On the field in front of them, there were several types of handles on the floor. It looked like they had gathered a bunch of weapons and left nothing behind but the hilt. Then on the other side, was a square box that allowed for a fully sized adult to fit inside."This test will test out your reflex skills." Biden then walked over to the strange-looking hilt like handles on the floor. He picked one up and tapped it on its side. Out came a beaming light of energy, almost like a hologram in the shape of a sword.
"This, is a digital sword."
As the contestants saw this, each of them started to get excited.
"Finally, it looks like we"re going to do something actually related to the game."
They had grown sick and tired of these mental tests, or stamina test, and it looked like they were finally going to do something that imitated the game.
Biden then went on to the ground and picked up a different hilt. This time when pressing the b.u.t.ton on the side, the beam of light came out once again, only it looked like a spear.
"We have a wide range of digital weapons here," Biden said. "You may choose whichever one you wish. This test will consist of two contestants. One will stand in the white box area. While the other will hold one of the digital weapons in their hand. The attacker is allowed to strike once and must try to hit the user in the box with the weapon, the person in the box must do everything they can to avoid the strike. The user in the box is unable to leave the box, if they do they lose that round. If they avoid the strike, then the person in the box wins the round. Don"t worry, the digital swords do no harm when they touch your body."
Biden then demonstrated this by stabbing himself with the digital spear he had just activated. It went right through his body and started to distort a little.
"The watches will make a sound if the user is. .h.i.t, once one round has been completed then the two will swap. The two will continue to swap until a winner is found."
"Wait, if we"re going against each other, doesn"t this mean that half the people here will be eliminated?" A student asked.
"That is correct," Biden replied. Just then a TV screen was pulled out to the side by one of the staff members.
On it a large 0 was currently displayed, Biden tapped the screen, and a bunch of random numbers started to appear. Until it finally stopped and the number 23 was shown.
"Huh who"s that, I don"t know, it"s not my number?"
"Hey, Novis it"s you," Dan said.
"Oh yeah." Novis then walked up to the front and turned around to look at his friends behind him.
"I hope I don"t get paired up with any of my friends, I want to get through this with them together" Novis thought.
The numbers on the screen started to randomize once again, and finally, it stopped at number 6. Out came a fairly large man who had the body of a bodybuilder. But even with all those muscles, he had managed to past the stamina test, so the others knew they weren"t just for show.
As the crowd looked at the two students, they felt like they already knew who the winner was going to be.
Novis was the first to step into the white box, and it was only when he was inside, he released how small the area was. The large student had selected his weapon and chose a digital axe something he was familiar with in the game.
"Begin!"
The axe was activated, and the student was slowly circling around the box.
"Who even is this person, I"ve never even seen him at any of the tournaments?" The large student thought. Then after circling around Novis long enough. He struck, Novis ducked down avoiding the axe strike but was thrown off balance.
At the last second to stop his body from hitting the ground, he placed his hand on the floor, which was just outside the white box.
"Point contestant number 6."
The two of them then swapped positions as the large man entered the white box.
Novis looked at the list of handles and was deciding which one to pick.
"Hey, do you have a digital chain blade?" Novis asked.
"Chain blade?" Biden said, "Please use one of the weapons provided."
"I guess not then, I"m just going to have to use something else." He looked at the weapons and picked up the spear with the longest reach.
"You miss this, and you lose." The large student said.
"This is bad." Lucas said, "Because Novis is attacking second, now all the pressure is on him. If he misses, then he"s done for."
"How is this fair then." Said Dan, "Why didn"t they let Novis go first or make it a best out of three."
"Well, you could say it"s all part of t.i.tan"s strategy to see how people react under extreme pressure. Besides if Novis had avoided the first strike, then his opponent would be feeling the very same pressure he is feeling now. But I wouldn"t worry too much, right now probably everyone here is underestimating Novis right now.
Novis readied his blade and stood the 3 meters distance required away from the opponent.
"Begin!"
As soon as Novis heard those words, he dashed forward and thrust the spear. Unlike his opponent, who chose to wait to attack. It was a good strategy as it would wear the other opponent down, thinking when or where the attack would come from.
But Novis chose to use the element of surprise. He dashed in too fast at the exact moment the words were spoken and moved the spear all in one motion.
The large student didn"t even see the blade enter, and all he could hear was the sound of his watch.
*Beep
"Contestant 23 Point."
The students watching from the side lines were slightly confused.
"Did you see blade touch him?"
"No I just saw him run forward with the spear, and then it was in his hands."
The two of them then switched positions once again. This time Novis was ready. As his opponent looked into his eyes, he didn"t feel like saying any taunts this time, he knew he needed to give everything in his next strike.
"Begin."
The man started to circle around him once again. He moved his axe ever so slightly using a feint, But Novis didn"t move an inch and kept his eyes on his opponent.
"Why am I feeling so scared just looking at this guy, he"s a n.o.body" The large student thought.
He continued to feint but not a single time did Novis fall for it. All that was left to do was swing. It came out fast and across his body right in the centre.
Once again, Novis would have to duck incredibly low to avoid the strike and lose his balance.
"I"ve won." The large student said.
Novis then bent his knees and crouched down, but it wasn"t low enough to avoid the strike. Then like a rocket, he used the strength in his legs to jump up into the air, over the digital axe.
"Point Number 23."
"Wow, that guy must have amazing leg power."
"Did you see how high he jumped?"
The two of them swapped again, and now all the pressure was on the large student. He could feel his heart beating and the sweat running down his face.
"Calm down, he"s just going to try to do the same as last time, if I know what he"s going to do then I can avoid it."
Novis picked up one of the digital weapons and was ready.
"Begin!"
As soon as he heard those words, the large student instantly moved to the side to avoid the spear strike that was coming. But when he looked at Novis, there was no spear in his hand, this time it was a sword.
"Why would you change weapons!" The student shouted in anger.
The sword then slashed across the man"s body diagonally, and the sound of his watch went off once again.
"Winner Contestant number 23."
Novis then returned to his group of friends who all welcomed him back.
"You did great Novis," Dan said, "I can"t lie. I was a little worried about you back there."
"I knew I was always going to win," Novis said, laughing nervously. "Anyway, now it"s your twos turn, don"t lose okay."
The numbers on the screen started to flicker once more until it stopped at 56.
"Hey Lucas that"s you, go get them!" Novis shouted as Lucas walked up to the front.
"I wonder who my opponent is going to be?" Lucas thought as he looked at the crowd of people.
The TV screen was played once more, and the opponent was revealed, number 83.
"Wait isn"t that, Dan"s number?"