Vol. 8 - Ch. 410 - New Field, New Rule!

Chapter 410 - New Field, New Rule!‹Square Field (Obstacle Course)› was finalized as the field for our D-rank promotion exam.

It was not that much different from the previous fields except the obstacle part. The fields we had used so far had allowed us to maneuver the way we want, but the obstacle course would now introduce some areas impossible to enter.

Well, those impassable areas were just audience stands installed inside the ‹Square Field› that participants were not allowed to enter. The audience seats were mimicking H-shape with the field dividing into north and south sections with central audience stands.

(B.C. - Big Castle)

The bases of each team were placed sandwiching the audience seats dividing them. Virtually speaking, the distances between the fellow bases were the closest ever, though the placement of the audience stand made it that both teams had to circumvent around it. Also, the attacks on audience seats were nullified by the dungeon function—basically indestructible objects. And the barrier surrounding it also completely sealed the possibility of any attack from participants making out to the audience. Of course, it also applied in the vice-versa case.

Dungeons are unexpectedly high-tech in some place, aren't they? I mean, I know the function very well but it still felt marvelous.

Ahem, anyway. There would be six big castles in this field. One each on the east’s 'North', 'South', 'Central' side, and one each on the west’s 'North', 'Central' and 'South' side. The ones in the east were called ‹Northeastern Castle›, ‹Central Big Castle› and ‹Southeast Big Castle›, while the west side were called ‹Northwest Big Castle›, ‹Central Big Castle› and ‹Southeast Big Castle›.

In a more layman term, the big castles in both the east and west side were placed in parallel to the perpendicular "I" of H.

Also, and again about the audience stand, since this was the first obstacle field, the "H" shape was not completely outlining H-shape. The junction points of the vertical and horizontal lines of the 'H' shape were left as blank squares, allowing movement for participants. On the other hand, audience stands were connected with bridges which enable audiences to move to and fro above, while the empty space below is left for participants to move around. Also, the vertical line of 'H' wasn't stretched all the way to the edges of the field but the bridge allowed the movement from northmost to southmost. The only inaccessible part via the bridges was the 'Central' and the vertical lines of 'Northeast,' 'Southeast,' 'Northwest,' and 'Southwest.'

Had it been the high-ranking guild battle, the field would have been a bonafide maze filled with annoying deadends here and there. This was why it was the mildest obstacle course among all such fields and a place for the beginner, perfectly fitted for the exam.

It's just the beginning. I really hope I could get a ‹Count› with a keeper job in lieu of the increasingly complex field we would be facing. Nobles category each had their own specific lineage in the game, like ‹Duke› was associated with ‹Military›, ‹Marquis› with the ‹Samurai›, ‹Viscount› with the hero, and ‹Baron› with the idol lineage. ‹Count› also have their own area of expertise, and I hope to get them sooner before setting off for full-blown guild battles.

Well, ‹Eden› already had Sierra and Mert in ‹Count› category, which was the limit in the game, but I was betting on the possibility that we might be able to take in 3rd ‹Count› category holder as well considering this is no longer fiction. I mean, the absence of ‹Fame Value› so far as given my hope about the limit removal as well. It would honestly be a dream come true.

Ahem, back to the topic.

Another hurdle in the D-rank exam was the number of participants in contrast to the E-rank exam. This would be a face-off between ten members from each side, and the match format was, as usual, ‹Capture the Castle›. The time limit was 40 minutes. No.6 arena was a bit smaller compared to No.5 arena ‹Hexagram Field› which was 45 minutes. A small area contributes to less squares, which in turn means less time. The time limit in No.6 arena generally hovers between 30~40 minutes.

We also got a new rule—‹Loser's Revival›.

The rule was basically self-explanatory, participants dispatched to ‹Loser's Room› could make a possible come-back via this rule. The details pertaining to it were—

Auto-revival after the passage of 10 minutes since the participant was rendered incapacitated.A 10% penalty on status after the revival, and revival location is the base.A participant can only be revived up to two times, and each revival comes with their subsequent penalty on status, with the second revival penalty being 20% penalty on status.

There's no revival for the 3rd time. This was a special rule which wouldn't have been here normally, but both parties had agreed for this house rule so it was 'permitted.' Also, this was a promotion exam, so it was incorporated for experience.

