Beberapa jam berlalu setelah kelompok itu memasuki benteng.
Matahari perlahan naik ke langit, menyebarkan cahaya pucat di atas padang rumput terbuka di luar benteng. Angin menyentuh tanah, menekuk rumput tinggi dan membawa suara-suara pelan dari hutan.
Di bagian depan tembok benteng, Veda berdiri sunyi.
Lengan-lengannya terlipat di dada, memandang ke bawah ke ladang di bawahnya.
Angin menyentuhnya dengan ringan, tapi ia tak bergerak.
Matanya tetap tertuju pada cekungan di ufuk.
Di seberangnya, langkah kaki mendekat.
"Lingkaran alkimia sudah hampir selesai," kata Nickolas sambil mendekat dan berhenti di sampingnya.
"Cepat," jawab Veda dengan tenang tanpa menolehkan kepalanya.
Matanya tetap tertuju pada ladang di bawah.
Segalanya terlihat tenang.
Terlalu tenang.
"Iya," kata Nickolas sambil menggaruk belakang lehernya sebelum menggaruk dagunya dengan serius. "Kita tak boleh menyia-nyiakan waktu."
Ia menatap ke tanah sejenak.
"Hmmm..."
Pikirannya jelas mulai berputar.
Beberapa detik kemudian ia bicara lagi.
"Haruskah kita mulai memproduksi AK-47 dan Kalthoff Repeater sekarang juga?"
Veda mengangguk segera.
"Ya."
Senyum cerah muncul di wajahnya.
"Dengan segera." Ia menoleh ke arah Nickolas dan menaruh tangan di bahumnya. "Jika kita mulai sekarang, para alkimis akan punya cukup waktu untuk memulihkan Cognis hingga persentase yang layak sebelum gelombang pertama tiba."
Nickolas mengangguk.
"Baik, aku akan menyampaikan perintah itu."
Ia berbalik untuk pergi namun tiba-tiba berhenti.
"Ah, sebelum aku lupa..." Katapnya. "Tenda-tenda sudah disiapkan."
"Bagus," jawab Veda sambil mengangguk. "Juga, ada sesuatu yang perlu kuketahui kepada semua orang tentang menara itu."
Nickolas menoleh padanya.
Veda menunjuk ke menara tinggi yang menjulang di tengah benteng. "Sepertinya kita bisa menggunakan poin untuk membeli senjata berat di ujian ini."
Nickolas mengangkat alis.
"Benar?"
"Ya," lanjut Veda. "Juga ada medan pertahanan energi yang bisa melindungi menara dari serangan berat."
Ia mengangkat tiga jari. "Tapi hanya bisa dipasang tiga kali."
"Setelah tiga aktivasi itu, semua keuntungan dan pertahanan menara akan mati."
Wajah Nickolas perlahan membesar serius.
Ia masuk ke dalam pemikiran yang dalam.
"Jadi...bagaimana kita dapat poin sekarang?" tanyanya perlahan.
Alisnya menekuk.
"Haruskah kita memaksa semua orang untuk memberikan poin yang tersisa hanya untuk membeli sesuatu?"
Veda mengerutkan kening.
"Tidak."
"Aku tidak ingin poin semua orang turun menjadi nol."
Ia terhenti sejenak sebelum melanjutkan.
"Yang akan kita lakukan adalah selamatkan gelombang pertama dengan apa yang sudah kita miliki."
Nickolas menyeangkang.
"Lalu setelah itu?"
"Dari apa yang dikatakan Ezra..."
Veda menatapnya.
"Mungkin ada sistem peringking untuk grup tercepat yang menyelesaikan masing-masing gelombang."
Nickolas menyipitkan mata.
"Grup yang lebih cepat akan mendapat lebih banyak poin sementara yang lebih lambat akan mendapat lebih sedikit."
Nickolas menatap menara sekali lagi sebelum kembali.
"Jadi, grup yang menyelesaikan terakhir mungkin tidak mendapat apa-apa?"
"Ya,"
Veda mengangguk.
"Itu mungkin terjadi."
