386 Victory [1]
After walking for a few hours, Amelia and I reached the appointed meeting spot. We came across a few cadets while on our way here, but Amelia quickly eliminated them.
She didn't even need to draw her weapon and instead just shot a couple of wind bullet spells.
Her accuracy must've increased. She could actually be our markswoman. Good, that'll help me in my plans from here on out.
The sun was looming near the horizon, painting the sky in a million shades of red, orange, pink, and purple as if announcing dusk's arrival.
Before long, we spotted our Unit members.
Nero was leaning against a tree with his eyes closed, looking as if he was deeply meditating.
Anastasia was on the lookout, her jewel-like, intricate golden eyes shining with a luminescence that seemed to rival the radiance of the setting sun.
Kent was… what the fuck was he doing?
The blue-haired elf was hanging down from the branch of a really tall tree like a bat.
Everyone wore a black vest and tactical combat trousers, each equipped with multiple utility pockets provided by the academy.
The fact that none of them had accepted the enchanted armored vest offered to the Cadets only meant that everyone possessed a better armor relic.
"What in the world is Kent doing?" Amelia inquired, walking ahead.
Anastasia simply shrugged. "Everyone copes with heartbreak differently."
"Oh my god! I'm not heartbroken! Shut up, you guys!" Kent snapped from above. "But, to answer your question, I'm just hanging upside down to let the blood rush to my head."
"And what's that going to accomplish, buddy?" I asked, an amused smirk playing on my lips.
"I'm trying to shake off this hangover!" Kent replied. "If you've got a better idea, do share, please!"
"So, I suppose Nero's remedy didn't do the trick?" I asked, eyeing the black-
haired swordsman.
Nero snapped open his eyes.
Initially, he tried to defend his remedy, but then quickly gave up. "Hey, I– Okay, yeah. It didn't work. I guess I need to perfect it even more."
Suppressing a chuckle, I glanced back at Kent. "Alright, buddy, come down. Let's discuss the plan."
Kent sighed before sitting up straight on the tree branch he was hanging from and then jumped down.
Landing with a low thud in front of us, he stepped closer, and all of us huddled up, except for Anastasia, who remained on the lookout.
"I tried to look for it from the sky, but I still couldn't see the Clock Tower. Maybe it's hidden somewhere deep in the woods," I told them.
Nero tapped on his smart bracelet, projecting a map of the chain of islands in front of us.
He pointed at a particular spot and remarked, "The forest is dense around this area, so it should be here."
"Seems plausible," I shrugged. "Here's the plan-"
"But you said you didn't have a plan," Kent interjected with a confused look.
"Clearly, I was lying," I shook my head. "Now listen, here's the plan-"
Kent interrupted me again. "Why were you lying?"
"Shut up, Kent!" I snapped. "Now, listen, this is the plan: Amelia and I will draw the attention of every Unit out there. So, when everyone converges at our location, you three will make your way to the Clock Tower. You'll then share your live location with us, and we'll find an opportunity to make a run for it. While everyone is busy fighting among themselves, we'll lift the flag and win this thing and make a record of clearing the practical exam in just two days."
"Wait, why me?" Amelia frowned.
"What if they don't fall for your trick?" Nero inquired.
"Does the bet still hold? Whoever reaches the Clock Tower last will have to do the other four's assignments for the whole year?" Anastasia questioned.
"You don't win by lifting the flag, though. We have to write our names on it," Kent pointed out.
Listening to them, I suddenly felt a migraine coming on. Why did I get such dimwit Unit members?
My eyebrow twitched as I replied:
"Amelia, it's because your accuracy has improved. With wind magic, you can even sense others' locations and snipe them. Yes, Nero, I'm sure they'll fall for my trick. Yes, Anastasia, the bet still holds, though now only Amelia and I could lose. Yes, I know what we need to do to win, Kent! I said lift because you lift a trophy after winning a competition! Anyone else?!"
Everyone looked at me in silence. It looked like they still wanted to ask me something but ultimately decided to let it go.
In the end, when everyone nodded, I smiled. "Good, now let's win this thing."
†
We set up camp for the night, and at the break of dawn, we quickly put our plan into action.
Amelia and I secured a vantage position by climbing atop the crowns of two of the tallest trees we could find.
Nero, Anastasia, and Kent ran toward the spot where we thought the Clock Tower could be.
After settling in our bird nest, I signaled Amelia.
Once she was given the signal, she began to unleash a barrage of wind bullets at cadets she sensed nearby with the help of her wind magic.
At the same time, I also summoned my bow and started shooting arrows blindly, purposefully revealing our position.
