The students were summoned randomly with a few others from their group.
At least two, at most five or six.
The moment their blurry senses returned, the students quickly distanced themselves from the nearby presence and drew their weapons.
“...We’re in the same group. Green.”
In a brief standoff, the students scanning their surroundings soon realized that the color of the light armbands they wore matched.
Green. One of the three groups previously announced.
With a muttered realization, the students, who had been gathering their magic in alarm, sighed and relaxed their bodies.
“Well, it wouldn’t make sense to summon us together with enemies from the start.”
“Yeah, half of us would be disqualified right from the beginning...”
They laughed, surprised at the thought they’d have to fight from the moment they were summoned.
[All students have entered.]
[Before the game starts, let’s go over the rules again.]
Soon, the voice from the sky began explaining again.
However, the content was the same as the briefing they’d received in the square before entering.
As they listened to the explanation, they exchanged brief introductions.
“3rd year Baengno class, Combat major Claire Lawrence. Any 3rd or 4th year seniors here?”
“2nd year Daeseo class, Magic major Lin Xin.”
“1st year Usu class, Minor major Emil Franke... Looks like Claire’s the only senior here.”
Among the five students summoned here, Claire, with her orange tie representing the 3rd year, was the only one from the 3rd year.
Claire nodded.
“Then, may I take temporary command?”
“Sure.”
The students agreed without any objection to Claire’s request.
In Siyoram, from the 3rd year onward, students are allowed a fair amount of freedom in external activities.
With the blessing of growth applied, they get to experience real combat, and many students participate in external training.
By the time students are in their 3rd year, they are already capable enough to make an impact externally, and they gain substantial practical experience.
As a result, it’s common for 3rd-year and above students to take command during such events.
[The game will begin now.]
[Please do your best.]
“First, let’s head toward the nearest occupation point. Is there anyone with detection abilities?”
“I don’t have detection abilities, but I can use magic to sense things.”
“Then, if anything unusual is detected, please report it.”
The game began, and the students, having quickly set up a basic command structure, formed ranks and moved out hastily.
“At the start, the occupation points will be empty. If we spot other members of the same group, we’ll join up with them. If we have the chance, we’ll quickly take control of the points.”
Their destination was the nearest occupation point.
Since the game had just started, all the occupation points were still empty, waiting to be claimed.
This meant the first group to reach and occupy a point would secure it.
However, with nearly 2,000 students entering the Growth Tower, it wasn’t surprising if an occupation point was taken by someone just a little faster.
“We should set up defenses and wait for reinforcements.”
It was advantageous to set up and defend as early as possible.
In siege warfare, the attacking side typically needs three times the number of defenders to succeed, right?
While there were no certainties in a battlefield full of variables, defense generally held the advantage.
Especially when mages set up powerful defenses at an occupation point, it became significantly more difficult to attack.
“What if another group occupies it first? We’ll be at a disadvantage on the points.”
“We’ll assess the situation and, if necessary, charge in to retake it. Otherwise, we’ll either move to another unoccupied point or wait for reinforcements.”
But for now, it was still early in the game.
Mages wouldn’t have the luxury to set up elaborate defenses just yet. The best they could manage were rudimentary spells to assist.
That much could easily be countered.
This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēwebnovel.com.
“Damn...”
Claire gasped. The color of the pillar rising at the occupation point they were heading toward had changed.
They had lost the lead. Claire’s expression became one of dismay.
While it was difficult for mages to prepare elaborate defenses at the start, it would still be hard to push out the students who had already claimed the point.
The only hopeful thought was that they might share the same green group.
She paused for a moment, staring at the changing pillar.
But the pillar turned a different color than she had hoped.
“White?”
The base of the pillar suddenly spread with white. Soon, the color seemed to blend into the clouds, and the pure white shot up into the sky.
“White... If it’s white...”
Someone muttered, and they all recalled the rules they had been briefed on.
[Three, Special Rules]
[A randomly selected student will be assigned to the ‘White’ group.]
Each student belongs to one of three groups: Red, Blue, or Green.
However, a randomly selected student is placed in the White group.
