Second Exercise II
Once again, the students filed into the buses and rolled out, ready to carry out their next Exercise.
As they moved, Osho and the others discussed quite intensely about the upcoming Exercise, and the ’special’ guidance they would receive from Mrs Jane as they called it.
"Chances are that she’s gonna pit us against sothing way above our level which we can barely fight against and then only step in when we’re about to get shredder." Osho said grimly and everyone nodded, feeling the sa way.
It was common knowledge at this point that Mrs Jane held so favor towards Osho and Ellie, mostly the forr, but it was there for the girl as well. Despite this, though, she’d never done anything too favorable towards them. Everyone believed she was only going to do so subtle things, an example of which being that she partnered them together.
However, this was quite the shift from her usual tactics, and Osho couldn’t help but feel like the man that was Ellie’s guardian had sothing to do with it.
Regardless, they decided that changing up their formation was a necessity. Previously, their setup had been developed to aid in their scouting. Now, though, they were going to be intentionally picking fights, and Osho was certain the fights wouldn’t be simple, and his teammates agreed.
That’s why the idea for a formation the group decided on was sothing that was solid and could handle battles of attrition while allowing for every beast in their group to display their abilities effectively.
After so back and forth, they eventually agreed on a formation.
Just like the last ti, Ellie would act as the tank in the front line. After the last battle, she was more confident and her and Sugil’s ability to defend the team and use the snake’s abilities effectively.
Now, though, Osho and Gale would also be in the frontline this ti instead of Kurt and Clyde. The bird was more suitable for the role with his speed and control over wind, which he could use to deal damage, disrupt enemy movents, attract aggro, and so on. In short, he was versatile enough to fit the role just fine.
In the midline, the imdiate person there would be Irene and Inagi. The plan was for the Lizard to attack any creature Gale pins down or injures. Preferably by injecting ut with poison and allowing the damage to accumulate. Not to ntion, it’s high durability made it so that it was at less risk of getting injured even if Gale couldn’t pin down an enemy effectively. She would also protect the rear if necessary.
Sam and Blackie would focus on attacking the flanks, with Blackie ambushing their foes, preferably to deal big damage in the opening of the battle before backing off and using the shadows to attack unsuspecting enemies at random intervals when they weren’t paying attention.
Kurt would be at the back, using Clyde to disrupt enemies, cause distractions, and if he ever gets the chance, deal significant damage using sound-based attacks.
This formation depended on how well Sugil could control the environnt, and Ellie had assured them her and the snake would do the job properly, so they decided to roll with it.
It wasn’t surprising that the other students in the bus had been observing them. After all, Mrs Jane’s announcent had been as big as it was sudden, and many didnt understand such treatnt ant more difficulty. As such, many were getting envious despite their best efforts.
However, when they saw the team planning so intensely, their opinions started to change.
There was no arrogant or relaxed air around the group as they planned. In fact, if they didn’t know better, they’d think they were planning for so life or death battle that required them to give it their all and more.
And while it certainly wasn’t the forr, perhaps so of the latter was true.
This elicited two reactions from the other students.
The first was surprise at their reactions. The second was a sudden bout of competitiveness within them.
They weren’t the only ones going to fight, so why should they be the only ones to prepare so thoroughly?
As a result of this, many of the students who had initially just wanted to wing it were suddenly spurred to create proper strategies in preparation of the exercise ahead.
Soon enough, the buses reached the sa clearing as last ti, and as soon as they arrived, the soldiers started setting up the tents with the sa efficiency as the previous day, and in a short ti, everything was set up.
The students disembarked from the buses and Mrs Jane addressed them once more.
"Alright everyone, you will be assigned to the sa teachers as yesterday. Just that this ti, you won’t be splitting up and will be moving together. Trust their discretion and dont try to fight sothing if the teacher tells you not to. Osho, Ellie, get your team over here." When she said this, the team quickly shuffled over, all of them moving like stiff robots.
Mrs Jane gave them a strange look but said nothing of it.
"Rember, 8 hours. Everyone head out." Everyone shouted affirming answers and quickly started to et their teachers, anwhile, Mrs Jane just looked at the 5 students before her and said calmly.
"Follow ." Without waiting for their input, she walked into the trees. Without a choice, the others quickly followed after her, making sure to maintain their formation.
Previously, their movents had been careful and quiet, making sure to avoid attention as much as possible. But now, Mrs Jane walked like she was taking a stroll in the park, not particularly caring about stepping on dry leaves or rocks that made sound.
Every ti she did, the five people behind her couldn’t help but cringe each ti. They spent the entirety of yesterday learning how not to attract any attention from beasts, and right now she was just completely shattering everything they’d so painstakingly learned.
’She should be able to make her steps lighter using Mana. She’s doing this on purpose.’ Osho thought, his mouth twitching, and he’d be correct in his assumption.
Mrs Jane didn’t have the energy to silently look for beasts that could act as sufficient opponents for her students, so she used the most effective thod, and that was the attract the opponents to themselves.
It did not take long for them to find one.
Clyde noticed it before the others, well, except Mrs Jane probably, and Gale with his great vision.
Anyway, the group was t with a small group of Coyotes, however, they weren’t your typical Coyote.
Each one on all fours was tall enough to reach Osho’s chest, and they all had piercing green eyes that made them shudder.
What was most concerning, though, was the green undertone to the Aura of the Coyot which stood at the back of the group.
"This should work." Mrs Jane nodded to herself.
"U-Uh... Mrs Jane, there’s an apprentice ranked beast..." Kurt gulped and pointed shakily.
"And?" She asked,wholly unperturbed.
"We aren’t... fighting that... are we?" Sam asked with a gulp.
Mrs Jane: (0_0)
Osho: (ーー;)
Ellie: ( ﾟ 3ﾟ)
Sam: (゜〇゜;)
Irene: ( ・－・)
"Well then." Osho cleared his throat and looked at the Coyotes. They seed just as wary of the group as the group was of them, but Osho was pretty sure it was due to Mrs Jane’s presence.
"Well, I’ll leave it to you guys." She said lightly before jumping ’casually’. Said jump taking her dozens of ters upwards until she landed gracefully on a tree branch.
’She’s so cool.’ Osho thought briefly before returning his attention to the problem in front of them.
With her out of the way, the Coyotes seed a lot less cautious, and they were slowly splitting off to surround the group. Sothing Osho and the rest did want to happen.
That’s why, before they could separate, Ellie sent out a command to Sugil.
Several rows of Crystal spikes shot out from the ground aiming for each Coyote. The creatures saw this and quickly jumped out of the way. Just as they did, though, Crystal spikes shot out where they were gonna land.
Three of the Coyotes including the leader managed to swat the crystals out of the air with their claws, two, however, weren’t so lucky, as the projectiles buried themselves deep in the hides of the creatures. One in its shoulder and the other in its side, causing both to release a pained yelp at the sa ti.
Blackie silently entered a shadow while Gale took off from Osho’s shoulder and sent out multiple wind blades at the Coyotes.
Just like that, the group had their first intentional battle.
___
A/N: Sorry if the Chapter seems a bit weird today and if there are more typos than usual. My main device which I write on kinda just... died, so I’m making do with a backup one.
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