Loopholes and Penalties
Professor IJ had mentioned it. I couldn't attack directly; I had to use indirect methods or the enemy's own attacks. In other words, "subduing" them was allowed. So, as long as I didn't infuse any attack intent, it should be fine. It felt like a cheap trick or loophole, but they'd slapped on those absurd conditions first. So, maybe it was okay for me to shove it back in their faces.
If they get hurt even worse, the ones pulling this crap will take the heat too. Forcing "fairness" and "equity" like this would just burn the whole house down. If I'd had attack rights, I could've knocked everyone out equally—one hit each! But like with that human shield earlier, they only went down after a brutal beating. That meant more trips to the hospital.
"Uh, what do we do? Frontline's gone...!"
"Should we run? He can't do anything anyway!"
The rear support players panicked the instant their frontline got taken out (teamkill). From the second floor, I watched them scrambling around. A quick scan: two mages and one rogue-type, I figured. A rogue wasn't built for frontline duty. I pondered how to eliminate them easily.
They'd seen the human shield trick, so that was out. But what if I attack directly? That piqued my curiosity. Seizing their moment of chaos, I leaped high. One jump got me to the second floor effortlessly. Their eyes bulged like saucers.
"Wh-what...!"
The rogue first. He reflexively thrust his dagger forward, but I tilted my head and dodged. Then I pressed my fingers to his forehead and flicked hard.
Snap!
"Gah!"
It was just a flick, but it rang out clean. The rogue flew back, writhing. Even I winced hearing it. That's when the bracelet on my left wrist chimed.
Direct attacks are prohibited.
I was mildly puzzled by the penalty warning when a subtle change hit my body. It felt just a tad heavier. Mana leaked from the bracelet, flowing through me. So, direct attacks made my body heavier and disrupted my mana—that was the penalty. At least it wasn't instant elimination. That would've been bullshit; I'd have rioted.
Not bad enough to worry about yet. Save it for the late game. It wasn't per takedown, but per attack. That judgment gave me reason to hold back until later. Otherwise, I'd be vulnerable to surprises.
"Ugh..."
"..."
The rogue rolling on the floor, the mages frozen. They'd get the penalty memo now. Next up: what counted as an "attack"?
Direct hits from me were a no-go. But what about dropping the explosives I'd farmed at home? I glanced around. They'd been waiting here, so they must've gathered loot. Probably nearby.
"That."
"Wh-what?"
"Gimme."
The bag was behind the two mages. They eyed each other as I pointed. Then the male mage slowly reached for it—and shouted in that split second.
"Fire, blaze!"
"Water, pour!"
Flames and water crashed down on my head. I'd take it full-on. The rogue, groaning nearby, suddenly bolted.
BOOM!
The spells weren't that strong. But they weren't meant to hurt. Fire and water made steam. A smokescreen to cover their escape. Sneaky.
Mages were physically weak without assassins around. I tracked their presence and followed. Didn't take long.
"Run fa—gack!"
Rogue first—the one I'd flicked. I grabbed his collar as he dove for the window. I heard the mages outside muttering. Must look like a horror flick to them: teammate snagged by a monster right at escape. Would've been scarier at night; morning was a letdown.
Thud!
I yanked his collar hard; he tumbled across the floor. Peered out the window and locked eyes with the mages. They freaked. I pointed to my eyes, then theirs: see you later. They bolted elsewhere. No frontline, no assassin—elimination inevitable.
Didn't grab the bag. I eyed the rising rogue, then rummaged the bag. Good stuff, as expected. What I needed: explosives. Potent enough to knock out cold, maybe injure. Would this count as an attack? Curious.
Thump!
"Guh?"
Poor guy. I dragged the rogue by the collar. Thought about stuffing a flashbang in his mouth—too cruel. Test or not, non-lethal didn't mean harmless up close.
"Mm... Ah!"
Great idea hit. But first, check the flashbang. I tied the rogue tight with rope from the bag so he couldn't flee. Didn't know knots, just brute force.
