25 25: Survival

The next morning the sun rose from the east, and the area was in silence.

Mark woke up with a face replenished with satisfaction. He stretched wholeheartedly and when he came to he was greeted by the grumpy Sage who stood next to the window all night long due to lack of sleep.

Shocked by Sage's panda eyes mark screamed assuming he was a monster.

" Ahhh! What's wrong with you don't stand there like that, you almost gave me a heart attack!!? And what's up with those dark circles under your eyes?"

Sage didn't have the motive nor the energy to respond to Mark's questions. He was too tired that just standing was engulfing most of his enthusiasm. After a few minutes, he replied.

"it's nothing Mark, could you go wake up the kids in the other room tell them it's time for training."

Suddenly Sage became full of energy once again. He was excited in regards to training the children.

Meanwhile, Mark went into the children's quarters where they resided. Four children laid on their bed while one of them gazed out the window, with a much similar expression to Sage.

Mark was hesitant to talk to the boy, so he started by waking up the twins.

"Ruby! Emerald! it's time to get up!"

The twins woke up with a confused expression followed by a yawn.

"Good morning Mom." Said emerald as his eyes were still blurry. Soon after he opened his eyes clearly and soon came to realise that he had made a mistake.

Shocked with embarrassment and grief, he woke up his sister Ruby, Shaking her as rigorously as he could getting her to wake up.

"Emerald, what's wrong? Why is your face red?

Ruby not comprehending the situation turns towards Mark who's expression was that of a bewildered person. She pondered about it for a split second but forgot about it as she could not understand.

"Okay, you guys get ready it's almost time for training. I'm going to wake up the others."

Successfully dodging the awkwardness of the situation, Mark was able to move on. He walked towards Kian and Skie who messily slept on their beds.

"O!, you two wake up it's time for training."

Mark's attempt to wake them up was futile. They were too deep in their dream world. And so, Mark came up with another strategy.

"If you don't wake up no breakfast for both of you."

With an ominous voice, Mark whispered into their ears, their faces became pale immediately, causing them to wake up simultaneously.

" We're up!!"

"Oh! so you two can get up faster than I thought. Get dressed for training."

The two of them clothed themselves as quickly as possible, so fast that they could be crowed the fastest people in the world to get dressed.

And so everyone was up and ready for training. The children all left the room, including Kite and marched towards Sage's room. When they got there, they opened the door, and a harsh gust of wind engulfed them and soon after they disappeared.

(*swish*)

-Sage's subspace-

-Jungle-

They teleported into Sage's subspace which was in the form of a jungle. The jungle was dense and covered with vines and moss. It was a rainforest similar to the one Sage encountered. Although this one was just the fabrication of Sage's imagination, it was very realistic.

"Where are we this time!? Is this another mission!? Sage where are you!?"

Mark screamed out with a panicked tone, desperately trying to locate Sage while he guarded the children. But that was unnecessary as Sage was already behind them.

"Why are you yelling? can't you see I'm right here?"

They immediately converted to face Sage as he spoke, with a great sense of relief Mark sighs, releasing all his Anxiety.

"Alright everyone, welcome to the jungle. Today your training starts, you will all be staying here for 10years, which is equivalent to 10 days out in the real world. The years could even be more depending on how you all perform and grow."

The children were confused, but they still listened for they know that surviving was the best thing to do for the time being and for them to achieve this, they must become powerful.

"Okay! so I'll be dividing you all up, everyone will be in their designated area for training, you will all need to level up so get moving!!"

"But how are we going to do that!? Where are we!? what's going on!?" Kain asked with a scared expression plastered on his face.

"How are we supposed to survive in a place like this?"

"Well, how are you supposed to survive in the real world if you are unable to survive here on your own? you will need to grow stronger if you don't want to die."

The minute Sage responded to Kain's question. The atmosphere became tense. The children came to realise that this was the reality they live in from now on.

"Now everyone, move out to your positions!"

Every child dispersed to their stations utilising teleportation. Ruby by a swamp, Emerald at the river, Skie on a cliff, Kain overlooks a gorge. While the last child, Kite waited at the entrance of a dormant volcanic mountain. All of them trying to anticipate what was going to happen next.

"Now then let the game begin!!"

'I can't believe I said the phrase. The tone is engaging and exciting, no wonder you like that phrasing Logia. Oh, wait I forgot he's asleep. Anyway, let's get back to training.

"Everyone listen up!! This jungle is overflowing with wild beast beyond your or my level. Your mission is to survive in your area for a year, no help will be coming to aid you, and communicating with each other is prohibited."

Sage explained their mission thoroughly for this was essential for them to fend for themselves. Sage will be monitoring them but in secret to ensure they do not perish. And so the mission began, each one of them facing their quests. This test will be their first battle of survival.

<End of Chapter>