22 Man Vs Machine
The class was pulled to the courtyard for practice once again.
("We're going to war?") [Adam]
"You all must be wondering what I mean again." [Mr. Frank]
"Because everything you say is always misleading." [Felix]
Mr. Frank ignored Felix and continued on.
"I have set up some robots for you guys to fight. If you remember, they're called AVS from the field trip a couple days ago." [Mr. Frank]
Adam looked around and saw the regular field with nothing in it except for himself and the class.
"Where are the robots?" [Adam]
"Right here." [Mr. Frank]
He snapped his fingers and multiple voidling shaped robots appeared behind him.
"These ones are level 1. You all will fight them as a team. If I see that you guys are improving, then I'll just increase the level." [Mr. Frank]
"That means we have to pick a leader." [Alex]
Everyone directed their eyes at Felix.
"What?" [Felix]
"Didn't you take command during Operation Frank?" [Alex]
"Operation Frank?" [Mr. Frank]
"Don't worry about it." [Orion]
"What about Alex?" [Felix]
"I don't want to." [Alex]
"Neither do I." [Felix]
"Can I do it?" [Adam]
"No." [Felix] [Alex]
"..." [Adam]
"How about we do this by majority vote?" [Mr. Frank]
"I'm fine with that." [Felix]
"Same here." [Alex]
"Then let's do it this way. Stand face to face." [Mr. Frank]
The two walked near each other until they were about a couple meters apart.
"If you want Alex to be the leader, stand behind him. If you want Felix to be the leader, same rules." [Mr. Frank]
The students shuffled around until there were two groups behind Felix and Alex. Mr. Frank was mumbling to himself as he counted each side.
"Looks like it's even." [Mr. Frank]
"Huh?" [Felix] [Alex]
"I have a different idea. How about we have a war between the two groups?" [Mr. Frank]
"That's unfair, Felix is level 8." [Alex]
"And Adam is level 1, but he was able to contend for strongest in the class next to Felix. Actually, now that I think about it... Adam is currently the strongest in the class because of his soul weapon." [Mr. Frank]
"Adam is basically a different species, so he doesn't count." [Jessica]
"T-that's not true!" [Tiffany]
Surprised that Tiffany stood up for him, warmed Adam's heart.
"It's fine, they're just scared of how awesome I am." [Adam]
"Talk about self confidence." [Krino]
The opposing team seemed dissatisfied with the way the debate was being decided so Mr. Frank changed it again.
"Fine, let's just do it by rock paper scissors." [Mr. Frank]
The two stepped up and began their little minigame.
"Rock paper scissors!" [Felix] [Alex]
Felix had rock while Alex had scissors.
"Damn it!" [Felix]
"Yes!" [Alex]
"I forgot I was trying to lose!" [Felix]
"I guess Felix is leading you all." [Mr. Frank]
Felix sighed before issuing out commands.
"Whatever, everyone who has abilities that can be used at long distances stand at the back. Anyone who can use supporting abilities like healing or reinforcement, go back there too. Everyone else, we will be the vanguard." [Felix]
("Even though he doesn't want to, his commands are pretty solid.") [Mr. Frank]
The entire class faced off against the group of AVS robots and prepared themselves.
("Hey Krino.") [Adam]
"What?" [Krino]
("Can you just summon yourself without me chanting?") [Adam]
"I can, but why?" [Krino]
("Because the chant is kind of annoying to say every time.") [Adam]
"Sure, it will only make me use half of my power." [Krino]
("There was a limitation like that?") [Adam]
"Of course there is you dunce. The chant has the word "Requesting" for a reason. It's like leaving your house while forgetting half of the stuff you were supposed to bring." [Krino]
("I see, that makes sense I guess. Then just forget I ever asked.") [Adam]
"Requesting access to the celestial archive. Pass your judgement to the strong and the weak. Manifest yourself, Krino!" [Adam]
A lightning bolt struck the ground in front of him, revealing Krino wedged into the ground. Right after Adam picked it up, Mr. Frank called out to him.
"Oh, Adam." [Mr. Frank]
"Yes?" [Adam]
"For this exercise, you're not allowed to use your soul weapon." [Mr. Frank]
"What?! Why?!" [Adam]
"First of all, it's too strong. It can literally shred a level 1 voidling in an instant. Secondly, you're too reliant on it. I can see that you've been using it instead of your actual ability." [Mr. Frank]
Reluctantly, Adam let go of Krino and let it vanish into thin air.
