Chapter 42
Orientation.
The beginning of anything. Whether you are in a school, a college, a university, or even an office, orientation is like a welcoming ceremony.
Usually, it consists of new people who have come together to mingle with each other. They share their names, they share their origins, they laugh, they make friends, and finally, a big old boring sleep-inducing speech followed by a long meaningless tour of the place you have just come.
Usually, yeah.
[Usually indeed]
But here, at Bellator Academy, Orientation begins with a competition. Actually, four volumes are covered in Academy, and in all four of them, one thing is consistent.
Many might think it's politics but no, even that is forgotten sometimes. No, the one thing that the first volume begins with and the fourth volume ends with, is competition.
In simpler words, Bellator Academy is heavily competitive. If you're not in the first ten ranks, you're in the rest which usually here means nothing.
Chances of getting expelled represent themselves almost every three months. And the first chance begins with the orientation.
There are a total of seven main events in the novel, related to the first year. Of course, there are minor and major side arcs as well such as a drug case and a criminal case and all.
Out of those seven main school events, four are the exams or tests that determine whether you will be expelled, held back a year, or promoted to the next year.
One event is the academy tournament.
Like every classic academy novel, there is also a cliché attack on this one which would result in a lot of deaths and so on.
The last event or in this case, the first event is the orientation. The orientation is very simple. This test, along with all the other tests, is taken in inheritance artifacts.
Inheritance artifacts are the artifacts that hold the teachings of powerhouses of the past. Those artifacts that have strict conditions such as an entry limit, and have not been able to be cleared for a century or more, in other words, deemed impossible to be cleared are designated as tests.
Since the scenario refreshes every time inside, you can use them infinitely as long as you provide them mana to sustain the test and not clear the inheritance.
A perfect unlimited virtual reality. All you have to do is fill the task given by the academy, not by the deceased owner of the artifact because once you clear the inheritance, the artifact disappears.
Anyhow, with all of this, the info part is finished related to the artifacts. Now a little about the test itself.
The test is set about four thousand years from the current timeline. An era of wars among different races.
I don't know the full history, but in the novel, this artifact held some really important things for the elves who would wage war in the future to obtain this artifact.
But right now, it isn't so important. The task to clear from the academy is simple, you have to lead an armada and invade an island, native to orcs.
In the novel, many students fail this test and the culling is cut down to fifty percent. Although I gave information about this to Laura, I doubt she would be able to pass it so easily because of her experience or lack of it more precisely.
The task is very easy. You are in a group of ten more students from the same class. Select one commander among you, and lead the armada and invade and take control of the island.
Simple, right? Yeah, Right!
Nothing about it is too simple. Like I said, elves. There is something on that island that elves want and not just in the future, they were trying to get it in the past as well when this wasn't an artifact but an event of history.
In other words, elves are involved. Eric's first time around, there was no interference from the elves because his team was barely able to make it past the orcs, they didn't reach a part where the elves were so it wasn't much of a problem.
In the regression part, which means in this reality, Eric does fantastic and not only gets past orcs but goes deeper into the island where he meets the elves so it is a surprise even for him.
I know where elves are. So I can deal with them. what matters is getting past the orcs. Orcs are dangerous and even when Eric knew of the future, his strategy to deal with them was very disappointing. Well, I'm not him.
The problem for me, however, arises when it comes to my team. Luckily, not many from the main cast are here on my team. No apostle or their sidekicks. I do, however, have a saint with a veil.
And this one, "I nominate myself to be the commander in this mission." A red haired beauty with big knockers spoke on a high platform.
"Is there anyone else, who also wants to take this role?" Asmara asked loudly but since except for me and Alicia, no one else had a higher rank than her, no one spoke.
But, I should be the one to lead this mission since I can easily guess Asmara's strategy for this would be, 'Attack, attack, and attack.'
Good strategy in some cases, in case of an ambush, not so much.
"Question!" I loudly exclaimed which garnered everyone's attention. Asmara made an exhausting expression at me but still nodded so I asked, "What is your strategy for this mission?"
She was slightly surprised at my sensible question so she positively replied, "We will land at the island and prepare for an overnight. Set up camps and then take care of the orcs that are out of their main camp and once we are done culling them down, then we will attack their main camp."
"So guerilla warfare first and then a full and frontal assault?" I asked to which she replied, "Exactly."
"Good." I praised but when she thought I was done I asked again, "What is your strategy in the case of an ambush?"
She halted, confused at my question. Naturally, everyone else was as well, except for the black-haired girl next to me.
