Six hours had passed since the trial began, and Ikku continued to maintain a steady pace.


    Around him, several candidates struggled to stay afloat, while others had already succumbed to exhaustion, their bodies drifting on the water''s surface. The scene was merciless, and every meter he advanced served as a grim reminder of how relentless this trial truly was.


    Yumé and Kenny... they’re truly incredible, Ikku thought. Not even a hint of exhaustion. They really are special. Kenny was right.


    For a brief moment, Ikku’s mind wandered to his past. He realized that without his encounter with Jack, he would never have been able to endure this long. If I hadn’t met Jack… I wouldn’t even be capable of a tenth of what I’m doing now, he reminded himself, steeling his resolve.


    “Yeah, I heard it too.”


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    “We need to stay calm. If D?ma made it through, we can too.”


    “He’s right. Even though there are a lot of them, they’re spread out enough. If we keep some distance between each other and swim carefully, we can avoid them.”


    “Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


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    Just a little further… almost there, Ikku thought, pushing himself forward. Finally, they emerged from the cluster of jellyfish, a wave of relief washing over him.


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    “Red stripes?!” Kenny’s thoughts raced, his expression shifting to alarm.


    “


    “