The sky was clear that morning, and the sounds of daily life at the Academy were punctuated by animated conversations among the Class A students. Lian was sitting under a tree in the courtyard, resting while waiting for his next class. Despite the serene environment, he felt restless, his thoughts still focused on what he had read in the book Relics of Creation. The words about the price of wielding such a powerful weapon echoed in his mind.
"Lost in thought again, Lian?" Saya's cheerful voice pulled him out of his reflections. She approached with a friendly smile, though her eyes carefully analyzed his expression.
"Something like that," he replied with a faint smile, trying to push his concerns aside. "Just relaxing while I have the time."
"Anyway, since you didn't show up yesterday, you probably don't know. The teachers announced there'll be a special class with all the first-year Class A students!" Saya spoke with a mix of excitement and anticipation.
Before Lian could reply, a sharp sound from an amplification spell echoed through the courtyard. All the students turned toward the center, where Lena stood with her characteristic enigmatic smile, surrounded by a faint crimson aura.
"Class A, gather in the training arena now," she said, her voice clear and firm. "Today will be a day of tests and challenges. Don't be late."
The courtyard erupted into murmurs as the students began moving. Lian and Saya exchanged a quick glance before following the crowd. "A class with all the first-year Class A students. Interesting," Lian murmured.
When they arrived at the arena, they found Lena standing at the center, waiting with a calm but intense expression. All the Class A students were present, including familiar faces like Elios, with his carefree smile, and Adrian, who, as always, seemed distant but attentive.
"Well, it seems everyone is here," Lena began, crossing her arms. "Let me be direct: many of you are getting complacent. You think that just because you're in Class A, you've reached the top. I'm here to remind you that you haven't reached anything. Not yet."
Silence fell over the arena as the students absorbed her words. Lena paced slowly, her eyes scanning each of them. "Today, you'll face a team challenge. I want to see how you perform under pressure, how you work together, and most importantly, how you handle your egos."
"What kind of challenge?" Elios asked, breaking the silence. He had a smile on his face, but his curiosity was genuine.
Lena stopped and looked at him, a glint in her eye. "A simple game: capture the flag."
The students murmured among themselves, surprised. Many had expected something more traditional, like duels or tests of magical skills.
"Don't underestimate its simplicity," Lena continued, her voice cutting through the murmurs. "The arena has been transformed into a dynamic battlefield, filled with magical traps, low-rank monsters, and other obstacles. The goal is to capture the opposing team's flag and bring it back to your base. Sounds simple, but it won't be."
She snapped her fingers, and a holographic map of the arena appeared in the air, showing the terrain divided into two zones. Dense trees, ancient ruins, and open areas were scattered across the field. Each team's flag was marked at opposite ends, both located inside ruins.
"Oh, and one more thing," Lena said with a sharp smile. "I formed the teams. You don't get to choose who you work with." With another snap of her fingers, a large list appeared in the air, displaying the team assignments.
The murmurs grew louder. Lian felt a chill as he scanned the list and realized he had been placed on the same team as Adrian.
Looking at the teams, Lian thought, "Lena put the groups together and placed me with Adrian. On top of that, I'm up against all my friends… Interesting, Master. Looks like you're trying to entertain yourself with this, aren't you?"
It was clear from Adrian's expression that he wasn't pleased to be on Lian's team either. When Lian glanced at Adrian, he let out a sigh of resignation. Saya, on the other hand, gave Lian a worried look, but before she could say anything, Lena raised her hand to silence the crowd.
"I made these teams on purpose. I want to see how you adapt to working with people you don't necessarily like or trust," she explained, her gaze briefly settling on Lian and Adrian. "If you can't overcome your differences, you won't last in a real battle."
The two teams were taken to opposite bases in the arena. The arena itself was located outside the academy campus and was so large that it resembled a real forest. The Blue Team arrived at a clearing surrounded by ruins that served as their "base." A glowing blue flag stood in the center, protected by a magical barrier that would only dissipate when the game began.
Elsewhere, in a hidden control room overlooking the arena, Lena observed the teams' preparations with her enigmatic smile, watching multiple monitors that displayed different parts of the battlefield. The sound of discussions and strategies being formed echoed across the arena as the students adjusted their plans.
"Now… let's begin," she murmured, arms crossed.
The entire arena shimmered with magical light, and the scenery around the students began to shift. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and the sounds of monsters being released echoed through the forest. A dense woodland sprang to life, ancient ruins rose from the earth, and a mystical fog began spreading through the lower areas. Illusory creatures appeared in the distance, their silhouettes barely visible. It was a vast, dynamic battlefield, designed not only to test strength and strategy but also intelligence and teamwork.
"Let the test begin!" Lena declared, her voice echoing throughout the arena.
The Blue Team, consisting of fifty students, spread out across their designated base in the clearing. The magical blue barrier surrounding the flag glowed softly, signaling the game's start was imminent.
Adrian, acting as if it were a foregone conclusion, climbed onto one of the taller ruins, giving himself a better vantage point of the battlefield. He looked down at the team, most of whom were already preparing defenses or discussing tactics. Some appeared confident, while others looked visibly anxious.
"Listen up, everyone!" Adrian shouted, drawing their attention. "Our objective is simple: capture the red flag and bring it back. We'll divide into three main groups. The first group, led by me, will handle the direct attack. The second group will move slowly to provide support and cover. The third group will stay here to defend our base."
He pointed to Kael and Iris, two notable students. "Kael, use your wind abilities to monitor the perimeter. Iris, focus on creating barriers and reinforcing the base. As for the attack… Lian and I will lead the charge."
The reactions were mixed. Some students readily agreed, trusting Adrian's confidence. Others exchanged uncertain glances, clearly hesitant.
"You're full of yourself," Lian muttered, crossing his arms. "You're giving orders to fifty people like you're leading an army."
Adrian ignored the jab. "Because someone has to. If you think you can lead better, by all means, go ahead." He flashed a challenging smile. "But judging by that expression of yours, you know I'm right."
Lian clenched his fists, holding back his irritation. He knew Adrian loved provoking him, and worse, he knew Adrian's plan actually made sense. "Fine. We'll do it your way," he said, keeping his tone neutral. "But if it fails, don't expect me to bail you out."
Adrian smirked, satisfied. "Good. Now, get ready. We move in five minutes."
As the game began, the Blue Team sprang into action. About twenty students stayed back to defend the base, setting up magical barriers and traps around the perimeter. The remaining thirty moved toward the Red Team's territory, divided into two main groups.
Adrian and Lian led the primary attack group of ten students, while a larger support group of twenty followed behind at a slower pace, covering the terrain and preparing to reinforce them if needed. The dense forest separating the two bases was filled with natural obstacles, magical traps, and roaming creatures.
"Hope you can keep up," Adrian said to Lian as they navigated the uneven terrain.
"Hope you know what you're doing," Lian shot back, dodging an enchanted root that suddenly tried to grab his leg.
The group continued forward, encountering their first obstacles: runes that exploded in bursts of energy, fog that obscured vision, and small creatures ambushing them out of nowhere. Some of the group hesitated, but Lian and Adrian pushed forward, clearing the path. Adrian used precise thrusts of his rapier to destroy the runes, while Lian called upon his shadows to neutralize the more complex traps.