Karin who just smiled and put a thumb up.

"I'm rooting for you Muji."

I smiled and kissed her head before walking off, Mya and Adjest following behind me. Adjest walked beside me and looked around.

"Muji, did you find Jax?"

"Yeah, I had to lecture him a bit but I think it'll be fine now."

Mya let out a sigh.

"I'm glad. I thought he was trying to kill you or something. Plus I actually kind of like the guy."

Adjest laughed a bit while we walked down the steps. We found ourselves reunited with Iris, who had vanished until now.

After everyone was inside the arena, Ms Demeter was back on the announcements.

"Hello everyone! Did you miss me? I'm sure you did. Anyways the second event is about to begin! Listen up, because yours truly will go over the rules!"

Ms Demeter cleared her throat before speaking again.

"Much like the last event, this will have to do with defeating enemies to gain points. However the main focus of this one won't be teamwork, but monster hunting proficiency! No one will know anything about the monsters until you arrive, so you're running in blind."

I hummed.

"Like that's not dangerous at all."

"The contestants will be split into two groups, and do the event one at a time. While you participate in the event you may act independently or with a team to hunt the monsters, however if you do the points you gain will be split amongst all you team up with. This will be done by mana linkage, which you should all know."

I looked to Ms Shinmon with a look of appreciation.

"All that mana training paid off..."

"There will be different monsters in each area, and they will all be worth different amounts of points; and no you will not know how many points you have until the end. So you better just give it your all!"

Ms Demeter looked at us before humming.

"Kid with their hand raised, what do you want?"

"Are we allowed to attack other contestants?"

Ms Demeter gasped.

"I almost forgot about that! No, you can't, not unless you both consensually agree to combat against each other. If you do you have to use mana linkage and bet a set amount of points, which have to be at least 20. If you don't have the points and you lose you will automatically lose and be sent back to the spectator seats. If you win though you'll of course gain said points, and if you have enough to lose you'll just lose the points."

Ms Demeter thought for a second.

"Also, you can't battle 2v1 or anything like that. The two opposing sides have to be equal and everyone has to bet points in order to fight another contestant regardless of the situation. Does anyone else have any questions?"

I raised my hand as she looked to me.

"Yeah?"

"Is there some kind of safety net so we won't die?"

She nodded.

"If you take too much damage you'll immediately be teleported back here and our healers will heal you up. You'll lose though."

I nodded before thinking for a second.

"And can you break up parties after they're formed?"

"Yes but it has to be consensual on both sides. That way you can't just kill a monster and take all the points for yourself."

I nodded.

"Thank you."

Ms Demeter smiled before looking around.

"If there are no more questions I'll explain how you win. Out of the 60 people remaining, the 16 people with the most points after both groups finish will advance to the official tournament. So pick your battles wisely and your allies wiser."

Ms Demeter clapped her hands as my medal began to glow. I looked at Mya's and Adjest, theirs were glowing too. I soon realized that everyone's medal was glowing.

After glowing for a second it began to shine a red color.

"What is this?"

"Alright if you have a red medal, you're in group A. If you have a blue one, you're in group B."

I looked to Mya and Adjest, they were both in group B. Iris was also in group B, and I couldn't see Jax or Lapis from here either.

"Damn."

"Muji! We're going to be separated!!"

Mya hugged me before laughing a bit.

"Be careful out there."

"You too."

Adjest and Iris looked at me with a sly look as I just motioned for them to go away.

"All members of group B, head back to the crowd seats please! Group A stay where you are, you're going to be teleported in a few minutes."

After all of group B left I looked around, I could now see Jax was indeed in my group. Taylor was here, so was Isabel, and few others of the generation.

"M-Muji."

I turned around and seen Sky, I was surprised she even made it past the first round.

"Oh hey Sky."

"C-Can we work together? This whole thing is scary..."

I nodded.

"If we find each other we can definitely work together. You sure you can keep up though?"

Sky nodded rapidly before blushing and looking down.

"Thanks Muji...I won't hold you back."

"Good then."

"Alright group A! Here we go!"

I suddenly felt a wave of heat come over me as I looked at my new surroundings. I had never been to a desert before, but from what I read in books this was probably one.

Sand stretched endlessly and I couldn't even see or sense anyone. I almost thought I was alone, but I heard Ms Demeter speak.

"Oh wow looks like you guys are in the Deadlight Desert! That's some bad luck! Well the event will last an hour so don't die from the monsters or a heat stroke! You may begin!"

I let out a sigh and removed my shirt, tossing it aside.

"Send us into a desert with, no armor, to fight monsters...sure, why not."

I was about to start moving when I sensed something heading my way, the sand began to rise as I looked and seen a large scorpion, and it seemed very eager to kill me.

I pulled out my daggers and smirked.

"Well...time to get to work."