Practical Ground Test Arc: Chapter 16.
The disparities were as bright as day; it was obvious that their team was going to lose. Lyle Cass, a purple-ranked potential with the second highest amount of worldly talents, admitted bitterly. The sensation of an energy pulsating within Lyle bothered him, but he then recognized it.
[Blessed Guided Everything] was activated, increasing the success of any action. This time, it was persuasion.
(Was this worldly talent inspired by that old board game? The one with the dice? I forgot the name, but there was a spell there that had a similar function.)
Lyle Cass thought while waiting for his teammates to speak, the four teammates were busy mulling over the odds. Kaye Ketsk, bothered and scratching her short blue hair, unwilling to surrender but recognizing the unfair fight ahead.
"You have three worldly talents that should at least mean something, right?"
Eya Herfin worriedly pointed out, smiling weakly.
"Talents aren't everything."
Kaye Ketsk remarked, drinking from a water canteen.
"My three talents are: one that increases my speed, one that allows me to continuously activate martial skills, and one that gives me a boosted chance of success on actions."
Lyle Cass said, summarizing the talent descriptions and hoping for his teammates to see reason. Losing was a concept that he was unfortunately familiar with.
"Losing isn't the end, stopping is. We're merely retreating to fight another day."
Lyle Cass said, emphasizing his words with hand gestures.
Catherine Aber's mood sank, a dejected expression plastered on her face, dropping her wooden wand on the ground.
Eya Herfin impaled her wooden staff on the earth as the golden orb audibly rang. A frustrated expression dawned on her face while she stared intensely at the team leader, Lyle Cass.
Hojou Sathoru scoffed but recognized the possibility of success, it was damn near zero.
Kaye Ketsk clicked her tongue while restlessly tapping her feet on the ground, unable to accept the defeatist outlook.
Madame Cassie Cydonia, clapped once, catching the attention of the remaining waiting teams. She coughed, clearing her throat, and explained the order.
"....and lastly, team four."
Lyle Cass smiled. There was enough time to mull over the possible choices. He turned to his melancholic teammates.
"We have plenty of time, please make the right choice."
Lyle Cass added, breaking away from the huddle, leaving the four to stare at each other in disbelief.
⟐ One hour later.
The four other teams have passed the third test with most of them claiming that the third test was significantly easier than the marathon earlier.
Team five, team leader Freya May, was undoubtedly the MVP of the third test. Her team was released earlier due to her casting several smoke clouds that the wandering eyes couldn't see through; they passed due by technicality.
In team seven, there was a minor problem. Two of the golden potential students were engaged in a debate. Hanna Bae wanted to disable the wandering eyes, but Mary Anne Grace protested, citing that it wasn't the core of the test.
However, after much deliberation, Hanna Bae magically disabled the wandering eyes.
Team eight was the most straightforward; they avoided the wandering eyes by using the ruined environment and the foliage to their advantage.
In team three, Loid Ferener, spotted a sizeable crevice behind a fallen pillar. He lifted it and spent most of the time with his team hiding beneath it.
Madame Cassie Cydonia's lips curled because two out of the four passing teams weren't even stealthy in their approach. Mainly because two teams have rendered the stealth test null due to the wandering eyes' inability to continue.
The instructors weren't pleased but gave an approving applause either way; a success was a success. The teacher and the instructors were all gathered together, muttering something.
In the distance was Lyle Cass, comfortably leaning against a fallen pillar. His four teammates were still in discussion, quietly whispering to each other, though he noticed an increase in their moods.
He was deep in thought, recognizing something.
(There's something wrong with Hanna Bae; she's too hostile. It's a bit early. Originally, she should be hostile after the fourth test, not during the third test.)
He thought while recalling his past actions, slightly regretting the changes that he had made.
(Was it a bad idea to prematurely end the potion proliferation arc? Still, this is interesting. I wonder what will Hanna Bae do next.)
"The last remaining team, team four, please step forward and enter the arena." Madame Cassie Cydonia announced while fanning herself due to the heat.
Upon hearing the team number called out, Lyle Cass snapped away from his thoughts, breaking his short rest. His teammates approached with focused gazes, already adamant about their choice.
He felt his stomach churn; he didn't like those expressions since those were the unmistakable faces of a team dead set on winning.
(Uh oh.)
"We choose to fight on. We just need a good strategy, and I believe we can win!"
Catherine Aber confidently added while crossing her arms and biting on the wooden wand.
"I would rather lose fighting than lose doing nothing."
Kaye Ketsk added, shadowing Lyle with her figure. Her two daggers were at the ready.
"You never know until you try!"
Hojou Sathoru said while holding a conjured crossbow, extending a helping hand to Lyle.
"A one percent success with a ninety-nine percent faith can make the difference." Eya Herfin remarked, her cowlicked hair standing fully erect. Similarly resembling a giant exclamation mark.
Lyle Cass was stunned, unable to say anything.
The three others shouted at the top of their lungs while Kaye Ketsk remained silent, eyeing Lyle Cass. The other teams were surprised by the high energy, chuckling softly.
The instructors stared at each other, amused. Madame Cassie Cydonia raised a brow, confused.
"You were trying to scare us, weren't you? Testing our resolve. Hojou Sathoru managed to deduce your true intentions. I didn't know that you were the dramatic type."
Kaye Ketsk added, beaming a friendly smile.
Lyle Cass accepted Hojou Sathoru's hand, rising while also beaming a smile back.
A soft laugh came out of Lyle Cass, breathing in relief. As if that was what he wanted all along, a team that was able to muster the needed courage to face the unfair odds.
The sun's rays showered him in radiance, as if he were given the spotlight.
(YOU TROGLODYTES, WE ARE GOING TO BE BODIED BY THE MAIN CHARACTER. WE WILL BE BLEEDING IN ALL CONCEIVABLE HOLES.)
He thought, forcing a smile, unable to say no at this point. He didn't want to earn the ire of everyone.
(I wanted them to give up so that the teacher couldn't overturn our request for surrender, but now that it's not possible. I have to go along. I can't force them to give up, I might get in trouble.)
"I didn't mean to be that dramatic. I wanted to test you guys out. I wanted to see if you're still willing to fight when the odds are heavily against our favor."
He said, dusting off his already dirtied uniform while a calm breeze rushed through. He punched the air, signaling a can-do attitude. Further energizing the team, even Kaye Ketsk felt the hype.
"Now that we're all finished, why don't we complete this third test?"
Lyle Cass added, extending a hand to his team, who energetically slapped it one by one. Their spirits were high, confidence piercing the clouds above.
(WE ARE GOING TO DIE.)
Morale was at an all-time high. Team four then marched forward, heading inside the old abandoned arena. Ready to face the test.