The rest of the team moved on to the test, while the soldiers stayed to help the wounded.

“There are no weapons left for us!” said Viviane, worried.

“Plastic weapons with red paint inside! That’s what they planned!” exclaimed San, irritated.

“It’s not fatal, so it’s good for the test!” said Sarah, trying to stay calm.

“A small knife, iron bars and a baseball bat... Only bad things left!” complained Dan, frustrated.

“I’ll take the bat!” said Kay, calmly picking up the object.

“Isn’t that little knife too small? The others probably didn’t even see it here!” commented Fran, surprised by the size of the weapon.

Mari, noticing Kay’s calmness, asked:

“Listen, Kay, you said you didn’t need to rush. You have a plan, don’t you?”

Kay smiled slightly and asked:

“Do you remember the conditions for a team to win?” — Take the flag and give it to the vice-captain... Ah, I see! — Mira replied, catching the idea in the air.

— I'll use the least tiring plan. But that's because I don't really care about the test. Now, I don't know about you... — Kay said, relaxed.

The scene changes.

— Answer me one thing, are you going to move? — Kay asked, staring at Aurion.

— I'll stay in the same place. — Aurion replied, expressionless.

— I can't believe we're really going to stay here waiting! — Thais said impatiently.

— It's a valid tactic. The condition is that someone on the team delivers the flag, but there's nothing that prohibits the others from stopping the competitors! — Mari explained.

— Do you think this will be well received by the people watching? — Aurion asked, watching Kay with interest.

— The only passage in this area is the one behind us. If the ghouls were to attack, it would be through this passage. Staying positioned to protect the passage would be the army's highest priority. And you still think it's not a valid tactic? — Kay exclaimed confidently.

— I didn't say it's not valid, just that it wouldn't be well-received. — Aurion replied, crossing his arms.

— Let's hide in the trees. — San suggested, getting ready to climb.

— I'll be the bait. You can go! — Kay said, lying down on the grass, without much concern.

— Why? If they don't know we're here, wouldn't it be better? — Thais exclaimed, confused.

— They'll be careful. There are one hundred and fifty competitors, and even on the team there are strangers. They won't trust us right away. Even allies can be enemies! But it doesn't matter who gives it up, the whole team will win. — Kay said calmly.

— That's why it doesn't make sense for them to fight among themselves! — Thais said, trying to understand the logic.

— Who would draw more attention: an entire team that won, or a single person who handed over the flag? If they're after points, they'll choose the second option. — Kay explained strategically.

— Let's hide in the trees. If you see movement, give a signal! — Mari ordered.

— You'll leave it! — Kay replied, lying down.

The team climbed the trees and hid, observing the surroundings carefully.

— Let me guess... Did you find me by smell? — Aurion asked, with a smile.

— Yes! — Kay replied, bluntly.

— That's an impressive skill you have there! — Aurion said, amazed.

— I'm just sensitive to smells. — Kay said, disinterested.

— It would be very useful for the army! — Aurion suggested, trying to convince him.

— I'll pass. — Kay replied, without hesitation.

— What a waste of talent! — Aurion thought, intrigued by Kay's behavior.

— Does this never end? — exclaimed Kratos, defeating yet another enemy with a powerful blow.

— There have already been thirty enemies and we still haven't found the flag! — complained Slayer, frustrated.

— Patience. We just need to expand our field of vision. Let's split up! — said Raven, heading to the right with determination.

— You're right! — replied Slayer, moving forward without hesitation.

Kratos, still confused by the situation, exclaimed:

— And teamwork?

Despite his complaint, he eventually headed left, realizing that the group was more focused on covering more ground than staying together.

Slayer walked through the forest, listening for every sound. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure up ahead. The glint of light reflected off the blade of a sword, but not an ordinary sword. It was plastic, like all the other weapons provided for the test. However, the look on his opponent's face showed that the battle would be taken seriously.

"Finally, someone interesting to fight," Jack said.

"Jack, huh?" Slayer said, raising his own plastic sword. "I've heard about you. Let's see if what they say is true."

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The two stared at each other for a brief moment, like predators about to strike. And then, they both advanced at the same time.

