Chapter 28

At the desert plains, a foothold of soldier like silhouettes was coming from the eastern side of the plains.

Fa Jiu hurriedly hide from a big bulge of sand. She expertly observe their stature. The Army was covered with thick heavy-looking armors, they were all geared like they're always ready for any attacks. As they were marching, the person infront that must be their leader gestured for a stop.

Looking around, they're sniffing for something, the leader then signalled someone on his right. The called soldier answered his master's command. They were like speaking on some unknown language to Fa Jiu.

'What is it?'

As they were seriously discussing, the leader then cast a glance directly at the bulging sand. Fa Jiu felt a stop on her breathing, her heartbeat quickens. The leader then nod, making the soldier that he was speaking treaded to the bulging sand, slowly.

The latter suddenly thrust out his sword, making Fa Jiu to ready her weapon.

*Thwack

A lizard was struck by his sword, leaving Fa Jiu unnoticed. Then they walk away still on their marching formation.

Fa Jiu sighed inwardly as the full armored danger went away. The big bulge suddenly shake, making the latter to move away from it, looking curiously.

"Hooo! That's a relief. I'm almost dead there!"

Huan Xiu from the Diamond's Glimmer remove the dirt and the dust from himself, he momentarily sense someone near. With his cute playful smile and bright blue eyes, he innocently look at Fa Jiu.

"Oi! Don't leave me here! You're my first one to encounter here"

Fa Jiu just ignored him, knowing that all of her opponents were tricky, like this Diamond's Glimmer student.

All the time, Fa Jiu deliberately neglect Huan Xiu's presence, leaving him to be silent while they were walking. As the latter was finding for some food to last for 5 minutes as the phase will finally change on its last chosen terrain.

Even though the first phase was only for 15 minutes but that's the problem because when you're inside the competition barrier or the illusion barrier, it will falsify the original time count which is that 15 minutes equivalent to 3 hours outside. The contenders will sought to believe that they'll just be spending a small amount of time which the truth is they were deceive by the time count and that will be the definition of illusion. Other than the goal is being able to shot as many target as you can, the other one is to survive at your utmost endurance.

Which you could call this phase as survival to the fittest.

Fa Jiu was irritated on the dog that was wagging with his tail behind her. As they were--- I mean 'her' travelling, this dog (Huan Xiu) keep on making himself endanger, in the first side; stumbling on a desert trap, disturbing some desert snakes' sleep, falling on a dug hole and etc. The latter was hesitant on helping him, deciding to leave him behind but on the other side, Huan Xiu was good on making himself the most pitiful person, guiltying Fa Jiu the most and the result is that she would always end up helping this shameful dog.

"Jiu-chan, Jiu' er, what will I call you? Nevermind. But I'm so indebted with your kindness on me, what----"

"Shhh"

Fa Jiu shushed him up, the violet haired girl pulled Huan Xiu to some barrel that were cast aside. She peek on some camping out five individuals. Fa Jiu was surprise to encounter some presence in here other than on the woodland terrain awhile ago that strange creatures only exist.

"What if we seek shelter with them?" Huan Xiu enthusiastically suggested but was just rejected by the frowning violet haired girl.

The people that were busy talking on an unfamiliar language just like the Army a moment ago, was cooking their food, looking like snake meat.

Huan Xiu then nagged Fa Jiu, directing her sight on the big wooden cage, there they found the two others of their opponent which is Cau Lin and Fu Xin. The blondie haired girl was crying in the corner while Fu Xin was silent yet his brows were arched with irritation.

"What are they doing there?"

"Ah maybe they're having a party there, you know having fun. Tsk" Fa Jiu sarcastically retorted while massaging her aching forehead.

'What to do with this idiot?'

Fa Jiu was about to leave when she was tugged by the most annoying creature.

"Let's help them!"

That's it.

"Other than being called heartless, I would be willingly called as an idiot just to help some people in trouble" The latter spoke with dignity, making the violet haired girl sigh for helplessness.

"Tsss"

They proceeded on planning how to distract these five and releasing this two silently. As they finished, they move according their roles.

Fa Jiu will be the decoy while Huan Xiu would be the one releasing Cau Lin and Fu Xin.

The violet haired girl rushed out from hiding, making the five individuals to look on her, she then used her sword thrusting it out in order to make some gust of strong wind. The once lighted coals with fire were died down. Making the five to chase her.

Meanwhile, Huan Xiu sneakily freed the two others with no difficulty.

"Let's go!" The cherry haired youth urge the two up for their escape.

"Are we not following Fa Jiu for help?" Cau Lin asked while drying her tears up.

"Heh"

"No"