We’re better equipped, she reminded herself for the fifth time. Those other kids were wearing T-shirts of all things. Meanwhile, her group had rods, vests, helmets, and . . . Akari glanced at the strange metal base that hung from a hook on Darren’s backpack. Maelyn carried a second one behind her.


    What a rip-off, Akari thought. “So you don’t have a Cloak technique either?”


    Strange. And the Grandmaster seemed to regard that knowledge as fundamental. Then again, Akari had never heard of Cloaks until she saw the video. At least, not by name.


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    Damnit. Her own Missiles were still too weak.


    Talek. It was creepy to see animals doing mana arts.


    Damnit. She’d forgotten there were four. She raised her rod, but the creature was quicker. Green flashed at the edge of her vision. The impact struck her helmet, knocking her back against the stone floor.


    No, she reminded herself. It’s toxic. Like, melt-your-skin-off toxic.


    Clever. Akari wanted to kick herself for not thinking of it first.


    That wasn’t so bad. Akari wanted to say the words aloud, but she’d seen enough movies to know how stupid that would be.