Chapter 41 – Excellence Camp Team Battle I

Ashern City - Reinhart Institute of War, 3rd of Brightforge, year 315 UC

The sandstorm made visibility nearly impossible. Bryan kept his distance from the others, tracking their movements through the occasional breaks in the swirling sand.

Movement caught his attention. Alexander was gesturing to the others, his voice barely carrying over the howling wind.

"Anyone see anything?"

Christopher shifted his stance, squinting through the storm.

"Movement ahead, maybe thirty feet. Can't tell how many."

Alexander turned to Sabrina.

"Can you hit in that direction? We need to take control early."

Sabrina shook her head, sand falling from her hair.

"I can't see clearly. The spell might go wide."

"Try anyway. Even if you miss we might be able to disperse them. Then Christopher can close in on anyone close by."

Bryan watched Sabrina's hesitation, noting how her fingers twitched.

'That's a bad call. You need to tell him that it's wrong. You have no vision on the target and will be aiming blind.'

She did what Alexander wanted.

Why?

Sabrina had to know the call was bad but did as he asked anyway. If her spell did not land, it would all be for naught.

A pillar of magma erupted—not where Christopher had indicated, but directly beneath him. Christopher didn't even have time to scream as the molten rock engulfed him. His bracelet flashed brilliant red before the blue crystal went dark.

"What the hell, Sabrina?" 

Alexander's voice cracked.

Her spell didn't make it thirty feet. Alexander was to blame for the bad call, but she was also at fault for going through with it. It was like the blind leading the blind.

And now he was upset? Maybe surprised was the right word from the way his eyebrows shot up when the pillar erupted.

'Stupid.'

Bryan thought as he scanned the immediate area.

"I told you I couldn't see! This is your fault—you told me to cast anyway!"

Farrah stepped between them.

"Both of you, shut up! This isn't helping—"

"Not helping?" 

Sabrina's face flushed red. 

"Our tank is dead because someone couldn't wait five seconds for better visibility!"

Alexander jabbed a finger at her.

"You're the one who lost control of your spell! How do you miss by that much?"

"Maybe if someone hadn't rushed me—"

"Oh, so now it's my fault you can't aim?"

They would get no where with this. Not to mention, Bryan spotted people moving through the gaps in the whirling sand.

"Your argument is pointless, so shut up. There's movement from multiple targets."

He told them before the argument could go any further.

The warning came too late. Lightning arced through the sandstorm, striking the platform where they stood. Bryan moved to the side as the electricity crackled past, catching Alexander's shoulder. The support mage's bracelet flashed, his right arm going limp.

'Perfect. Two minutes in and we've lost our tank to friendly fire, given away our position, and had our support disabled.'

Bryan couldn't help but wonder if Alan was watching this disaster unfold. The shame of such an amateur display almost hurt worse than any damage the arena could simulate.

Another lightning bolt illuminated the storm, revealing multiple silhouettes moving between the floating islands. Team One had found them, and now they had the advantage of higher ground and better coordination.

"Alexander, are you okay?" 

Farrah's asked.

"Fine." 

He flexed his good arm. 

"Anyone catch where that came from?"

Sabrina brushed sand from her face, squinting into the storm.

"I can't see anything in this mess. It's like trying to spot a fish in mud."

"Left side, I think." 

Farrah shifted her stance. 

"But I'm not sure if they actually saw us or just got lucky with the lightning strike."

Bryan watched his teammates fumble through the situation. Attacking without understanding their opponent's capabilities or position was amateur at best and suicidal at worst. Even worse was Alexander giving orders while essentially blind. Now, with one arm useless, their support was little more than dead weight.

"We need to move." 

Farrah's eyes darted between the floating platforms. 

"We're too exposed—"

A high-pitched whistle cut through the howling wind. Through the swirling sand, Bryan caught the gleam of something curved.

"Sabrina, barrier! Now!" 

Farrah's voice rose with urgency. 

"NOW!"

Without wasting a beat, Sabrina quickly conjured a barrier. It was barely formed around her before a wind blade slammed into it, creating cracks across the hexagonal sections.

Sabrina stumbled back from the impact as she lowered the barrier.

"Crap, that was close." 

Her voice shook slightly.

Alexander clutched his disabled arm.

"We need to move. Now."

"There was a bridge ahead." 

Farrah gestured through the swirling sand. 

"I saw it earlier, before the storm got worse."

Alexander nodded.

"Let's go."

As the group started moving, Bryan remained still, drawing his knife. The blade gleamed dully in the storm-filtered light as he drew it across his palm. Blood welled up from the cut.

'I won't lose this match because of others mistakes.'

"What are you doing?" 

Alexander called back.

Sabrina scoffed, already several steps ahead.

"He's crazy. Thinks he's better than us, so let him be. Maybe he'll get hit by lightning next."

"Wait, we aren't going to leave him here."

Farrah stopped moving and said as she turned to face him.

"Stop trying to play hero, and let's move."

She said.

Bryan shot her a glare but otherwise paid her little attention.

"Play hero? I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do. If you want to run, go ahead."

