"Alright ladies and gentlemonsters, here are the cadets who qualified for the next round: We'll start with West, who came up with around Fifty students, but are now with around thirty or so, who qualified for the next event," the announcer began with the first event's results.
"Next classes would be North and East, who tied with around six students eliminated from the competition. North, being mostly the best in previous years, this must come as a blow to them, seeing that same as South, they don't have a lot of students. And finally, the class with the least eliminated students was South, with five students eliminated."
"To tell you the truth, most South classes I've seen always had most if not all the students eliminated. But this year's class is quite possibly the first class I've ever seen with so many students for the next round. Goes to show that the times are changing around here,"
"Now let's come up to the points raked in by the classes. Firstly, it's good to inform you that due to South outstanding performances in their school activities such as going to other planets and hunting more beast essences than the rest of their peers, they were already ahead with one hundred thousand points!"
"Knowing that, it's no surprise that they came up first with one hundred and fifty thousand points!"
The crowd was shocked at first, but all quickly cheered in excitement for the South class performance, probably because they've never even done that before. But even as I left with Flinty to group up with the teachers, the North parents, who had somehow managed to get their own area for cheering, were dead silent. No doubt they were flabbergasted with how the hell South managed to pull up with more beast essence than their kids.
"Trailing behind South, with a hundred thousand points, would be the North class. They were the ones who came in second in gathering the beast essence, and since more than twenty students passed through the finish line, that's where all those points came from."
"South were unfortunate in that aspect, being with the least pupils in the entire class, hence not a lot of points to be gained. Just another classic case of the masses overpower the skill."
"Moving on, East were the third class with seventy thousand points, same case with a good number of points gained from their many who finished the race. And finally, coming up to West, with fifty thousand points. Quite unfortunate for them to lack even one person to cross the finish. But at least we know they can fight monsters to get them all those fifty thousand points!"
The crowd respectively clapped for the West students. If you look at it from a different angle, you could say that West had the most bad luck out there than any other class.
The start with Blade, the forest thing, the Yetis were even their downfall. It's not their fault they have many students that focus on their looks. But looks don't necessarily mean you win, and I think they learned that the hard way.
Where's all the rumoured practice I heard they were doing? Maybe they thought that even if they didn't give it their all, they'll still come out as third. Must have passed their minds that we had already gotten points before the entire Inter–class competition began.
The announcer cleared his throat to get the crowds attention once again, "We're coming up to the middle of the competition, ladies and gentlemonsters! Get more hyped, why don't you!"
The crowd screamed out with energy in answer. Guess it was the announcer's job to also keep the spectating monsters excited.
"Alright monsters, calm down. It's time for the next event, and this time, it's more of a test of tactics rather than just fighting. What better way to represent this than by capture the flag!"
"YEEEAAAH!"
"Wait, capture the flag?" I asked Flintheart.
"Don't look at me like I have the answer. This is all new territory, even for me,"
The announcer cleared his throat before he continued. He's in for a long day, "We all know the classic normal capture the flag, two teams against each other, a flag here and there and so on. In this competition, we're gonna make things a little more interesting."
"Firstly, for general knowledge, we'll decide on how to group these classes. It'll be a two versus two type of competition, with the classes to compete with each other to be announced much later, before it starts."
"As you can see in the field that is right now being cleared by the necessary monsters, there are various types of training equipment placed in various positions. Since we have an excellent crew with us, they will grow up a forest in record time, as per the situation requires."
"In this forest, yes, there will be two flags placed on opposite ends, their location hidden from the students except the flag they are protecting but, that's where the challenges come from."
"The training equipment, for excitement purposes I won't reveal what they do, will all be positioned in areas very difficult to identify them, but cadets, you should consider these things as death traps."
"Points will be gained in the following ways: Capturing the opposition flag should be your primary objective. Catching one of the enemy cadets in one of the many traps laid out will count as a loss of manpower to the enemies and will be penalized. And finally, teamwork will strictly be observed to award marks where deserved," he finished.
All the while when the announcer was explaining the next event, we had made it back to where all the teachers were, and were just listening in on the announcer till he was finished. The head general was with us, once again to talk about the real agenda of the competition.
"Nice work out their teachers. Especially you, kid! I mean, since I last saw you, you still were strong, but to improve with such a margin...you really are one of the genius in this growing verse of ours."
