Class Exam - Captains and Strategies
Arcana Academy's portal room.
In front of Principal Selphis stood all 162 first-year students, lined up in perfect rows. Selphis gazed contentedly at them for a long moment before picking up the microphone.
"I know the sudden addition of a class exam must have caught you off guard, but het het het! This is a perfectly natural change."
With the groundbreaking legislation now approved,
Central wanted the academies' curricula to shift toward maximum practicality. The class exam was the direct result.
"We've incorporated rules as close as possible to actual gate quests. That's why the academies will experiment with all sorts of team compositions. Having nearly 50 people per team, like in this exam, isn't something you'll see every day. Het het!"
Just as Selphis said, a whopping 162 students would be thrown into a single exam. They would divide into three teams: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3.
"And the rules for this exam were devised by our brilliant Professor Romina, so give her your attention. Professor Romina? Why don't you explain the rules to the students."
As soon as Selphis finished speaking,
Romina strode out, her high heels clicking sharply. Unlike the beaming Selphis, Romina had dark circles under her eyes. The cause was obvious: an overload of work. She looked far more haggard than usual.
"I've prepared the rules as documents... Here... Focus on the screen."
Class 1 - [Altura Prison]
Class 2 - [Forest of Illusions]
Class 3 - [Foggy Lighthouse]
The screen displayed unidentified locations assigned to each class. Romina began her explanation slowly.
"The exam will naturally take place in a virtual gate. These designated spots are each class's base."
Romina manipulated her phone,
and the screen changed again. This time, it showed detailed photos of the bases.
"What do you think? Like them?"
Class 1: a ruined prison.
Class 2: a beautiful forest bathed in purple light.
Class 3: a lighthouse built on the ocean.
"You're wondering why you'd suddenly need a base? Once you hear the game rules, you'll change your minds."
[Rules]
1. The class selects a captain.
2. The base contains a treasure.
3. You cannot touch an ally's treasure.
[Elimination Conditions]
1. If you suffer a fatal wound from the enemy.
2. If the captain is eliminated, the entire class is out.
3. If your treasure is stolen, the entire class is out.
Unlike other exams, this class exam had no listed victory conditions or time limit. Romina spoke with a proud expression.
"The sharp ones have already figured it out, right?"
Even if you eliminated everyone except the captain, the exam wouldn't end. What mattered was stealing the enemy's base treasure or eliminating their captain. The problem? The treasure was hidden deep in the base, and there was no way to know who the enemy team had chosen as captain.
"In this game, it's not about your team members' survival. It's about investing strength in the key spots to seize opportunities and turn the tables."
Unlike her usual self, Romina continued with a serious face.
"That's an essential skill for Sabers clearing gates."
Selphis seemed pleased with Romina's explanation.
"Het het het! Exactly! Spot on. Now then, for the next 30 minutes! Each team, head to your waiting rooms, select your captain, and devise your strategy."
At Selphis's command, Zien's usual party split into three groups.
"Party leader! Count on us!"
"Zien. You know I'm just here to cheer you on, right?"
Amy and Chris headed to Class 1.
"Come to my team, and I'll burn you alive, party member or not."
Isabel, with her menacing tone, went to Class 2.
"Another team-up, huh?"
Zien, who drew all the attention, ended up in Class 3.
Luckily, Class 3 had some familiar faces for Zien.
"That's why I'm so pumped! I'll carry hard in this exam too!"
"Did I tell you last exam? I trust you unconditionally."
Aria and Lake.
Aria was so excited her steps bounced. Class 3 had just reached the waiting room, but before any meeting could start, the atmosphere had already decided Zien was the leader.
[Waiting Room - Class 1]
Even that spacious waiting room felt packed with 54 people crammed in. The first to speak in Class 1 was Amy, the highest-ranked.
"Anyone got a killer strategy or some brains?"
"Yeah. Rank doesn't matter here. If you've got a plan, speak up."
Next was Chris, now a One-Number like Amy. But no one in the room raised their hand readily.
"Hey, you're smart."
"...It's a class exam. Too much pressure—how do I even pitch?"
"With this many people, and no brains in sight."
"Then you raise your hand."
They just eyed each other and passed the buck. The room filled with murmurs. As the flustered Amy and Chris exchanged glances, someone raised a hand.
"Isn't it simple?"
The guy who raised his hand was Frick, whose magic tool was gauntlets. In the last exam, Frick had been assigned against Zien alongside Leon. Amy let out an "Ooh" at his confident attitude.
"Got a good plan?"
"Eliminate their captain. Steal their treasure. Heh, what more do you need?"
