Chapter 471:Start.

Chapter 471: 471:Start.

By the end, Class Four had developed a preliminary strategy. They would avoid committing everyone to the central checkpoint immediately.

Instead, the defensive group would secure the nearest supply station while the reconnaissance team identified enemy movements. Ravenna’s offensive group would pressure one of the outer checkpoints, forcing Class Six to respond.

Silver would move between the groups, using Spatial Sense to gather information and Short-Step to reinforce threatened positions when necessary.

It wasn’t perfect but it was a start.

That evening, Silver found Antony standing outside the academy cafeteria, staring at his communicator with a deeply offended expression.

He approached.

"What happened?" He asked.

Antony looked up.

"Class Two."

Silver raised an eyebrow.

"What about them?"

"We’re fighting Class Five."

"Congratulations."

His eyes narrowed as he went back to looking at the communicator.

"That’s not the problem," he said.

"Then what is?" Silver asked.

"They want me to lead one of the defensive groups."

Silver smiled.

"That sounds reasonable."

Antony looked horrified.

"Reasonable?"

"You’re ranked fourth in the individual assessments."

"That’s exactly what I told them!"

He laughed.

Antony sighed dramatically.

"You know... I was hoping to spend the competition doing something impressive. Maybe transform, rush into battle, defeat several opponents, and look extremely handsome while doing it."

Silver nodded solemnly.

"A noble ambition."

"Thank you."

"Unfortunately, someone noticed you’re competent."

He closed his eyes.

"Exactly, I don’t why I’m this good at everything I do."

Silver laughed.

Rebecca approached from behind Antony. She had apparently heard enough of the conversation.

"He’s been complaining for twenty minutes."

He turned towards her and opened his arms to hug her.

"Rebecca."

But she completely ignored him.

"He was selected because he coordinated our squad during the previous assessment."

Silver nodded.

"Good choice."

Antony looked betrayed as he threw his hands in the air.

"You’re both against me."

She smiled.

"We’re trying to help."

"That’s what everyone says before giving me responsibility."

Silver laughed, then looked toward the competition notice.

"Class Five has Jude."

He nodded.

"I know."

Silver smiled.

"Then you’ll be fighting one of our roommates."

Antony’s expression changed as a slow grin spread across his face.

"Oh."

Rebecca immediately looked suspicious.

"What?"

Antony turned toward Silver.

"Do you think Jude would be annoyed if I beat him?" He asked.

Silver considered.

"Very."

Antony’s grin widened.

"Excellent."

Rebecca sighed.

"Please don’t turn this into something personal."

He looked toward her.

"Too late."

Silver shook his head.

Then his communicator vibrated.

Ravenna.

Where are you?

Silver smiled.

With Antony. He’s discovered responsibility is terrible.

Her response arrived immediately.

Tell him to stop complaining and train.

Silver looked toward Antony.

"Ravenna says stop complaining and train."

Antony stared.

"Why is everyone bullying me?"

Rebecca laughed.

Silver smiled.

"Because you’re an easy target."

Antony dramatucally sighed before looking toward the distant academy gates. Several upperclassmen were leaving for the evening.

He watched them for a moment, then muttered, "And we still can’t go outside."

Silver laughed.

"One problem at a time."

The competition began two days later.

Class Four assembled inside a large deployment hall connected to the academy’s simulated territory.

Thirty students stood in their assigned groups, wearing reinforced training uniforms equipped with identification sensors, protective barriers and communication devices.

The weapons were real enough to require proper handling, but their ammunition and cutting effects had been modified for the competition.

Silver checked his handgun, then his rifle; both were functioning properly. His academy-issued sword rested at his hip.

He adjusted the communicator attached to his wrist and activated Spatial Sense briefly, confirming that his equipment wasn’t interfering with the ability.

[Spatial Sense Lv3 Activated.]

Everything felt normal.

Ravenna approached.

She wore a similar uniform, although her sword was secured across her back.

He looked toward her.

"Ready?"

She nodded.

"Very."

"Try not to burn the entire territory."

She smiled.

"Try not to walk through my fire."

He laughed.

"That’s going to follow me forever, isn’t it?"

"Yes."

She stepped closer, then kissed him quickly.

He smiled.

"Good luck."

"You too."

She hesitated, then added, "Don’t try to save everyone."

Silver looked at her.

Ravenna’s expression was serious.

"I mean it."

He nodded.

"I know."

She smiled.

"Good luck."

Then returned to her group.

Helena approached the center of the deployment hall.

"Everyone, listen."

The students quieted.

She looked around.

