Comfort with the enemy group. (1)

"Then, if it wasn't you, who was it?" inquired David, clearly annoyed at having been hit by the fireball, which caused him unexpected and sharp pain.

"It wasn't her; it was me!" declared Lucca, emerging from the shadows of the trees and revealing himself as the one responsible for the unexpected burst of flames.

After his statement, the rest of Lucca's group emerged. Seeing the new reinforcements arriving to assist Emily and Anthony, both the lancer and the assassin were gripped not only by panic but also by fear.

Seeing the increasing agitation, the assassin nervously spoke, "David! How about we make a run for it? They are too many! We don't stand a chance in this battle!" His anxiety manifested in a rapid and incessant series of questions, a clear reflection of the nervousness that overwhelmed him in that tense moment.

"This wasn't, indeed, the agreement we made! We were told it would be an easy job! But look at our situation!" protested the assassin, expressing deep regret for having agreed to this undertaking.

With the arrival of reinforcements, the group of assassins began to move, trying to gather to discuss what would be the next plan capable of providing an effective escape from the complicated situation they found themselves in.

Meanwhile, Anthony, noticing the arrival of people to help, approached Emily with the purpose of assisting her in getting up. Together, they moved toward Lucca and the other companions.

However, before they could reach Lucca's group, they were already devising other strategies, initiating a siege on David's group and making escape an increasingly difficult prospect. It was clear that something more serious was at stake, potentially resulting in either the elimination or detention of David's group.

Seizing the moment, Lucca threw the question into the air: "Shall we capture them or shall we eliminate them?" He asked, showing hesitation in the face of the options but leaning toward the idea of capture due to the teacher's surveillance over them.

"Kill them for sure! Especially that one," exclaimed Ivy, pointing with clear irritation at David, after being called a coward.

Alice, upon hearing Ivy's response, rolled her eyes and retorted, "Of course, we'll capture them! We can't act recklessly; after all, they are students from the academy. If we choose to kill them, we might run into trouble with the institution!" Alice explained that the decision about their fate should be left to the academy, considering the implications for them and other students.

Amidst this impasse, Lucca intervened, stating, "I think this decision is not up to us." He spoke with sincerity and a serious expression, directing his gaze towards Anthony and Emily, suggesting that those who suffered at the hands of David's group should have a say in determining their fate.

"Let's capture them. After all, I need to know who wants me dead," asserted Anthony, adopting a tone of authority in the situation, while the group contemplated the next steps to take.

Ivy grew frustrated with Anthony and Emily's decision to choose capturing over eliminating the adversaries, expressing her dissatisfaction with an audible sigh. "Hey! Hey!" Ivy called everyone's attention, impatient. "Shall we start? Attack, or do you think you'll just keep talking? And focus on what really matters!" Her irritation was evident, eager to move from discussion to action.

Upon hearing this, the melee fighters from Lucca's group, accompanied by Anthony, advanced decisively toward the assassins. Meanwhile, the ranged members sought strategic positions to inflict damage and provide support to the melee group.

However, the assassins had an ace up their sleeve!

Realizing they were about to be attacked and that defeat would mean being captured and handed over to the academy, David understood there was only one way out of this situation: winning the battle.

Before he could take any action, a fireball and an arrow were launched his way, forcing him To think quickly and recklessly. Reaching a conclusion, he commanded, "Put on the equipment you have in the ring!"

In a coordinated move, they removed their equipment and donned it. He and the group skillfully dodged the imminent attacks, capitalizing on the benefits and bonuses that the equipment provided to their agility and evasion.

Upon realizing that David's group was equipped with new items, the enemy assault was momentarily halted, taken aback by the revelation of the equipment. Faced with this discovery, Lucca, in a hurried tone, exclaimed to Emily, "If they have those items, you have them too, right?" He eagerly sought more information about the stats granted by these new items to the other group, as he couldn't visualize them through the system.

Upon hearing the question, Emily cast a guilty glance in Anthony's direction and, sighing with a "pwe," promptly donned the equipment she had stored in her storage ring. "I've put it on," she affirmed, looking at Lucca.

The set of equipment included a skillfully crafted bow made from sturdy wood of a tree intertwined with magical vines. The arrows were crafted with enchanted hawk feathers and poisoned with substances extracted from common poisonous plants in the forest, providing a more precise trajectory and lightweight flight.

A cape made from the skins of lion-like creatures offered effective camouflage, while the bracelet was adorned with sharp wolf teeth, symbolizing cunning and agility. Emily also wore a tunic made from magical plant fibers and boots crafted from the agile and dark leather of a shadow panther, providing resistance and magical properties for stealthy movement in dark environments. This set, using elements from common creatures, emphasized the archer's symbiosis with nature and the ability to adapt to challenges in the wild.

Lucca, once again, urgently questioned, "Now tell me how many stats you gain with this set worn?" His goal was to obtain detailed information to devise an effective plan and winning the battle.

"The bow grants 7 mana and 10 magic! The cape offers 5 vitality and 6 agility, and the bracelet provides 8 magic. The tunic gives 5 vitality, 10 magic resist, and 5 armor. The boots contribute 10 agility and 7 stamina."