'Are you kidding me right now?' Sach was shocked by what he was happening right in front of him.

He knew Luciano was the emperor's son and for that he should be able to command any and every noble.

What shocked him was that Luciano had taken over the team!

His case was quite different because Blake was the team leader as long as they were in the ant hive and there was no way Blake would boss him around like that.

But from what he was seeing it was as if Luciano had taken control of leadership immediately the test started.

"Yes, I did. It is most likely that the school is facing some issues at the moment. So we can't eliminate anyone or let them eliminate us." Luciano had come to the same conclusion as the system.

If they couldn't be warped back to the school, there was a high chance that even the golden barrier wouldn't appear to save them during danger. So they had to play it safe.

"So what are your plans, you have Damon to lead you guys out of this area to a safer place. So why are you still around?" Luciano asked.

Because the queen ant was about to advance, it had ordered its generals to eliminate the intruders and make sure that nothing disturbed it.

Currently, the entire forest around the hive was surrounded by a sea of ants, meaning nothing could get in or out.

Leaving the area by land was impossible and doing so by treetops was close to impossible because the ant generals were 3 times sensitive than the normal ants.

The only safe way of leaving was with a concealing artifact or using the darkness element.

"Not everybody is smart enough to conclude that something is wrong with the ants, talk more of the school. So I am here to save my friends and those that wish to come along." Blake said.

"If what you are saying is true then why do you need our help? The only reason I can see is that you want to gain our trust before eliminating us." Serhan said trying to cause a commotion.

"I don't remember permitting to speak, especially when I am talking with my friend." Luciano said in a calm but bone-chilling tone that made Serhan shut up and bow his head in apology.

"I didn't know the rank 1 of 2nd year was a moron, but I will answer your question." Blake said with a smirk.

"The 2 teams I eliminated this morning committed 'suicide' when I revealed myself without attacking. 2 of my friends were in those teams, but luckily they had been warped back to the school. Now, I wouldn't want the same thing to happen to the last 1." Blake said.

Serhan was enraged by Blake's insult and wanted to attack Blake, but he knew that if he did he would be killed by Luciano then or after the test.

On the other hand, the other members of team 1 were shocked by Blake's statement. If it was any other person that said this they wouldn't even bait him/her an eye, but it was Blake talking.

Ignoring the stunned look on their faces Blake continued. "From what I know, you have the ability and resources to get your team out of here. Does that mean we have the same goal?"

"Yes. Actually, I have been waiting for you to arrive so that we can go get Castiel before leaving here." Luciano said as he stood up from his crossed-legged position.

The members of both teams watched as Luciano and Blake talked about their personal interests, but they didn't dare utter a word after seeing his reaction to Serhan.

"Is there anyone we should look out for?" Blake asked his teammates.

He would be a douche bag if he put them in danger only to save Castiel, especially when Damon could take them out of the area.

"Nope, If there was someone I would have wanted to save it would have been Philip, but he is right here." Kade smiled he saw his best friend safe and sound.

Members of team 1 were waiting for Luciano to ask the same question, but it never came.

[Oh shit! The tribulation has begun.] The moment the system warned Blake, a blue pillar of mana erupted from below and shot into the sky.

The pillar of mana was 5 meters wide and unlike what they had expected, it hadn't destroyed things in its way. Rather it just phased through them.

'Why did the mana in the environment has returned to normal and how is the mana pillar able to phase through the ground and trees?' Blake was confused.

Being quite close to the mana pillar Blake had expected the area to be highly saturated with mana. Also, he couldn't understand how the mana pillar didn't make a hole in the ground or turn the trees to ashes.

[This is one of the mysteries of the Mother-stream which we haven't understood, but it never gets old.] The system replied.

'What will happen if one was to enter there?' Blake asked.

[You will undergo the same tribulation which the ant queen is going through, and since your body isn't strong enough or is it meant for you. You will die.] The system answered.

"We don't have much time. Once the tribulation is over and we are still here consider us dead." Luciano gave members of both teams who were awed by the mana pillar, a reminder that the pillar was an hourglass was a countdown before they died.

…

Unknown to the group, the moment the mana pillar had appeared, from all around, the sea of ants had divided into 2 groups.

One maintained their position at the borders to ward off intruders and the other group was returning to the hive's proximity just in case the guards weren't enough.

They had to make sure that nothing was to disturb their queen's evolution!