CHAPTER 13: How to Scratch a Lizard?

It was chilly and cold and every drag of breath that Ashen took felt harsh enough to burn his lungs, 

Even his eyesight was badly hindered as he could barely see anything around him, 

"Ping…," echoed a sharp sound in his mind, 

"You are on Frigid Island. There are many crystal globes like this…," the voice continued as the image of a big and deeply frozen globe that would require him to carry and hold in both his hands appeared in front of him before slowly vanishing…

"Mission: You have an hour to survive with one crystal globe in hand. When in danger, smash the bracelet that has been placed on your left hand but you would be immediately disqualified and you would fail the test," the voice continued with a pause, 

"...and don't forget that Luck is a blessing and I wish you all of it,

While unreasonable bravery is one of death's favourite roads," was the last thing Ashen heard from the weird voice in his head, instantly looking down at his left hand to see the blue bracelet that he was sure wasn't there before, 

Raising his head up, he saw nothing as cold icy winds hit his face from every direction making it difficult to see anything, and going as far as go through his clothes, 

In seconds, he was shaking, scrambling to bring out and wear the only extra shirt he had brought along, already regretting the fact that he had instead stocked up on food, 

He was standing still in the middle of nowhere as even the grass underneath his feet was frozen solid when suddenly he heard the shouts of his fellow students coming from right behind him, 

"Anared...run, what the hell are you doing?"

"Are we going to leave Shella behind?"

"Oh shut up and run...you fool. She has her bracelet and she is sure to use it but if you want to join her then you can stay," shouted a loud voice right before Ashen again heard the platter of feet gradually getting closer to him, 

Finally, two students whom he didn't recognize stood warily in front of him as they slowly closed the gap between him and them, until they could clearly see each other's uniform with their respective numbers on them,

"Aaaaah…," sighed one of them with relief going as far as hit his forehead, 

"His rank is so low, he couldn't even be a threat if he wanted to…," Natal proudly said with the number 9 boldly printed on his school uniform,

"Don't say that Natal. We're all just trying to pass the test," Anared said even though he himself couldn't help but sigh in relief the moment he saw that the student in front of him wasn't a threat especially since he had a crystal globe in his bag and both him and Anared were merely looking for one more, 

"Whatever...lets go," Natal replied already walking away and pulling Anared along when he suddenly heard his friend speak to the boy who looked like he was lost and surely in the wrong place, 

"You should run too. There are monsters everywhere and it gets worse once a beam lights up in the sky and you find a crystal globe also don't let…" was all he managed to say right before Natal jerked him away, picking up his pace as he dragged him alongside him, 

With no idea of where to go, Ray stood there in a daze only jerking back to reality the moment he heard a loud growl and the sounds of what seemed like cracking ice breaking underneath a heavyweight, 

Without the need for more information about what was heading his way, Ray ran as fast as he could in the direction he saw Anared and Natal hoping to catch up with them since he knew he would be safer in the midst of other students, 

Out of breath and becoming increasingly cold because of the weather, Ray decided to take a break underneath a tree when he suddenly heard someone scream a few steps from him, 

Without thinking, Ray jumped to his feet running in the direction of where the voice came from without trying to hide his footsteps in the slightest, 

Only for him to get close and the first smell that hits him is the thick metallic smell of blood which unconsciously made him halt his footsteps without daring to go any further, 

In seconds, his face became pale as he saw Anared on the floor with one arm missing while Natal stood in front of his shaking uncontrollably and not from the weather while pointing his wand at a reptile creature with a small head and a huge ass tail as it slowly slid closer to them, 

"Ascendo-incerio," yelled Natal with everything he had, watching again as the fire sprouted out with almost all the mana he had as it furiously shot towards the reptile in front of him only to watch as it gradually began to die due to the cold wind in the air without it getting anywhere close to the target, 

"You should run…," Anared managed to say as blood dripped down from the corners of his mouth, 

"I will break the bracelet once you're gone…We can't defeat it," Ray heard Anared say from where he stood as he weakly stared at the beast Natal was trying to defeat whom he was sure, he wouldn't even be able to put a single scratch on,