First Flag(1)

The dense forest muffled the sounds, but the sporadic rustling noises orchestrated by Orion continued, leading Student 2 and 4 further from the safety of their base. Focused on the mysterious sounds, they didn't notice the subtly disturbed ground ahead. As Student 2 stepped on it, the earth gave way beneath him, and he plunged into a pitfall.

"ARGH! What is this?" Student 2 yelled in surprise, his voice echoing with a mix of frustration and fear.

Student 4, who was right on his heels, couldn't stop in time. He tripped over the edge, landing right on top of Student 2 with a loud grunt. "Why did you stop? ARGHH!"

As their voices echoed with distress, Orion stifled a chuckle from his hiding spot. With a satisfied smirk, he signaled to Mike, indicating that their work was done. The two began their silent trek back to their rendezvous point with Zero and Clara.

The foliage rustled slightly as Mike and Orion emerged, meeting up with Zero and Clara who were patiently waiting.

Zero looked at them, nodding approvingly. "Well done. Now, Orion, take the flag and secure it at the alliance base. Once that's done, rendezvous with Aurelia and assist her. We need to be ready for any retaliation."

Orion responded with a curt nod, "smart... you know they will realize it is us that took their flags, and they will take revenge" He took the flag and sprinted in the direction of the alliance base, his silhouette quickly disappearing amidst the dense trees.

Turning to Mike and Clara, Zero's tone shifted to one of urgency. "We've got to keep the pressure up. Celestial Academy is next. We strike fast and strike hard."

The trio of Zero, Mike, and Clara moved swiftly through the forested area, the canopy above rustling with their quick movements. Their determination was palpable, each step taken with purpose.

As they neared the Celestial Academy's perimeter, Zero's footsteps slowed slightly, prompting Mike and Clara to do the same. His gaze surveyed the surroundings before locking eyes with the two.

"After the first contact with their students, split up. Mike, you head left, Clara, right. You'll rendezvous on the opposite side of their base," Zero instructed, his voice dripping with authority.

Mike's eyebrows knitted in concern, "But that leaves you alone to face a potential 1v5 situation. That's a bit much, even for you."

Clara, sharing the sentiment, chimed in, "Yeah, Zero. We've seen you pull off some amazing feats, but 1v5 is risky...."

Zero smirked, an air of arrogance surrounding him. "Don't worry. I'm not planning to stand there and duke it out with all five. I'll hit and run. Distract them, confuse them, and keep them on their toes."

His words were reassuring, but it was the sly grin on his face that truly put the duo at ease. They could always count on Zero's cunning tactics to outsmart the opposition.

Just as they began to approach the base, the alert eyes of one of Celestial Academy's students caught their movement. A shout echoed through the stillness of the forest. "INCOMING!"

The instant the cry rang out, the area around Celestial Academy's base buzzed into action. Zero saw students emerging from their posts, their eyes scanning for the invaders.

Mike, without missing a beat, veered left as planned. He knew the primary task was to disarm their traps, which would make the extraction process smoother. Darting behind some thick foliage, he spotted the first of the traps – a tripwire connected to a set of sharpened logs. With nimble fingers, he disabled it and continued forward, keeping an ear out for any approaching footsteps.

Clara went right, her mind focused on securing the flag. She utilized her agility, evading any patrolling students and hopping from one hiding spot to the next. The flag's position was clear in her mind – she had studied the base's layout earlier. Approaching its location, she hid behind a large tree, peering out to make sure the coast was clear.

Meanwhile, Zero played his role to perfection. He made himself visible just enough to draw attention and led the pursuing students on a merry chase. Throwing small smoke pellets on the ground, he created pockets of thick fog, making it even more difficult for them to track him. A thrown rock here, a snapped twig there, and the students found themselves spread out, chasing shadows.

Zero's movements were a blur as he dodged between trees and obstacles. Every so often, he'd turn sharply to face a student, his face unreadable and calm. The students from Celestial Academy were skilled, but Zero's agility and cunning kept them on their toes.

As Zero darted past a thick tree, one of the students tried to intercept him, lunging with a practice blade. Zero effortlessly parried the blow, making a swift movement that tapped the student's bracelet. A beep echoed, and the bracelet's light turned red. The student stared down in disbelief. "Out so soon?" Zero remarked without looking back, continuing his sprint.

Another student, a tall girl with braided hair, tried a different approach. She shouted, trying to engage Zero in conversation, "You think you can take on all of us? Arrogance will be your downfall!"

Without missing a step, Zero moved without replying.

Yet another student, clearly trying to play mind games, called out, "You're just one person! Do you really think you stand a chance against our whole academy?"

Ignoring the taunt, Zero suddenly changed direction, throwing a smoke pellet directly at the student's feet. By the time the smoke cleared, Zero had closed the gap, tapped the student's bracelet, knocked them out, and was already on the move again. The student's bracelet beeped loudly, its light turning from green to red.

As the chase continued, Zero noticed two students trying to corner him. They moved in sync, clearly having trained together. Zero smirked, realizing their tactic. Just as they were about to pounce, he threw a rock behind them. The sound was enough to distract one of them momentarily. In that split second, Zero lunged, tapping both their bracelets almost simultaneously. Two beeps echoed, and both bracelets lit up in red.

The remaining students from Celestial became more cautious, realizing they were being outwitted. They tried to regroup, shouting to one another, "Stay together! He's trying to divide us!"

But Zero had other plans. Using the environment to his advantage, he continued to divert their attention, picking them off one by one. Their conversations became a mix of frustration and disbelief. They couldn't understand how one person was managing to outmaneuver them so effectively.