Chapter 13: The Trap

At six in the morning, a small military magic-powered ship landed in the center of the camp. It was a patrol ship, shaped like a prism with a pointed head and broad tail, bearing the emblem of the Surface Defense Army "Night Wolf" of District 13. Powered by magic energy, it had two propulsion engines at the rear and a cockpit under an arched armor shell, equipped with twin cannons and ground missile launchers under the wings.

In terms of firepower, this small magic-powered ship was far from excellent. Limited by its size and propulsion engines, it couldn't carry heavy firepower and was generally used for patrolling around administrative regions.

However, it was the first time the boys had seen a magic-powered ship up close. Allen's eyes were filled with excitement, and the other two boys were equally thrilled.

"Alright, if you ever get a chance to leave, there are plenty more and bigger magic-powered ships in Babylon for you to see." Lieutenant Ron stood in front of the ship, arms crossed. "Listen, this ship will take you to the assessment site. Consider this assessment a warm-up before the death arena. You have three days to eliminate your opponents, but all activities must be confined to the marked area. If anyone crosses the forbidden zone trying to escape, believe me, it won't be a pleasant decision."

Hearing this, Merrie's expression changed.

"Check your gear, and if everything is fine, get in." The lieutenant patted the ship's body, and the rear opened to reveal a cabin with four seats, sufficient for the three boys.

They didn't have much to carry, mainly weapons. Supplies would have to be found in the forest.

Allen, carrying his weapon "Carnage," was the first to climb into the rear cabin, followed by Mao and Merrie. The four seats faced each other in pairs. Allen placed "Carnage" beside him and sat down on the left seat, fastening his seatbelt as instructed by the pilot. Mao and Merrie sat on the right, their eyes meeting in the air.

As the cabin door closed slowly, Lieutenant Ron wished them luck from outside, "Good luck, kids."

Once the door closed, soft lights illuminated the cabin. The portholes on either side showed the ship rising smoothly, without the slightest vibration, only the faint hum of the propulsion engines underfoot.

"Watch your back, because I'll blast it with this." Mao, caressing his sniper rifle, placed a hand on Merrie's long leg, smirking at Allen.

Allen grinned, "You know, I'll shove 'Carnage' down your throat and slice your head off. So, you should talk more now because you won't be able to soon."

The tension between the two boys filled the cabin with a volatile atmosphere. Merrie lowered her head uneasily, not daring to look at either of them.

Soon, the ship reached the assessment site. Following Ron's instructions, the pilot dropped the boys at different points in the forest. Allen was the last to disembark, jumping out of the cabin from ten meters above the ground with "Carnage" in hand. He rolled to dissipate the impact as he landed.

Looking up, he saw the ship ascend with two blue flames from its rear engines, swiftly disappearing.

As the ship vanished, the forest returned to silence. After six months back in the wild, Allen took a deep breath of freedom and used the sunlight to orient himself before heading east into the woods. He didn't rush to find Mao and Merrie but first confirmed the assessment area to familiarize himself with the environment. This habit, honed by years of hunting, ensured he knew the surroundings before attacking, like a snow wolf ensuring no escape for its prey.

An hour later, Allen found the edge of the assessment area. A barbed wire fence marked the boundary, with skull-marked iron signs at intervals, a clear warning.

Allen ran along the edge, spending the entire day confirming the assessment area's scope. It was vast, with dense forests, two valleys, and a river. He chopped down a few small trees along the way, hollowed out the trunks, and fetched water from the river, storing it in several hidden spots. Water was the most crucial supply, and with these caches, he wouldn't need to expose himself at the river.

As night fell, he continued moving through the forest, navigating by the stars. At several points, he set simple but deadly traps. By the time he finished, it was deep into the night, so he climbed a tree and slept among the dense leaves.

When the sun rose, it was the second day of the assessment.

Mao was getting frustrated. After parachuting down yesterday, he found a vantage point to search for and snip Allen. But the white-haired boy seemed to have vanished, leaving Mao waiting in vain. Desperate, Mao decided to search for Allen, knowing his sniper skills gave him a significant advantage in the forest. However, his impatience made him forget his instructor's advice: snipers should remain still, not move.

Determined to kill Allen, Mao ignored the advice, believing that an injured prey couldn't be a threat. He moved slowly and cautiously, knowing the leaves underfoot could give him away.

After finding the river, Mao guessed Allen would eventually come for water. So, he hid in a camouflaged spot by the riverbank, sniper rifle ready.

Hours passed with no sign of Allen. Frustrated, Mao's patience waned until he saw Allen cautiously approach the riverbank. Allen seemed hungry and dove into the river to drink.

Mao aimed carefully, his scope crosshairs on Allen's head. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Allen suddenly looked in his direction.

"Damn, he saw me." Mao cursed and fired. Allen jumped, and the bullet hit the water. Mao adjusted his aim and fired again as Allen disappeared into the forest, leaving a trail of blood.

Mao followed the blood trail, confident Allen was injured. He moved slowly, knowing a wounded Allen would be more dangerous. He saw a bloodstained handprint and followed the trail into the forest.

Mao was close now, feeling victory within reach. He found a bloodstained uniform on a rock, thinking Allen was hiding behind it. He advanced slowly, gun ready, only to find a decoy—a dead stag wearing Allen's uniform.

Realizing it was a trap, Mao turned just in time to see Allen, shirtless and wielding "Carnage," leap from the leaves, swinging the weapon in a deadly arc. Mao dodged, but "Carnage" grazed his chest, leaving a bloody gash. Mao fired his gun to keep Allen at bay and fled.

As he ran, Mao screamed, falling into one of Allen's traps. Allen picked up "Carnage" to chase but sensed danger. He rolled into the bushes as automatic gunfire erupted from behind. It was Merrie.

Allen knew she was desperate but ready to fight. He decided not to confront her, slipping away in another direction.