Hearing what George asked of Kairos' team, the other captains nodded in staunch agreement. They have all seen how swiftly this group that only bore the J Rank’s badges jump into action when no one else could react.
It is rare that a commander would take a gamble with low rankers like this, especially for the first order on the field. If Kairos’ group failed it would no doubt reflect badly on George, but after the previous battle where the team splendidly repelled the sneak attack, everyone's impression of Kairos and team's ability has already changed.
As the five departed for their mission with a sack of equipment, George started taking control with deft and precise instructions. The Red Team must fight against time to properly erect a fortified camp that could cut off the enemy’s access to the East Hill.
…..
As the five boys entered the forest, Alan and Kairos immediately took to the front leading the group as scouts, Edward and Jim who have support roles in the middle, and Tommy who is the toughest of the group followed closely behind.
While they move towards the estimated location of their targets, Edward busied himself by setting devices among the trees, and Jim assisted him by planting explosives in hollowed trees. Because of their lack of skill, the group’s progress had to slow down significantly, but they know that preparation will always defeat solution.
It took them the better of an hour to delve deeper into the woods where the Blue Team’s main unit are operating.
Kairos stopped his group and began preparing his weapon, "There are people ahead. Some daredevils had ventured too far and separated from their group. We have about 3 minutes to take them down before they are able to rejoin their friends. Get ready guys." Though this is his first exploit as their captain, Kairos felt surprisingly calm.
"Hold on, how far away are they?" Alan asked, stunned. Though the both of them are scouts, Alan couldn't detect their targets at all. But thinking about it, he realises it is unsurprising, since Kairos being the one that taught him his role as recon, can read the signs in the forest better. And, Kairos’ connection to the heavens and the Earth is also much stronger than the others on the team, granting him a better range in Soul Perception.
"I estimate them to be about 300 meters away. We will rush to within a hundred meters and then sneak up on them."
300 Meters?!
The group gasped. They all had the same technique, but compared to Kairos, the others only have a very limited range of soul perception. Even Alan who discovered a talent for scouting could barely manage a little over a hundred meters’ distance.
They sprang into action like a gale blowing across the forest. All of them moved far quicker than their ranks suggest, though they are not using any movement techniques. Their overall abilities improved greatly since they picked up the new cultivation method.
Additionally, they became exceptionally sensitive to their surroundings due to their developing Soul Perception, and it granted them swifter actions than what is normally possible in this entangling forest.
When they soon reached their hundredth meters’ mark, instead of slowing down, they quickly dashed towards the opposing team. Avoiding every potential of clatter and clutter, they ran flowingly across the exposed roots on the forest ground with increased acceleration, and in almost complete silence. So swiftly that their sneak attack is executed like a full-speed charge.
By the time their foes are aware of what is happening, the guys already upon them.
…..
Meanwhile, within the school compound, a few instructors have been overlooking at the entire training ground using a gigantic glass ball.
Inscriptions of light, wind and water runes have been drawn underneath the ball, allowing everything that is happening during the examination to be reflected off the glass.
"Impressive. Their rush seems to be so fluid; I wonder who their trainer is." One of the older instructors with a thick and long beard said while nodding in appreciation.
“Indeed, a few students already caught my eyes,” Another instructor with huge bulging muscles and a tiny triangle beard stuck on his chin replied, also nodding in appreciation.
“Oh? Which ones, old chap.”
“Luciette, George and the whole team of these J Ranking whelps,” He laughed, pointing at the screen that is showing Kairos’ group swiftly taking down their targets.
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Then he added, “The White Snow Clan’s young mistress had shown great decisiveness and a willingness to take bold actions. The Mountain Cat’s boy remained composed and even suppressed an early uprising. Truly impressive for his age.
Then, of course, this group of five. Somehow, they managed to stay hidden from our eyes for the entire term. I wonder why they had been hiding their true ranks under the J badge? Perhaps… simply to impress us?”
"It is still far too early to say if they even have an opportunity to shine, old chap,” The first instructor said, but his eyes are beaming with interest as he added, “Now that lil’ George had cut off the food supply of those huddled in the East base, I wonder how long could this match even last."
.....
Though George and Luciette, the commanders of the Red and Blue teams could not see each other, a wide grin simultaneously appeared on both their faces. The strategy of both sides revolved around the same common point: The length of time that the elites fortifying the East Base could hold out with the food and water they carried. Seven short days.
The two commanders know that the battle between them has only begun, and the challenge that is promised only invigorated them.
Whatever that Luciette is planning requires a week to bring to fruition, but George also knows of this, that that too is his time limit. To counter her plans, he confidently selected Kairos’ squad for the most important job. To whittle down their opponents’ numbers.
With the Blue Team spread across the forest, guarding the two bases and searching for the hidden flag, there are bound to be those that separate from their group and become easy pickings. Kairos’ success in bringing them down, will determine the rest of the battle, and likely, directly affect their result in either victory or defeat.
