~Roy
The sun began to set behind the trees. We had spent the last few hours working—cutting trees, moving logs, sharpening stumps, and setting traps around the base. By the end of the day, we had transformed the area into a real base. The flag was hanging from one of the two tents. I don't think we're allowed to take it down, so arrows are our biggest enemy because they can easily destroy the flag.
By the time we finished, we were all sweaty, and dirt was stuck to our shoes.
We gathered around a small fire that Lloyd and Ria had lit with paper and dry pine branches. We cut an old tree trunk into pieces and used them as makeshift chairs. The fire glowed quietly, and the night air was cold.
I sat on one of the cut tree trunks with the map carefully folded beside me. Everyone sat in a circle, some stretching and others rubbing their tired hands.
I looked around and broke the silence.
"I want to hear what everyone is thinking. Tomorrow is the start of this challenge. So, what should we do first? Don't hold back, even if your idea seems crazy."
Stephanie was the first to speak up. She looked at me and smiled.
"It's kind of you to ask," she said, brushing some hair away from her face.
Then, her tone turned more serious. "What if we only keep two people at the base on the first day? The rest will split into two attack teams. Everyone will attack the zones first, and I don't think anyone will attack the bases directly. We'll take advantage of that. We'll attack one area directly and send another team to scout an area where a group is already fighting for control. We'll wait nearby, then swoop in and take it after they've been weakened."
Andrew leaned forward and nodded slightly. "So, we'll take advantage of the chaos to easily gain a zone. Not bad. We could take two areas in one day."
I nodded. "It's risky. It's basically gambling."
Loyd raised his hand. "That's clever, but leaving only two people behind is risky, as you said. If we're ambushed, we could be finished."
He made his point of view clear then continued. "It would be better to keep five people behind to defend. Five people could hold out longer and give us time to retreat if necessary. Also, we could send one person on a scouting mission to see when a group takes control of a zone. Then, we could swoop in on them."
Kylie turned to him. "Actually, that's a better idea. I like it."
I nodded to Loyd. "You're right. That balances the risks better. Sound logic."
Henry then raised his hand. "I have an idea."
Everyone turned to him. He spoke slowly, pointing to the map next to the fire.
"Most teams will target the territories first, not the bases, as Stephanie said. But if we attack the base directly west of us, we'll eliminate the threat and gain the zone they attacked. With them out of the game, we'll only need to watch out for attacks from the east for a while."
There was silence. I looked at him in surprise.
Andrew replied, "That's... actually very clever. It will change a lot. Everyone is expecting battles over the zones, not the bases. This could give us a day or two of relative calm in the west."
Bran nodded. "And it will also upset everyone once they find out what happened."
I stood up and looked around at everyone. "So, it's settled. We'll head to the base in the west and the zone near the camp. Andrew's team will stay here in case of emergencies. We'll work out the strategy details in the next hour."
Everyone nodded and whispered their agreement.
Then, out of nowhere, Crimzo appeared. His clothes were covered in dirt, and there were bloodstains on his face. Some of us stood there tense and worried, unsure if something was wrong.
But he just smiled.
"Don't worry, guys. It's just rabbit blood," he said casually as he pulled the rabbit from behind his back.
William frowned. "You shouldn't have scared us like that."
Crimzo let out a soft laugh, then nodded quickly at me. I understood what he meant. He had actually made it, just as I had told him. Perfect.
All I needed now was to meet with him alone. But first, I needed to focus on the plan for tomorrow.
Late that night, we made our decision and figured out how we would proceed.
Andrew's team will remain at the base, defending it and preparing for any response. Crimzo will not go to the camp tomorrow. His mission with us is different. He will be with Nessa and the others, helping to clear a secret path for us through the forest toward the enemy base.
Once they have cleared the way, we will all fight to try to defeat them quickly. When we locate their flag, Crimzo will strike from a distance—one flaming arrow, to set it ablaze and end it quickly.
Everything was clear, so we all went to sleep. There was no need for guards tonight because the stage hadn't started yet.
After everyone had fallen asleep, William and Andrew started fighting over who had the strongest snore beside me. Anyway, I waited a little while before going to meet Crimzo. I walked straight toward the trees where he had set up his hammock. He hadn't fallen asleep yet, or at least he didn't seem to have.
When I reached him, I softly called out, "Crimzo."
He lifted his head from the hammock and looked at me. "I was waiting for you," he said. Then he jumped to the ground.
He pointed north and continued, "I found Oliver's base. It's over there."
I put my hand on my chin and thought. "Hmmm... Listen, Crimzo. I have a feeling that Oliver is planning something big for tomorrow. Maybe even bigger than what we're doing."
Crimzo blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"I think he might attack a base, too," I replied in a low voice. "Maybe he'll form an alliance, too."
Crimzo shook his head. "How can you be sure of that?"
