"Today’s combat training is a Scavenger Hunt!" the instructor announced, his voice booming across the training grounds. "This ti, you’ll be on your own. No maps, no communication with allies, and you won’t know who your enemy is."
Just like I read at Adrian’s mail, we really have combat training at 10:00 AM.
"Scavenger Hunts are a vital part of a Hero’s training," the instructor continued. "They simulate the retrieval of valuable artifacts stolen by Rogues or other dangerous entities. You’ll be participating in these types of missions more frequently as you beco a hero."
The instructor paused, allowing his words to sink in. "You will be divided into two groups: the Attackers and the Defenders."
Suddenly, a pieces of black cloth flew around, quickly covering everyone’s eyes. A chorus of gasps and shouts erupted from the students. So were calm, but most were thrown into a panic.
"What happened?" soone cried out.
"Hey! Take this thing off!" another yelled, struggling against the cloth.
"Are we being kidnapped in broad daylight?" soone asked, fear creeping into their voice.
"Help!" a few voices called out in unison.
"I didn’t know you were into kinky stuff!" soone exclaid, their voice tinged with laughter.
"One more shout, and I’ll personally gag you," the instructor said, his voice laced with a stern warning. Silence imdiately fell over the students. "I personally blindfolded all of you so that you won’t rember the directions."
Another instructor then spoke, his voice calm and asured. "We will now guide you to the artificial excavation site. Hold the person in front of you, and start walking."
We followed the instructions, and soon enough many of them started complaining.
"Watch it!" soone shouted.
"Ow my foot!" another groaned.
"Soone kicked !"
"Don’t push !"
"Who touched my butt?!" a voice shrieked.
I was the only one who wasn’t complaining. Thanks to my "Vision Perception" ability, I could see clearly through the blindfold. I was able to avoid the chaos and navigate the crowd with ease.
The artificial excavation site was vast, spanning ten floors. I was placed on the fifth floor, and through my enhanced vision, I noticed Christian was in the room next to mine.
Then at that mont, a loud voice rang out from the speaker above .
At that mont, a loud voice, amplified by the speakers above, echoed through the site.
|You may now remove your blindfolds! You have been given a wristband. If it’s blue, you are an Attacker. Your role is to steal an artifact. If it’s red, you are a Defender, and your job is to prevent the Attackers from stealing any artifacts.|
I quickly glanced at the wristband on my hand. It was blue. I was an Attacker.
|The artifacts you need to steal and protect are being kept or moved by humanoid robots. Also you can choose to simply shout surrender and your wristband will instantly turn to gray signifying that you’re eliminated. But rember, you will also be graded individually so have fun and good luck!|
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
The piercing buzzer finally ceased, signaling the start of our training. The door from where we entered sealed shut.
Knock, knock.
At that mont, Christian was knocking on my door.
"I know you’re in there. I’ll leave you alone if you answer my question, are you an attacker or a defender? Because I’m a defender~" he said.
I remained silent.
Christian humd a cheerful tune and reached for the doorknob. "No answer? That ans you’re an attacker, then consider yourself—"
Before he could finish his sentence, he swung the door open, revealing Christian’s bright face. But as his eyes landed on , his smile vanished, replaced by a look of utter shock.
Now I was the one smirking at him. "What was that again? You’re a defender? Then we’re enemies, right?"
He swallowed hard as his hands trembled slightly. I could clearly see beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"You know we’re friends, right? So, I’ll just... close the door and pretend you didn’t see ," he said, backing away and slowly reaching for the door handle.
"Christian," I said, my voice cutting through his attempt to escape.
In a flash, he was kneeling before , his hands clasped together in a pleading gesture. "Oh, co on! Please, it’s too early to kill !" he whined, sounding like a spoiled child.
"Pfft!" I stopped myself from laughing. I haven’t even done anything so why is he already acting like that?
"I won’t eliminate you..." I began, but he cut off, relief flooding his face.
"Thank you Remi! You’re such an angel!" he said excitedly.
"I’m not done yet. I won’t eliminate you but as revenge for writing my na on the dancing event, you’re going to sign yourself up as Hannah’s partner in the singing competition," I said.
"Sure! Whatever you ask!" he readily agreed, clearly desperate to be spared.
I walked past him, heading towards the hallway. "Next ti we et again, I won’t give you a second ti," I warned him, leaving the threat hanging in the air as I exited the room.
Christian stood there, dumbfounded, his mind racing. ’Why is my first ti eting an enemy have to be her?’ he scread internally. ’Why, just why, did I wrote her na for the dancing event? Now I also need to sing!’
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
The fifth floor was surprisingly huge, yet unnervingly silent. No voices echoing and no presences were imdiately noticeable.
Where are the others? Had everyone moved on to different floors already?
I glanced at my smartwatch.
