Chapter 396: The Principal’s Unexpected Test

On Wednesday morning, Arthur stopped at the entrance to Steven’s private training field and stared at the town spread out before him.

Stone houses leaned over narrow streets. Broken carts blocked an intersection, smoke rose from a bakery, and a clock tower stood crooked above the central square. Beneath its pavement, something enormous moved.

Arthur’s eyes shone. "You built an entire town for training?"

Steven smiled beside the control pedestal. "It’s a simulated district. The buildings can collapse, but they’ll restore themselves when the exercise ends."

Vedas examined the cracked walls. "That doesn’t make me feel better about standing beneath them."

Star bounced on Arthur’s shoulder, while Eden hovered behind the gallery’s protective barrier with Mithra, Sun, Athena, and their Beasts.

Eden waved. "Be careful, Arthur! Those houses look really fragile!"

Sun leaned forward. "I give him thirty seconds before he knocks one over."

Mithra elbowed him. "You’re supposed to encourage him."

Sun held up his hands. "I am. Thirty seconds is generous."

Steven activated a display showing six glowing figures scattered through the town. "These represent civilians. Rescue all six before the district becomes unstable. You’re allowed your existing abilities, but excessive damage will count against you."

Arthur studied the largest shape moving under the square. "And that thing?"

Steven tapped the central square. "A hostile construct. It will interfere once the evacuation begins."

Arthur looked disappointed. "So I can’t just destroy it?"

Steven folded his arms. "You may. The consequences will appear on your score."

Vedas immediately turned toward Arthur. "Please don’t."

Arthur laughed. "Alright. Rescue first, destruction later."

Vedas sighed. "Preferably no destruction at all."

Steven gestured toward the gallery. "Observers may call out information. Knowing when to listen is part of today’s assessment. The decisions remain yours."

Arthur nodded. "Then let’s get everyone out."

...

A bell rang, and the town came alive.

Vedas ran toward the central intersection. "Two civilians west, one north, three east. Arthur, take the bakery. I’ll establish an evacuation route."

Arthur vaulted a broken cart and reached the bakery entrance. The door was jammed beneath a fallen beam. Golden armor formed over his hand as he braced the wood, judged the pressure, and lifted the beam just enough to open a gap.

A simulated woman and child hurried outside.

Arthur guided them toward Vedas. "Two coming your way!"

Vedas directed the figures along a clear street, then struck a loose stone slab before it could fall across their path.

[Rescued: 2/6.]

Star slipped beneath the door of a locked shop. Inside, a civilian figure was trapped behind a fallen shelf. The slime stretched around the shelf’s edge and dragged a small release handle into position.

The door clicked open.

Arthur grinned when the civilian emerged. "Nice work, Star!"

Star bounced twice, then raced toward the next building without waiting for instructions.

[Rescued: 3/6.]

Athena watched from the gallery. "They’re dividing the work much better than they did on Monday."

Athy tilted her head. "And Vedas isn’t waiting for Arthur to tell him where to stand."

Melo floated beside Mithra. "Star is doing all the sneaking. I approve."

Kong pointed toward the square. "Big thing moving."

A low rumble rolled through the simulated town.

The pavement bulged, and a massive armored construct rose beneath the clock tower. Its four limbs locked into the surrounding streets, sending cracks racing through the stone.

Sun whistled. "That’s a little bigger than I expected."

Arthur stared at it, delighted. "Now that’s a training opponent!"

Vedas looked back sharply. "We still have three civilians!"

Arthur snapped his attention back to the eastern houses. "Right! We’ll finish the rescue first."

The construct swung an enormous arm toward him. Arthur raised his armored hand and caught the blow, stopping it before it struck the nearby wall.

The street shook, and a crack opened along the bakery’s roof. Arthur immediately redirected the construct’s arm away from the building.

Steven’s voice echoed across the field. "Structural stability is decreasing."

Arthur frowned. "That thing’s stronger than it looks."

Vedas called from the next street. "Arthur, the eastern passage is blocked. Star and I can reach the civilians, but we need time!"

Arthur planted himself between the construct and the houses. "You’ve got it!"

...

The construct lunged again.

Arthur gathered golden energy around his fist. One decisive Guardian Strike could shatter its armor. He had already found an opening beneath its shoulder.

Then he noticed the clock tower tilting farther and hesitated.

From the gallery, Mithra studied the square instead of the fight. Each time the construct shifted its weight, the buildings around it moved in the same direction.

Mithra leaned toward Athena. "Look at the foundations. They’re moving together."

Athena narrowed her eyes. "The streets are connected to its limbs."

Another tremor shook the bakery. The construct wasn’t simply damaging the town with its attacks. Its movement was pulling against the structures around it.

Mithra grabbed the railing. "Arthur! Look beneath the square! The buildings are moving with it!"