Click!
Tossed the flashbang loosely and leaped out the window. Bag in tow, of course. About five seconds later...
KABOOM!
Flashbang popped; window shattered. Point-blank elimination confirmed. Now, the judgment. I waited silently for the bracelet.
"..."
Quiet. So, not direct hits from me. What about forced drops? Worth testing. Needed a subject and Yeonju's help. She could do it; just learn from her.
That way, right? I sprinted after the mages. Weaklings couldn't have gone far. Caught up easy. Subdued them like a mother cat nipping her kitten's scruff.
Drop test first.
"Aaaahhh!"
Thud!
Back to the windmill, dropped the male mage from the top. He'd survive broken bones. If it counted as a drop, shield would auto-activate. It did; minimal damage.
Forced drop: not an attack. One option left. Dragged the trembling female mage back to the team. Grabbed their loot too—nice haul.
"Hm? Oh, Sivar. You're back... Who's that?"
"Test subject."
"Test... subject?"
Grace panicked at my blunt declaration. She eyed the mage slung over my shoulder like luggage. Limp, no fight left. She'd seen the male mage's drop; she was shaking.
"C-can't you just eliminate her quick...? Th-this guy's too cruel...!"
"...What the hell did you do?"
"Defense."
I'd only defended. Used tricks. Had to for defense-only elims. Force majeure.
"So, eliminate her and done?"
"No. Experiment."
"Experiment?"
"Yeah. Yeonju."
"Yes?"
Yeonju blinked at my call. Surprised. I sat the compliant mage in a chair—she figured she was deep in the lion's den, no resistance.
"Can do?"
"...It'll sound weird without context."
"This. And this."
Pulled bombs and traps from the bag. More than expected. Key ones: bombs, rope, easy-press buttons. Meant for digging traps. That's my plan.
"Tie like this. Gag. Release hits button. Boom!"
"..."
"Good?"
Crude explanation, but Yeonju got it. Mouth agape in shock. She was good at traps. Could make my "human bomb."
I had dexterity, but her help would speed it up.
"So... you mean... like criminals do? Human bomb?"
"...Sounds right."
Yeonju nodded at Grace's quivering question. Exactly. Ruthless, but no attack rights. Efficiency demanded it.
"Absolutely not! Don't teach him! We're academy students, not terrorists!"
"I-I know! But Sivar wants to learn...!"
"Still no! No idea who taught him this, but it spits on academy principles! Better to flunk!"
Shot down. Thought it was solid. Oh well. Eliminated her another way—less ruthless.
"Sivar, just kidnap one by one and drop 'em on other teams. More gentlemanly."
"Yeah."
Not bad either.
Meanwhile, the professors watched it all. Cameras everywhere like survival training, but more—every move, with audio.
"...Exclude Sivar from finals? Or special event format."
Godin's take after witnessing everything. Special treatment, but no objections. Sivar had shattered expectations.
Elim methods first.
"Bombs aside, forcing drops? Unforeseen..."
"Body's insane, not brain."
Malboro and Yeonhwa. Headache incoming; statements loomed. Limiting Sivar's attacks for fairness was backfiring spectacularly. True fairness would've cut injuries.
"Told you: one-on-one. This just screams unfair no matter what."
Sara nailed it. Test highlighted Sivar's ruthlessness—backfire. Restricted attacks forced dirty tricks. Timeless logic. Human bomb fit.
Extreme, but efficient. Grace blocked it, but attack rights would've prevented it.
"Who proposed first?"
"Professor Delphoi."
"He's hated Sivar forever..."
Anti-Sivar rule screwing professors. Hard to judge. Just proved his smarts.
"Artifact changes it. Depends who gets it—Sivar could lose."
"Gotta fight."
"Yeah."
One thing left: central artifact. Malboro sighed watching Sivar's "gift" op.
"Just let him fight physically. Best."
All agreed.>