They hadn’t been informed of who was assigned to the White group.
“It must be the special entrant.”
“It’s probably Iha-yul.”
“It could only be him.”
Though no one had been told outright, they all knew exactly who had been placed in the White group.
The special entrant, Iha-yul. The central figure of this era, the person everyone was talking about.
He had been the one to swiftly suppress the dungeon surge incident in Shipnaha and was the one who killed the twin-headed dragon, which had been resurrected as a commander in China.
Furthermore, his outrageous appearance during the Birth Festival had caused the internet to erupt for days.
“Hmm...”
Lin Xin, who had been periodically casting detection magic, murmured as she gazed at the white pillar.
Lin Xin was from China.
While her hometown was relatively safe, she knew how devastated areas farther from it had become.
It had been 40 years since the twin-headed dragon had been defeated, but the poison and diseases it spread still lingered in the land, making it uninhabitable.
As a result, Lin Xin, along with others from China, hated and feared the twin-headed dragon.
Even as a superhuman, she couldn’t understand its strange and overwhelming strength. It wasn’t surprising that some people had fits whenever the name "twin-headed dragon" was mentioned.
That same twin-headed dragon had almost risen as a commander. Had it not been for Iha-yul’s swift action, China could have been reduced to a wasteland.
She patted her staff, deep in thought.
At the same time, others shared similar complex feelings.
“Do you think we can win?”
The question from a student broke the silence, and Claire remained quiet for a moment.
Iha-yul was currently the most famous person in the world, and his feats were widely known.
It had only been two months since he became a superhuman.
He had slaughtered hundreds of monsters ranked 7th and above in a confined space, even single-handedly defeating a 6th rank monster believed to be an Alpha.
In China? Even as an incomplete commander, his estimated rank was 4th. Despite the toxic danger, he annihilated the twin-headed dragon, which was a higher danger class.
Just considering these two achievements, it was hard to imagine a future where five of them could defeat him.
Iha-yul had won the lottery of fate, and even as a fellow student of Siyoram, she couldn’t imagine going up against him.
“...Let’s wait for reinforcements.”
After a moment of contemplation, Claire reached her decision.
Their opponent was the special entrant. His skills would likely be overwhelmingly superior.
“But this match is primarily about occupation. Even he has limitations as one person.”
That was, of course, the logical conclusion. No matter how great an individual’s skills, there would always be limits.
Especially since the white pillar, rising amidst the three other colored pillars, was beginning to draw more attention.
Looking at the other pillars rising nearby, those would likely be the special flags.
From any angle, the opponents would be gunning for him.
Even though he was strong, both his stamina and magic were consumable resources. This was a tower where students could be revived after elimination, so if they kept pressing, they would eventually break through.
“Well, let’s consider this a prelude. Even if we die, it’s not an immediate elimination, and we don’t know the exact occupation process yet—”
Just then.
Claire saw a flash of light from the top of the rocky mountain. The action that followed was instinctive, shaped by her combat experience.
She covered her upper body with both arms and drew up her magic power. The bright yellow energy surged from her arms.
‘Manifest.’
At the same time, she activated her unique ability, “Hardening.” Hard stone began to grow around her arms.
A short, blunt impact rang out. Claire realized, too late, that she was rolling on the ground.
“—Senpai!?”
“Ugh...! I’m fine...!”
Her head was ringing, and the sound was muffled. But hitting the ground like this wasn’t an option. Claire gritted her teeth and forced herself up.
‘What hit me?’
It had happened so fast, she hadn’t registered it properly. She looked down at her arms, which had been struck.
Upon impact, her magic-infused energy had exploded. The stone encasing her arms shattered instantly.
The residual force of the attack lodged itself in her arms, and instead of blood, light scattered in all directions.
Her defense, which should have blocked the attack from a monster of the 5th rank, had shattered completely.
An absurdly powerful blow. She barely recognized where the attack had come from before it landed.
From the top of the rocky mountain. It had been Iha-yul, at the occupation point...
‘Did he hit me from that distance?’
Claire was stunned, quickly adjusting her posture. Lin Xin, beside her, also activated healing magic, staring in shock.