"Anyways, enough of that. I feel like the next competition is self explained, but for those who still didn't know, this is all about teamwork. Now, about what the announcer said, I may have told him to lie a little bit,"
We stared at the general waiting for him to continue.
"You guys should look more surprised that you are now,"
Mr William spoke up first, "After pulling that stunt with us general, we really aren't that much surprised this time. Just tell us what godawful work you've got laid out for us. Cause I don't know about you, but I want this event to be done and over with,"
"Oh, I see. Well then, in this competition, there's nothing much for you guys to do but just observe the students, how they play with each other, cause, prior to what the announcer said, the main goal of this competition is how much they support each other,"
"Only that?" Mrs Lily, the East teacher asked.
I didn't see a lot of her during the last competition. She must have been the one dealing with the rain forest. I remember she went with one of the general's, Lym, was it? They must have had a long day, the rain even so slightly making them more fatigue. But this time, I'm sure general Lym won't be required for this part of the competition.
"Yeah, only that," the head general answered with a smile.
Flintheart looked at the general hard, "Something's fishy about this,"
"Oh, general, I have a question. Who's going to save the students from the said 'training equipment?' " I asked.
Mr William shook his head before he spoke, "I knew it! General, this is what you failed to tell us! Good eye, kid,"
"Damn! Kid, you didn't have to remind them of that. I was going to tell them when they started the event,"
"Leave the boy alone! That was just diabolical general!"
"Yeah, I don't really care. You should always expect the unexpected. Now teachers, young invigilator for the day, let's go earn our pay!"
"Wait, pay? What pay–"I asked but was rudely interrupted by a push.
"Why would you look at that! It's starting now," Flintheart ushered me with the rest of the teachers towards the next destination.
***
*10 minutes later*
***
"Oh wow,"
"I know right!"
I've got to get the number for the clean up crew around here cause damn, they do their job right! The field was all but cleared of the previous messes, and in its wake, a large jungle that I couldn't see the end of it. It would have been criminal to call it a mere forest.
Even with jet packs, I'm sure maneuvering around those tight branches would prove more difficulty than I thought. The trees from the ground were around the height of the great lizard I had just faced. I'm not even sure anyone could see anything ten metres ahead before a tree blocked your path.
"Hoowey Max! What a forest!" Flintheart exclaimed as he handed me my jet pack.
"How are we supposed to even see one student? There over a hundred of trees in the way!"
"Just watch out for the traps or stay around them. The students will come to you. Well then... "
He patted my head like he always did when I was young, but I still remember him deserting me, so I moved my head out of his range. I still think it's a long way before I forgive him. His eyes shined with hurt, but he quickly hide it with a smile.
"This is where we parted ways, Max. Don't worry, we're just here as the support, there are a good number of observation orbs around, so we won't miss anything. Don't forget to keep your mic on. Stay safe,"
He flew out towards the opposite direction, leaving me to my own devices. Better scope out the–wait a damn minute, no one explained to me where the traps were!
"Ladies and gentlemonsters, welcome to the next part of the event, after a short break. For those of you who keep asking for my name, that's for me to know and for you to find out! Anyways, back to the main course, before the kids walk out with their team bands in place, I've just been informed that in the other second years camp results,"
"Looks like the South two students were given some motivation by their juniors, cause in their event, somehow the South that has always been tailing behind the other classes managed to scrape up third place from right under East two!"
"North was obviously number one, but still, this event is one of the most exciting ones yet. Speaking of which, I can now see the students making their way onto the field,"
***
<*Skill 'map(LVL 10)has been activated!*>
***
Ha! Just as I guessed. My upgraded map does show where the traps were laid out! Thank whoever gave me this system! But thankfully, I'm not in contact with Bradley. He doesn't need to here that I was thankful to have him, of all systems.
Once I had attained a good place for observing, I finally took a look at the teams that were made. By this time, is when the announcer was done with his speech. Once I saw the said teams, I knew this competition was going to take a whole new meaning about teamwork.
The crowd seemed to agreed with me, because there were a lot of complaints from a bunch of parents and said sponsors.
"Don't complain to me! I'm not the one who makes the rules. But I do understand your frustrations. Who's bright idea was it to group The North class and East class against the South and West class?!"