Freedom Jumper-Chapter 150: Capture The Flag

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The hour of dinner came around alongside storm clouds that were already flickering with illumination. Inside the dining hall of the western building, Niko and his team listened to a speech from Borus related to the weather conditions and a poll that would decide if the game would be postponed or not.

As soon as the signal was given, a large number of hands rose into the air in the favor of the game continuing. This much was okay for Borus to deal with considering the battle would be taking place within a dense and hilly forest.

"Okay! I guess that settles it! After you are finished, gather in front of the gate, we will walk to the game together." Borus left the dining hall with a bow to all of the children he had come to adore. Of course, he cannot have a relationship with all of them, but there were a few in this group he had gotten close to. This did not include Elijah and Niko...

Small drops of rain dripped onto the new color coordinated clothes each member of the different teams had been given. Instead of the brown leather accents on the back, shoulders, and elbows, there were now the colors of either teal, pink, green, or yellow. Niko's team had been congregating near the back while listening to the rules being repeated in their green accented garments.

"... which is why anything fire related is not allowed. I can see you all have your runic equipment, so please allow the assistants to lead you to your flag. Remember, do not cover your flag!"

Borus' last words send the assistant's into motion. Within the early darkness of the cloud covered sky, each group was led deep into the forest – to their respective flags that were fairly staked into the ground. It wasn't that the flags were out in the open, but keenly placed depending on the natural terrain.

Niko's flag was placed atop a small cliff that stood behind a thick section of trees you could not see behind. On the other side of the trees was a cliff that dropped straight into a slowly flowing creek.

Once situated, the team of fifty people began splitting up into their respective squads. The main defensive force was ordered by Garrett Torngist, an earth mage at the core level of bright red. His deeper voice and confident character to nominate himself as the defensive lead took Niko by surprise, and even reminded him of Borus with his brown hair and brown eyes. Likely, Borus had taken a liking to him.

Attached to the defensive force were people known as "roamers", which had been suggested by Elijah. People of any power type who decided to risk themselves for the sake of pinpointing attacks from all directions, distractions, and also people who simply wanted to test their luck. A few interesting people to mention from this team were the Hickory twins who Niko had picked up on a whim that they had some mysterious power. Both of them carried simple swords with air runes and wind walkers to increase their mobility by many folds. However, the wind walkers they were equipped with were powered by mana batteries that would have to be activated and deactivated by physically pressing a button inside the ankle of the shoe.

'Twas the fate of anyone not familiar with the movement of mana.

There were a few assault teams that were headed by Knox Enfelt, Zain Airheart, Wess Nominent, and Niko. All of which had eight people in their respective teams – including the leader. With two special abilities or affinities in each group, they were sure to have a force that could navigate turbulent waters.

And lastly were the stealth team. A single group of eight individuals that felt they were suited to moving through the forest silently, engaging different enemies from afar and up close, and keeping their presence hidden while searching for the different enemy flags. Elijah was the leader of this group, and had a rather interesting team that he couldn't help but be excited to work with. A black-haired boy with an ability that allowed him to zoom his eyesight – Ocular Eyes. Another black-haired boy who specialized in near impossible movements like backflipping unnecessarily, jumping from tree to tree, and taking down a person no matter the size in close range combat.

Oliver Milko was his name, a boy with pitch black eyes who had severely embarrassed Elijah when showing off his grappling skills. A girl by the name of Ivanka who possessed the power to make anyone sleep upon contact. Unfortunately, there was a flaw that Ivanka had for some reason made light of – Feeling an immense amount of pain during the time the ability activated, which she had said was almost a full second. What a cruel flaw, and no less to a child that likely had to find out the hard way.

Whenever she spoke a word, Elijah was able to hear a tremble within her voice as if her flaw had not only left scars of pain, but also the relenting question of how she would die...

Many thoughts had gone through Elijah's head when he found out this horrible truth. One being that these powers and flaws one receives has more than just a simple story of being randomly chosen. Whenever fate is involved, the matter becomes far more complicated and even makes him question if he should've asked Esulith for more information on the reasons for everything.

Although, if he did know more than he did now, – why everyone in this world is at war with each other, Elijah would most likely be risking his life instead of frolicking in an academy.

Or may even be risking his life to kill someone far more powerful than him...

There were four more magitech users who had specific air-based equipment meant for anything stealth related, as well as blunt weapons that were authorized by Borus. The rule of lethal blows not being allowed still stands, but inflicting wounds is allowed. Each contestant was given three firework runes that would only be set off if one was injured. With the magitech equipment the professors and assistants possessed, it would be fairly easy to reach a distress signal. Especially within the darkness of the night.

The only worry Borus had was the lightning he expected would be coming soon.

On the contrary, Elijah was more excited than ever. The weather conditions had put everyone at a disadvantage. While Elijah knows how to navigate turbulent waters, his enemies may not know how, which is why he begged Niko to be the leader or at least part of the stealth team. Who knows, maybe Elijah would pull out his invisible runes and begin whacking people across the back of their heads with his bare hand...

With everyone in position, and the flag area surrounded with obstacles that did not come within ten feet of the flag, everyone began staring into the dark sky.

BOOM!

To the north, a bright light of all four team colors had gone off, signifying the start of the game. Instantly, Elijah ran forward while his team trailed behind – running around the cliff that led into the creek, and then crossing into the dense forest filled with small hills , trees, and rocks.

Time was ticking, as fifteen games had to be completed by the end of tomorrow...