Chapter 48 - Unit Test(2)

As our airship took off, I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes for a brief moment to collect my thoughts.

The hum of the engines was oddly soothing, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions swirling inside me.

But before I could fully relax, I heard someone clearing their throat, the sound cutting through the low murmur of conversation in the cabin.

I opened my eyes and saw Laura and Morgan standing at the front of the airship, their presence commanding immediate attention.

Laura, with her sharp features and no-nonsense demeanor, stood tall, her hands clasped behind her back.

Beside her, Morgan looked as laid-back as ever, though there was a glint of seriousness in his eyes.

It had been almost two months since I'd last seen them during the entrance exam, but it felt like a lifetime ago. Quite a bit had changed since then.

"Good morning, cadets," Laura began, her voice crisp and clear. "I'm Captain Laura Hines, and this is Captain Morgan Whise. We'll be your proctors for this unit test."

Oh. So her last name was Hines huh.

Morgan gave a casual wave, his trademark grin in place. "Hey there, future soldiers of Terra. Try not to make this too easy for us, yeah?"

A few cadets chuckled nervously, but most of us were too focused on what was coming next.

Laura stepped forward, her gaze sweeping across the room.

"Let's get straight to it. This unit test will evaluate your teamwork, combat skills, and ability to adapt under pressure.

You'll be graded on three main criteria: the fluidity of your teamwork, the number of monsters you kill individually and as a team, and the types of monsters you eliminate.

Naturally stronger monsters will net you more points, so choose your targets wisely."

Morgan chimed in, his tone more relaxed but no less serious.

"The beasts you'll be facing are strong, but don't worry—they're not strong enough to wipe you out.

Based on the academy's observed of your year's performance so far, the toughest monsters you'll encounter will be pseudo-evolved rank beasts. Nasty, but manageable if you work together."

Laura nodded in agreement. "And just to put your minds at ease, there will be other instructors on-site, as well as Third Year cadets, including the Cadet Council Vice-President.

They'll be there to assist if things spiral out of hand."

At the mention of the Vice-President, my jaw clenched involuntarily, my hands gripping the armrests of my seat so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

The memory of that arrogant, vicious bitch flashed in my mind, and I had to force myself to take a deep breath to keep my anger in check.

River, sitting beside me, noticed immediately. She leaned over slightly, her voice low and filled with concern. "Nathan, are you okay?"

I nodded stiffly, not trusting myself to speak. River's worry was evident, but she didn't press further, instead turning her attention back to Laura and Morgan.

Laura continued, her tone shifting to one of warning.

"There are a few additional rules you need to be aware of.

First, you will not be wearing the bracelets this time. That means there is a real possibility of death.

Second, you are allowed to attack other units to steal their accumulated points.

And third, if your unit leader is captured, your entire unit fails."

Morgan added, his usual grin replaced by a more serious expression, "Now, before you start panicking about the whole 'possibility of death' thing, remember that the Third Year cadets and instructors will be there to step in if things get too dangerous.

But don't rely on them too much—this is your test. Show us what you're made of."

The airship began to descend, the change in altitude signaling that we were nearing our destination.

Laura and Morgan exchanged a glance before Laura spoke again, her voice firm but not unkind. "We'll be landing shortly. Good luck, cadets. Give it your all."

As the airship touched down, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.

This is it. The unit test. No bracelets, no safety nets—just us, the monsters, and the other units.

I glanced at River, who was already standing, her expression determined.

Marcus was cracking his knuckles, a smirk on his face, while Maria was double-checking her gear. Lucas, as usual, looked completely unfazed.

We're ready. At least, I hope we are.