I said, staring into his eyes. "I've been watching him closely for the past few months. He's building relationships with some of the cadets. It's just a theory, but I felt something strange there. His appearance was suspicious. If I'm right and he's really planning something like that, it could be a real problem."
Crimzo nodded. "You're right. If he forms an alliance and takes out a team early, we'll be up against two teams at once."
"I'll make sure we have a proper plan for that," I said. "But now that we've confirmed he's far from here, we can move more freely. Let's get some rest."
Crimzo nodded quickly and climbed back into his hammock. I turned around and headed back to the tent, finally ready to sleep.
In the next day...
Before the sun had fully risen, a cool breeze blew through the camp as the team members woke up one by one. They moved calmly and orderly. There was no need for words—everyone knew the plan. Weapons were prepared, armor was ready, and Roy wore his red scarf as usual. The smell of metal hung in the air.
They were ready.
By the time they had all gathered behind Roy, the sun had risen. He turned to face them, his voice steady.
"Today will be long and exhausting," he began. "But it will determine everything that comes after. What we do today will determine whether we continue to advance, so stay alert and don't lose focus."
Stephanie smiled mockingly. "Let's go, Red Scarf."
Roy stepped forward and tapped her lightly on the head. "Ouch.""Don't call me that."
Henry laughed. "Let's claim victory."
Roy nodded quickly, then turned to Andrew and the others. "I'm counting on you guys."
Sophia replied, "Don't worry. We're waiting for good news from you."
Without another word, Roy gave the signal, and they set off.
They entered the forest in a single file, walking in a straight line. Alice led them, her steps light and quiet as she guided them through the narrow paths. She made her way through the thick tree trunks and moss-covered ground without making a sound.
No one spoke at first. Only the quiet echo of their footsteps echoed around them.
Then, as their nerves began to calm, Crimzo muttered to the person behind him. "Why do I feel like we're walking straight into a trap...or worse?"
Nessa smiled sarcastically. "Right now, I'm bored, so I wouldn't mind."
Bran muttered. "Keep your voices down. They might detect us."
"If we're attacked," Crimzo whispered, "I'll make sure to leave you two behind."
Torin joined him, his face stiff. "How about we get rid of Crimzo first? He talks too much."
A light, quiet laugh spread through the group, which was exactly what they needed to break the tension.
Suddenly, Alice raised her hand, signaling them to stop.
Everyone froze.
In an instant, they all raised their weapons. Roy stepped forward, sword in hand, his body low and ready. Silence fell over the forest.
Then, he rounded a tree to find...
Yuri.
He was sitting cross-legged on the ground next to an instructor. A small fire burned between them, and they quietly boiled water on it. They held cups of noodles, and steam floated into the morning air.
Roy blinked and lowered his sword slightly. "...Yuri?"
Yuri raised his head in confusion, his chopsticks still in his mouth. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Crimzu stepped forward behind Roy, bow still in hand, and said in an aggressive tone, "We should be asking you that."
The instructor next to Yuri raised his hand awkwardly to greet them, still holding his cup.
Yuri exhaled and finally connected the dots. "Ah, I see. You're heading to the western base, right?" He took another sip of noodles and chewed quietly. "Not bad."
Roy sheathed his sword with a sigh. "We thought we spotted enemies."
Yuri laughed. "No, no. Just two grown men hiding in the woods, eating noodles. Perfectly normal."
Kylie muttered, "This place gets weirder every day."
Yuri waved them off. "Ignore us. We're just watching to see how things go. Consider it like a background surveillance."
"Surveillance with snacks," Crimzo added. "Elite work."
Yuri smiled. "Come on, boys. Go out there and win your war."
Roy shook his head with a slight smile. "All right. Let's go."
Then, they passed them and disappeared into the trees, back on track.
After walking silently among the bushes and broken tree roots for more than an hour, the trees began to thin out. According to the map, the enemy base was directly ahead of them, between the rocky slopes.
They didn't get too close. Roy gave the signal, and the group waited under the cover of the trees while Crimzo disappeared into the shadows to scout the enemy.
Minutes passed. When he returned, his expression was grim.
"To be precise" he said, crouching down beside the others. "There are nine of them. They're well armored. They've fortified themselves tightly around the base. And the flag—"
Crimzo pointed. "A huge man dressed in black. He wraps it around his body like a cloak. I also feel like they're waiting for something."
Stephanie folded her arms. "Nine? Are they actually expecting us?"
Roy shook his head. "We're not up against regular soldiers. These are top-rank cadets. They won't be easy to defeat."
William shrugged. "I guess everyone has their own strategy."
Alice turned to Roy. "We're sticking to the plan, right?"
"Yes," he replied. "But don't worry. I have another plan if things go wrong."
Crimzo raised his eyebrow. "Are you keeping secrets from us again?"
Roy gave him a calm look. "Let's focus on the first plan. The goal is to end this quickly."