Arthur stopped his attack and glanced at the cracked pavement and followed the lines running toward the construct’s legs. His perception sharpened as he examined the weak points around the central mechanism.

Arthur frowned. "Oh. Those aren’t ordinary cracks."

Mithra nodded. "If you break its body while the limbs are locked in place, the buildings could come down with it!"

Arthur looked up at her. "Thanks, Mithra! Good catch!"

Mithra smiled. "You can thank me properly after you save everyone!"

Steven watched silently from the control platform.

Arthur lowered his fist and studied the square again. The construct’s four limbs were attached to metal anchors buried beneath the streets. Every movement dragged the surrounding foundations.

Arthur called across the square. "Vedas, how long until the others are clear?"

Vedas answered from the eastern passage. "Two civilians secured. One remaining!"

[Rescued: 5/6.]

Arthur spotted a narrow opening beneath the construct’s chest. A small release lever moved behind its armor whenever the machine raised its front limb.

Arthur pointed toward the opening. "Star! Can you reach that lever?"

Star bounced once and flattened against the pavement.

Vedas called, "I’ll keep the last civilian moving. Don’t let the construct turn east!"

Arthur smiled. "Leave that to me."

He stepped directly into the construct’s path. Its armored fist descended, but Arthur caught the strike with his golden arm. The impact fractured the ground beneath his boots.

Sun jumped to his feet. "He’s holding it!"

Athena watched the anchors. "But he can’t keep doing that. The foundations are still under strain."

Arthur knew it too. He shifted his weight, drawing the construct’s attention toward the empty western street. Its body turned, exposing the opening beneath its chest.

Star shot through the gap and stretched along an internal support and wrapped itself around the lever. It pulled, but the mechanism resisted.

Arthur saw the construct preparing another step.

Arthur called into the gap. "Just a little more, Star!"

Star tightened its grip and pulled again.

A sharp metallic click rang out. The anchors beneath the western and northern streets disengaged. The construct lurched, suddenly unable to transfer its full weight into the surrounding buildings.

Arthur grinned. "That’s it!"

He activated Reality Dominion, focusing on the exposed joint beneath the construct’s chest. Golden light gathered along his arm as he aimed past the armor toward the narrow point connecting its moving body to the remaining anchors.

[Guardian Strike]

The blow struck precisely. A brilliant wave of golden light spread across the square. The construct’s central mechanism cracked, its limbs locked in place, and its enormous body stopped moving.

The clock tower trembled once, then settled. No buildings fell.

At the eastern passage, Vedas guided the final civilian onto the evacuation route.

[Rescued: 6/6.]

[Structural Integrity: 92%.]

[Threat Neutralized.]

[Assessment Complete.]

Arthur lowered his arm and looked around. "We did it!"

Star bounced out from beneath the construct and landed against his chest. Arthur caught it, laughing.

Vedas approached with a satisfied smile. "All six rescued. And the town is still standing."

Eden cheered from the gallery. "Arthur! You saved everyone!"

Kong pounded the railing excitedly, while Melo spun around Mithra. Sun stared at the stopped construct.

Sun grinned. "I was wrong. He didn’t destroy the town."

Athy looked at him. "A rare occasion worth recording."

...

Steven entered the simulation field as the damaged buildings began restoring themselves.

Steven smiled at the results display. "Excellent work. Ninety-two percent structural integrity, all civilians rescued, and the central threat disabled without triggering a collapse."

Arthur looked pleased. "I almost hit it too hard."

Mithra joined them, grinning. "You did. I could see you getting ready."

Arthur laughed. "I was considering it."

Mithra folded her arms. "I know. You had that expression."

Steven turned toward Mithra. "Your observation was important. The mechanism was designed to punish an attack made without understanding its connection to the town."

Mithra smiled. "I only noticed because Arthur kept drawing its attention toward the buildings."

Steven nodded toward Arthur. "And Arthur listened. Strength is useful. Knowing when to change your plan is what made this rescue successful."

Vedas rested his spear against his shoulder. "Star also found the release before the final civilian was clear."

Star swelled proudly.

Steven nodded. "Which gave Arthur a safer opening. Every contribution mattered."

As the others gathered around Star, Arthur walked beside Mithra toward the exit.

Arthur glanced at her. "Thanks again. You notice things I miss, even when I’m right in the middle of a fight."

Mithra looked pleasantly surprised. "That was unusually sweet."

Arthur grinned. "It’s true."

She smiled. "You should say things like that more often."

Arthur chuckled. "I’ll try."

Steven called after them. "Tomorrow’s schedule will be less physically demanding. You’ll have free time afterward."

Arthur turned. "Really?"

Steven smiled. "Provided you finish the exercises."

Arthur nodded enthusiastically, then looked toward Mithra. She was still smiling at him. For once, the first thing that came to mind wasn’t another battle. He wondered whether she had any plans for the weekend.