“No... Why was magic involved?”
She had been using detection magic. While she hadn’t expected perfect detection, she had hoped to at least sense traps or any residual traces to react.
But she hadn’t sensed anything. It wasn’t until after Claire had crashed to the ground that the attack registered.
Claire, the lead commander, had been carefully setting up defensive magic.
It had been shattered like paper. The attack had struck Claire directly.
In the sudden chaos, everyone was flustered, but they quickly regrouped at the foot of the rocky mountain.
“...It’s coming again!”
Claire, still staring up at the peak, shouted. A flicker of light was visible again, and another burst of energy flew toward them.
‘It’s bigger than before. But it’s slower.’
A massive ball of light, slower than the previous one, soared through the air.
Claire wiped the light off her lips and, gathering her energy once more, fortified her arms with magic.
“What?”
The light exploded in mid-air, splitting into dozens of pieces.
Boom! And then another explosion. Hundreds of light fragments scattered, covering the sky like meteors.
Each of those beams, even when compared to the previous attack, had an intensity that matched.
“Damn, retreat!”
With the meteor-like light bombs falling on them, Claire shouted.
The ground shook violently from the numerous explosions.
Dust clouded the air.
‘Five eliminated.’
I checked the observed information and nodded. The lead student, who had hesitated for a moment, eventually dissipated into a light streak.
A mid-level magic laser. Modified with my own version of a shotgun blast.
I adjusted the spell’s trajectory, increasing both the number and output.
It worked well enough for casual use.
This was the first time using it in a real combat setting, and surprisingly, it performed well. Already, twenty were eliminated.
But there was room for improvement. The speed was slow, which allowed time for counterplay.
So, I quickly fired the lasers, and as they were confused, I unloaded a shotgun blast into their ranks.
Of course, I had gained distance, but... anyway.
Hearing a sound from the side, I observed the surroundings. Just nearby, a light-based drone clicked its lens and began recording me.
‘So they’re broadcasting like this.’
For this entry ceremony, they were actually broadcasting the interior of the Growth Tower.
And since I had been granted a prime position, I would take full advantage of the spotlight.
‘Actually, it’s a welcome.’
Normally, it’s best to hide my power, but right now, it’s an opportunity.
Before going inside, I need to show the world what I’m capable of in the ‘Great War.’
This entry ceremony is the perfect opportunity to prove it.
Of course, I’m not planning to use any trump cards like homogenization.
‘But when will I test that hated medicine?’
I thought about who I might give it to and when.
I’m not planning on taking it myself here. I’d rather feed it to someone else... especially someone around me. I don’t want to be hated, though.
Someone like me could end it all if I hear enough bad words.
‘Should I catch a monster and feed it to them when the drones are gone? Or maybe just capture one student... No, even in the Growth Tower, that’s a bit much.’
While pondering, I flicked my hand. The spell I had been preparing was complete.
‘Laser... now the shotgun blast.’
Two explosive sounds rang out, and light shot out.
The first light struck the student’s brow.
Immediately, the hundreds of light beams split and rained down on the students who had assumed defensive stances.
Boom! A dust cloud rose, and tiny explosions followed.
Long-range sniping. I can hit anything that enters my observation range.
‘Maybe it’s because it’s early, but not many are coming.’
From what I’ve gathered, there are ten occupation points on this floor.
That means, aside from the one I’ve already claimed, there are nine others, and everyone’s likely scattered around, fighting chaotically.
‘But they’ll come soon enough.’
The White group is just me. Compared to the occupation points swarming with hundreds, I’ll seem like an easy target.
Right now, they’re coming in small groups, so it’s easy to defeat them, but later, hundreds will probably rush in.
Now is the time to prepare for that.
After clearing the nearby students, I nodded and focused my mind.
‘Power manifestation.’
Knowledge.
Some of the books stored in my mind flew out. Books with various covers, fluttering like butterflies around me.
And then.
‘Manifest, manifest, manifest.’
The books filled with magic opened in unison. The complex “combat spell” formulas hidden within them activated.
Across the rocky mountain, the spells of combat seeped in as the books settled into place.