Chapter 18: The Ring Of Strategy

Chapter 18: The Ring Of Strategy

As we reached the exam zone, the ruined cityscape stretched endlessly before us, a labyrinth of shattered buildings and looming shadows. Behind us, the portal sealed with a resonant hum, cutting off any chance of retreat. Owen Nile's voice echoed once more, calmer yet charged with the same superiority and authority.

"Welcome to the second phase of the exam. This is where teamwork and strategy will define your success—or failure. In this round, each team of five must designate a Ring Holder. The Ring Holder will wear an enchanted ring that marks them as your team's core. Your objective is to protect your Ring Holder while eliminating others. The test ends when only five teams remain intact. Choose wisely—failure to protect your Ring Holder will result in disqualification."

The tension among our makeshift group spiked immediately.

"A Ring Holder?" Lyria asked, her voice tinged with doubt. "That sounds... risky."

"It is," I replied, scanning the faces around me. Everyone's focus was sharp, their expressions betraying the calculations already running through their minds.

Owen continued. "The Ring amplifies the holder's presence, making them easier to detect. As such, they'll need to rely on their team for survival. You have ten minutes to finalize your teams and choose your Ring Holder. After that, the hunt begins."

The air grew heavy with unspoken considerations. Trust and self-preservation collided in the gaze of every candidate.

"We need to decide now," I said, breaking the silence. "Who's going to hold the ring?"

One of the other candidates, a burly guy with a war axe slung across his back, spoke up. "It should be someone strong. Someone who can take hits and fight back if needed."

I shook my head. "No. The Ring Holder shouldn't be fighting at all. Their job is to stay in the game, not engage in battles. Strength isn't the priority—adaptability is."

"Then what do you suggest?" a meek girl asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Lyria," I said confidently. "As a fire and magma mage, she's adaptable. She can attack from long range and use her abilitiy to create firewalls keeping opponents at bay."

" Wait if I may ask who's Lyria?" the tall guy with daggers asked, speaking for the first time during this conversation. His sharp tone deawing everyone's attention.

"I—I'm Lyria," she stammered, her voice uncertain.

"No way," the tall guy retorted. "I'm not risking elimination because we made someone like her the Ring Holder she seems like she will freeze up when confronted."

The others murmured, seeming to agree with him. I quickly realized his tactic—establishing dominance through intellect disguised as logic. But I knew how to handle people like him.

"Alright then," I said, feigning consideration. "Who do you think should be the Ring Holder?"

The tall guy smiled, sensing victory. He launched into a long-winded explanation, arguing that the Ring Holder needed to possess agility, awareness, and other traits. His speech boiled down to one thing: he wanted to nominate himself.

As soon as he finished, I asked a simple question. "So, you think you're the most capable person to lead?"

"Yeah," he replied, momentarily caught off guard by my directness.

"Okay. Then what rank did your name appear on the leaderboard?"

His face twitched before he reluctantly answered, "Forty-seventh."

I didn't give him a chance to recover. "Right. Well, my rank is twenty-third. Plus, you're an aura user—not exactly adaptable. And from what I've seen, you're weaker than the burly guy over here."

The tall guy's confidence wavered, and the others shifted uncomfortably. I knew I had him.

"Also," I added, addressing his earlier argument, "to counter your point, all Lyria has to do is create a blazing hot firewall around herself while we make sure no one gets close. Our job is to protect the Ring Holder while attacking others , not to leave them to defend themselves."

As I said this, the shift in the group's demeanor was palpable. They realized I had won the argument. The tall guy broke his silence with a frustrated sigh, knowing I had seen through his ploy to take control and had deliberately dismantled his plans. But I didn't care. All that mattered was ensuring no one messed up my plans.

"Alright," I continued, steering the group back on track. "Since we're five, I suggest we form two mini-groups—one for offense and one for defense. Each group will have two members, while the fifth person (the Ring Holder) would shy away from fights and stay within the defense squad help. For the defense squad, I'll join with her," I said, pointing toward the meek girl. "Any objections?"

"3"

"2"

"1"

"No objections ." as expected I had deliberately framed it as an open question, giving the illusion of choice while stacking the odds in my favor. The burly guy with the war hammer, eager for action, wouldn't shy away from the offensive role. Meanwhile, the tall guy would likely focus on improving his rankings through standing out in attack now that he'd lost the chance to lead. Everything was falling into place.

The burly guy grinned and cracked his knuckles. "Fine by me. I've been itching to knock some heads together anyway."

The tall guy scowled but didn't voice his objections, likely realizing he had lost the group's trust. His eyes darted to the others, gauging their reactions.

Lyria still looked hesitant, her hands trembling slightly as she fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. "Are you sure about this?" she asked quietly.

I gave her a reassuring nod. "You're the most logical choice, Lyria. Just trust me. We'll have your back."

The meek girl next to her, who had been quiet since my earlier suggestion, chimed in hesitantly. "I… I think it could work. If she can hold her ground, we can manage the rest."

The countdown timer in the sky above the ruined city ticked down, glowing with an ominous red hue. Seven minutes remained before the hunt began.

"Good," I said, taking charge. "Now, let's solidify roles." I pointed to the burly guy. "You're offense, obviously. Your job is to engage and disrupt other teams. Try to separate their Ring Holder from the rest of their squad."

He gave a grunt of approval.

I turned to the tall guy. "You're offense too. Flank and focus on their weaker members. Don't engage head-on unless you're certain you'll win. Clear?"

The tall guy's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Got it."

Finally, I faced the meek girl. "You and I are defense. Our job is simple—keep Lyria in the test at all costs. Use traps, diversions, anything to keep attackers off her. Stay alert and stick close."

She nodded quickly, relief flooding her face now that she had a clear role.

"And Lyria," I added, my tone softer but firm, "your focus is evasion and survival. Use your fire magic sparingly—enough to keep threats at bay but not so much that you burn yourself out. Understand?"

Lyria hesitated for a moment before nodding, a glimmer of determination replacing her earlier uncertainty. "I'll do my best."

"Good. Then let's make it count."

The timer above us hit five minutes. Suddenly, the ring materialized in midair, glowing with a faint golden light. It hovered for a moment before drifting toward Lyria, slipping onto her finger as if it were alive. The moment it made contact, a faint aura surrounded her, marking her presence unmistakably.

Lyria flinched, startled by the sudden weight of the ring's power. "It's… warm," she murmured.

"That's the ring amplifying your presence," I explained. "Every team within a mile will know exactly where you are now. Which means—"

A distant roar cut through the air, followed by the rumble of collapsing rubble.

"—we don't have much time," I finished grimly.

The exam had begun.