Along the beach was a dock full of moored boats. There were little fishing boats and even larger frigates. They all had the Zestiris climber seal on them.

“Unlike the endless forest,” said the instructor. “The distance between the arrival teleporter and departure teleporter is vast. This world is an oceanic floor full of islands with a variety of different species of monsters. It may be only one floor above the endless forest, but it is ten times more dangerous.”

The group of students looked around in awe. The place was so majestic and beautiful. It was hard to believe it was as dangerous a floor as their instructor was describing.

The instructor and the examiners led them to a big boat. It was already moored and had a plank set up for all the students to use to walk aboard.

The students nervously followed onto the deck of the ship.

It had been over an hour since they’d met up in front of the academy courtyard, and the exam still hadn’t yet begun.

How much further did they have to go until the exam actually started?

Once everyone was aboard the boat, a group of climber seamen unmoored the ship. They began to move further into the vast blue oceanic world until the island they started on became a mere speck in the distance.

The students huddled together in different groups based on friendships and alliances. Max and Casey stood at the back of the deck by themselves.

“Can we eat one of our protein bars yet?” she asked Max.

Max shook his head. “No. It’s not even lunchtime. Let’s hold off until we understand the exam more.”

The island they’d started on was completely out of sight now. There were a few different islands within view though.

“They must be taking us to a special island,” said Max. “If the test was going to take place in the ocean, we would’ve stopped by now.”

Casey nodded and looked over to the instructor, huddled with the examiners at the front of the boat.

They must have been discussing the exam arrangements.

The other students were trying to listen in, but they seemed to be struggling. Maybe one of the examiners had some kind of trait with a deflecting ability. Either way, the mood on the boat was growing tenser by the minute.

An island in the distance began to get closer and closer.

The instructor turned around and faced the students on the main deck of the boat.

“Listen up,” said the instructor. “We’ll be reaching the island where the exam will be held in a few minutes. Further instructions on the nature of the mid-term will be given upon landing.”

The group of students audibly groaned as the delay to the test continued.

“They’ll give us the instructions at the island,” mused Casey aloud. “What do you think, Toto?”

“Don’t you want my advice?” said Max.