Standing at the podium, I felt a wave of discomfort wash over me. Just moments ago, I had faced near-death at the hands of a twelve-armed statue, and now I was expected to deliver an empowering speech to my peers. I couldn't help but curse Ms. Lily internally for putting me in this position. If it weren't for her threat of disqualification, I would have refused outright.
Scanning the faces of the students before me, I struggled to find the right words to address them. These were unfamiliar faces, strangers I had never met before. It was a stark contrast to the camaraderie I shared with my crew, the Outcasts, who were notably absent in this moment.
Summoning the remnants of my leadership skills, I began my speech, drawing upon past motivations I had given to my crew. "We didn't make it this far by our power alone, but rather through our hard work and perseverance," I declared. "Each one of you has trained tirelessly in preparation for this day. You stand here now because you have earned it. Don't let anyone undermine your efforts."
With those words spoken, I stepped away from the podium, greeted by cheers from the crowd. Despite the applause, I couldn't shake the feeling of embarrassment. I had recycled an old speech, tweaking it slightly to fit the occasion. The thought of facing my crew again and enduring their teasing was daunting.
Pluto's comforting pat on my shoulder brought me back to the present. "I didn't know you were good at these types of speeches," he remarked, his words offering a small sense of reassurance. "I feel much better."
I managed a convincing smile in response, though internally I was grappling with a mix of emotions. As Ms. Lily returned to the stage, I couldn't help but shoot her a glare. Her smile in return only fueled my annoyance – she must have found amusement in my discomfort.
"What a wonderful speech from Abaddon!" Ms. Lily's voice rang out, drawing attention back to the proceedings. "Are you all refueled after your hour break?"
The enthusiastic response from the crowd signaled their readiness for the next challenge. Ms. Lily wasted no time in announcing the details of the third game, declaring it a team sport.
I stood with my arms crossed, already knowing what the next game would entail and having a team in mind. As Ms. Lily swiftly explained the rules, it became apparent that the challenge would be a heightened version of capture the flag. Each group of five would scatter throughout the forest, competing to collect as many flags as possible before the timer expired. Disqualification awaited those who failed to acquire a flag.
Turning to Pluto, I proposed, "Do you want to team up now?"
He glanced around before responding, "It's not like anyone would join me."
Determined, I grabbed his arm and pulled him towards another potential teammate, Liam. As I asked Liam to join our team, he seemed taken aback, scrutinizing me as if trying to discern my intentions. Knowing his abilities would be valuable, I maintained a friendly demeanor.
"What's your answer?" I inquired, masking any hint of impatience. "If you're not interested, just say so."
Liam nodded slowly, agreeing, "Only for this game, then we split."
"Of course, I wouldn't want to tarnish your reputation," I assured him, before setting out to find our fourth teammate.
Standing alone, the brown-haired kid seemed unapproachable, his hostile demeanor deterring others from inviting him to their groups. Ignoring his scowl, I approached him.
"What do you want, Abaddon?" he growled, glaring at me.
Observing him carefully, I maintained my composure. "Would you be willing to join my group?"
Skeptical, he scrutinized Pluto, Liam, and me before questioning, "Why should I?"
Suppressing my frustration, I replied evenly, "Fine, you must think you're better than everyone else. Don't blame me if you end up with a subpar group."
Turning away, I was caught off guard when he halted me. "I'll join your group on one condition," he declared, his arms crossed defiantly.
Raising an eyebrow, I awaited his demand. "What do you want?"
"I'll tell you after this game," he stated firmly, leaving me with no choice but to accept his terms.
Moving on, I approached a girl who seemed anxious, her eyes darting nervously around the clearing. Despite her apprehension, she had a striking presence with her freckled face and long, golden-brown hair.
"Hello, my name is Abaddon. We were paired during the end-of-week assessment," I introduced myself, attempting to ease her nerves.
She nodded timidly, glancing at the others in our group before introducing herself. We exchanged names, and I finally learned the brown-haired kid's name – Elijah.
As we introduced ourselves one by one, Ms. Lily's voice interrupted, signaling the end of the team-forming process.
"It looks like everyone has made their groups. Make your way back to the tunnels," she announced.
Everyone gathered at the mouth of the tunnel, the tension palpable in the air as memories of the previous game lingered. Eyes scanned the surroundings warily, wary of any potential traps lurking in the shadows.
"Don't worry too much, there aren't any traps in this game," Ms. Lily reassured them with a mischievous grin. "Unless you want there to be."
Her ominous jest sent shivers down the spines of the students, but she merely chuckled, evidently finding their unease entertaining. Distributing maps to each group, she provided a brief overview of the playing field, indicating the location of each team's base.
Examining our map, I noted that our flag base nestled near a small mountain. With a few minutes allocated for preparation, I wasted no time in digging a pit.
"What are you doing, idiot?" Elijah questioned, peering into the hole I was excavating.
"Making a trap. If someone comes here, they're not going back," I replied with a smirk. "The fewer opponents, the better."
Elijah appeared unconvinced, but he left me to my task. After digging a sizable pit, I decided it would suffice to ensnare unwary competitors.
"Liam's right. Daisy and Pluto, you stay here while Abaddon, Elijah, and I go after the flags," I proposed, gesturing to the others.
As Daisy constructed defenses using her plant manipulation, Elijah and I set off with Liam in tow. Scaling the trees, we traversed the forest with ease, eyes fixed on our targets.
Spotting a rival team's base, I observed three students guarding the flag while the remaining two bolstered their defenses. Activating my ability, I conjured purple flames, setting their base ablaze with a well-aimed fireball.
The chaos erupted as the opposing team scrambled to extinguish the flames, providing the perfect distraction for me to snatch their flag and retreat. As we departed, a voice crackled over the speakers, announcing the elimination of two teams.
"I'd say you took it a bit far," Liam chided as we regrouped. "You could've seriously hurt them with your Hell Flame."
"It's a competition. Only ten teams advance out of fifty," I retorted, gesturing to the smoldering ruins of the enemy base. "I'm just playing to win."
Liam's disapproval lingered, but Elijah interjected, "Let's focus on the next target."
Agreeing, I pointed out the importance of targeting teams with high point values to secure our passage to the next round. Identifying Noah's group as a prime target, I outlined a strategy to seize their flag.
"I'll take Liam back to our base while you handle it," Elijah decided, hoisting Liam onto his back. "Don't let us down, Abaddon."
"I won't," I assured him, a determined glint in my eyes. "I didn't come this far just to fall short."
Watching them vanish into the trees, a sense of determination surged within me. I refused to be bested by mere amateurs, and I had plans of my own to ensure our victory.