Chapter 474:Underground

Chapter 474: 474:Underground

A young woman with short black hair raised a compact crossbow.

Silver activated Spatial Distortion before it could hit. The bolt changed direction and struck the wall.

He stepped forward.

[Phantom Draw Lv4 Activated.]

One shot.

[Participant Eliminated.]

He looked toward the tower. The remaining six opponents were still advancing.

His energy reserves had dropped slightly, not dangerously, but enough to remind him that repeated spatial movement wasn’t free.

He considered returning immediately, then stopped.

No, he didn’t need to fight all six, he needed to hold the tower until Rowan and Elias arrived.

Silver raised his communicator.

"Helena, rooftop threats eliminated. Remaining opponents are concentrated near the entrance."

"Understood. Reinforcements approaching."

He smiled.

"Okay."

He crouched and waited.

The first hour ended with Class Four losing the eastern checkpoint.

Ravenna’s group had defeated several opponents, but Class Six continued reinforcing the position through underground passages. Every time her team pushed forward, another defensive group appeared from a different direction, forcing them to retreat or risk being surrounded.

Eventually she made the decision to withdraw. She wasn’t happy about it but she understood that remaining would only waste energy.

Her squad regrouped near a damaged apartment building, where she checked their remaining ammunition and medical supplies.

Two students had been eliminated and one was injured. Shirley had exhausted a considerable amount of energy maintaining Light Refraction during the retreat.

Ravenna looked toward the territory map. Class Six controlled three checkpoints while class Four controlled two. Their score difference was growing.

She exhaled.

"All right."

One of her teammates looked toward her.

"What now?"

Ravenna considered, then smiled faintly.

"We stop doing what they want."

Silver finally left the communication tower after Rowan repaired the damaged equipment.

The restoration took longer than expected because several internal components had been deliberately disabled, but Rowan’s reinforcement ability allowed him to stabilize the damaged housing while Elias covered the surrounding rooftops.

Once the tower was operational, Class Four’s communication network returned.

Helena immediately began collecting reports.

The situation wasn’t good.

They had lost the eastern checkpoint, their western supply station had nearly fallen, several students were injured and four had been eliminated.

Class Six had lost six participants, but their territory score remained significantly higher.

Silver studied the map.

"Helena, we need to change the plan."

Her response came immediately.

"I know."

"They’re using the underground routes to reinforce whichever checkpoint we attack."

"Agreed."

"Then we shouldn’t attack the checkpoints directly."

A pause before her voice came through.

"Explain."

He looked toward the map.

The central district contained several underground passages. Some connected to the eastern checkpoint while others extended toward the western supply station.

If Class Six had access to those routes, they could move between positions without exposing themselves to observation from the streets.

That explained how they’d repeatedly appeared behind Class Four’s formations.

Silver smiled.

"They’re not defending three checkpoints independently. They’re defending a network." He continued after a small pause. "If we cut the network, they’ll have to move aboveground. That means Mina and Elias can detect them, and Ravenna can control their routes."

Helena considered.

"Can you identify the underground connections?"

"Most of them. I need to get closer to the central district."

"Do it. But don’t engage unless necessary."

He nodded.

"Understood."

He started moving, then Helena added something.

"Silver."

"Yes?"

"Good work holding the tower."

He smiled.

"Thanks."

"Now stop trying to fight the entire opposing class."

He laughed.

"I’ll try."

The next forty minutes became a battle of information.

Silver moved through the central district, using Spatial Sense to examine underground passages, abandoned buildings, and possible ambush positions.

He discovered that Class Six had established a temporary command point beneath an old transit station.

Several students were operating there. One possessed an ability that allowed him to detect vibrations through metal. Another could reinforce underground structures. A third appeared to be coordinating movement between the checkpoints.

He didn’t attack them; instead he marked their positions, then transmitted the information to Helena.

"Three underground routes connect the eastern checkpoint to the central district. Another two lead toward the western supply station. They’re using the transit station as a movement hub."

Helena responded.

"Can we block it?"

He considered.

"Yes. But not permanently."

"How?"

"Rowan can reinforce the entrances after we collapse the weaker sections. Caleb can help with the heavy structures. I can use Space Slash to cut the supports where necessary."

Helena nodded.

"Good. I’ll send Caleb and Rowan."

Silver looked toward the map.

"And Ravenna."

A pause.

"Why?"

"Because if we force Class Six aboveground, we need someone who can control the streets."

Helena understood immediately.

"Agreed."

The plan began taking shape.

For the first time since deployment, Class Four wasn’t simply reacting to Class Six’s movements, they were creating their own.

Ravenna arrived at the central district twelve minutes later. Silver was waiting near the entrance to the abandoned transit station.

She approached with three members of her offensive group, including Shirley, her expression brightening slightly when she saw him.

"Silver."

He smiled.

"Hello."

She looked him over.

"You’re injured."

He glanced at the yellow damage indicator on his shoulder.

"Training hit."

"Still."

"I’m fine."

She narrowed her eyes, then sighed.

"Fine."

Silver smiled.

"How was the eastern checkpoint?" He asked.

"Annoying," she said, pouting.

"That bad?"

"Very." She looked toward the underground entrance. "What’s the plan?"

He explained while she listened carefully before smiling.

"Oh."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?" He repeated, confused.

"You want me to burn their escape routes."

"Not exactly."

She looked disappointed.

He laughed.

"I want you to control them. There’s a difference."

Ravenna considered, then nodded.

"Fine."

Shirley stepped forward.

"I can enter through the western passage without being noticed."

Silver looked toward her.

"Can you maintain your power long enough to reach the control junction?"

"Yes."

Ravenna frowned.

"That passage is narrow."

Shirley nodded.

"I know."

"There might be guards."

"I know that too."

Ravenna stared, her eyes narrowing.

Shirley smiled politely.

"I’ll be careful."

For a moment, neither spoke, then Ravenna nodded.

"Don’t get caught."

Shirley smiled.

"I’ll try."

Silver watched the exchange. It was still suspicious but useful at the moment.

He turned toward the others.

"All right. We move in five minutes."

The operation began with Caleb.

He struck the weakened support beneath the northern passage with his hammer, sending a heavy vibration through the underground structure.

Silver followed with Space Slash.

[Space Slash Lv3 Activated.]

A thin spatial blade cut through the damaged reinforcement.

The ceiling collapsed and dust erupted. The passage was blocked.

Rowan immediately moved forward and reinforced the surrounding structure, preventing the collapse from spreading into the adjacent corridors.

"North passage sealed!" he shouted.

Silver nodded.

"Good. Western route next."

Mina placed her fingers against the ground.

"Movement below us. They’re reacting."

He smiled.

"Excellent."

A group of Class Six students emerged from the eastern passage.

Ravenna stepped forward and her sword ignited.

Burning Arc

A controlled wall of fire spread across the entrance. The opposing students immediately stopped from the sheer heat.

One attempted to extinguish it with water but she adjusted the temperature and steam filled the passage.

Silver raised his communicator.

"Helena, they’re moving."

Her response came immediately.

"Understood. Defensive groups repositioning."

The western passage collapsed, then the southern. Within minutes, Class Six’s underground movement network had been reduced to two usable routes... And both were being monitored.

Silver smiled.

Now the competition could actually begin. Unfortunately for them, Class Six’s commander was not stupid.