Berserk Array

Agonizing screams resounded throughout the jungle biome. The limbs and extremities of innocent kids were cut into pieces as children hunted each other. 

Some temporarily decided to group up and beat more skilled enemies, but eventually, that team would shatter right after their mutual enemy is defeated. Both sides wouldn't hesitate to betray and kill each other after their agreement is fulfilled.

This place looked more like a hellscape. Some of the novel writers might even get inspired by such chaotic yet beautiful environment.

As long as kids weren't at the doorsteps of death, the array will let them be cut into pieces by their fellow cadets. 

The battlefield raged on as kids were eliminated one after another. 

Eventually, only 30 cadets were left to battle to the death.

It slowly transitioned into stealth assassinations as ganging up on stronger opponents became common. Now, weaklings had no other choice but to adapt to the current situation since acting cocky meant instant elimination.

Andrew hid on one of the most common trees and waited there without making any sounds. Quite a few cadets passed by but he decided against attacking, he just waited. 

He knew how random and deadly the situation gets on the battlefield. Even if he defeats the majority of people at cost of his stamina there will be still some fries left in the bushes ready to attack. Even ants can bite back, so he was rather cautious since everyone participating in battle royale was mortal. 

3 cadets were in close proximity to his tree, he patiently waited as he observed their every movement, no matter how small, it didn't matter if he could use even the smallest mishap for a killing blow.

Those cadets were cautious to the extreme. During the past months, the instincts of the kids were honed to the extreme. Unlike humans, who had lost their ability to direct their ears to the location of sounds, Arians haven't lost this ability but evolved it since even mortals possessed an extreme sense of sound.

Andrew held his breath when kids stepped on the ground which generated sounds that in turn masked his breathing. 

Whooosh!

The sound of a sharp object slicing through the air resounded as one of the kids was eliminated!

An arrow stood there, diagonally piercing the ground. It was made out of simple sticks, leaves and crystals.

The 2 remaining cadets separated as they jumped towards the nearest trees. 

No arrows followed after but the kids were on maximum alert!

It has been only 3 hours but someone already managed to craft a bow and arrows! 

This was extremely astonishing to say the least.

Andrew observed everything happening from a tree branch. He had a sharp crystal tied to a sturdy stick as he waited for the right opportunity. 

For over 10 minutes everyone stood petrified like statues. The remaining 2 cadets checked out the other direction in fear that the archer might have gone around them and is already aiming at their heads.

Once again, the sound of air being pierced resounded right below Andrew. The cadet reacted in time and just had to sidestep for his body to become entirely hidden by a tree. 

A couple more arrows followed soon after as the archer kept firing the arrows when cadets' bodies could be visible.

At this point, more than 10 arrows have been fired, yet due to the extreme caution of 2 kids, the archer failed again and again.

Those kids weren't newbies since they managed to survive in this chaotic mess. They carefully threaded their path throughout the whole battle royale. 

Their third companion was eliminated because they failed to predict that someone would have already crafted a bow and arrows.

It was just them failing to calculate one of the many outcomes amid the deadly battlefield.

It has been already an hour from the time they approached the vicinity of Andrew's tree. The cadets were extremely patient as they waited for an opportunity to strike once their opponent slips up.

Andrew didn't attack because he would be in the same situation as those kids. Even if he manages to eliminate them, there will still be an archer waiting in the nearby bushes.

Suddenly a scream of surprise and horror resounded from the direction of the archer. The archer was ambushed! That's what Andrew instantly deduced. 

Signs of struggle spread from one of the bushes as it kept shaking. Soon enough the commotion in the bushes stopped.

A boy with chestnut hair and a wide smile came out holding a long bloodied crystal in his hands. His robes were crimson as blood added beautiful yet not so peaceful patterns all over his sleeves.

With his ever-present crazed smile, Noah darted towards the 2 cadets.

They weren't intimidated by his bloodied and imposing figure as they quickly took defensive stances and readied their spears.

Noah just kept smiling as he took out another long crystal. 

With crystals in both of his hands, he jumped on the two cadets. They swiftly reacted by raising and thrusting their spears towards his figure.

He had so many openings where they could thrust their spears if he comes a bit closer, but something didn't feel right about it...

Suddenly, Noah landed and ducked under them with insane speed. He cut their ankles as they could no longer stand on their two legs since their tendons were sliced apart. 

His speed and timing were perfect!

They couldn't react in time even with the insane instincts and skills they came to possess during the past month.

But they didn't give up. One of the cadets threw his spear at Noah's thigh. Noah still hadn't turned around to see his opponents...

A grave mistake!

The crystal tied to a stick pierced his thigh. He fell after losing his balance.

The other kid seeing that, decided to throw his spear too, although the hellish pain in his ankles didn't let him concentrate.

He threw his spear which he originally aimed for the head, but missed the target and the spear pierced Noah's right chest.

Seeing such a golden opportunity, Andrew jumped down as he threw his spear at Noah's head!

Noah was eleminated!

His hand went for a pocket in his robes as he swiftly took out a crystal and sliced the throats of the remaining cadets. Of course, the barrier deflected the blade but they were instantly eliminated.

Finally! 2 hours of petrified waiting paid off!

He picked up spears and crystals left by eliminated kids as he headed south to the center. 

Meanwhile, cadets were slowly heading towards the center as if being influenced by a mysterious will. They were precisely being influenced by Instructor Arashi! 

Air rippled around him as his eyes were empty as if he wasn't alive. His hair floated around. His expression was pale, he looked extremely tired. 

Beside him was a man draped in pristine white robes. His expression was equally pale and severe. 

"How the fuck array got out of control?!" He shouted as sweat flowed down his aged face. 

"I-I don't know, Array Master Sarkah, the array is going berserk!" Instructor Arashi said as blood faintly started leaking out of his empty eyes. 

The whole Noris Town was on alert as thousands of soldiers gathered at Oswool Boot Camp. 

If one looked at the airspace above the boot camp one would see hundreds of mages floating above Oswool Boot Camp!

They wielded different magical artifacts as they strenuously eyed the Oswool Boot Camp.

"Are all the kids at the center?" asked Sarkah as his entire body trembled from the extreme amount of information this array was pouring into him while he was doing his best to regain control over it.

"Yes, once all of them get there, I'll Warp them away!" said Instructor Arashi as he took a pellet and crushed it in his hands. Instantly, he was physically boosted as his eyes regained some color.

Although, he could Warp multiple cadets at once, he couldn't due to his slipping control of the array. 

'The array was edited! How is that possible?!' Array Master Sarkah was shocked as specific information poured by the berserk array greatly shocked him. It was considered impossible to edit energy inputs aka functions and abilities of the array when it was already set! The magical society of Azraa Continent hasn't advanced to that point yet. 

Trying to edit the array's functions and abilities are considered forbidden. Since the world's mana had already accepted the previous inputs of energy. Unless, those inputs of energy get completely wiped out it's impossible to edit an already established array. The mana will go haywire and explosions of extreme severity might occur depending on the tier of arrays. The already existing abilities and functions of the array will clash with newly added or edited energy inputs of that array.

Sarkah has never encountered such problem in his whole life as a high-level tier 1 Array Master. The tier of the array that have gone out of control is low-level tier 2. Even if both Instructor Arashi and Sarkah put themselves to their limits it would be just delaying the inevitable. After all, it's a low-level tier 2 array! It is suicide and nothing else if an Array Master of a lower level or tier tries to control the array without its key.

Suddenly, Array Master Sarkah coughed blood as he fell unconscious...

With a horrified expression, Instructor Arashi soon followed after as the array has gone totally out of control.