++++++++++

The mana in my legs ignite as if it was fuel being set on fire and I burst forth with speed. I followed Aurum closely, though I'm surprised, he's really fast. He did tell me he uses some sort of dust power of some sort. never heard of it but I have the feeling that it's special.

When he reached the area he pointed to, there's a sudden cracking sound and he disappeared. I followed closely without hesitating and then a bright flash enveloped me and I was thrown right into a completely different world. A voice resounded within my head once again, the voice that doesn't speak much but the one many people recognize.

You've entered a temporary world. The objective: hunt the emerald grass serpent.

I laid on the ground slightly dazed from the flash and then I noticed a hand reaching out to me. Aurum had already got up and was giving me a helping hand. I grabbed it and he pulled me up. I patted the dirt away and looked around. It looked like we're in a jungle-like environment. The was cries of animal that can be heard and it was hot. Then Aurum turned to me and started talking.

"Wow, this is realistic, how long do you think they took to build this environment?"

"Hours, definitely." I looked around once again. The objective of this world is finding the emerald grass snake since this is a jungle biome. We can expect difficulty.

"How long did you wait for me on this side?" I asked him. The examiner mentioned that time flow differently from the outside world.

"I waited for about ten seconds before you came tumbling through."

"So that means time flows slower outside by 10 seconds to one. By the way, do you know what an emerald grass serpent looks like?" 

Aurum just shrugged.

"Great, how are we going to find the snake then?"

"Yout forgot that I can use my power?"

"You're going to what, spread a cloud of dust and feel something moving in them and that way you'll know?"

"I can do that, or I create another me."

I looked at him questioning what he meant. Then suddenly a black mist started seeping out of him. I took a stance, ready for whatever is to come. I followed him a bit but I don't completely trust people, mostly people I just met. Then the mist slowly started taking shape and then another Aurum was standing right next to the other Aurum. I just looked at both with confusion. Then the new Aurum spoke.

"Surprised?"

"You never mentioned about being able to do that."

"Yeah, my dust can do a lot of stuff, but it can't make an actual copy of anything like gold. It can copy the shininess and hardness, but not become gold itself. Heck if look at my bodies closely you can see it's not actual flesh."

"Alright, but that black mist didn't look like 'dust'"

"My dust can take different forms like water. Liquid, gas and solid."

"And human flesh?"

"Well, it's just a combination of liquid and solid form mashed together to create something that looks like flesh."

"How many can you make?"

"A lot."

He said it with a smile and then more mist started to seep out of him and next thing you know there are dozens of them. They all started traveling different directions at the moment they're created and while more were coming out, a single one came to me.

"So I guess we wait it out until my clones find something close to a snake?"

"Well, it depends. The word 'serpent' is often mistakenly used for other species like lizards and dragons even."

"So I guess I'll keep on searching and bringing back something that looks green and long. So what do we do while we're waiting?"

"Other people can enter this world so I advise that you try to avoid contact with people, we want to hide our cards. Unless if the blonde guy comes."

"I don't think anyone will. People will normally see these worlds as an obstacle, not as a slingshot."

Then there was a loud boom and I swirled at the direction of the sound. A giant serpent seems to rise from the ground and up to the sky. It rose extremely high, almost three times taller than the trees that I was standing next to. I can see bodies being thrown up and one of them crashed right into the tree next to me, with an arm missing. The part that is supposed to be exposed was black and seemed to be covered in star-like light and the 'blood' that was flowing at was replaced with mist that billowed out of it looked exactly the mist that dry ice would produce but black. The one I was just talking to ran towards the serpent. Then the one that was missing an arm started talking.

"It looks like we found our serpent. A big one even, almost completely buried, it's scale look exactly like grass but it's hard and sharp."

He stood up and stretched a bit. The mist that flowed out started swirling and solidifying around the area where his arm was missing and then his arm was back as if it there all along, even his cloth seem to be made out of it. I just look at the direction of the one that ran towards the serpent and the one that just came crashing.

"Wait, are all of your clones connected like a hive mind?"

"Mmmh, it's more like all the copies are my real body. So they're all me."

"And what are the stars in your missing arm?"

"Oh, they're stars that I use. I have three different kinds. the soul star that controls the dust, magic star that let me use different kinds of magic and storage star where I can store stuff, except living things. But storing stuff doesn't put the items into stasis or whatever."

I nodded satisfied with the explanation and looked at the serpent thrashing around. The objective was to hunt the serpent and his clones, or body, or whatever you call it, keep on getting thrown around. I can see some mist trying to enter its mouth but it would keep on moving to a different spot the moment it notices the mist. He definitely can take down that serpent eventually but this is a race. We need to finish this fast. I turned at the Aurum next to me.

