They're not dead

In a large hall, filled with students desperately dodging several golden balls of energy being shot at them at high speed and a mob of angry parents questioning and cursing the higher ups overseeing the test, there where five people in a dark secluded room, discussing a serious matter.

The Five Pillars of Earth which included, Reiss Solar, Natasha Emprie, Cyndy Glace, Nicholas Viper and Lucy Emona were chatting about the performance of the students in the hall when Lucy —the head of the Emona Family— said something that shocked them.

According to what they understood about the Emona family, they awakened abilities related to transforming into beasts, and when a person awakens the ability, depending on the strength of the beast type, they will know how fast they can improve their skills and evolve to the next stage.

Just like beasts, they evolved, in that case, the stage of the beast determined how strong they where and seeing that Lucy had evolved to the Lord tier, they were surprised when she said she felt inferior.

A boy who didn't have an ability yet, and could make one of the Five Pillars felt inferior certainly was strange.

They kept watching as the eight youths —including Ryan— performed well. They were closing in on the platform that was just about fifty meters ahead of them, everyone was dodging to the best of their ability and seeing that they were about to reach their destination, Shian heard Ryan curse under his breath.

"SHIAN, BRACE YOURSELF!!!" Ryan's voice boomed over the whole hall.

Those who heard were confused and wary, they were confused because they didn't notice any danger around them and they were wary because they didn't know what to expect.

Although no one could know what was going to happen, Ryan could see an insane amount of energy building up in the robed man before them.

And just as Ryan's voice sounded, a storm suddenly kicked up.

"A wind ability user!!" Someone commented.

"Arhhh!!" Someone's scream snapped everyone back to reality as they all turned to see a student being devoured swiftly by a golden ball of energy.

"This shit just got real!!" Shian murmured silently to himself as he dodged another golden ball.

Everything was hard before, but it just became harder with the intervention of the robed man.

They didn't have time to complain but just upped their game. Shian who was simply taking one step previously to dodge the balls was now actively jumping and performing several feats that seemed inhuman, Niko who they thought had super human strength could not be compared to Shian anymore.

The scions where still managing to avoid the balls until Cyril was eventually hit and devoured instantly.

The remaining scions didn't even bat an eye when this happened. Lisa who was previously frustrated by the weak attacks was now pumped up and smiling brightly.

In the room where the Five Pillars watched what was happening, Nicholas who the others thought would have a bad expression on his face when his son disappeared still had the same annoying smile which made them look at him weirdly.

"What?!... Do you expect me to be sad that he lost this round, you know our family's strength lies in our ability not our physical strength.

"You should at least show some remorse that you were the first to loose this round...or have you forgotten about our little bet." Lucy stated.

Immediately after she spoke about a 'bet', Nicholas' body began to emit a green mist that swirled around him and his hands began to shake violently. Reiss solar who was the closest to him began to feel nauseous, he immediately conjured several balls of spinning white energy that purified the air around him and dispersed the mist.

The rest were not spared from his sickening aura, but just as immediately as it appeared it disappeared.

Nicholas chuckled lightly and said. "This was not part of the bet."

"It was actually....you could have known if you were paying attention when we spoke of it." Reiss deep voice resounded.

"I thought you were on my side?" Nicholas said turning to look at Reiss.

"I'm not on anyone's side." Reiss simply said and turned away, signaling that he was done with the conversation.

Nicholas gritted his teeth and looked away angrily.

––––––––

Back in the hall, shian was dodging the golden balls of energy easily, there had been some instances where he had to pull Ryan to prevent a ball of energy from hitting him. Ryan Could have appreciated the kindness but no one had the time to talk because all their attention was on dodging—except Shian and Lisa that is, who seemed to be having the time of their lives—.

Slowly Shian, Ryan, the black haired boy and the four remaining scions got to the wind ability user, immediately some of them collapsed on the ground while panting heavily.

At this point, more than half of the students were nowhere to be found.

"I can't believe this....don't they need us!!?" Vanessa shouted expressing herself.

"They are not dead." Ryan replied.

"What?" Everyone chorused, except Shian and the black haired youth.

"I said, they are not dead." Ryan said once again.

"How do you now that?" Vanessa asked.

"That's a secret."

Just as their conversation ended, a black boy landed in their front of them on all fours, he stood up and began to beat his chest like an ape while making sounds akin to war cries.

Everyone watched him with a bit of annoyance due to the loud noises he was making, although he wasn't the only one causing a ruckus, they all could hear the parents of the students that where hit shouting and screaming loudly, most of them where even attacking the barrier separating them from the hall to try and get in.

After a while, the last students still struggling were eventually gone too and the loud booming voice resounded in the hall again.

"Those of you on the platform, Please proceed to pick up the Red watches on the table before you."

"What table?" Seth asked. And as if reacting to his question, a table made of a black sturdy wood appeared, slightly frightening them.

On the table were eight red wristwatches. They each picked up a watch and attached it to their arms.

Then without warning people began to appear around them, stunning them and making them enter battle mode, but on second thought, they saw that the peple appearing where falling on the ground as if they weren't prepared for it.

"Ohh!! Thank the gods. I thought I was dead." One of them murmured.

It was at this moment that they realised, that the people appearing where the students that where hit by the golden ball of energy earlier.

"So they really are not dead."