The clock hand pointed precisely to 9:00 AM.
A clear system announcement echoed across the grounds of Bluestone Third Middle School: "The senior year final Martial Dao skills assessment officially begins!"
In an instant, the massive floating screen in the center of the plaza seemed to spring to life. Across its hundreds of segmented displays, the first batch of students entering the virtual world began to move in unison.
Some hurried, others composed, they all strode from the initial waiting area toward the weapon racks. They quickly selected their arms—sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, hammers, whips... Light flashed as weapons of all shapes and sizes materialized.
Immediately after, their figures swarmed toward the massive fifty-by-fifty-meter arena suspended in the void.
Their movements were all different. Some were like eagles spreading their wings, leaping onto the high platform with a sharp cry, their clothes fluttering, showcasing their extraordinary skill.