"There was no ambush. This event is clearly recorded in history." Asmara responded to answer my question but I wasn't done.
"Question: do you know how many times have humanity invaded this island?" I asked but no reply came.
"Twice." Alicia, standing next to me answered.
"Ding, correct!" I exclaimed and continued, "Second question: what happened the first time?" Again no one replied before Alicia answered, "Total annihilation."
"Correct again! This begs my next question: What attempt is this?" Again, no answer came. Some didn't know what I was getting at and those who did had no answer at all.
"We have no way of knowing that." But Alicia, being diligent as always, answered this one as well.
"So, my fearless commander, what would you do, if this is the first attempt? The attempt which leads to total annihilation." I asked Asmara who simply stood there on the platform speechless.
"What do you suggest we should do then?" Alicia, standing next to me, asked.
"The answer is simple," I replied and turned to look at the war machines or in this case, magical weapons.
"Are you crazy?!" Asmara exclaimed, "You will end up alerting them to our presence." It seems she understood what I was intending to do.
"But they won't be able to do anything. If it is the second attempt and I am wrong, then all that we will have to deal with is a little more orcs, which in this case means that we skip the guerilla warfare and shift to a siege but if it is indeed the first attempt, and there is an ambush, then this would make things a lot easier for us." I elaborated but many in the team were unconvinced.
"What if it isn't an ambush?" One good thing about Asmara is that she has basic battle knowledge which means she is asking all the correct questions.
"Then how else do you explain a fleet this big wasn't able to conquer this island the first time around?" I asked to which, no one answered so I answered myself, "They were too conceited and didn't cover all the scenarios like you are doing right now."
No one spoke. Even those who had no knowledge of warfare understood my point and in case I was wrong, the penalty wasn't too great but if I was indeed correct, then the penalty was low rank which I doubt any of them was willing to risk.
"So I guess we have established that I would be the one leading this invasion," I spoke which elicited no response but there was silent agreement in the party.
This is the difference between knowing the future and knowing how to take advantage of it. even though Eric knew there would be an ambush, all he did was prepare himself for that ambush, he didn't think to avoid that.
"Let's begin then," I spoke and then addressed the group. "Call the captain."
A student went to fetch the captain and returned after a while along with a man with a gruff small black beard.
The man with a beard saluted me and announced his name and rank, "Stepashin Norak, admiral of the central government, at your service, commander."
I nodded to his salute and saluted back, "It is an honor to lead this historical moment with you, Admiral."
He was somewhat surprised at my decorum. I didn't know the reason but I wasn't interested in knowing. "Admiral, what is the status of the blaze?"
I inquired about the weapons known as Blaze. Blaze is a type of catapult weapon that shoots fireballs instead of stones.
"There are ten blazes on ten different ships and they are all fully functional with three shots per minute," Stepashin explained briefly and to the point.
"And what about oil? Do we have oil?" I inquired next. He was confused by my question and everyone else was as well.
"Why do you need oil?" Asmara standing next to me asked. "For something." I simply replied and turned to Stepashin again.
"We have oil for warships but we have only enough for the trip back," Stepashin replied but I had no intention of saving resources. They weren't going back anyway and the test only consisted of invading the island. There was no requirement to secure the return of the armada.
However, that doesn't mean Stepashin would just let me use it as I wish.
"We can simply send a distress crystal after we have taken over the island. It is imperative that we use whatever we have." I relayed my explanation.
"But we have enough armory and soldiers to conquer that island easily," Stepashin argued. He wasn't going to let me have my way easily so I guess it was time to show some authority.
"I don't think I need to remind you that I am your commanding officer and your job is to do as I say." I sternly replied to which he simply nodded while remaining silent.
"Good. Now get barrels of oil on each deck." Then I turned to my companions and asked, "Who here has the blessing related to water and water spells?"
Only two students raised their hands which was obviously not enough.
I turned to Stepashin and asked, "Are there water mages on board?" He nodded in reply and said, "There is a squad of water mages of ten. They are mostly here since it is an island so navigation above water is needed."
I smiled. That was enough for what I needed them to do.
"Good," Now was the next part of the plan.
"Drop the anchors." I gave another ridiculous order to Stepashin who was too stunned to process my words properly so he asked, "Pardon?"
"Drop the anchors," I repeated myself while I walked over to the ship deck.
"What are you planning to do?" Asmara asked verily.
I simply smiled in return and inhaled deeply, and, "ORCS OF THE DEMON BLADE TRIBE, I HAVE COME TO TAKE OVER YOUR HOMES!!!!!!!!!"