"What? Ugh... Not this idiot. Anyone with a three-digit IQ?"
Amy rubbed her forehead, but Frick kept going.
"In my view, Class 3's captain is Zien! So we all go eliminate Zien together. That's my strategy!"
Frick beamed smugly.
Chris chuckled at the sight, but Amy felt a headache coming on.
"...Hey, Chris! Drag this moron out! No sane people here?"
Amy scanned the room.
Rita stepped forward with a resigned look.
"Haa, enemies with that guy again..."
Like Frick, Rita had faced Zien in exams too—and lost all three times. That alone qualified her to speak on strategy.
"You party members know it too, but he's a monster. Charging head-on is stupid. Just target Class 2 or stay holed up defending the base. Wait it out, and an opportunity will come."
Chris nodded at what wasn't really a strategy.
"Fair... Make Class 2 and 3 fight each other, then crush the winner for second place guaranteed."
"What? Our party leader's a monster?"
Amy didn't like Rita's words and recalled Zien with a sour face. A montage of Zien's feats flashed in her mind. No need to go far back.
In Battle Survival alone, he'd beaten 9-to-1 odds and crushed Lucia. And the day he cleared a 5th-rank gate and returned? Zien trained nonstop for 12 hours straight.
"O..."
M...
Finishing her recollection, Amy was nodding before she knew it.
"Gotta admit that."
[Waiting Room - Class 2]
"Uh, so who's the leader?"
One student spoke up.
Unlike the other classes, Class 2 couldn't settle on a leader easily. Isabel, a One-Number in Zien's party. And Leon, the former year-rank 1. Deciding between them wasn't simple.
"I think Isabel fits leader. She's done a 5th-rank gate. One-Number too."
"Leon's a One-Number too. He was leader in the last exam..."
The students' opinions clashed evenly, but Isabel herself had no interest in leading. Devising plans and issuing orders didn't suit her.
"Sorry, but someone else handle leader. I don't want it."
At Isabel's words, the students just glanced around. Most feared her. It was only natural—her father was the academy's chairman and mage tower owner. Her influence was no small thing.
The only one in Class 2 who could propose to Isabel was Leon.
"Then I'll take leader. But I have a request for you, Miss Isabel."
"A request?"
"Yes. Be the captain. And guard the base."
"Meaning..."
Isabel instantly grasped Leon's strategy. Regardless of leader role, she was Class 2's strongest fighter. Assigning her captain meant abandoning offense.
"In this exam, no matter how many others drop out, it's over if our treasure or captain falls."
Leon spoke, and Isabel smirked oddly.
"So, the strongest me stays alive to the end as captain. Got it? Oh, and guard the treasure too."
"Yes. Exactly."
"Fine. I've been sick of running around lately anyway. And..."
Class 2's base was the Forest of Illusions.
"I love forests."
To Isabel, who wielded fire, the forest was fuel. Worst case, she could burn the whole base into hell.
For swordsman Leon, fire-wielding Isabel was the perfect ace.
"I see. Then allow me to explain the strategy now. The surefire plan to survive the Sword God."
Leon brimmed with confidence now that Isabel had joined.
[Waiting Room - Class 3]
Unlike Class 2, Class 3 had no disagreements on the leader.
"Zien, obviously!"
"Yeah. No one else."
"Unanimous?"
Current year-rank 1.
Battle Survival champion.
5th-rank gate raid party leader.
No first-year had flashier specs than Zien.
"Thanks. Before strategy, we need to pick the captain..."
Zien looked at his teammates.
Aria's magic tool was a pen—far from frontline combat. Lake lacked the skill to handle One-Numbers.
No One-Numbers at all...
Over 50 people, but no one fit for captain. Quick-witted Aria cautiously spoke up.
"Um... For captain, it'll have to be you. Honestly, if you go down, we're done anyway."
Lake chimed in.
"Yeah. Class 1 and 2 have at least three One-Numbers each. You're our only one."
That was why the faculty had pulled Chris from Class 3 to Class 1. Class 3's sole One-Number was deliberate. Lake smirked wryly.
"Well, no one's arguing you're the strongest here."
In the end, Zien had to handle both leadership and the captain role, where the party's fate hung. Aria sidled up to him.
"So our strategy's kingmaker, huh?"
Class 3's 50 would solely support Zien. But as the academy's top swordsman, he was worth the investment. Like it or not, stuck leading 50 teammates, Zien clenched his stigma tightly.
"Alright. Everyone, stay sharp."
All 50 pairs of eyes locked on Zien. He scanned them and murmured softly.
"My party members are damn strong."