"Hello. Welco to Visual Impact X. Please gear up within the next 5 minutes."
A female AI voice spoke as a black space manifested. Following that, specters of light began to gather in the air to form an armory filled with weapons.
Watching the surreal scene in a daze—
[Ding!]
[ntal interference detected with the Host. Would you like to disconnect?]
The system’s interface manifested before him and the transformation in the space halted, asking for his permission to disconnect.
’No.’
Max willed in his heart and the interference resud. Soon an arsenal containing all sorts of guns and bulletproof vests was ford.
"You gotta be kidding ?" Max breathlessly muttered as he saw his illusionary body. Hands, legs, torso.
In reality, the scientists and instructors watched with anticipation as the students’ reaction was most likely the sa. Shock, amazent, ecstasy.
Inside his arsenal, Max put on his combat gear. A star insignia, the Elite tropolitan High logo, was on his vest and shoulder. His gear was also a mix of their uniform colors. This way it would be easier to differentiate from other schools.
A knife, gloves, Desert Eagle, M4A1 Rifle, and magazines were all stuffed and hung over his body. There was a mask to cover his face, but Max didn’t feel like hiding his handsoness.
’This shit is so cool.’
As a full-blooded gar, Max’s thrill and excitent was valid. This was the fantasy of many.
"Countdown: 10 seconds left." The female AI spoke again and a red countdown began.
Max held his breath as the arsenal doors slid open.
"3..2..1."
Bright sunlight flooded in, causing his eyes to squint. Before he could react, all his six senses were overwheld.
First was the heat, then a wet, heavy sll of damp earth and sweet, rotting vegetation. Filling his lungs, the air felt like steam.
The lone silence that once filled the arsenal was vanquished, replaced by the high-pitched electronic buzz of cicadas, the piercing whistle of birds, and the roars of several animals.
Max stepped outside the arsenal, along with other Elites who were similarly dazed by the sensation.
’Were they really in a virtual reality?’ It felt too real.
When they finally organized their thoughts, the Elites all exchanged glances. The weapon arsenals were constructed in a circular order so they all ford a circle.
Zara, in a navy blue compression suit that clung to her body—unzipped halfway with a tactical sports bra exposed—had a sniper hung around her neck, holding onto it with strength not befitting her slender, curvy figure.
Briar held onto two big boxes; because of the drone drawn on them, Max figured out her specialty. She was the tracker and eyes of the team. Her appearance was rather distinct as she wore high-waisted cargo leggings with utility straps wrapped around her thighs, topping it off with a crop T-shirt underneath her heavy jacket.
Sasha was the hottest in her gear. She was just like Resident Evil—two pistols tucked to her sides with a dical kit in hand.
Kieran had a huge machete over his shoulder and a silenced, complicated-looking but cool rifle in his other hand. nacing as ever, with a grin on his face.
Ash was the one who gave Max a surprise. The only firearm he had was a silenced G18. His body was tucked with knives and darts, his face painted with black soot.
John, supposedly the leader, however, had two belt-fed machine guns hanging by his sides. Belts of 8mm bullets were stored on him.
Only Dominic and Max looked ordinary in the group, with appearances bordering on norm.
"Here. Let’s take a look at the map."
Even if Max wasn’t fully accepted by the group, now wasn’t the mont for such. John brought out a map which no one saw in their arsenal and spread it.
"This is our current location." He pointed at one of the marked spots on the map with a star on it, close to the outer edges, and quickly shifted his hand in demonstration.
"A throne, knight helm, spear. These should represent the locations of the other schools." With realization, Ash spoke, echoing their discovery as they were all quick to grasp the reading.
John nodded in agreent. "Based on the reading, we are at least 200 ters apart. That’s more than enough ti to plan who to strike."
"There’s also the possibility that so might decide to lay an ambush," Briar pointed out, but was countered by Dominic, whose eyes squinted at the map.
"This is unfamiliar terrain. A huge territory. Even with the map, there’s a reason it’s called the biggest forest in the world. With trees everywhere, a slight turn can make you lose direction. Staying mobile is the sa as leaving your back exposed to the enemy."
The air fell silent in agreent. With deep, serious looks in their eyes, the Elites traced the map.
But suddenly, a sharp hiss broke through the air. A green snake shot forth from a towering tree ten ters away towards the group.
"Huh?" Everyone looked up, befuddled, but then Ash reacted and threw one of his small knives. It shot upward and pierced through the snake’s head, sending its dead body in the opposite direction.
The air was tensely still as they all realized sothing.
"Are you kidding ?" Sasha voiced with a tinge of frustration in her voice.
"We not only have the other schools to think about, but animals and insects alike." John shook his head. "I heard anacondas aren’t rare here. What if—"
"Jeez. Don’t jinx things." They all drew a silent breath.
"Okay, for now we’ll stall but not be mobile. There are bound to be clashes, so we’ll pick up kills using the commotion." John began to direct orders, while they each gave their inputs from ti to ti.
"Staying together will make us nothing more than a tasty bunch of kill points and easily taken down by a surrounding ambush," Kieran comnted, showing how thoughtful he was despite his muscle brain. Everyone agreed.
"Separating into groups will make us easy prey when faced with multiple enemies."
At this mont Briar comnted, "How does going in the sa direction but in separate groups sound?"
"Hmm. Quite resourceful, Briar," John said, raising a thumbs up while the rest seed puzzled. "We go in the sa direction but in three groups. This way, when the first group gets contact, the others can converge imdiately for an ambush."
The rest nodded in agreent.
"Okay. Kieran and Sasha are with as the first group. Dominic, Ash, and Briar will follow as the second group. Briar, scout imdiately with your drones for the best route for an ambush. Ash, do your best to move stealthily; Dominic will cover your tracks. Zara and Max as the third group—our backup. You both will stay far away. In case any manage to slip through the flanks or a drone, you take them out. If we get thrust into an ambush, I shall trust you to avenge us."
With that, they all exchanged nods and the first group moved. Seeing this, Max couldn’t help but interject.
"Aren’t we going to blend in?"
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