"He's not wrong. I'll stay out of the fight this time." [Krino]
"Are you guys ready?" [Mr. Frank]
Mr. Frank pulled out what seemed like a microphone from within his lab coat.
"Activate simulation. Code word, rampage." [Mr. Frank]
Suddenly, the group of robots whirred to life. They charged at the students in an unorganized manner while imitating the movements of an actual voidling.
"Ranged unit! Fire!" [Felix]
A large amount of skills were activated from behind and was shot overhead the vanguard. Many AVS were destroyed upon impact, but a large number slipped through.
"Vanguard! Charge!" [Felix]
The students in front ran towards the robots while yelling which seemed to be a war cry. The area quickly became a battleground full of screaming. Adam was only using his first version of Pressure Cannon to quickly deal with his opponents. Felix on the other hand only focused on hand to hand combat by quickly dismantling the robots from breaking their joints. After a few minutes passed, all the AVS robots had been dealt with.
"Haah… Haah… Was that like… a hundred of them?" [Brandon]
"Huff… Huff… It felt like more. I broke at least 12 wooden swords." [Orion]
The students were exhausted from one wave of robots. Using most of their mana and stamina at the same time.
"Wow, I didn't think you all would perform that well. That ended more quickly than I predicted." [Mr. Frank]
As he was speaking, Tiffany was going around healing every student in sight.
("Quite the hard working one isn't she? ") [Mr. Frank]
("I can be useful too.") [Tiffany]
The ones that were healed by Tiffany felt incredible. Not only did it heal their wounds, but it felt like they were re-energized in both stamina and mana.
"She… she's like a saint…" [Orion]
"A goddess in the flesh…" [Brandon]
She was praised by the class and gained the nickname: Saintess. Although she was embarrassed by it, eventually she just accepted it.
"Alright! I think I can go another round!" [Adam]
"Oh really? Then I'll bring out the level 2 AVS robots." [Mr. Frank]
"Damn it Adam! You and your big mouth!" [Katherine]
While the class was angered at Adam, Mr. Frank snapped his fingers and summoned another wave of robots.
"This time they're level 2. Are you all ready?" [Mr. Frank]
"Get in formation!" [Felix]
The students scrambled to get up before Mr. Frank turned on the AVS robots.
"Activate simulation. Code word, rampage." [Mr. Frank]
They whirred to life and ran in the same pattern as before. This also meant the class would do the same.
"Ranged Unit! Fire" [Felix]
Another volley of abilities were fired overhead.
"Vanguard, charge!" [Felix]
The war cry came about and the fighting began. It seemed like the students were getting overwhelmed.
"They're so much stronger than last time!" [Orion]
"I can't believe a single level makes so much of a difference!" [Brandon]
Although most of the class was struggling, Adam and Felix were having no problem at all. A single Pressure Cannon was enough to finish a single one off. As for Felix, he started using his abilities whenever he decided he was in a pinch.
("I just need to regulate my mana to make my pressure cannons destroy it in a single blow!") [Adam]
("We don't have enough people! I'll have to trust the Ranged Unit to help us.") [Felix]
"Ranged Unit! Fire at will!" [Felix]
Volleys of abilities showered down on the battlefield. Most of them hit their targets, but some of the students were struck in the crossfire.
"Watch where you're aiming!" [Orion]
"Just get out of the way!" [Katherine]
After about 8 minutes had passed, the only students standing were Adam and Felix. The Vanguard had been overrun and the support was attacked. Adam ran to the back and tried his best to defend Tiffany until all of the robots were destroyed.
"Adam, did you really just ditch the front for Tiffany?" [Felix]
"She's our support. If she goes down, no more heals." [Adam]
"Great excuse." [Krino]
("Shut up.") [Adam]
Mr. Frank clapped his hands twice and gathered everyone's attention.
"I can see that you all are at your limits. So, we will be training everyday against level 2 robots until you guys can reach the next level." [Mr. Frank]
"Ugh…" [Class]
They all laid on the ground on top of all the rubble that was once the AVS robots.
"I don't think I can get up…" [Orion]
"I think… I'm going to just stay here for a while." [Brandon]
Exhausted and beaten, most of the students just slept amongst the metal scraps. Adam and Felix just went home to prepare for tomorrow since they were the only ones able to keep up.
("Hm… Today's exercise seemed like a breeze for those two. I guess I'm going to have to give them "Special" training tomorrow instead.") [Mr. Frank]