Nickolas menghela napas perlahan.
"Tapi, bisakah kamu benar-benar mempercayai apa yang dikatakan anak Ezra itu?"
Tonanya penuh keraguan.
Veda menggelengkan kepala.
"Aku tidak langsung mempercayainya."
"Aku mempertimbangkan ide itu karena terdengar seperti sistem paling mungkin digunakan dewan."
Nickolas menatapnya sejenak.
Lalu ia mengeluh.
Ia tahu Veda benar, meski tidak suka mengakuinya. Perkiraan Ezra terdengar masuk akal, tapi pemikirannya membuatnya betulkah, meski ia membenci hal itu.
"Aku bicara tentang anak Ezra itu," kata Nickolas dengan gelitik marah. "Apa katanya ia sedang lakukan sekarang?"
"Dia belum membantu kelompok dengan apa pun sejak tiba di sini."
Matanya terbang ke arah di mana Ezra pergi tadi.
Veda memameramati matanya.
"Terakhir kata dia padaku," kata Veda dengan tenang, "adalah dia perlu menyiapkan beberapa hal di sisi yang ia pilih sebagai posisinya."
Nickolas mencemooh.
"Ehh..."
"Bukankah dia hanya menggambarkan lingkaran alkimianya dan mengatur tenda?"
"Itu sesuatu yang bisa diselesaikan dalam dua hingga tiga jam."
Nickolas menunjuk ke belakang benteng. "Tapi sudah lebih dari enam jam!"
"Dan dia belum mengutakan diri untuk membantu timnya."
Nickolas jelas sedang marah.
Veda memberinya tatapan panjang.
"Kata-katamu seperti orang yang memperlakukannya seakan dia tidak layak."
Nickolas membeku.
Kata Veda mengena langsung padanya.
Nickolas mundur satu langkah.
Wajahnya memerah malu.
"Bukan berarti dia tak bisa membuktikan dirinya," bisikannya. "Tapi dia sedang bersembunyi seperti Seekor tewar yang tak berani."
Ekspresi Veda menjadi serius.
"Tapi dia tak berhutang apa-apa kepada kita."
Nickolas mengedipkan mata.
"Jadi, mengapa dia harus membuktikan sesuatu kepada kita?"
Veda melanjutkan.
"Dan jika kamu masih ingin bukti... Dia sudah terperingkatkan."
"Bukankah itu cukup sebagai bukti?"
Nickolas mengklik lidahnya.
"Tsk."
"Sistem peringking tidak hanya tentang kekuatan."
Ia menyeangkang dengan keras.
"Dan kudengar kamu tetap tidak mengerti mengapa kamu mempercayai seseorang yang menolak bekerja dengan tim."
Masih pertarungan yang sama.
Veda menggelengkan kepala.
"Apakah kamu ingat apa yang kuduga ketika aku meminta maaf kepada semua orang karena membuatmu merasa inferior ketika pertama kali kudatangkan Ezra?"
Nickolas mengangguk pelan.
"Aku bilang aku percaya Ezra akan menjadi dorongan besar bagi kelompok kita dan itu bukan karena kekuatannya."
Nickolas mengerutkan kening.
Veda melanjutkan.
"Pertama kali aku melihatnya adalah ketika dia tak sadar di rumah sakit."
"Kudapat sesuatu darinya."
"Seorang pejuang."
"Seseorang yang ingin bertahan hidup."
"Seseorang yang siap memberikan segalanya untuk melarikan diri dari neraka ini."
Veda menghela napas pelan.
"Dibandingkan dengan itu..."
Matanya beralih ke benteng di mana banyak kandidat sedang bekerja. "Beberapa orang di sini hanya ingin bersembunyi di balik punggung yang lebih kuat atau bertingkah seperti superior karena mereka dilatih sebelum datang ke sini."
"Lalu," ia berhenti sejenak sebelum menatap langsung ke arah Nickolas. "Anak Ezra itu... Dia sangat berbeda."
Veda tersenyum tipis.
"Dia mengingatkanku pada diriku."