"We’ve trained together for over a month. We know what our classmates can do, and we know what happens when we stop communicating."

Several students nodded.

She continued.

"We don’t need everyone to be the strongest fighter. We need everyone to do their jobs. If you’re defending, defend. If you’re scouting, report what you find. If you’re attacking, don’t rush ahead without support."

She glanced toward Silver who smiled. She shook her head slightly, then continued.

"And if something goes wrong, we adapt."

Caleb raised his hammer.

"Class Four!"

Several students echoed him.

Ravenna smiled.

Silver looked around at everyone. Some were trying to hide their fear, while others were excited but all preparing to fight together.

He found himself smiling.

It reminded him of something.

A military briefing room.

Soldiers checking their equipment and someone making a joke before deployment. It brought back the familiar feeling of standing among people who would soon depend on one another.

He exhaled, then checked the mission display.

[CLASS-VERSUS-CLASS COMPETITION]

[MATCH: CLASS FOUR VS CLASS SIX]

[COMPETITION DURATION: 03:00:00]

[ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS: 30 VS 30]

[PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: TERRITORY CONTROL]

[SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: CLASSIFIED]

[VICTORY CONDITION: HIGHEST FINAL SCORE]

A mechanical voice echoed through the hall.

"All participants, prepare for deployment."

The enormous gates began opening. Beyond them stretched the simulated territory. And somewhere on the opposite side, thirty students from Class Six were preparing to do exactly the same thing.

Helena raised her hand.

"Move out!"

Class Four entered the battlefield.

For the first fifteen minutes, everything went according to plan. The defensive group secured their nearest supply station without resistance.

Mina confirmed that the surrounding streets were clear. Elias established an observation position on the roof of a three-story building.

Ravenna’s offensive group moved toward the eastern checkpoint.

Silver travelled ahead of the main formation, using Spatial Sense to examine intersections and identify possible ambush positions.

[Spatial Sense Lv3 Activated.]

He detected several distant signatures. Most were moving toward the central district.

Pr9bably class Six.

He reported the information.

"Helena, multiple signatures moving toward the central checkpoint. Looks like they’re committing a significant group there."

Her response came immediately.

"Understood. Maintain observation. Don’t engage."

He nodded.

"Copy."

He moved toward another intersection, then stopped.

Something felt wrong. The enemy movements were too obvious and too concentrated.

He expanded Spatial Sense. Several signatures continued moving toward the center but farther east... Nothing.

He frowned.

Class Six couldn’t possibly have committed everyone to the central checkpoint.

Could they?

He checked the map.

The eastern checkpoint was lightly defended according to their available information.

Ravenna’s group was approaching it.

Silver activated his communicator.

"Ravenna, hold your position."

Her response came immediately.

"Why?"

"I don’t like this."

A brief pause, then...

"Silver, we’re already near the checkpoint."

He frowned.

"How many enemies?"

"Three visible."

His expression sharpened.

"Don’t engage yet."

Ravenna didn’t answer immediately, then he heard something through the communicator; a sharp mechanical sound, followed by shouting.

"Ambush!"

His eyes widened.

His Spatial Sense detected movement from beneath the eastern road. Multiple signatures emerged from an underground passage.

At the same moment, the communication tower behind Class Four’s defensive position suddenly went offline.

A warning flashed across Silver’s wrist.

[COMMUNICATION NODE DISABLED]

[SUPPLY POINT CONNECTION LOST.]

[EASTERN CHECKPOINT CONTESTED.]

Silver stared at his wrist in disbelief.

Then another notification appeared.

[CLASS FOUR TERRITORY SCORE: 40]

[CLASS SIX TERRITORY SCORE: 85]

They’d been baited.

The obvious movement toward the central checkpoint had been a distraction.

Class Six had targeted their communications and supply routes while drawing Ravenna’s offensive group into an ambush.

Silver immediately activated his communicator.

"Helena! Their main force isn’t at the center!"

Static answered him.

He tried again.

"Helena, respond!"

More static, then a broken voice came through.

"...Silver... supply... under attack..."

The connection died.

He looked toward the eastern district, then toward the supply station.

There were two directions with two emergencies and he couldn’t reach both at once.

For a brief moment, the familiar instinct rose inside him to move, help and fix everything, then he remembered Peter’s warning.

Being capable of solving a problem doesn’t mean you should always be the person solving it.

Silver slowly exhaled, his eyes sharpening.

"All right." He raised his handgun. "Let’s see how good Class Six really is."

[Spatial Sense Lv3 Activated.]

The battlefield unfolded around him... And the real competition began.