Chapter 504. Evaluation III
Seven Sins System Chapter 504. Evaluation III
Tobias, quieter than the others, leaned on his staff, looking down at his hands. “I wasn’t fast enough. If you hadn’t saved me…” His voice trailed off.
Aria knelt down beside him, her voice gentle. “You kept us going. Without your healing and buffs, we wouldn’t have made it this far. Speed will come with experience. Trust yourself.”
Tobias gave a small nod, but the doubt in his eyes remained.
I leaned back in my chair, watching them closely. This was her chance to prove herself as a leader, not just in combat, but in building her team back up when things went wrong. So far, she was doing better than I expected, especially considering the pressure she was under.
Ten minutes passed quickly, and Katrina stood once more. “Time’s up. The next phase begins now.”
The holographic arena shifted, the landscape changing into a dense, dark forest. The ground beneath them twisted into uneven terrain, and the air grew thick with an eerie fog. The team tensed as they looked around, unsure of what to expect next.
Suddenly, holographic creatures began to appear, but this time, they didn’t charge immediately. Instead, they lingered in the shadows, watching, waiting. They were larger, more menacing than before, their glowing eyes peering through the trees. But it wasn’t the monsters that made this round difficult, it was the layout of the battlefield.
“We’ve split your team up,” Katrina announced. “The forest will continue to shift, creating natural barriers. Your task is to navigate through, solve the puzzles you find, and regroup at the exit. Only then will you face the final challenge.”
Aria’s eyes narrowed as she took in the environment. This wasn’t just about combat anymore. They had to think strategically, and communication would be key. Her team was scattered across the shifting forest, and if they didn’t regroup quickly, they’d be picked off one by one.
The ground beneath John and Rachel suddenly shifted, creating a wall of vines that separated them from Aria and Tobias. Rachel cursed under her breath, throwing a small fireball at the vines in frustration.
“Rachel, hold back!” Aria called out, her voice cutting through the fog. “We need to conserve energy. Use your magic sparingly.”
Rachel stopped, her hands still glowing with embers, but she nodded. “Got it.”
Aria turned to Tobias, who was still beside her. “Stay close. We’ll find a way to John and Rachel.”
Tobias nodded, gripping his staff tightly. They moved cautiously through the forest, the thick fog obscuring their vision. Every now and then, the sound of something large moving through the trees would echo around them, reminding them that the monsters were still lurking, waiting for a mistake.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, John and Rachel were doing their best to navigate without their leader.
“Damn it,” John muttered, slashing through some overgrown foliage with his sword. “This place is a maze.”
Rachel shot him a sidelong glance, her eyes glowing faintly with magic. “Just keep moving. Aria will figure out a way to regroup.”
“She better,” John grumbled, though there was a hint of trust in his voice. He knew Aria wouldn’t let them down.
Back with Aria and Tobias, they stumbled upon the first puzzle. In the middle of the clearing stood a large stone tablet, etched with symbols and runes. It was clear this was part of the challenge Katrina had mentioned.
“Looks like we found the first clue,” Aria said, examining the tablet.
Tobias squinted at the runes, his brow furrowing. “These symbols… I’ve seen them before. They represent different elements.”
Aria nodded, her mind racing as she tried to piece together the puzzle. “We need to activate them in the right order. Fire, water, air, and earth.”
Tobias raised his hand, summoning a small gust of wind to hover over the air rune. It glowed faintly, and the tablet shifted slightly.
“Good. Now for the others,” Aria said, moving quickly to complete the puzzle.
Meanwhile, John and Rachel had stumbled upon their own challenge, a group of monsters blocking their path. “We don’t have time for this,” John growled, raising his sword.
“Then let’s make it quick,” Rachel said, her hands igniting with flames.
They launched into battle. Rachel’s flames acted as both offense and defense, while John’s sword cut through the creatures.
‘That’s my servant for you,’ I thought and decided to scribble something on my notes. Assessing this kind of test was nothing new for me, I was the top military power in the Shadow Realm, after all. Evaluating and sizing up new soldiers was just part of the routine. Normally, I didn’t bother with notes; I just gave my comments, and Ivy handled the writing for me. But since I didn’t have a secretary or anything there, I had to write up my own notes or something similar to that.
Back at the tablet, Aria and Tobias completed the puzzle just as the forest shifted again, clearing a path that led them directly to John and Rachel. They regrouped, their breath coming in ragged gasps, but they weren’t done yet.
“Final challenge,” Aria said, her eyes scanning the path ahead. “We finish this together.”
And with that, they pushed forward, ready for whatever came next.
The final round of creatures surged forward, a mixed horde of holographic monsters, larger and faster than before. Aria held her ground, calling out instructions to her team with a newfound confidence. Rachel’s flames roared to life, enveloping several creatures at once, while John sliced through them with powerful, controlled strikes. Tobias kept a steady hand, healing injuries the moment they appeared. Aria coordinated their attacks, anticipating the monsters’ moves and guiding her team with a level head.
At last, the creatures dissolved into the air, leaving nothing but silence. The test was over. Aria’s team, breathless and bruised, gathered in a loose circle. They exchanged glances, expressions of both relief and satisfaction on their faces. They had survived. They’d worked as a unit, and even if it hadn’t been flawless, they’d made it through.
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