The golden statuette, hurled by Angelo, plummeted to the ground at breakneck speed.
At that moment, Moleman, Lars, and Sven were embroiled in a chaotic struggle. Moleman and Lars were trying to restrain Sven, who was enraged over their interference in his fight with Ahmed.
"I told you! I had nothing to do with it! It was that idiot who attacked you!" Lars shouted, dodging Sven’s sharp slashes and retaliating with equal intensity.
"Why do you say that, buddy? You were the one who came up with the idea!" Moleman retorted, barely evading Sven's wide swipes and attempting to shift the blame onto Lars to lessen the wrath of Number Two.
"You're a liar!" Lars snapped, clearly frustrated.
Meanwhile, in the girls’ group, Katya was the first to activate her synchro Aura, propelling herself at high speed toward Helen, who was holding both rabbits.
Helen's reflexes couldn't match Katya’s speed. Katya positioned herself in front of Helen, aiming a decisive blow to her liver.
Unfortunately, just then, the metallic clang of the statuette hitting the ground seemed to freeze time.
"What luck!"
Elara exclaimed as Lars, Moleman, Katya, Helen, and Sven watched in slow motion as the golden rabbit bounced into their midst.
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Before all participants found their respective group partners...
Elara stood before Angelo at the starting point of the test.
"What do you want?" Angelo asked, his tone dripping with indifference.
"You topped the registration test; I believe you could be a valuable ally," Elara said softly.
"Go on..." Angelo replied, intrigued by anyone who might serve his interests.
"You’ve likely already planned your approach to the test. There’s a 90% chance the guy will go for your initial idea—the one where you flaunt whatever rabbit you have," Elara whispered, pointing discreetly at number two, Sven, who was moving away from the group.
"70%," she pointed to number one, Xin Hua. "85%," her finger moved to Lucas Muller, number ten. "65%," she indicated Lars, number six on the list.
Angelo was taken aback; he had only considered this after Textex provided the information. “She analyzed everyone and calculated probabilities from their limited interactions in record time?” he thought, impressed.
"I think we both agree that the best strategy to catch those seeking an opportunity is to surprise two groups in a fight. It’s the simplest approach," Elara said quietly, just for Angelo’s ears.
"What are you getting at?" the black-haired man asked sharply.
“We only need one rabbit. If we surprise a weary group that has both, our strategy could net us two rabbits,” Elara said, holding up her index and middle fingers.
“That would leave us with one extra. How about we agree to share the remaining one?” She concluded with a smile.
“Are you suggesting that whoever gets the leftover rabbit first must give it to the opponent? What makes you think it will be the color we need, or that our groups won’t be the ones defeated? And how do you know we’ll even cross paths?” Angelo asked, taken aback by the proposition. There were still too many uncertainties for him to take her seriously.
“There’s a 50% chance of that happening, considering the room size, number of opponents, and variables like color and potential partners,” Elara explained with a friendly smile.
Angelo was incredulous. Had Elara really analyzed the odds so precisely?
“I see. According to your analysis, I’m the best probability for being your ally, given my own analytical skills,” Angelo said, waiting for her response.
“Maybe. There’s another person who might arrive at the same conclusion, but their chance is only 45% because they’re not as ruthless as you,” Elara replied with an innocent smile, as though she hadn’t just insulted him.
“Hahaha, okay. If that scenario happens and we cross paths, I’ll honor the deal.” Angelo chuckled as he walked away, amused not only by Elara’s perceptiveness but also by the absurdity of the conditions.
But if Elara Fallbrook was right, she would prove to be the most dangerous competitor in the test, potentially surpassing everyone on the list.
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Currently...
Katya’s mind raced, analyzing the situation in milliseconds. Securing the statuette was an option, but it wouldn’t be of much use since she needed the two that the girl in clerical attire possessed.
The best course of action was to take down one of her opponents and seize the statuette from them. She immediately halted her attack and struck Helen instead.
“Sorry,” Katya muttered as Helen’s body slumped onto her.
“Don’t worry, it didn’t hurt that much...” Helen replied, surprising Katya when she noticed Helen’s body glowing with synchro aura.
“What? Did she just activate her synchro aura?” Katya’s surprise was quickly met with Helen’s swift reaction.