The presence of rule made it difficult to take down the opponent's base in short time, though low-risk also promoted the engagement in interpersonal battle which was why it was one of the popular rules. There were also other house rules like ‹Player Change› to bring in substitute members when one of the participants gets knocked out, or instant revival of players by sacrificing some of the accumulated Castle Points nicknamed ‹Zombie›. Only ‹Player's Come-back› was ‹Permitted› this time.

‹Eden› was assigned white team while opponent D-rank guild ‹Flash of Flowers› was assigned red times. The base of white team was in the north.

According to the report of Celestine and Misato, ‹Flash of Flowers› was a girl's only guild with 19 members. Out of which, 8 were 3rd years students, 7 2nd year students and 4 1st year students. The team we were going to fight this time was mainly oriented around 2nd year students—7 2nd year students and 3 3rd year students to be more precise.

Also, it seemed like the majority of their members preferred sword or katana category weapons which hinted their jobs most likely to be ‹Swordsman›, ‹Spellblade›, ‹Master Swordsman› etc.

I remember a few of such guilds were in the game as well that exhibit the tendency for particular style. The underlying reasoning was that guilds are often harmonious when everyone is on the same wavelength. Some of such guilds were swordsman guild or Mage guild. Though, that's as far as the similarities go in reality. The students in this world all strive for improvement, and the difference was shown here that unlike sticking to the swordsman category job members, our opponent had properly considered other members with magician, healer, tank, knight etc jobs in their guild. But then again, academy wouldn't have chosen a mediocre guild as well. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NʘvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

We were currently gathered in the waiting room of an arena meant for D-rank participants and holding a strategic meeting on what to anticipate and countermeasures etc. The ten members from our guild was—

‹Brave› Zephyr

‹Shield Princess› Sierra

‹Saint› Lana

‹Princess Knight› Ester

‹Warrior Princess› Rika

‹Lolita Hero› Lulu

‹Spiritualist› Celia

‹Battle Maid› Shizu

‹Female Ninja› Pamela.

Or more like, there was no one beside us who had cleared the condition. Other members, and sub-members, should be among the audience.

Like other guild battles so far, our first move would be to split into two teams and contest for Big Castles from opponent. Well, the two locations closest to the red and white base were ‹Central East Castle› and ‹Central West Castle›. So it would be first time for us to contest for two Big Castles right in the beginning.

The new twist here was the even number of Big Castles. It was no brainer that once each team took down three Big Castle each, the likely outcome would be a race for small castles and inter-personal battle. We also have to preserve our base from getting targeted.

Honestly, there was really no end to the number of possible scenarios that we need to defend against and there couldn't be any more challenging field for the D-rank exam.

Once it was time, we left the waiting room and made our entrance from the west. Our opponent also similarly made their entrance from there. The central region was occupied by the audience stand so we exchanged greetings at the entrance in accordance with sportsmanship.

"Let's have a fun battle."

" " " " "Let's have a fun battle." " " " "

Our greeting was short and formal since we weren't acquainted with them unlike teachers or the quarter from earlier battles. We headed for our respective bases from there. ......Or that's what we were doing but I felt the gazes of our opponent lingering at me. Maybe it's just my imagination? The odd situation continued with the girls from our team hurling sharp glare at opponents suddenly. Even Sierra had positioned herself in front of me as if to shield me away from their gazes. Err, you know the exam hasn't started yet, right, girls?

Once we arrived at our respective bases, the huge screen in the sky began the countdown.

The audience standing nearby the base was unexpectedly jammed with people. Oh, I could even outline the students from my class. I thought they were just empty words. They even have a banner with my name 'Zephyr-sensei' written on it. Hahaha. Well now, I couldn't put up a disgraceful performance when my students are watching, eh?

I looked up at the huge screen to see countdown was almost over. I calmed my hurried breath and swiftly started our preparation for the head start dash.

I take a look at the calm expression of our members. I guess just a D-rank exam wasn't enough to perturbred them. Hmm, perfect. Follow the usual and victory would be ours.

And soon, the countdown reaches zero, and a loud buzzer resonates, marking the beginning of the D-rank promotion exam.