Chapter 478:Rest.

Chapter 478: 478:Rest.

The moment the competition ended, the protective barriers surrounding the participants deactivated, and the enormous simulated territory that had served as a battlefield for the past three hours gradually returned to its usual state.

The warning lights disappeared from the checkpoints, the communication restrictions were lifted, and the mechanical voice that had spent the entire exercise announcing territorial changes finally fell silent, leaving behind the distant sounds of exhausted students celebrating, complaining, or simply collapsing wherever they happened to be standing.

Silver remained near the central command terminal for a moment, looking at the final score displayed on his communicator.

He couldn’t help laughing softly.

Three hours of fighting, dozens of tactical decisions, multiple eliminated students, and an enormous amount of energy spent defending and capturing territory, yet their victory had ultimately been decided by a difference small enough that losing a single checkpoint a few seconds earlier might’ve changed everything.

"Twenty-three points," Caleb muttered beside him, apparently thinking the same thing.

He turned toward him.

Caleb was sitting on the staircase with his hammer resting across his knees, looking as though he’d just finished carrying an entire building on his shoulders. His uniform was covered in dust, the protective plating around his chest had several deep marks, and one of his sleeves had been almost completely torn away during his repeated clashes with Gareth Holler.

Silver smiled. "A win is a win."

Caleb looked up. "That’s what you’re going with?"

"What would you prefer?"

"Something more impressive. Something like, ’Through our overwhelming strength and exceptional teamwork, Class Four crushed its enemies and emerged victorious.’"

Ravenna, who had been standing beside Silver, immediately laughed.

Silver considered his suggestion for a moment before shaking his head. "We didn’t crush them."

Caleb sighed. "You really know how to ruin a moment."

"We barely won."

"Exactly. That’s why I’m trying to make it sound better."

Ravenna smiled and sat on the staircase beside him. "You did well against Gareth."

Caleb’s expression brightened immediately.

"Really?"

"Yes. You kept him occupied long enough for Silver to reach the terminal."

He straightened slightly. "Well, naturally. Someone had to stop that walking mountain."

Silver laughed. "He nearly sent you through a wall."

"Nearly," Caleb emphasized, raising one finger. "An important distinction."

Ravenna shook her head.

Silver looked toward the entrance of the command structure, where several Class Six students were beginning to gather after being released from their elimination restrictions. Among them was Gareth, who was carrying his heavy weapon over one shoulder and laughing with two classmates despite having lost the competition.

Gareth noticed Silver looking at him, grinned and raised one hand.

Silver returned the gesture.

A few moments later, Gareth approached.

"Ruddington!"

Silver smiled. "Holler."

He stopped in front of them and looked toward Caleb.

"Good fight."

Caleb immediately stood.

"You too."

They shook hands.

Gareth laughed. "That last hammer strike was nasty, it left a bruise."

Caleb grinned. "You should’ve seen the ones I missed."

"I did. They nearly destroyed the staircase."

Silver laughed.

Gareth turned toward Ravenna.

"And your fire control is ridiculous."

Ravenna raised an eyebrow. "Thank you?"

"I’m serious. I thought you’d just try to burn everything, but every time I found an opening, you somehow had another flame waiting exactly where I wanted to move."

Ravenna smiled faintly. "That was the idea."

Gareth shook his head. "Its annoying."

Silver nodded solemnly. "Very."

She elbowed him.

Gareth laughed again before looking toward the final score.

"Twenty-three points."

Silver nodded.

"Close."

"Too close."

For a moment, Gareth’s expression became thoughtful, then he smiled.

"Next time, we’re winning."

Silver returned the smile.

"You’re welcome to try."

Gareth laughed loudly.

"That’s what I like to hear."

He turned and walked away, calling for his classmates to regroup.

Silver watched him leave.

Class Six had lost, but there was nothing embarrassing about their performance. Their opening strategy had been excellent, their communication disruption had nearly destroyed Class Four’s coordination, and their decision to concentrate around the central command structure had forced Silver’s class into a desperate final assault.

If anything, Silver respected them more now than he had before the competition.

He’d learned considerably more from fighting competent opponents than he would’ve gained from an easy victory.

A familiar voice suddenly came through his communicator.

"Silver, Ravenna, Caleb. Report to the western assembly point. We’re gathering everyone before returning."

He smiled.

"Understood, Commander."

There was a brief pause, then Helena sighed.

"Stop calling me that."

Caleb immediately laughed. Silver looked toward Ravenna who smiled.

"She’s definitely going to hear that for the rest of the week."

"At least."

By the time Class Four gathered at the western assembly point, the excitement of their victory had begun giving way to exhaustion.

Mina was sitting on a supply crate with her head resting against the wall behind her, while Elias stood nearby drinking water from a bottle he’d apparently emptied twice already.

Rowan had removed his damaged gloves and was examining several shallow cuts across his palms, the result of repeatedly reinforcing structures that had been subjected to attacks far stronger than the materials were originally designed to withstand.

Several other students were receiving treatment from the academy’s medical personnel.

Although the competition equipment had prevented most serious injuries, it hadn’t eliminated pain, exhaustion, or the possibility of accidents.

Students who’d been struck by heavy attacks still needed examinations, and those who’d overused their abilities were required to undergo energy stability checks before being allowed to leave.

Silver recognized the procedure.

The academy wasn’t taking chances.

Helena stood near the center of the group, holding a tablet containing their final participation records.

She looked exhausted.

Her dark-blonde hair had partially escaped its ponytail, and the sleeves of her uniform were covered in dust. There were several marks along her shield, and Silver could tell from the way she occasionally flexed her fingers that maintaining her barriers throughout the competition had placed considerable strain on her hands. Nevertheless, she remained standing.

Silver approached her.

"Everyone accounted for?" He asked.

Helena nodded.

"Thirty active participants and one reserve. Nobody suffered serious injuries," she replied.

"Good."

She looked toward him, then smiled.

"We actually won."

He laughed softly.

"Apparently."

She shook her head.

"I thought we’d lost during the first hour."

"So did I."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"When they disabled our communications and attacked the supply station, I thought we’d have to abandon half our objectives just to stabilize the situation."

She sighed.

"That was horrible."

"Very."

She looked toward the gathering students.

"But everyone adjusted."

Silver followed her gaze.

Mina was arguing with Caleb about which of them had contributed more to defending the western checkpoint.

Elias was quietly correcting both of them. Rowan looked as though he wanted to disappear.

Ravenna was speaking with two members of her offensive group, occasionally smiling whenever someone mentioned the final battle.

Shirley stood nearby, listening to the conversation with a pleasant expression.

Silver nodded.

"Yeah."

Helena looked toward him.

"Thank you."

He blinked.

"For what?"

"For supporting the command structure instead of trying to take over."

Silver stared for a few seconds before laughing.

"Was that a concern?"

"A little."

"That’s insulting."

She smiled.

"You’re ranked first. You’re stronger than most of us, and you have abilities that let you move between positions faster than almost anyone else. Some people would’ve expected you to make every decision."

Silver considered that, then shook his head.

"That would’ve been stupid."

Helena laughed.

"Maybe."

He looked toward the others again.

"You did well. Especially after we lost communications."

Helena’s smile softened.

"Thanks."

He nodded, then added, "Although you sounded like you were about to murder someone when the western checkpoint was attacked."

Helena closed her eyes.

"Silver."

He laughed.

She shook her head.

"Go get checked by the medical team."

"Yes, Commander."

"Silver!" She shouted after him.

He walked away laughing.