Meanwhile, as Ash and Ray were entering the Mist to deal with the monsters, somewhere on an unknown island the third exam had already begun. The students placed there were struggling desperately against the harshness of nature itself.
In the middle of that isolated island, hidden deep within a dense forest, a boy sat crouched on the ground, rubbing sticks together with all the strength he could muster. His breath came out in heavy pants, sweat dripping down his face as smoke began to rise from the friction of the wood. His arms trembled from exhaustion, yet he did not stop.
At last, a small flame flickered to life. His eyes widened and a bright smile stretched across his dirt-streaked face. But as he quickly leaned forward to feed the spark with dry twigs, a drop of sweat rolled off his chin and landed directly on the tiny flame, extinguishing it instantly.
