Ruby Your Competence As A Captain Is Really Questionable...

A boy standing near Aang clenched his fists, his frustration clear. "What the hell are you talking about, Aang?"

But Aang didn't even spared a eye. "I'm not asking for your opinion, Shen. Just go on the offence with the others. I'll defend the flag alone." Aang replied, his mood clearly off.

Shen exchanged worried glances with the others but nodded, aware of the power gap between them. Knowing Aang, it was better to just listen to him when his mood was off.

"At least tell us where you'll be defending," Shen, not backing off, demanded locking eyes with Aang.

"In the middle," Aang said.

"What?"

"Yeah, the middle of this whole place."

"You know it's all grasslands. You'll be an easy target out there," Shen pulled Aang back, frustrated.

"No one will come for me except one. Don't worry."

"How can you be so sure?" Shen asked, frowning.

Without another word, Aang moved toward the middle of the field...

---

"So, what's the plan?" Ashton asked as the three of them sat on a snow-covered stone.

"We should go for the weakest," Ruby suggested, her voice tinged with boredom, she didn't have much expectations from these two, to begin with and was quite disappointmented.

"No plan. We just head in the opposite direction. If we encounter anyone, then we decide," Asuka said firmly. He then stood up, hands in his pockets, and started walking without any waiting for their agreement.

Ashton and Ruby exchanged a glance, then followed after. Hours passed as they trekked from the snowy mountain range into a dense, dark rainforest. Ruby whispered a spell, and a gentle light illuminated their path.

There were no monsters or animals to worry about, only other squads. So they were more carefree as they rushed forward.

Suddenly, Asuka spotted a large cave with light coming from its wide opening. He halted and pointed. "Someone's in there for sure."

"I'll attack first. Ashton, cover the exit so no one escapes. Ruby, be ready to support," Asuka explained the most basic plan he could come up with at the moment.

Ashton opened his mouth, a thought on the tip of his tongue, but then he just closed it, muttering under his breath, "They'll just call me a fool anyway." before following along.

---

Walking up to the cave, Asuka led the way, suppressing his mana to conceal his presence. He peeked inside and saw a lone figure sitting near the cave's end, roasting something over a campfire, the flag beside him, And his bored expression made him seem unaware of any threat.

As Asuka took a closer look, and he immediately recognized the person, the same trainee who had insulted him earlier today. Occupied with other matters at the time, Asuka had ignored him.

But now, fate has brought them together again. "What bad luck you have, my dear john," Asuka muttered before activating the second form of his blessing. and in a blink, he teleported behind John and delivered a swift kick to his face, sending him sprawling toward the cave entrance. Without missing a moment, Asuka grabbed the flag.

"You should be ashamed, John. You lost to a scum like me," Asuka taunted, a cocky smile tugging at his lips.

"You talk big, but you attacked me when I was totally off guard. What more can you even do? Give back the flag, and I'll let you leave in one piece,"

John said as he stood up, his frustrated eyes locked on Asuka.

A chuckle escaped Asuka's mouth. "Bark all you want, but you're not leaving here in whole,"

"You brought this on yourself," John retorted, his voice dripping with arrogance as he summoned his staff from his CAD.

In a flash, John began casting a water spell. A small droplet formed at the tip of his staff and then shot toward Asuka with incredible speed and power, creating a loud spurr noise. The water droplet blasted a massive hole in the cave wall, causing the entire place to shake. John scanned the area, puzzled. "If he died, I should have seen it," he muttered.

Just then, a loud voice cut through his thoughts, "Asuka, stop now or I'll kill your squad captain!" The reverberating threat halted Asuka, who had been about to slice John's arm off with his katana, the blade mere centimetres away.

John's eyes widened in shock, his expression turning pale. If Asuka had been a moment late, John's arm would have been surely gone.

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{A/N}

Thanks for reading!!

I know chapter was short and very rushed, I was busy IRL.