"Inilah sebabnya mengapa aku senang ketika dia bergabung dengan kelompok kita dan kamu seharusnya tidak khawatir tentang kekuatannya."
"Pamela juga pernah mengatakannya."
Nickolas mengangkat alis.
"Dia adalah monster."
Nickolas menghela napas dalam-dalam.
"Baiklah... baiklah."
Ia menggaruk keningnya. "Itu salahku. Aku bertingkah seperti penjahat."
"Aku hanya tidak suka ide seorang lowline membuatmu bicarakan dia seperti itu."
Nickolas suaranya menurun. "Aku pikir aku akan kehilangan posisiku sebagai deputy-mu."
Veda menatapnya.
"Lalu tiba-tiba..."
Dia tertawa keras.
Tawa gemerani menggemellert suara di sekitar tembok benteng.
Beberapa anggota kelompok yang dekat menoleh dengan bingung.
"Tak mungkin dia juga ingin menjadi deputy-ku," kata Veda sambil masih tertawa.
"Kudengar, Ezra bukan seorang yang ingin menjadi deputy-ku."
"Satu-satunya alasannya bergabung dengan kami adalah karena Felix sedang menargetnya dan kelompok kami adalah pilihan teraman yang dia punya."
"Oh...,"
Nickolas mengedipkan mata. "Tiba-tiba terasa bodoh, aku telah khawatir secara sia-sia ini selama ini."
"Aku akan pergi menyampaikan perintah kepada semua orang,"
Ia berkata sambil tersenyum menghindar. "Setelah itu, kita harus cek ke dia."
"Baik."
Veda tersenyum. "Setelah itu, kita pergi ke Ezra."
Nickolas mengangguk dan pergi.
Veda tersisa sejenak.
"Aku ingin tahu kapan tim pengintaian akan kembali..."
"Aku akan turun ke tangga di bawah."
Di bawahnya, beberapa anggota kelompok sedang mendorong balok kayu besar. Mereka sedang memperkuat pintu masuk benteng. Mereka sedang bersiap untuk apa yang akan datang.
Waktu berlalu.
Matahari perlahan bergerak ke ufuk.
"Akhirnya...",
Tim pengintaian kembali. "Linda dan Tracy mengumpulkan semua orang bersama."
"Kami menemukan sebuah aliran di dalam hutan," kata Linda. "Tapi ia mengalir lebih dekat ke basis kelompok Henry."
Karena pencarian Henry juga menemukan aliran itu. Mereka bertemu seketika sebelum kembali ke menara masing-masing. Dari pertukaran mereka... Henry tidak bersengaja, setidaknya belum sebelum tiga gelombang berakhir.
Strateginya sederhana.
Jika tetangganya adalah Felix atau Priscilla..." Dia akan segera bersiap untuk konflik, namun jika tetangganya adalah Bale atau Veda..." Dia akan mengusulkan gencatan senjata sementara hingga gelombang selesai. "
Untuk Vera..." Dia akan bernegosiasi dengan hati-hati, karena memprovokasi Vera tidak pernah ide yang bagus.
"Tentu saja masih ada banyak menara di sekitar..." Namun tidak ada kelompok yang berani mengekspor jauh-jauh pada malam hari. Mereka tidak ingin kebetulan masuk ke wilayah Felix. "
"Atau lebih buruk..." sebuah zona monster."
"Ada hal lain," tambah Tracy. "Kami melihat kelompok Henry memotong pohon besar dan mengikatnya dengan tali." "Tapi tidak terlihat seperti mereka sedang memperkuat pintu masuk benteng mereka." "Kelihatannya mereka sedang membuat senjata."
"Linda mengangguk. "Aku tidak akan terkejut jika itu katapult."
"Setelah laporan selesai, Veda menjelaskan sistem senjata menara yang ditemukannya dan juga membagikan teori Ezra tentang sistem peringking. "
"Seperti yang diharapkan, beberapa highline langsung mempertanyakan kehandalahan teori Ezra. "
"Tapi kali ini..." Nickolas mengadvokasi. "Dia menjelaskan mengapa teori itu masuk akal, membuat banyak orang terkejut mendengar dukungan itu. "
Several hours passed after the group entered the castle.
