After the initial ten minutes had elapsed, the now scattered group was not selected to battle.
Her previous words had brought an uproar, stunning her accomplished teammates and even Avery, who had heard every word, showed visible bafflement. Their glares were cold and sceptical. They took her for a fool. Imani even looked torn on whether to attack her or insult her, though he ended up doing neither.
She had requested something that sounded so silly. Their responses were justified. No one would take such an insulting statement seriously, but she did not need to change their minds so soon. They needed to think for themselves, to realise how pivotal a role this entire stage was. Then, they would come to her on their own.
Aside from the group's unpleasant dispersal, another noteworthy event occurred after Alex's statement. Their weapons had arrived in a rather unconventional way.
A shimmering rope of mystical energy tightly restrained the necks of each individual in the cave. This rope connected each of the individuals to their respective weapons. Despite being firmly wound, it was possible to phase through the threatening rope. The only proof of its existence was its visible form as it was of no physical consequence.
Thirty minutes had gone by and the atmosphere in the cave had only become more stifling. Everyone brooded in their respective area and did not mingle. Only Elijah and Isaiah stayed close to each other. Alex did not mind this at all. The more divided they were, the better for her. Damien occasionally glanced at her, but every time she returned his stare, he swiftly averted his gaze.
During the wait, Alex indulged herself. She lay on her soft quilt and stared at the rocky sky, her third apple in hand. As usual, she had called for her items from her cube storage and it worked. She had also discovered she could not retrieve any of her weapons. The quilt was employed as a deliberate psychological play, that could either work splendidly or ultimately discourage her group mates. The quilt was nowhere in the shop and the shop's food pack did not come with apples. They would undoubtedly be curious.
'Nothing ensnares more than curiosity, they say.'
Alex hummed inwardly, knowing the calm facade of those around her would soon crack. Even if they did not relent, Alex knew she could be very convincing. Although she would not admit it, she enjoyed interacting with diverse characters and all their distinct complexities. It was something she had not done often for the past two years. Her ambivalent feelings towards most, built a firm two-way mirror around her true self, allowing her to observe even the most fleeting antics. The way someone treated her, she would repay in kind-no extra sentiments attached.
°°°
It took forty-five minutes for the first crack. A rather unexpected duo had come first. Truthfully, she had anticipated either Dahlia or Damien. Dahlia, due to her daring and ambitious conduct in the second stage, or Damien because of the sense of acquaintance he most likely felt towards her.
"Alex."
"Lady."
Alex and Elijah spoke synonymously. From a short distance, a striking contrast between their almost identical features was easily noticeable. From Elijah's neutrality to Isaiah's convivial approach, you could tell them apart easily.
She got up leisurely, her face blank.
"Elijah, Isaiah. Thank you for the compliment, Isaiah. What can I help you with?"
Elijah rolled his eyes at Alex's unnecessary question, so Alex decided to go straight to the point.
"Well, I can tell you what I want our group to do. Would you guys like to hear it?"
Alex was not speaking to Elijah and Isaiah alone, this was an invitation for all the rest.
"Yes, we want to hear you out," Isaiah spoke this time, his fluffy brown hair moving exaggeratedly alongside his energetic gestures. No one else spoke for a while and Alex nearly proceeded, before a particular golden-haired beauty lived up to her expectations.
" Let's hear it then. You must have been ranked for something." Dahlia joined us. Out of all of them, she understood how outrageous Alex's results were in the second stage, yet she spoke arrogantly to her.
The others were not yet willing, opting to listen from the sidelines.
"I am strong, far stronger than every other challenger, an undeniable fact that I will prove to you in a moment. What I require from you guys is to engage the enemy's forces until I can get to them. In that way, we save both time and energy while also gaining spirit shards. I have amassed these. Should anyone be in grave danger, they may use this as both a signal and a way to disengage." While everyone looked at her with doubtful, some mocking gazes, Alex retrieved ten tiny ornaments, each with their unique representation, gotten from the tree base in the first stage with a single thought.
"Goodness"
"Knew it."
"Uhm... What are those?"
"Are those what I think they are?"
Elijah seemed proud of himself. Luca's disbelief and Maria's exclamation unknowingly propounded the worth of these items. Out of the four who spoke, only Damien voiced his confusion. The rest now had more colourful expressions, shock, confusion, and a tinge of shame.
Alex herself was not sure of how difficult they thought it was for her to get these items, but she knew one thing. Each object held the supernatural power to disrupt the natural forces of nature, distorting reality on different scales.
"You know how precious these are, and I will give one to each of you as insurance, peradventure I can not reach you in time. I want to avoid a situation in which an opposing member commits an intentional suicide, using the challenges of the unique setting to escape certain death and deprive us of a complete victory. I want a quick total victory, that is why I propose this. I will only incapacitate them and not kill them. That will be up to you instead. Do you believe it is feasible?"
Elijah stepped closer and picked up two items before returning to his brother's side.
"Your plan can only work depending on your abilities, yet we do not stand to lose much in this collaboration. Facing each member separately is the most effective choice no matter what, but if you are both as strong and fast as you boast, then our positions in the top ten remain secure. Isaiah and I will side with you. For now."
Alex nodded to Elijah in acknowledgement.
Elijah passed Isaiah the trinket while Dahlia came forward this time.
"Do not think this is an act of submission. If you can not do what you say, you are as good as dead. You hear me?"
Alex nodded at Dahlia, and Alex's brows twitched imperceptibly when Dahlia picked the same trinket she had formerly employed- the very same one that had killed a handful of curious onlookers in a potent clash of elements.
'I wonder how she plans to use it this time...'