The office worker grabbed the arm Katya had struck and executed a judo move that lifted Katya and slammed her to the ground.
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“Kug…!” Katya was stunned. Despite her endurance, she hadn’t anticipated someone of Helen’s level using synchro aura.
At the same moment Katya hit the ground, Elara snatched the golden rabbit, having sprinted toward it as soon as it was visible.
“Haha, it’s mine!” Elara said with a happy, almost innocent tone.
“What?” Moleman couldn’t believe it—had his partner really taken the rabbit from both of them?
“Was it you?” shouted the man in military pants at the woman who had just thrown Katya to the floor.
“No! I still have it with me!” Helen responded in astonishment, not releasing her grip on Katya’s limb.
“Wow, it’s just like she said...” Lars marveled, shocked that Elara’s plan had actually worked.
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In the cafeteria, when Lars and Elara met...
“The plan is simple: we’ll target number two. We’ll wait in hiding for him to be attacked twice, then we’ll make our move. Your job is to keep the fight going without trying to win,” Elara explained with a pleasant smile.
“Why him, and why not aim to win?” Lars asked, puzzled by the beautiful young woman’s strategy.
“Number Two will create so much commotion that he’ll attract several teams. I doubt he’ll heed any advice from his partner, so he’ll likely overlook the statuette in the heat of battle, making it easy to steal,” Elara analyzed.
“That’s a 70% chance,” Elara said, locking eyes with Lars to emphasize her point.
“There’s a 55% chance that two groups have formed an alliance and a 45% chance it’s a single group. We’ll position ourselves to block the group closest to number two, just to be seen by him,” she continued.
Lars was confused. “Who?”
“A guardian angel. We’ll only attack number two to ensure he sees us and remembers his promise. If my calculations are correct, he’ll give us his remaining rabbit,” Elara said, sounding like she was spinning a tale from a mystery novel.
Lars was skeptical but found the strategy practical for advancing to the next round. He followed her orders without question.
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Presently...
None of the onlookers, except Elara and Lars, could grasp what had just transpired. Sven remained oblivious, continuing his assault on the two men before him.
Katya, the only one on the ground, realized the gravity of the situation.
“At this rate, Elara and Lars will escape if there’s any lapse in vigilance, and Moleman and Helen will do the same. Sven is strong but exhausted from his last fight... Damn it, I need to come up with something!”
Desperation gripped the subdued brown-haired girl.
At that moment, Elara’s voice was like a lifeline to Katya.
“Number Seven, if you’re interested, we could become allies,” the blonde said, surprising Helen, Moleman, and Lars.
“You’d only owe me a favor, which I’ll collect in one of the next rounds of the exam.” The stunningly beautiful woman smiled with a hint of naive amusement.
Katya’s first instinct was to accept. She had little chance on her own, and accepting Elara’s offer almost guaranteed her a spot in the next round. Nova was likely already there, leaving Katya with few options.
Could it be so terrible to owe a favor to someone like Elara?
“I accep—”
“Don’t even think about it!” Sven shouted, halting his attack on Lars and Moleman.
Katya abruptly stopped mid-sentence, stunned.
“If you advance to the next round thanks to another group’s help, I’ll advance by default, and I’d rather try again next year than have my pride tarnished like that.” Sven’s voice was filled with anger as he directed his fury at Katya.
“Are you so weak?” Sven glared at Katya with intense rage.
The look on his face reminded Katya of the lion they had faced in Mobling Village. She had felt helpless then, relying on Alpha, Nova, and the Moblings for support.
“Well, the chance was 30%, too bad,” Elara said with a shrug, then sprinted away to escape the situation.
“That’s right.” Lars mimicked Elara, using Sven’s distraction to retreat.
“Hey! Fight like a man!” Sven shouted at Lars. Lars merely waved goodbye and kept running.
Moleman noticed Sven’s reluctance to chase after Lars and inferred that Sven was having trouble reaching his top speed so soon after his last fight.
“Helen, retreat!” Moleman ordered, seizing the opportunity.
“Got it!” Helen responded, releasing her grip on Katya and trying to pull away.
Katya feared that her chance to advance to the next round was slipping away.
“QUIQUIQUIQUI!”