The sun had slowly climbed higher in the sky, spreading pale light across the open grass field outside the fortress. Wind brushed across the land, bending the tall grass and carrying faint sounds from the forest.
On the front side of the castle wall, Veda stood quietly.
His arms were folded across his chest as he looked down at the field below.
The wind pushed lightly against his clothes, but he didn’t move.
His eyes stayed on the horizon.
Behind him, footsteps approached.
"The alchemy circles are almost done."
Nickolas walked up and stopped beside him.
"That’s fast," Veda replied calmly without turning his head.
His eyes remained on the field.
Everything looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
"Yeah," Nickolas said, rubbing the back of his neck before stroking his chin thoughtfully. "We can’t afford to waste time."
He stared at the ground for a moment.
"Hmmm..."
His mind clearly began turning.
After a few seconds he spoke again.
"Should we start producing the AK-47 and the Kalthoff Repeater now?"
Veda nodded immediately.
"Yes."
A bright smile appeared on his face.
"With immediate effect."
He turned toward Nickolas and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"If we start now, the alchemists will have enough time to recover their Cognis to a decent percentage before the first wave arrives."
Nickolas nodded.
"Okay, I’ll inform them."
He turned to leave but suddenly stopped.
"Oh, before I forget...The tents are already set up."
"Good," Veda replied with a nod. "Also, there’s something I need everyone to know about the tower."
Nickolas looked back at him.
Veda pointed behind them toward the tall tower rising at the center of the castle.
"It seems we can spend points to buy heavy weapons for this trial."
Nickolas raised his brows.
"Really?"
"Yes," Veda continued.
"There’s also a defensive force field that can protect the tower from heavy attacks."
He raised three fingers.
"But it only works three times."
"After those three activations, all the tower perks and defenses will shut down."
Nickolas’ face slowly turned serious.
He fell into deep thought.
"So... how do we get points now?" he asked slowly.
His brows pressed together.
"Do we have to force everyone to give up their remaining points just to buy something?"
Veda frowned.
"No."
"I don’t want everyone’s points dropping to zero."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"What we’ll do is survive the first wave using what we already have."
Nickolas crossed his arms.
"And after that?"
"From what Ezra told me..."
Veda looked at him.
"There might be a ranking system for the fastest groups to clear each wave."
Nickolas blinked.
"The faster groups would receive more points while the slower groups would receive less."
Nickolas glanced toward the tower again before turning back.
"So, the group that finishes last might receive nothing?"
"Yes."
Veda nodded.
"That’s possible."
Nickolas sighed slowly.
"But can you really believe what that Ezra boy said?"
His tone carried doubt.
Veda shook his head.
"I’m not blindly believing him."
"I’m considering his idea because it sounds like the most obvious system the board would use."
Nickolas stared at him for a moment.
Then he groaned.
He knew Veda was right, even though he hated admitting it. Ezra’s guess sounded reasonable, but the thought of him being right annoyed the hell out of him.
"Speaking of that Ezra boy," Nickolas said, irritation creeping into his voice.
"What exactly is he doing right now?"
"He hasn’t helped the group with anything. Since we got here."
His eyes drifted toward the direction where Ezra had gone earlier.
Veda narrowed his eyes.
"The last thing he told me," Veda said calmly, "was that he needed to prepare some things at the side he chose as his position."
Nickolas scoffed.
"Ehhh..."
"Isn’t he just drawing his alchemy circle and setting up a tent?"
"That’s something someone could finish within two to three hours."
Nickolas pointed toward the back of the castle.
"But it’s already been more than six hours!"
"And he hasn’t shown a bit of decency to help his team."
Nickolas clearly looked angry.
Veda gave him a long look.
"Says the person who treats him like he doesn’t belong."
Nickolas froze.
Veda’s words hit him directly.
Nickolas took a step back.
His face showed embarrassment.
