Seize the Flag
1180 Words
Thanks to my Jet Stream, it did not take long for me to reach an opposing class's base. Unlike Class F, they actually have something to be called a hideout, a cave to be exact, on the side of a mountain. Well... it would've been a better hideout, if not for two things. One was the number of guards at the front, the other was the unconcealed hole on the mountainside.
Now if they played it smart and used the cave as a decoy base, I probably would've fallen for the ploy, and waste some magic trying to take them down. However, my magic sense have confirmed it... The cave was their base, which meant the flags they were to protect was in there. If there were a few signatures in the cave, I probably would think otherwise, but it was not a few signatures. And as stated before, the number of guards at the entrance also gave it away. I sighed and facepalmed at the situation, thinking to myself that it was like they want their flags to be taken.
The moment I thought that, though, I took a pause. It was like they want their flag to be taken? Could this be a ruse? Like the one I instructed to the Defense Team? If so, then how? It couldn't be illusions; as proven with Philia, illusions can trick the eyes, but it does not conceal one's magic, nor did it leave any mana behind like most magic would. Was it something like Felix's Mud Magic?
"You really think anyone is going to find this place?" one of the guards then asked.
"Positively. Especially those of Class A. You know only the most special of nobles get placed there," said another. "For all we know, someone from that class could be on their way here now for our flag."
"Yeah. And against someone from that class, it's only natural to have this many people on lookout," said another.
"Plus, this is a good number against the other classes' retrieval team," stated another. "We sent our best members to take the their flags. The rest of us just needs to stay and defend our flags, especially the crossbreeds. And with this number, it's only obvious who the winners will be if we face any of them. At the very least, we won't hit last place."
"That's true," agreed another, prompting all of them to laugh in amused agreement.
I, on the other hand, facepalmed at what I heard. Do these people not realize anyone could be listening in on their conversation? Unless if this is also part of the trust, they just confirmed this was everyone in class. Sure they also said they even sent their best members out to take the flag... but those members were the very students I had defeated a little earlier, weren't they? Did the headmaster not say something along the lines of the class will be disqualified from the exam if all the students in that class get taken out?
... I honestly felt bad for what I was going to do next.
Upon sending no other signatures nearby or approaching the area, I casually walked out of the woods and made my presence known to them. "Excuse me over there. I'm a little lost," I began.
The moment I spoke, all the guards turned to me. One look at me and smirks formed in their faces.
"Well, well, well... If it isn't the Fifth Ranked Commoner," one of them spoke. "How nice of you to just waltz into our territory. Not only that, but you're alone? Aren't you thinking a bit too highly of yourself, commoner?"
I could only sigh in response to such taunt. Had I not overheard that conversation earlier, maybe I would be thinking I got overconfident. However, that was not the case here.
Rather than wasting any breath on them, I simply summoned magic circles on the soles of my feet again. "Jet Stream!" I shot to the supposed leader and kneed him hard in the gut.
It was most likely due to the added force from my spell, but that one knee was enough to send the guy flying into the cave. I and everyone in the opposing class were quite baffled when that happened. I knew the spell would boost my legs in some way, but not to that extent.
"Why you-! How dare you kick one of us nobles, you pesky commoner!" one of them exclaimed.
Before any of them could do anything, I hastily got to my hands, with my head on the ground, and summoned a pair of magic circles on my feet. One on the heel of one foot, and the other on the tip of the toes of the other. "Jet Stream: Breakdance!" Water shot out of the magic circles, causing me to spin, and knock all the nobles away from me. I didn't stop there, as I canceled the spell and used a normal Jet Stream to shoot toward any other active students, knocking them down with a lariat, a punch, or a strong kick.
Under normal circumstances, I would probably get into a panic attack, using such a strong spell constantly like so, but I had learned something from these past few days. The only reason I get into these attacks was because of my mana flow. When one summons a magic circle to cast a spell, the mana would usually go to the arms to be directed where the circle would be casted or where the target was. By redirecting the flow elsewhere, specifically my legs, I would not get the drowning sensation then. As such, any spells I can cast from my feet are okay.
It did not take long for me to knock out all the guards. Amidst the commotion, those hiding in the cave also rushed out to assist their comrades. However, even they were not enough to stop me. Not when I kept moving around nonstop with Jet Stream.
Eventually, all of this one opposing class had been knocked out, as far as I knew at least. As soon as they were all down, I walked into the cave with caution, in case if there was still one active. A couple minutes of walking later, I found myself in a rather spacious room, with five flags at the center of the room, each with a cursive 'c' on them. I took one flag and exited out the room with it, just in time for one student to regain conscious. The student looked up and saw me out of her class's base, flag in hand, and widened her eyes in shock.
"That can't be... No way... By a commoner of all people?" she questioned in disbelief.
I could only look at her in pity. Her class had a good plan in mind, but there were a bunch of flaws to it. Namely...
"Next time, try not talking about your plan out loud," I advised, taking my leave.
One flag down, four remaining.
- Writer
