Chapter 454: Group A, B, and, C (1/2)
”There goes Group A,” voiced Lampard sat with elbows against his hips. The slouched posture gave a feeling of overwhelming confidence. Rena and Leonard remained at his side at the front-most row. The former would often gaze at the 'leader' of Group C with a feeling of want. Her cheeks, pale at times, would blush red in even smaller instances. Leonard for the most part kept his focus on the would-be fighting team. A certain individual had grabbed their attention.
A girl with green hair tied with a flowery band – her complexion was fair beyond reproach. No origin could be found since she came from another province. The boys didn't stare due to hormones, no, granted her beauty was angel-like, it was her strength, the sheer aura of wanting to fight.
”Group A, bring forth the captain!” yelled Fletcher who gestured the guild-people to start preparation.
”Captain of Team A,” said she with the green hair loudly, ”-Anna Igusta.”
”Good. I feel your determination. Now then, your opponent, as will the others,” a side-glance, ”-is going to be the One-eyed wolf of the Azure Forest. These beasts are known for their bloodthirst with a ranking of Tier-8 Steel.” The strength level had the students gasp into utter silence. ”We said prior, nothing will be held back.” The arena emptied with the beast growling and pulling on its chains. The dense glare it gave sufficed to have most of Team A shiver.
”Fight!” the chains broke with a clang. It dashed by leaving a trail of dust. The next instant without even tracking the movements, the wolf stood in their blind side and swiftly clawed at three students. They fell promptly with minor injuries.
”GET UP!” screamed Anna following the wolf, it turned with another growl. Face to face, it was twice her height, yet, the moment after it struck, she held a hand and conjured a magical barrier. It took and returned the impact sending the monster a few meters back.
”Gather around me,” said she, ”-melee go at the front, support, at the back, I'll heal as much as I can, come on people, we need to win!”
As it so happens, the battle was being marked by the Guild-Representatives. They who sat with weird attire held pen and paper. ”The green-haired girl has a lot of potential,” said one of them, ”-she can fight off the one-eyed wolf but choose to heal instead. A selfless action to put her team before glory, I'm impressed.” The statement said it all.
Sadly, the selflessness brought the downfall of the other members. Facing imminent death wasn't easy, broken morale from the first strike had them fight a losing battle. And so, one by one, the team broke – the healing and protection didn't suffice.
”Useless,” mumbled she alone with the wolf, her blue eyes changed to red, ”-Binding Forest.” A spherelike bundle of veins swallowed the beast, ”-A thousand thorn of the Rose!” *snap.* A barrage of projectile impaled the monster to end the battle. Her fierceness never dwindled as the face remained on alert.
”Team A, congratulation,” said Fletcher mildly impressed, ”-those who have been injured will be tended. Team B, you're up!”
The next row approached at a slow pace. Confidence was lacking, and when asked to voice their leader, none dared to make a move. ”No leader, what a shame. Guess thee are to fight without a guide, very well, as punishment for not obeying my orders, we'll release 4 wolves!” The words rocked the arena to its core, and just like that, the monsters were brought in.
”SIR!” voiced a rather enraged Lampard, ”-it's not fair,” said he passionately, ”-I've seen people die at the hands of those wolves. A single one managed to destroy my village, and here you are trying to punish others without a care for human-life!”
”Shut it,” gritted Rena, ”-sir, I apologize on his behalf, a troubled past, you know the deal.”
”Mr. Lampard,” came the daggerlike voice of Lady Melisa, ”-troubled or not, you're not the only one who has suffered at the hand of the monsters. All who stand here has had said experience. Don't go thinking thou art the only with revenge in mind.”
”Lady Melisa,” interjected a member of Group B. Blue hair and bluer eyes, ”-Lampard, I thank you for trying to stand up for us. It's true we didn't choose a leader. Tis because we don't need one,” suddenly, the truth of Group B came to fruition. Each member stood with weapons and an air of malice. ”-we've been on the battlefield plenty o' time.”
”Adventurer Frost,” said Fletcher, ”-I guess the prodigy of Blade's End decided to speak up. I was wondering what need be done to rile that cold-spirit.”
”Sorry about that sir,” he casually scratched his head, ”-can we begin with the evaluation?”
”I guess standing up didn't matter in the end,” added Leonard gently parting his hair, ”-Frost is Tier-7 Sapphire. A prodigy who climbed the ranks at a neck-breaking speed. There're rumors of him drugging the path to the top. Mindless chatter of the weak,” shaking the head in dismissal, ”-let's see how he fights.”
The signal to start blew, and blew it did for two of the wolves froze to death within a second. The remaining two were killed effortlessly by the four other members.
”Group B, they individually outranked the fellow comrades. I guess four didn't suffice, what say you, Guild Representative, any remarks?”
”Always the cynic, aren't you, Fletcher. Team B passes the evaluation, they each stand out as very versatile and experienced warriors. They're a good batch, I can already feel the guilds fighting for those boys.”
”And you're always the mysterious one, aren't you, Mr. Denver.”
”The nature of the job,” he added slyly, ”-bring out the last team, I have a soap-opera to watch.”
'And annoying as ever,' he thought to gesture the last group.
”Thanks for standing up for us earlier,” said Frost with a smirk, ”-I suppose heroes are always born stupid.” On that, Group B laughed their way up the stairs.
”Pompous bastard,” gritted Rena with intent to start a fight.
”Don't!” mumbled Leonard, ”-there's no need for that now. Come on, let's go.” Lampard led the way listlessly with a blank expression. ”I guess they've pissed him off,” laughed Rena, ”-leave the front-lines to him.”
'Each step I take, the closer we get. The battlefield smells of blood and iron, the stickiness of the dirt and humidity from Group B is annoying. Why does this feel so familiar, why is my heart racing? My mind says to hide but the body says to move.'
”Hey… HEY!”
”Jen, sorry about that.”
”Stop spacing out,” said she nodding upwards. The five stood with Fletcher peering down.
”Who's the leader, come forth.”
”It's me, sir,” said Lampard with a cavalier expression.