"I can kill that serpent faster if you can bring me there."

"Alright, but where did you need to go and how?"

"Just close enough. I can infuse mana into my sword and cut that thing in half."

"Didn't you say infusing too much mana might break your sword?"

"I can always get a new one."

He nodded and then another Aurum appeared out of nowhere, that must be the one with the teleportation magic star. It seems like he can't transfer stars without contact so that means he needs to bring the one that has it.

"To where?"

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"High over the snake. Though give me a few seconds, I need to infuse the mana carefully, I don't want to break the sword before I use it."

"Sure, let's do it up there."

Then I found myself in the air. I panicked a bit before I realized I was being safely held. I looked up to see Aurum holding me. Wings have sprouted from his back and it looked like the night sky. They flapped gently giving me a stable flight. I was kind of embarrassed from being held like this but I guess that's all he can do right now. I drew my sword and started working my mana into it. It'll take time, but at the same time, I have questions to ask.

"Hey, Aurum..."

"Yeah?"

"You never questioned my power. As in my power is essentially just a better version of what people can already do, putting mana into objects. I may have more mana than a normal person but it doesn't change the fact that's all I can do. Along with the fact that my mother abandoned me and being a child from a noble to a random woman gives me a hard time."

"I also was under such circumstances when I was small. My mother sold me to my father, although it's more of a bribe. Then he tried to kill me to hide the truth. I was just saved at the last moment and the person that saved me eventually became the mother I love. She has taught me not to judge people from their magic and when I saw you get bullied I wanted to help you. I won't judge you by your power so don't worry. I hope that we can still be friends."

"Yeah, thank you."

My hand touched his arm that is holding me and we both smiled. I looked down at the serpent who's still thrashing around. I'm almost finished infusing the mana into the sword. Once I finish the sword will start to break down immediately.

"I'm almost finished."

"Alright, So do I just, let go?"

"Sure, but are your clones going to be alright?"

"Don't worry. You already saw one missing its arm. They're just going to be blown away at best."

"Good. You can let me go now."

"Be careful Llya."

"Just enjoy the view."

He released his grip and I started free falling towards the serpent. I put my finger at the tip of the blade and added the last touch. at that moment the mana burst from the sword and the blade glowed brightly. Despite my magic is simply infusing mana to things, I studied a bit of rune crafting and used the knowledge to make my mana infusing more effective, but I'm not a complete expert. The serpent noticed the intense mana suddenly being released. Unfortunately, it couldn't react before my blade came down. I came crashing down like a meteor and I created an explosion that looked like a giant aurora. I stood up a bit dazed, in between the two almost unrecognizable pieces of the serpent and looked at my sword. It cracked all over and small pieces are falling off, releasing a small aurora every time a piece fell off. I just dropped the sword and it shattered like glass. I looked around and noticed I was in the middle of a crater. All the Aurums were blown away but they all still seemed alright with the one flying moments ago coming down to help the others. Some of them still released and enthusiastic "Whohoo!". They started high-fiving but each time they did, they infused into each other until there was only a single one left to high-five me. Then the voice resounded in our head again.

Objective complete, exiting the world, viewing performance... confirmed. Reward: Teleportation to a location near the finish line.

Then there's a bright flash and I can see the end of the race, only to find a single boy with white hair standing there. I looked back at Aurum and he was also surprised.

"..."

"..."

"How did you get there?"

"Teleportation."

Aurum let out a sigh.

"Well I did say if you can teleport without being sucked into a world deserve the win..."

"No, I did get sucked into one."

"What?"

"I teleported out, and it even rewarded me by helping me teleport to the finish line without interruption."

"Then you deserve it even more if you can teleport out of a world. Wow."

I just shrugged and walked towards the line before Aurum stopped me. I looked at him with a questioning gaze

"You want to be second? Sorry but I'm not giving it up. I'm still trying to prove myself to my family that I'm strong."

"No, you can have the second place, it's just that the examiner is evil. There's another entrance to a world where you were about to walk into, just move a bit sideways."

I complied and walked pass the line and Aurum followed me behind. since we arrived a bit early we talked a bit with each other. The boy that just teleported was named Travis and he comes from a family that studied teleportation and the possibility of traveling to actual real worlds that might exist. It might explain why he can teleport out of the world when he got stuck, using information that his family already knew to other world teleportation. While we were talking two other girls came through the forest. Or rather the forest moved away for them. The first one definitely knows chlorokinesis but the second one held a white glowing sword. Aurum seemed surprised to see them. They both crossed the line dodging the hidden world entrance and they introduced themselves as Lania and Nila. Lania has brown green-hair and Nila had green ones. It seems that the color green is widespread in their families. Apparently, the whole forest was a maze but Nila just made the tree move away for them and they just had a straight path to the end while the trees also told her where the traps are including the one in front of the line. Then emerging from the forest was lightning bolts traveling everywhere but eventually gathered into a single spot to reveal it was the blonde boy all along. He looked at me and Aurum with surprise and stomped his leg.