We were all wearing the sa model we had used during our last exam on the island. These devices monitored our vital signs, alerting the instructors if any of us sustained critical damage, at which point we would be removed from the excavation site.
Knowing Adrian, he wouldn’t bother with direct confrontations. He would likely be hidden, waiting for the opportune mont to snatch the artifact. My instinct was to use my ability to locate him imdiately, but the fear of collapsing again held back. I would have to find him the old-fashioned way.
I had only walked a few steps when I encountered a defender. "Thank goodness! I thought I was the only one here," he said, holding a whip.
"I have two choices for you: leave alone, or I’ll make you yell surrender," I said calmly.
"I’ll choose the third one: we fight, and I’ll be the one making you shout in surrender," he said, as he uncoiled his whip, the leather crackling in the still air.
"This will be an exhausting ga of hide and seek just to find Adrian," I muttered, secretly grabbing my daggers before rushing towards him, catching him completely off guard.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
anwhile, on the ninth floor...
"Stop! Ow! Okay! I surrender!"
A male student shouted his surrender in front of Cypher’s gleaming sword. The mont the word left his lips, his wristband blinked gray which ans he’s already eliminated from the fight. He would be transported outside, and instructors would retrieve him.
"Here, let help you stand up," Cypher said, extending a hand to the student lying on the ground.
"Thanks," the defeated student murmured, accepting the offered hand.
This was already Cypher’s fifth elimination.
"Cypher!" soone shouted.
Cypher turned towards the voice. It was Pierre, he was wearing a red wristband. Pierre sprinted towards him, his steps quick as if a ghost was chasing him.
"Whew, thank goodness I found you so quickly. Let join you!" Pierre sighed in relief, quickly hiding behind Cypher.
"Were you hiding this entire ti?" Cypher asked, a slight amusent in his voice.
Pierre’s role was primarily support, making him less effective in solo combat.
"I was running the whole ti! I used my arrows to hit their foots to slow them down, and that’s when I found you here," Pierre exclaid.
"Oh really? That’s good. Anyway, it’s nice to see you," Cypher said, a genuine smile on his face.
Pierre was a support hero, providing buffs. Within his range, he could temporarily increase allies’ attack and defense stats.
"Ahh, I really thought I was going to be eliminated this early...." Pierre cald his racing heart for a mont before suddenly rembering sothing. "Oh, I rember one of the faces chasing . Was it Caleo? He had this look like he really wanted to kill ! I kept shouting that this was only a test but he only smiled!"
"Caleo?" Cypher repeated, his expression shifting.
Just then, another figure ca running towards them, nearly out of breath. They imdiately raised their weapons, ready for a fight.
However, the person who appeared was Christian, also on their team.
Christian seed equally relieved, letting out a sigh of relief upon seeing Cypher and Pierre.
"Christian, why are you sweating so much?" Pierre tilted his head and asked, curious.
"Huh? Uh, it’s nothing," Christian stamred, not wanting to admit he’d sprinted all the way here to avoid Remillia.
Knowing his friend. Cypher can’t help but probe him more. "Who did you fight before finding us?" his voice was laced with doubt.
"Remillia," Christian muttered softly.
"It’s a sha she’s from the enemy’s team," Pierre observed, his gaze suddenly sharp. "Wait... If she’s an Attacker, then how co you’re still here?"
Considering how good Remillia is at fighting, Christian had no choice but to tell a white lie. "I managed to escape from her."
"So where is she now?" Cypher asked, his eyes lighting up with a sudden, uncharacteristic excitent.
"Maybe she’s looking for Ezekiel," Pierre interjected helpfully.
Cypher turned to Pierre. "And why would she look for Ezekiel?"
"Because she likes him," Pierre stated matter-of-factly.
"Ehh?" Christian blurted, surprised.
"What are you talking about?" Cypher’s brows furrowed.
"Everyone’s talking about it. The two of them are even trending right now," Pierre continued, oblivious to the tension.
"Then it’s just a groundless rumor; don’t believe it too much," Christian said quickly, trying to change the subject. He knew his best friend, Cypher, had feelings for Remillia. "Anyways, have you found any artifacts, Pierre?"
"Of course. I took it from a robot on the way here," Pierre said proudly.
Christian nodded. "Good, let’s go to our extraction point to place it there."
"Oh yeah, and Pierre?" Cypher turned to look at Pierre. "Remillia and Ezekiel are just friends—"
His words were cut short as fireballs rained down on them. They imdiately dodged, seeking cover. Then, looked towards the direction the attack ca from.
"Show yourselves, cowards!" Pierre shouted, only to imdiately regret his words as Caleo appeared in the darkness, along with other students from the attacker’s team.
Cypher was more annoyed than ever. ’There’s also this guy who kept on pestering Remi...’
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