First move: Slayer went straight, delivering a frontal blow, aiming for Jack's torso. The plastic swords collided, making a hollow, muffled sound. The force of the impact made the red ink inside Jack's sword shake, but he kept his balance and deftly dodged the attack.

"You're going to have to do better than that!" Jack said, spinning his sword and trying to hit Slayer with a sideways blow.

Slayer quickly blocked with his sword, and the two remained pressed against each other for a second, both testing their opponent's strength.

Second move: Jack backed away for a moment and then launched a series of rapid attacks. Slayer barely managed to block, each blow making the plastic blades crack with small pops. The red ink rattled inside the swords, almost as if it were ready to be released at any moment.

"Let's see how long you can last!" Jack taunted.

Third move: Slayer smiled. He was patient. He blocked another attack from Jack, this time using the momentum of the force to spin and dodge the blow. Seizing the moment, he tried a low attack, aiming for Jack's legs. But Jack jumped back at the last second, avoiding the plastic blade.

“Quick, but I’m faster!” Jack said, preparing for a counterattack.

Fourth move: Slayer decided to change strategy. Instead of continuing on the defensive, he went for an aggressive attack, aiming for Jack’s shoulder. The blow was skillfully blocked, but Slayer was expecting it. With a sudden movement, he pushed Jack’s sword to the side, creating a small opening.

Final move: Seeing the opening, Slayer turned his body and delivered a sideways blow to Jack’s side. The plastic sword hit hard, and the red paint inside the blade spread across Jack’s body, marking his defeat.

Jack stumbled back, putting his hand to the place where he had been hit. Red paint stained his uniform.

“Looks like you won this time,” Jack said, panting, accepting his defeat with a smile.

— It was a good fight — Slayer replied, offering his hand to help Jack up.

Jack accepted the gesture, standing up.

— If your team doesn't have the flag, then I'll leave — Slayer said, with a firm look, before leaving to continue his search.

As he disappeared into the trees, Jack stood still for a few moments, watching him leave. A disturbing thought began to cross his mind.

— They say he comes from a line of assassins... Could it be that they were just bad rumors about him? — Jack thought. — Although... that ability of his is really for killing people. It doesn't suit a kind person.

The silence of the forest was soon interrupted by a lazy and familiar voice.

— I just wanted to take a nap, but how long did you intend to stay there? — Kay said, lying on the grass next to the aurion, with his hands behind his head. — If you have the flag, come and give it to him. If not, they'll be looking for it soon.

While teams were fiercely battling it out in every corner of the forest, Kay was completely relaxed, lying down, as if he were in a park on a sunny day. He barely raised his head to look at the others. Kay remained lying down on the field, unhurriedly, watching the competitors from a distance. “I know you’re there, come out of the bushes!” he said casually. Fiona and her team emerged from the shadows, staring at him curiously. “A surprise attack wouldn’t work on you… But I’m curious. Why are you lying down in the middle of the test?” Fiona arched an eyebrow. Kay sighed, not taking her eyes off the sky. “Why tire me out, when the flag can come to me?” Fiona laughed, but gave him a teasing look. “How long did it take you to think of that?” she challenged. “Since they explained the test,” he replied calmly. Before Fiona could react, something moved too quickly to be noticed. A plastic bar came down hard on her. She reflexively raised her bat, blocking the blow.

CRACK! The impact echoed, and Fiona stumbled back in surprise.

— What...? — she muttered, stunned.

Mira, until then hidden in the trees, landed on the ground with agility, holding the bar she had just used.

— You need to stop provoking others! — Mira said, her teeth clenched, as she attacked again, forcing Fiona to retreat.

— I wasn't provoking... I just wanted to avoid an unnecessary fight — Kay retorted, still lying down, as if the situation didn't involve him.

— That's what we call provocation! — Mira countered, without ceasing her attacks.

Fiona tried to defend herself, still shaken by the sudden ambush. Although the weapons were plastic, Mira's intensity kept her alert.

While the fight heated up, Thais took advantage of the distraction and, agilely, touched one of the competitors with her plastic knife, staining him with red paint.