It is a gamble George had courageously undertaken. At the end of their test, Luciette will need to bring the hidden flag to the East Hill to secure victory, and if Kairos’ group failed to take down enough opponents, they would unquestionably be overwhelmed.
His audacious choice in Kairos is certainly not made in the spur of a moment. For, while many teams in the red's side have higher ranks than Kairos, there was none that reacted as quickly. A trait needed for high-level covert operations.
And when that J ranking team repelled the enemy forces, each individual member of the squad shown teamwork and trust that thoroughly impressed him, making George believe it is more than possible for his strategy to succeed.
Meanwhile, deep in the jungle, 5 H ranked blue badges are already clutched in Kairos' hand.
Combat had started quickly and ended just as fast.
They pounced on their foes like a pack of wolves, with Edward's swift arrows herald to the mayhem. He knocked the wind out of several guys even before any could respond.
Then, with their targets now rooted in pain and panic, Tommy charged into the melee, and with brute strength, smashed those he faced headfirst into the soft forest soil.
At the same time, Kairos and Alan that had hidden themselves atop thick branches leapt down into the midst of chaos.
The entire squad was disposed of before any of them could let out a shout of warning.
Jim, however, sat alone on the top of a thick branch of a nearby tree, with an upset look on his face having no chance to participate in the action.
His task during conflicts is to take down any runners, silently and rapidly. Ensuring no one could inform Luciette of their raid.
Being the fastest of the group, and also extensively experimenting with poisons, hidden weapons and sneak attacks for his role as their Saboteur, he is the choice selection for such an endeavour. Of course, his knowledge came from trial-and-error, rather than any true guidance from the academy.
Because of their strategy, the boy’s favourite weapons, the twin daggers that is enchanted with fire runes, had no chance to be taken out and he felt sorely left out.
In his heart, he itched to test them out.
Their backgrounds meant that there was little chance of going near an inscription weapon, much less than owning one.
His friends looked at their gear with great delight. They had always been on the receiving end of a fight, but this time they have even the odds.
The overall performance of their weapons has been greatly increased, and now even a single hit will easily cause the opponent to groan in pain. The aggressive fire Ki from the inscriptions is not only blazing hot, but it is also highly intrusive, and upon contact, it rushes into the bodies of their victim and causes a burn that spreads internally.
One of the reasons why they are able to take down their opponents so quickly in the past two battles can be credited to the intense pain created by their strikes.
However, this amount of damage that they are doing is considered little. As this is a training exercise, the gel coating on their weapons are used to protect the students from cuts, insulate against elements, reduces impacts with its rubbery texture, and even dulls inscriptions. In addition, to extract any student that were heavily injured from battle, there are always staffs of the school on standby.
Of course, even though the Academy ensured that the death count to be decreased as much as possible, but in the end, the possibility of dying in this training exercise isn’t zero. In fact, as long as they are within the training grounds, they are all in danger to magical beasts.
To prepare the students to survive in the real world, the Academy encouraged beasts that prey on men to find a home in the forest.
The five boys worked efficiently to bind the ones they capture. The Academy’s staffs arrived within the minute and carried them off. The examination had ended for those extracted, but their score only tabulated at the end of the exercise.
After securing their prize, Kairos continues leading his team to two other scouting parties that ventured too far from Luciette's control. Using their superior detection range, they easily subdue their targets with pre-emptive strikes.
They continued running around the edge of the defence network laid out by Luciette, as they approached their 4th target. But at this time, Kairos suddenly called for a halt. Closing his eyes for concentration, while the others kept a lookout, the young captain swiftly sent more of his Soul Perception outwards.
It spreads quickly, enveloping their surrounding area. 20 meters. 30 meters. Then 40 meters.
When it reaches 50 meters, a tiny clinking that sparked from under a dense bush attracted his attention.
"We are surrounded", Kairos says calmly as he opens his eyes. This time, their targets are bait set out for them, while ambushers are lying hidden in wait.
Their group had focused their limited Soul Perception range on their targets, and almost failed to discover the snare set for them. Fortunately, Kairos had skilfully split his perception to two parts. One to keep on their targets, and the other to detect any abnormalities around them.
The others are no longer surprised at his capacity by now, and they faithfully await their leader’s instructions.
"Jim, it's your turn to shine," Kairos says with a smile.
"Finally! Okay, what do you want me to do?" Jim replies while rolling his elbow.
"You're…. just gonna to be the bait this time. Hahaha" Kairos couldn't help but burst into laughter. He knew that Jim had been patiently waiting for action, but now is still not the time for him to engage the enemy just yet.
"Whattt? Come on, that sounds awfully boring...” He complained but still left immediately. The rest of the team immediately melded into the bushes, hiding away from sight.
They all knew, from their frequent defeats in the past, that there is very little time to waste when caught by an ambush.