Even if other cadets knew this was a trap, they had no option but to check it out for themselves. After all, we were shooting at them.
At least the strong ones would come.
As for the weaker ones, well, they weren't a threat to us anyway.
Before long, just as I thought, several Units started converging on our location. I turned to Amelia and asked, "How many did you take out?"
"Eight," Amelia responded, throwing a quick glance in my direction.
I frowned. "Just eight? I thought you've gotten better."
"Hey," Amelia gave me a hurt glare. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to snipe people you can't even see?!"
Yeah, well, it was a hard task.
Since Amelia can bend wind bullets, she can snipe Cadets even when they're out of her sight.
But to know their location, she has to cast another wind spell. This particular spell allows her to sense the unnatural disturbances in the air's movements and locate the enemy's position.
After locating them, she has to dismiss the spell, remember the location, and launch wind bullets to eliminate them from afar.
The problem is that most adept Cadets would immediately know when their location is compromised.
Most of the time, they'd sense the bloodlust directed at them when Amelia takes the shot, causing them to quickly change positions.
Not only that but they'd also be able to pinpoint our location because all the shots would be coming from a single spot. But that's what we were counting on anyway.
Basically, what I mean is that hitting a live target you can't even see is actually really difficult.
I shrugged. "You're right, eight is fine. Now, let's get down and fight them in close quarters."
Amelia nodded and leaped down. I also landed a few paces beside her and quickly added:
"Remember, we don't need to take them all down. We just have to keep their focus entirely on us. When they start fighting among themselves, we'll make our exit."
Amelia nodded again and materialized a gleaming spear in her hand. Seeing this, I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows.
"Wait, what? Why the spear?" I asked, bewildered.
"Why not?" Amelia grinned. "I've started dual-wielding after training in Shaolin."
...Huh?! Wait, why?
Unfortunately, before I could wrap my head around her words, the oncoming Cadets began bombarding all kinds of artillery spells on us.
I called forth Phoenix's Embrace while Amelia activated an armor relic as well.
She was wearing a heart-shaped locket around her neck that started glowing, eventually turning into a cascade of ethereal sparks that enveloped her slender body.
After the light faded, she was clad in a lustrous armor of silver steel with dimly glowing intricate patterns inscribed on it. A necklace of triangular emerald stones complementing the bright silver steel also manifested around her neck.
Despite the protection of our armor, rather than standing there and taking the barrage of artillery spells, we started running around.
Amelia took on the horde of Cadets at the front, while I handled the flank and rear.
Tendrils of electricity crackled around me, enhancing my speed to an ungodly level.
Bolts of white lightning carried me as I easily evaded the attacks and approached the Cadets with alarming speed.
In my hands, I summoned a jian sword, its blade still hidden within its sheath.
This was the reward given to me by Liz.
The Jian was a little bigger than my arm, its blade always emitting a ghostly white glow, while its hilt was forged from a polished jaded wood.
Item: Sword (Relic)
Name: King's Blade
Rank: Legendary
Condition: Excellent
Description: A long time ago, a King fell in love with a commoner. Despite being unable to marry her, he loved her and even had a son with her. However, the world's cruelty shattered their love story – their tale ending with him taking her life.
This blade stands as a testament to the King's eternal love and the valiant sacrifice he made for his people.
As long as the wielder of this sword remains noble and heroic, they will receive a significant boost in all their stats.
Additionally, the sword amplifies the light elemental spells cast by the wielder.
–"Watch out! He's coming!"
–"He's Lucas Morningstar! Surround him. Don't not to take him on by yourself—"
A bolt of lightning struck the ground before a few Cadets, and there I stood in front of them, with sparks of electricity crackling around me.
I bent my knees slightly as the two Cadets before me staggered back in surprise.
However, they could only widen their eyes as I drew the ghostly white blade of my jian and slashed both of their smart bracelets in a flash of blinding light.
Thack, Thack—!!
[You eliminated…]
[You eliminated…]
Soon, the entire area around us was drowned with the clamor of steel clashing against steel and the thunderous sound of artillery spells exploding.
At first, the cadets only focused on Amelia and me. But after a only few minutes, they began to fight each other.
By now, the rest of our Unit had reached the Clock Tower. They had also shared their live location with us.
Once we made sure their attention was not on us, Amelia and I slipped away from the Cadets engaged in a fierce fight, and headed toward the Clock Tower.
...However, all this time, a sense of dread was welling up inside my chest.
At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but now I was certain... something was watching me.
...Maybe it was just Quinn and his shadows. If that's the case, then so be it... I'm ready for a rematch.
