Prologue- Cap, move to the right! Nick's ringing cry echoed through the intercom.Mark twitched in surprise, wincing at the flashing ringing in his ears, but clenching his teeth, obediently followed the advice.“Watch the tunnel panels on the right. You will see gray with a blue tint, beat! - the youngest member of the team continued in the same boyish voice. - I know what I am saying! Chicker drove here last month, complained about how he got into it! ...Well, everything. The talkativeness of the whispering boy has always been on top. And now, on emotions, Nick just went into a rage, excitedly telling the team all the details of his bosom friend.But Mark was not at all up to talking. A blue tide against the monotonous gray background of the tunnel flashed almost immediately after the warning, and the team captain barely managed to hit the right panel at top speed with his fist.- Forward! Forward! Nick added in a cry, abruptly cutting off his emotional opus. - Do not be scared! Mo

. An unpleasant surprise at the start.- Well, how are you feeling?The first of his people, whom Mark saw in the foyer of a glass skyscraper, was Nick.The blond shone like a neon lamp.“Which of us is already here?” - instead of a greeting, Mark asked, holding out his fist for a ritual greeting.Nick touched his fist with his and smiled with all his thirty-two snow-white teeth.You are the fifth.- Frets. I'll go and check it out.Mark walked to the terminal, which, in his opinion, the queue was smaller. Despite the early morning, before the competition crowded in the lobby immeasurably.For the qualifying round, the organizers rented the entire huge high-rise building. And Mark and his friends were lucky to get the whole team into the third wave.Over the past two weeks, we managed to collect a maximum of information about the first round.The organizers of the competition did not bother and took the old virtual game Arkoland as a basis.And the condition of the first round was: to

The beginning of the game is not happy.Yes. To fall abruptly into another place, and even into a humming crowd, is still a pleasure. Mark grimaced as someone nearby screamed piercingly, calling for Dick.On the square of a small town, in the style of German old towns, there were already players - a dime a dozen. But most of all, it was surprising that the bulk, especially the girls, were dressed up in such a way that they seemed to have already been at the ball.Noise, uproar, laughter, careless fun... It all looked strange. Especially when you consider that the competition was very serious.Looking around, Mark resolutely pushed his way to the nearest building and stood under the protection of its walls. So at least the back will be covered. Immediately activated the help.You are in the city of Chartjem on the southern border of Arkoland. A hundred and forty leagues to the capital. Helpfully provided help.Mark figured out how much it would be in terms of standard measurement, and

All the way or a strange quest.- Isn't it too cool to climb impassable mountains? Ehan asked Tarka dubiously as they followed the boy Puchkens had sent to escort the nobles to Virker along the cobbled alley.“We’ll find out from Virker,” Tark remarked gloomily. - Now I understand why so many people are eliminated from the first round. A crowd of rods.“I think there are a lot of people looking for workarounds, like us,” Ehan said thoughtfully.- I hope we will be the first at Virker, - Tark agreed with his friend worriedly and looked back angrily.That is why, of all the friends in Chartier, it was Nick who brought it? Now protect your empty-headed sister from this preoccupied dog.These two, or rather, three, if you count the dog, felt great. It was as if they were on a pleasure trip, and not in a serious competition, success in which could qualitatively affect their future life.The alley where the boy led them was quiet and deserted. And the owner himself came out to knock.The bo

Well ... and now with God!As they stepped out into the open, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.Just past the bridge, Virker turned left onto a barely visible path.- It's calmer, - he muttered, as soon as the path dived into the first bushes.The cheerful hubbub behind was getting quieter. The forest reliably hid a small team from prying eyes. The birds chirped merrily overhead.- I hope there will be no trap, - Tark remarked quietly, without losing his vigilance.But the dense vegetation, as well as hiding them well, did not allow them to look around themselves. All that remained was to rely on his guide.The detachment walked in silence, trying not to break the silence with unnecessary talk.Fortunately, but Virker's calculation turned out to be correct. There were no more people who wanted to meddle in the forest.The path climbed stubbornly up the slowly rising surface. The forest gradually thinned the higher they climbed the mountains.Only the quiet hubbub of the forest reign