Cresent blades formed around him as the wound on his palm closed.

He had six of them to work with, but that was enough for this exercise.

"We don't have time for this!"

Sabrina shouted.

Farrah sighed and shook her head.

"Fine, let's do it your way then. It'll look bad if we end up leaving you alone. Since you want to stay and fight, we'll stay and fight."

"You can't be serious."

Alexander spoke up as he held on to his useless arm.

Farrah shrugged.

"I know he's a pain, but he's still our teammate. Besides, they might think we'll run away, and staying behind would only play in our favor. Bryan might be on to something."

'Like I'm ever wrong to begin with.'

Bryan thought as he watched the movements through the sandstorm. It was hard to make out if they were actual people moving or if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Sabrina dragged her feet and rolled her eyes.

"Ugh, fine. So, what's the plan? Just hit whoever comes in view?"

Farrah smiled, but her eyes were focused on Bryan.

"As barbaric as that sounds, it might be our best option. Considering Alexander won't be of much help, hitting whatever comes our way is the play."

"Hey! I can still cast."

Alexander protested.

Sabrina patted him on the shoulder.

"Sure you can. Just… try not to get in the way, okay?"

"Will you shut up? You already gave away our position with your spell earlier, and conversing is only making it worse. If you're going to stay put, then the least you can do is stay out of my way."

Bryan told them.

He wished they would have left like they were planning. Working alone would have been better.

Counting on them to help was out of the question. They already proved they were nothing but a liability. And as much as Farrah wanted to show him otherwise, Sabrina's quick dispatchment of Christoper already proved Bryan right.

In a combat situation like this, he had to take control.

"Now, now, that isn't called for. We're on the same team, so let's just work together. Alright?"

Alexander asked as he stepped in front of Sabrina, who looked as if she was ready to tear Bryan's head off.

"Whatever."

"Since Christopher is down, we can't count on our tank. We should revise our plan to suit our fighting style better. Let's try not to overcomplicate matters and instead focus on our strengths."

Farrah stated.

"Bryan will do whatever he wants, and I doubt anything we say will matter. So, it's just you and me."

Farrah said as she looked at Sabrina.

"And me."

Alexander added, making sure he was not left out.

"Right, and you. I'll support Bryan, making sure he won't die, but it's up to you to guard Alexander. I know it's not the best plan, but it's all we've got."

"Or…"

Sabrina had a predatory smile plastered on her face.

"We could just let him bite the bullet. Take one for the team, and when they close in to finish our captain off, we strike."

"I am right here!"

Alexander shouted as the two girls were talking as if he were dead.

Farrah put a finger on her chin and seemed to think about the idea.

"It's not a bad plan, but I doubt they would fall for it. Alexander being out in the open alone? Yeah no. With you guarding him, on the other hand, it might be more realistic and something they would go for. Besides, you can take care of yourself if it comes down to close combat."

"Oh yeah, I can handle myself. I'll just leave him if it becomes too much to handle. Just make sure you save me some. I can't have my only moment be scorching Christopher to death. Not the greatest highlight, if I must say."

Farrah laughed then noticed that Bryan had vanished.

"Where did he go?"

She asked as Sabrina also turned to look where Bryan last stood.

"He left like ten seconds ago. Maybe if you two stopped plotting my death, you would have noticed."

Alexander commented.

"So, which way did he go?"

Farrah asked.

"He jumped to the leftmost platform. I saw a few shadows moving, so he's probably screwed."

Alexander answered.

**********

Bryan gazed down at the five figures huddled up. They seemed to be chatting, but he couldn't make out what they were talking about.

'Planning? Or wasting time?'

He asked himself.

Striking them now was an option, but how many of them could he eliminate? Three?

That would leave two of them to deal with, and he wasn't sure which of them was the strongest. A team is only as good as their weakest link.

From the way they were huddled around, they were not worried about defending themselves.

He heard something and quickly turned.

'Her.'

He thought as he spotted Farrah blink to his location. The sandstorm was still roaring and blocking his view, but it was not thick where he currently was. 

When he left, she was chatting with Sabrina, and he thought they would be too busy to notice him leaving. Yet, somehow, here she was.

Unlike what he assumed, she did not speak to him. She moved to the edge and gazed down.

"They're unguarded. If you plan on attacking, now is the time."

She whispered.

"I'll take the big guy on the left, what about you?"

She asked.

"I'll handle Leah, Max, and Sarah. You go in after my blades rip them apart."

Bryan told her.

If she wanted to be of help, then he would allow that. Even if she dove in and died, it would be a distraction. Farrah could buy him enough time to strike again.

Her death would not go in vain.

"Ugh, you know their names?"

She asked.

Bryan glared at her, wondering if this was the right time to make side talk. Besides, what was the point of that question anyway? There were only twenty people in the camp, how difficult was it to recall their names?

Know thy enemy.

Seeing his death glare, Farrah nodded once as he was not going to answer her question.

"Works for me, but can you break through their barriers?"

She asked.

"They don't have barriers, and they aren't paying attention. Just get ready to move in three."