— There, one less! — Thais smiled, watching the competitor fall to his knees, defeated.

Kay, watching from afar, frowned thoughtfully.

“Does it only take a splash of paint to eliminate someone?” he asked, looking more intrigued than genuinely interested, still lying down, as if nothing was happening.

The rest of Kay’s team descended from the trees with calculated movements, surrounding the field.

“I don’t know if I agree with this approach,” Sarah said, frowning.

“It saved us the trouble of looking for the flag, what’s the problem?” San exclaimed, looking at Kay.

“That’s too cowardly!” Sarah replied, indignant.

“I agree with her!” Viviane said, adjusting her defensive posture.

Dan, watching Kay lying down, sighed heavily.

“It’s not like he’s sorry…” she said, shaking her head.

“He… fell asleep?!” Viviane exclaimed, perplexed.

“Get the flag back!” — shouted one of the competitors from Fiona's team, advancing.

— I won't let her! — replied Thais, taking on the fight against the competitor.

Mira stood firmly, her plastic iron bar held between her hands, while Fiona swung the plastic baseball bat with unshakable confidence. The two faced each other, the field around them vibrating with the energy of the battle, but for them, the world seemed reduced to that moment.

Mira took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on Fiona's calculated movements. She knew Fiona was physically stronger, but there was something Mira had in her favor: speed and control. She adjusted her posture, preparing for the imminent confrontation.

Fiona smiled arrogantly and took the first step, advancing with a powerful blow of her baseball bat, aiming at Mira's shoulder. The impact of that blow would be devastating, but Mira, with a quick and fluid movement, dodged to the side. The air seemed to vibrate as Fiona's bat passed inches away.

Mira wasted no time. She took advantage of Fiona's momentary imbalance to advance, her plastic iron bar cutting through the air towards her opponent's torso. Fiona blocked it with her bat. The two engaged in a tense game of attacks and defenses. Fiona was stronger, but Mira was quick and agile, always finding gaps in Fiona's attacks, narrowly dodging them and responding with precise counterattacks. Each time Fiona attacked with her bat, Mira managed to dodge or block effectively, using her plastic bar to absorb the impacts. But Mira knew she needed more than just defense. Fiona advanced with another heavy blow, trying to hit Mira's side, but this time, Mira did not retreat. Instead, she joined the movement, twisting her body and crouching at the same time. Fiona's bat passed over her head, hitting nothing. With a swift movement, Mira delivered a horizontal blow with her bar, hitting Fiona directly in the ribs. The impact made Fiona stagger back in surprise. Mira wasted no time: she took advantage of the moment of imbalance and spun with precision, delivering another blow that hit Fiona's arm, forcing her to drop the baseball bat. Fiona fell to her knees, panting, her bat out of reach. Mira stopped, keeping the iron bar pointed at her opponent, but did not deliver the final blow. She looked at Fiona, her eyes steady and serene. "I... lost," Fiona admitted, taking a deep breath, lowering her head in defeat. Mira lowered her bar and took a step back, respecting her opponent's moment. She had won, but there was no need to humiliate Fiona. As she looked back, a thought invaded her. "It was my first fight against someone different. How did I do, Kay?" she thought, turning to face her leader. But to her surprise, Kay was still lying down, clearly asleep. Mira sighed, irritated. "He's sleeping!" — she thought in disbelief.

Before she could express her displeasure, Fiona stood up, panting, and walked away toward the corner of the field.

“You are used to fighting, Mira, but sometimes you think too much. It can lead to defeat. Avoid that in a real fight!” Fiona said, as she retreated.

— I know... I've felt it on my own skin many times — Mira thought, walking back to Kay.

At that moment, Sarah approached, her expression dejected.

— I'm sorry, I lost! — Sarah said, with a tone of discouragement.

— What?! — Mira exclaimed, surprised.

— I'm not good at direct combat. I have training in short-range weapons, but I'm not good with bladed weapons! — Sarah explained.

Mira raised her eyebrows, confused.

— The church provides weapons training? I didn't know that!

Sarah laughed, shaking her head.