The second phase of the Admission Tournament was finally upon them. Groups were forming, and strategies were being whispered in every corner of the arena. Students eyed one another with a mix of suspicion and opportunistic calculation, wondering who they could trust and who they needed to eliminate. In this phase, survival wasn't just about individual strength—it was about working together, or at least pretending to..
A group of three boys, their uniforms pristine, huddled together in the corner of the arena. One of them, a tall and slender student with sharp eyes, was whispering fervently to his companions.
"We attack first," he insisted. "While everyone else is too focused on the objective, we take out as many of the other groups as possible. It's simple—fewer competitors mean better chances for us later."
One of his friends hesitated, glancing around. "But we don't even know the terrain yet. What if we—"
"Doesn't matter," the sharp-eyed boy cut in. "We strike fast, overwhelm them before they can defend themselves. It's our best shot."
A pair of girls stood to the side, their eyes scanning the crowd. They had already grouped up but were still debating their next move. The third member of their group, a quiet and stoic boy, remained silent as they argued.
"We can't just go after the objective right away," one girl argued. "Everyone will expect that. We need to lay low, observe the other groups, and pick them off when they least expect it."
"But what if the objective is timed? We could lose before we even make a move," the other girl countered, crossing her arms.
The quiet boy finally spoke up, his voice low and measured. "We do neither. We stay neutral. Let the others tear each other apart, and when the time comes, we'll strike. Patience is key."
....
Ash Braker sat cross-legged on a patch of grass, leaning back slightly as he tossed a small rock between his hands. His group, a quiet male student named Darian and an energetic female student named Lila, were both seated across from him.
Lila was the first to speak. "So, what's the plan? Go after the objective or take out the other groups?"
Ash smiled, his signature carefree grin plastered on his face, but there was a sharpness in his eyes. "Both, maybe?" he said, shrugging. "There's no harm in thinning out the competition, right? I mean, fewer groups, fewer problems for us."
Darian raised an eyebrow. "You're suggesting we attack?"
"Not just suggesting," Ash replied with a chuckle. "I'm saying it's a pretty good idea. Besides, if we take out a few groups early on, we can focus on the objective later."
Lila tilted her head, a curious look crossing her face. "Who should we target then?"
Ash's gaze drifted over the crowd, and for a moment, his eyes landed on Lucius, who was walking alone at the edge of the arena. He could tell Lucius wasn't bothering to find a group. No one had approached him. His friend—or at least, the guy he considered a friend—looked entirely isolated.
"I was thinking… we could give Lucius a hand," Ash said, his smile widening.
"Lucius?" Darian frowned. "You mean the guy who fought Soren? Why help him? Isn't he better off on his own?"
Ash shrugged again. "Maybe, but I have a feeling he could use some support. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to have someone like him in our corner, right?"
Lila blinked, then grinned. "I like the way you think, Ash. Let's go make some friends."
...
Seraphina stood with her arms crossed, surveying the arena with her cold eyes. Her two companions, Mari and Isla, stood nervously beside her, clearly unsure of how to approach the stoic girl who had asked them to join her group.
"I… I'm not sure we're up to your level, Seraphina," Mari admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Isla nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we're not exactly… battle-hardened."
Seraphina glanced at them, her gaze piercing. "I didn't ask you to join for your combat prowess," she said coolly. "But there are benefits to being in my group. You will learn quickly, and if you stay close to me, I will ensure you make it through this phase."
The two girls exchanged nervous glances, but neither of them objected. Seraphina was right. Being in her group practically guaranteed their survival.
As Seraphina scanned the crowd, her eyes landed on Lucius, who was once again walking away from the groups that were forming around him. She tilted her head slightly, a curious thought entering her mind.
Why isn't he grouping up with anyone?
Just as she was about to ask herself this question aloud, she overheard a group of students nearby gossiping in hushed tones.
"I heard no one wants to be around him after what he did to Soren. That guy's ruthless."
"Yeah, not exactly team material."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed as she absorbed the students' comments. So that's why… she thought. They fear him.
Her gaze flicked over to Ash, who was also watching Lucius from a distance. Her lips twitched upward, a rare smile forming as an amusing thought crossed her mind.
Are they truly no more than friends? she wondered with a chuckle. For a brief moment, she imagined Lucius and Ash in a heated, almost sensual conversation, the tension palpable between them. The mental image made her chuckle again, which drew confused looks from Mari and Isla.
"Are you alright?" Isla asked, frowning.
"Perfectly," Seraphina replied, her face returning to its usual cold expression. But the thought of Ash and Lucius continued to amuse her as they prepared for the next phase.
.....
Elena Drexith tapped her chin thoughtfully, her red eyes scanning the groups of students that had already formed. She had yet to find her own team, and it wasn't due to a lack of options—it was because she was being incredibly selective. She needed shields, people who would protect her while she rose to the top.
But now, most of the promising students had already grouped up. Ash, Seraphina, and even Soren had already secured their allies, leaving fewer options for Elena.
"Too late for them," she muttered under her breath. She had considered approaching Soren, but his attitude made him more of a liability than an asset. She needed someone reliable but also disposable. Her mind raced through the list of remaining students, discarding names as quickly as they came.
As she was lost in thought, Elena accidentally bumped into someone. She took a quick step back, her sharp gaze shooting upward to meet the eyes of whoever she had walked into.
Her breath hitched. It was Lucius.
His expression was as neutral and dismissive as it had been during his match with Soren. Elena felt her heart race, and for a moment, the memory of their brief eye contact after his fight flashed through her mind.
She tried to compose herself quickly, forcing a calm smile. "Apologies," she said smoothly, her voice steady despite the slight flutter in her chest.
Lucius gave her a curt nod, not saying a word. He walked past her without a second glance, but each step he took seemed to echo louder in Elena's mind. Her composure slipped, and before she could stop herself, she called out to him.
"Lucius."
He halted, but didn't bother looking back. His voice was cold and dismissive when he finally spoke. "What?"
Elena's mind raced. She needed to say something smart, something that would keep him here. "I was wondering…" she began, choosing her words carefully. "Would you consider… grouping up with me?"
There was a long, heavy silence.
.....
Inside, Lucius was screaming.
Why her? Of all people, why the second heroine of the novel?!
He kept his outward expression calm, but internally, he was freaking out. Elena Drexith, one of the heroines of the story, was asking him to group up with her. This was bad. Really bad. He had been trying to stay away from the plot, to avoid getting involved with the main characters, and now one of them was practically throwing themselves into his lap.
What do I do? What the hell do I say?
Lucius could feel his heart pounding as he tried to think of a response. He wanted to say yes—after all, she was strong, and having her in his group would guarantee his survival. But on the other hand, grouping up with her would mean getting dragged deeper into the story's plot.
Elena was still waiting, her red eyes watching him expectantly.
Finally, Lucius sighed inwardly. Screw it. I can't say no now.
He turned around slowly, giving her a nonchalant shrug. "Fine," he said, his voice as dismissive as ever. "I'll join."