Bryan told her as he moved his crescent blades.

With six of them, he could use one for each target. However, he wanted to be certain of the kill, which meant he had to use two per person.

One to the neck, the other would slice through their stomach. Both areas were fatal and would end the fight quickly.

With the reaction time of the other two, he could close the distance if he augmented his body with ether.

Farrah appearing shortly after would cause the remaining two to focus on her and leave them open for attacks to the back. Bryan estimated it would take him two seconds to get from here down there and another second to kill them from behind.

Three seconds. More than enough time. The distance was only ten feet at most, and gravity would help him out when descending. It would take him five seconds if he were sloppy.

With that thought in mind, his crescent blades moved. Team one did not know what hit them as three of their members 'died' instantly.

"What the?"

The large boy was confused when he noticed Leah, Max, and Sarah's bracelets flash red. In mid-conversation, all of them stopped talking.

Looking around, he saw something flicker before a knee crashed into his face.

Farrah's slim figure flew by with amazing grace as she pushed the boy twice her size to the edge. She didn't even have to use a spell beside the blink she engaged with.

"Brent!"

The other boy shouted as he rushed forward to help.

Bryan appeared like a ghost as his red eyes gazed up. The boy put up a shield to protect himself from Bryan's spell.

Bryan smirked and punched the boy in the throat.

'Never planned on using a spell.'

Bryan thought as the boy's bracelet flashed red from the impact. The boy never stood a chance under the power of his augmented strength.

Barriers only protected against spells, not physical attacks.

Instead of putting one up in a panic, he should have realized the distance and put some spacing between them. Or launched his own spell in retaliation.

'Amateur.'

Turning his attention, Bryan found that Farrah kicked her opponent off the floating island. He was hanging on with one hand, but she stomped her foot on his hand, and he fell.

The arena shimmered, sand and floating islands dissolving as it returned to its neutral state. He had not used augmentation for long, so he wasn't drained. Instead, Bryan felt that something was lacking.

'Was I too efficient?'

He shook his head once. That was absurd. He dispatched the enemies quickly and without mercy. So why was he unsatisfied?

Training with the holograms was more satisfying than this.

"That was brutal." 

Max rolled his shoulders as he approached. 

"We didn't even sense you. How did you do that? Did you target us specifically or was it random? Better yet, how did you even find us? We only gathered for a moment, and Kai made sure no one was around."

Bryan didn't answer. He was more focused on the instructors' reactions. Lock's expression remained neutral, but Gloria seemed to smirk.

"Blackwood." 

Alan's voice cut through the arena. 

"Team Three. Here. Now."

The walk to their instructor felt longer than it should have. Christopher looked embarrassed about his early elimination.

Alan studied them for a long moment.

"So." 

He crossed his arms.

"Anyone want to explain what that was supposed to be?"

"We won." 

Alexander started but quickly fell silent under Alan's stare.

"Did you?" 

Alan's gaze swept over them. 

"Because what I saw was a complete breakdown of team structure, followed by two individuals acting independently while the rest stood around arguing."

He turned to Bryan. 

"You got results. I'll give you that. But tell me - what happens when you face an opponent who isn't caught off guard? When they're ready for your tactics?"

"I think I'll manage." 

Bryan replied coldly.

"I'd like to see you try." 

Alan's voice carried an edge. 

"You managed to obtain victory, great. But at what cost?"

He shook his head. 

"Christopher died to friendly fire. Alexander was disabled early. Sabrina and Farrah barely participated."

"I helped with the final attack." 

Farrah interjected.

"After abandoning your original position." 

Alan countered. 

"Though at least you showed some initiative." 

He resigned himself to say before he focused on Bryan again. 

"You have skill. That's obvious. But skill alone won't be enough where you're headed."

Bryan stayed silent. They weren't headed anywhere. If they were, then he would not be included. Once this whole academy life was over with, he was going right back to the Inquisition.

The others might be stationed somewhere and participate in missions to safeguard the Roan kingdom. But that was a long shot for him.

"Your next match is in twenty minutes, I suggest you use that time to figure out how actually to function as a team. Unless..." 

His eyes locked onto Bryan. 

"You think you can keep soloing your way through every challenge?"

Bryan maintained eye contact, refusing to look away first.

'Is that a challenge I'm hearing?'

Bryan forced himself not to smile. He did not plan on taking out everyone in their next match, but since Alan said it. It did not seem like a bad idea.

"Dismissed." 

Alan said finally. 

"Except you, Blackwood. A word."

As the others moved away, Bryan caught fragments of conversation from the other instructors.

"Impressive speed..." 

Lock was saying.

"Talented. Worth keeping an eye on…" 

Gloria began adding her own comment.

Alan waited until they were alone before speaking again.

"You're not stupid, Blackwood. So tell me - why are you fighting this so hard? Be part of the team, play your role."

Bryan remained silent.

"Because from where I'm standing, you're setting yourself up for failure. And in our line of work, failure usually means death."

Seeing that Bryan was not going to respond, Alan sighed and continued.

"Think about that before your next match. Now go. Your team's waiting."