Red: This, is going to get a lot more interesting.

--- Chapter 85 ---

Everyone heads down the stairs, and those who showed up after follow. Luckily all of Elune finished the first stage. The staircase opens up at the bottom of a cliffside.

Proctor: Congrats on reaching the second stage! The next exam will begin shortly. Each team will line up and draw one of three cards. The card you draw will be the challenge you get. You have 30 minutes to complete this or you fail.

Everyone lines up.

Red: Do you want to pick or should I?

Hiro: You can pick if you want.

Red: Cool cool. Are you sure?

Hiro: Yeah, it’s cool.

Red: Your not convincing me here.

Hiro: Just draw the damn card!

Red: Fine.

He picks the card in the middle. It depicts a sword with the text “Bravery”. Luna’s group picks a card saying “Wisdom”. Leo and his partner pick the remaining card. The cards get reset, and people keep picking. Everyone is brought into three lines depending on the card pulled, and the lines lead to entrances into the mountainside. Red and Hiro walk into the bravery, Luna the Wisdom, and Leo the intelligence. Within the room of bravery, there are four large statues. On the base of the statue is the number ten, and a button below it. The numbers start to count down. 10, 9, 8. They look at each other frantically and run over to the statues. They press the button and the counter resets to 10. Within the wisdom room, a woman is sitting behind a table. The table is full of miscellaneous tools and materials. Within the room of intelligence, it is a very long hallway, with the walls holding many doors.

--- Bravery ---

10 minutes pass and they are constantly pressing the buttons, running back and forth. They begin to lose stamina.

Red: I- I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up. We- still have twenty minutes!

Hiro: Just- keep going!

3 more minutes pass.

Hiro: I- I cant! We must be missing something!

Red: But- what.

They keep pressing the buttons and think. Suddenly Hiro’s head pipes up.

Hiro: It’s a test of bravery!

Red: Yeah, and?

Hiro: If it’s bravery, then we need to willingly let the counters drop to zero!

Red: Are you sure?

Hiro: Positive.

Red: Then- I’ll trust you.

Red and Hiro walk to the center of the room. 3. 2. 1. 0. They flinch when the timer hits zero. But the doors open to the next chamber. They both sigh in relief.

--- Wisdom ---

The woman gestures to the things on the table.

Woman: To pass, you need to create something that will not last. Something so fragile, that a whisper can destroy it.

Togi: Uh, this isn’t my strong suit, so it’s up to you Luna.

Luna: Right.

Luna: So let’s see, we have a hammer, screwdriver, iron ore, paper, water, a pin, wood, marbles, cards, and a pepper-

Woman: Congrats you passed!

Luna: Huh?

Woman: You created silence.

Luna: Oh, yeah I totally meant to do that ahaha.

Togi: Wow that was incredible Luna! You’re like SO smart!

Luna: Thanks haha.

Woman: Alright, head right into the next chamber.

--- Intelligence ---

Leo and his partner begin walking down this hall, and try to open each door on the way, none of them unlocked. Leo keeps checking behind them. They walk for what seems like a mile.

Partner: Whyyyy, this hallway is endless!

Leo: Indeed it is.

Partner: Wait for real?

Leo: Yup, I figured it out.

Partner: Really?! How?

Leo: Yup, look behind us.

He looks back and see’s the door they entered in.

Partner: So? That’s the way we came from.

Leo: Exactly, but we have been walking for a while, so why is it only maybe 30 feet away.

Partner: So this is an illusion?

Leo: You catch on quick.

Partner: I don’t know if you’re mocking me or praising me.

They walk out the door they seemingly entered in.

--- Everyone ---

As they enter the 2nd chamber, it opens up to a large dome room with beds, food, and other commodities. As they walk in the proctor looks at them.

Proctor: Congrats! You will be staying here until your next challenge.