Then, he stood up and pulled a bow from his back. "We'll start with arrows. Aim for the hands and legs. We'll push the flag bearer into the open. Crimzo, target the flag from behind with a flaming arrow and finish him off."
Everyone nodded. Then, Roy observed the area with a pair of binoculars that Henry had given him some time ago.
The enemy base was simple yet solidly built. There was a small, new-looking wooden structure. Behind it, there was a canvas structure, most likely for shelter and storage, as well as two large tents. Hills sloped down on one side. They had placed a wooden barrier at the bottom and wooden spike barricades on the other side for defense, which would make it difficult for us to attack from multiple sides.
They moved forward slowly, waiting for the right moment to act. Finally, two of the enemy cadets left their formation to patrol.
Roy gave the signal. Two arrows flew through the air. One hit a cadet in the shoulder, and the other lodged in the leg of the girl standing next to him.
The man gritted his teeth and shouted at the top of his lungs, helping his partner stay on her feet. "Ambush! Take your positions!" Then, he picked up his shield.
Roy team started to fire more arrows at them leading them backward. But suddenly enemy arrows begun to rain down beside of them from the rear lines. Two more soldiers—a man and a woman—stepped forward with their longbows drawn. They fired their arrows in sync with three cadets who moved forward in the front, holding shields in a defensive formation.
Roy noticed. Their timing was so precise, and their movements were professional.
Roy raised his voice, steady and low. "Take formation. Their front line is strong, but two of them are already wounded. This is our chance."
They changed their formation to a star formation where two stood in the front, raising their shields. In both wings, right and left, two more stood in a defensive position, forming a half circle. From the inside, three stood: Stephanie, Bran, and Roy. They attacked with their bows while the front line provided cover.
The enemy quickly recovered from the attack and merged with the injured. They took a defensive stance as the injured cadets entered the formation.
Then, something caught Roy's attention.
The flag bearer was broad-shouldered with long hair, tall, and holding a round shield in one hand and a long sword in the other.
He wasn't just the flag bearer. He was also the leader.
But there were only eight standing in front of them.
Roy's expression changed.
He thought in himself, 'One of them is missing, I feel something off... We should end this fast.'
"Advance! Now!" Roy shouted.
They rushed forward. Crimzo circled around their base, looking for an opportunity. After they retreated to an open space, he drew an arrow, lit it, and fired it into the air with a long, precise shot, aiming at the flag bearer.
But the man was fast. Faster than they expected.
In a fluid motion, he raised his shield, easily blocking the flaming arrow with a loud clang that echoed through the battlefield. Sparks flew from his shield because it was covered in flammable material.
They froze. For a second. Then, suddenly, another arrow was fired.
This time, it was fired from the back of Roy formation, which was wide open to attack. The arrow was heading straight for Roy. If he went down, the whole team would lose. Then, in an instant, Bran jumped and covered Roy. "Take care!" he said. The arrow hit his back shoulder, then Bran held his shoulder.
"Bran!" Roy shouted.
"I'm fine. Don't worry," he said through clenched teeth.
Kylie broke off from the right side of the formation to cover them. "He's so good at using the bow. We're surrounded."
Alice, Nessa, Torin and Henry. The look of concern and panic was clear in their eyes.
Everyone began to lose hope and grow nervous. Then, Stephanie whispered nervously from behind the defensive line, "So, what's the backup plan?"
"Backup plan?" Roy said calmly. He raised his sword, smiled confidently, and held his head high.
"There never was a backup plan." He put his hand on William's shoulder, signaling for him to open the way. Then, he raised his voice. "Being injured or surrounded doesn't change a damn thing! Kylie, Nessa, take care of the person behind us."
There was no hesitation or fear in his voice. Everyone around him could feel it.
Their hesitation began to disappear as he spoke with confidence.
Then, Roy broke formation and ran forward at full speed, fearlessly.
An arrow aimed at him, hitting his armor on his shoulder. Then, another arrow hit his armor in his stomach. Fortunately, his armor absorbed all the damage, but he could still feel the pain.
He shouted louder this time. "You don't learn anything when things are easy! Real strength grows when everything's against you. Break your limits and push forward!"
William let out a short laugh as he braced himself to run. "You're insane, Red Scarf."
Then they all followed. Kylie unleashed her sword while holding her shield and pushed from behind to reach the cadet aiming at them.
Roy jumped in front of their line and kicked the front shield bearer in the middle directly. The cadet fell back slightly, breaking the formation. The rest of the enemy team was taken off guard by his insane push.
Roy glanced over, keeping his eyes on the target. "Come on!"
Crimzo ran up the slope behind the enemy team, his bow in his hand as he smiled. "That's why I like this guy!"
The moment the enemy team attacked Roy, the rest of the team arrived at the perfect time and joined the fight, shouting. Their courage grew, and their doubts vanished. With that, the real battle began.