But then, a hero emerged from the shadows!
Othar darted down the street and leaped at Helen, slipping through her clothing.
“Othar!” Katya exclaimed in surprise as she quickly stood up.
“Kyaaaaaaaaaa!” Helen screamed as she felt the unsettling sensation of the coonfox moving through her clothes.
Othar soon reappeared, carrying one of the rabbit figurines in his mouth.
“QUIQUIQUIQUI!” The coonfox emitted unintelligible sounds before hopping onto Katya’s shoulder and handing her the figurine.
“You bloody thief! Come back here!” Helen yelled angrily, glaring at the animal.
Katya had asked Othar to wait where she had been hiding, fearing that the coonfox might be in danger amidst the battle. What she hadn't anticipated was that Othar, despite being the smallest of the Coonfoxes, possessed the heart of a true warrior.
Or perhaps he felt abandoned and worried about missing out on delicious meals, so he was determined to prove his worth. And what better way to do that than by presenting her with a shiny object?
“Haha, you’re amazing, Othar,” Katya chuckled, petting the cat-sized creature on her shoulder as she tucked the statuette into her pants.
Unfortunately, the battle continued unabated. Moleman seized the opportunity to close in on Katya at high speed, enveloped in his synchro aura. He lunged violently from the left, aiming to snatch the rabbit she had just secured.
Before he could strike, Sven intervened with a dropkick, sending Moleman sprawling several yards away.
“Remember who your opponent is!” Sven shouted angrily, then immediately charged back towards Moleman to resume their fight. Without Lars’s help, Moleman would now face significant difficulties against the number two on the list.
“That’s right, we still have to fight,” Katya said, focusing on Helen, her remaining opponent, as there was still one rabbit to retrieve to advance to the next round.
“Quiqui!” Othar chirped, his fur bristling as he glanced toward the office girl.
“I hate… I hate… I hate fucking rats!” Helen yelled, charging at Katya, her synchro aura blazing. Despite her seemingly shy demeanor, she harbored a violent side.
“You’ll never surprise me again,” Katya retorted, mimicking her opponent’s actions by enveloping herself in synchro aura and propelling towards Helen to start the fight.
The two women engaged in a fierce battle in the middle of the street. Katya’s agile strikes were expertly deflected by Helen’s impeccable defenses, yet Helen struggled to land a hit.
“I need to watch out for her grabs; she seems to be an expert at them,” Katya thought, dodging Helen’s attempts and trying to counter the rapid strikes aimed at her torso.
Gradually, Katya began to notice a pattern. Although her attacks weren’t landing, they were faster, and she could see Helen’s attempts to counter them.
“She’s slow… no, I’ve just become accustomed to higher speeds…” Katya realized. Nova, who had trained with her daily on the way to Gyokuseki, was much faster. Even though he had adjusted his speed to match hers, he was still considerably swifter than Helen. Katya understood that her reflexes and agility far exceeded Helen’s.
As the fight progressed, Katya’s jabs began to unsettle Helen. In a moment of strategic brilliance, Katya feinted a right hook, luring Helen into a defensive position for a blow that would never come.
“You’re mine!” Katya shouted, swinging her other arm to deliver a decisive blow to Helen’s face.
Helen clenched her jaw and tried to retaliate, but it was too late. Katya’s eyes glowed with a fierce intensity, reminiscent of a predator on the hunt.
A barrage of strikes overwhelmed Helen. What she had previously been able to block with her defenses now pierced through effortlessly. Katya’s fists hammered her opponent’s face, stomach, and chest. Despite Helen's resilience, the relentless assault soon wore her down.
Katya finished with a spinning roundhouse kick that sent Helen crashing onto the pavement, unconscious.
Katya had won her fight.
“Haha, looks like you’re not so pathetic after all,” Sven’s voice came from behind her. Instinctively, Katya whirled around with lightning speed, ready to face what she thought might be another opponent.
“That’s a good expression,” Sven said, lounging comfortably. Behind him, Moleman Daniels lay defeated, his body marked by numerous cuts and his eyes rolled back in unconsciousness.
Katya Ivanova #7 and Sven Wagner #2 advanced to the next phase, as did Elara Fallbrook #17 and Lars Andersen #6.