"How did you get past me! I definitely saw you enter headfirst into a world and then I never saw you for the rest of the race. That whole place was a maze!" His hair sparkled as electricity traveled through it.

"Well you see, when you enter a world it gives you a challenge. Complete the challenge and your reward is teleporting closer to the end." Aurum told him with a smile.

"But they barely teleported anywhere!"

"Well, I guess we're just better than you at doing the job."

"I'm not going to be stuck in a world spending my time picking flowers, I just did so fast that it charred the flowers."

"Well too bad marigold."

Electricity started sparkling even more and he charged in the form of a lightning bolt towards Aurum. He just stood there with a smile. I doubt lightning will hurt him with his dust body, but he doesn't need to do that. Right before the lightning could reach him it was transported into the hidden world's entrance. Aurum then just walked away with a smile.

"Well, Llya, I had my revenge, now it's your turn to screw him over."

"Thanks"

Eventually, everyone got through the finish line with a few exceptions. The blonde boy actually came from behind us because the world teleported him forward but the examiner was already here and no fighting was permitted now that the race was over. They still haven't told us what our next test is but we were put in an area in a big building made from stones. So all we can do is stay here and wait until the professor comes and tell us our next test. I sighed and sat down Aurum walked up to me.

"Hey, you alright?"

"Yeah, just going to take a nap."

"Sure"

He stood beside me and I saw one of his stars expanded and the glowing light took shape of a book before the light seem to trickle off into his palm revealing a book that he started reading. So That's how he stores object. His dust envelops the object and I guess he compresses the shape into a star. I guess that's why he can't store living things or else they'd die or something. I wonder what happens if he tries to store fire. I was starting to get tired from using too much mana to beat that serpent. I laid my back against the wall and took a nap, falling into darkness.

++++++++++

 A group of people was gathered around a large table covered in sand. The light runes shone brightly and the people gathered around the table waiting for someone. Then Owen Scott walked through the front door. This time he was dressed casually in normal clothes.

"Alright, what were the result of the students?"

"Well first, gotta say I actually can't believe you wore that suit." Replied a slightly deep voice. It was a bald man with muscular arms.

"I needed to make a first impression."

"As a fancy boy that what? Work for a queen?"

"Oh quiet, just report what you have okay?"

"I have a student that has exceptional healing ability, but her personality... I'd say she likes dissection classes." The woman looked at her pages of notes and back at Owen.

" I know there's a lot of students but I want to specifically point out a boy." Said a man with tattoos etched all over him.

He put his hand in the sand on the table and started flowing mana through it. The sand started to move and they took shapes of trees that resembles a jungle with two contestants to the race standing in the middle of the jungle.

"That boy is Aurum and the girl is Llya. Although the girl has an extraordinary amount of mana, the boy is slightly more interesting. "

The boy suddenly started creating a bunch of clones and they started spreading out searching for something.

"This is the world where you're supposed to find the emerald grass serpent."

"I know, the boy can create clones to find the snake, what does it matter? It's also just a weakened version." Replied another woman dressed in red.

"But one hit can is still lethal. In fact, I was worried I needed to open the portal when so many of them were blown away." answered a lady who was still covered in the shadow of the one area.

The man with tattoos nodded and fast-forwarded to the moment the snake burst out and nocking all the clones away. They saw many of them end up with lethal injuries, but all the were healed in a matter of seconds. They then went to battle, casting much different magic until they stopped and end up just distracting it for Llya to land a one-shot.

"Alright, many of them have regeneration and they all can cast different kinds of magic, it doesn't matter since the real one was safe, right?"

"That's the problem. Every single one of them gives a signal of life. Not one of them is 'fake'. In fact, Aurum will switch bodies to talk to Llya multiple times. I don't think it's simple cloning. Or at least one that is discovered this advanced."

She stayed silent thinking.

"Then what do we do about it?"

"Well, I guess we'll have to wait for more. Now is almost time for the next test. are the preparation ready?"

several people nodded.

"Then everyone to their designated area, make sure no one dies."

They all got up. the tattoed man freed his hand from the sand and the whole structure collapsed with some sand trickling down. They all then walk out of the room, getting in their position for the next test.

++++++++++