"It’s not like he can’t prove himself," Nickolas muttered. "But he’s busy hiding like a coward."
Veda’s expression turned serious.
"But he owes us nothing."
Nickolas blinked.
"So, why should he prove anything to us?"
Veda continued.
"And if you still want proof...He’s already ranked."
"Isn’t that proof enough?"
Nickolas clicked his tongue.
"Tsk."
"The ranking system isn’t only about strength."
He crossed his arms stubbornly.
"And I still don’t understand why you’d trust someone who refuses to work with the team."
Still the same argument.
Veda shook his head.
"Do you remember what I said when I apologized to everyone for making you guys feel inferior when I first introduced Ezra?"
Nickolas nodded slowly.
"I said I believed Ezra would be a big boost to our group and it’s not because of his strength."
Nickolas frowned.
Veda continued.
"The first time I saw him was when he was unconscious in the hospital."
"I saw something in him."
He paused.
"A fighter."
"Someone who wants to survive."
"Someone ready to give everything to escape this hell."
Veda sighed quietly.
"Compared to that..."
He glanced toward the castle where many candidates were working.
"Some people here just want to hide behind stronger backs or act superior because they received training before coming here."
He paused again.
Then he looked directly at Nickolas.
"That Ezra boy...He’s very different."
Veda smiled faintly.
"He reminds me of myself."
"That’s why I was excited when he joined our group and you really shouldn’t worry about his strength."
"Pamela already said it herself."
Nickolas raised an eyebrow.
"That he’s a monster."
Nickolas exhaled heavily.
"Alright... alright."
He rubbed his forehead.
"That one is my fault. I was acting like a jerk."
He looked down.
"I just didn’t like the idea of a lowline making you talk about him like that."
Nickolas’ voice dropped.
"I thought I might lose my place as your right-hand man."
Veda stared at him.
Then suddenly...
He burst into laughter.
The loud laugh echoed across the castle wall.
Some nearby group members looked over in confusion.
"There’s no way he’d even want that," Veda said while still laughing.
He grabbed Nickolas’ shoulder.
Tears formed slightly at the corner of his eyes from laughing.
"Trust me."
"Ezra doesn’t look like the kind of guy who wants to become my right-hand man."
"The only reason he joined us in the first place was because Felix was targeting him and our group was the safest option he had."
"Oh..." Nickolas blinked.
He suddenly felt foolish, he had been worrying over nothing all this while.
He sighed in relief.
"I’ll go deliver the orders to everyone."
His face turned red from embarrassment.
"Good."
Veda smiled.
"After that, we should go check on Ezra."
Nickolas nodded and left.
Veda stayed behind for a moment.
"I wonder when the scouting team will return..."
He turned around and walked down the castle stairs.
Below, several group members were dragging large wooden logs.
They were reinforcing the castle entrance.
Preparing for what was coming.
Time passed.
The sun slowly moved toward the horizon.
Finally...The scouting team returned.
Linda and Tracy quickly gathered everyone together.
"We found a stream inside the forest," Linda explained. "But it flows closer to Henry’s group’s base."
Apparently, Henry’s scouts had also discovered the stream earlier.
Their groups met briefly before returning to their towers. From what they exchanged during that meeting...
Henry had no intention of causing trouble immediately, at least not before the three waves ended.
His strategy was simple.
If his neighbor turned out to be Felix or Priscilla...
He would immediately prepare for conflict, but if his neighbor was Bale or Veda...
He would propose a temporary ceasefire until the waves ended.
As for Vera...
He planned to negotiate carefully, because provoking Vera was never a good idea.
Of course, there were still other towers nearby.
But neither group dared explore too far at night.
They didn’t want to accidentally enter Felix’s territory.
Or worse...A monster zone.
"There’s something else," Tracy added.
"We saw Henry’s group cutting down large trees and they were tying the logs together with ropes."
"But it didn’t look like they were trying to reinforcing their castle door."
"It looked more like they were trying to make a weapon."
Linda crossed her arms.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a catapult."
After that report ended, Veda explained the tower weapon system he discovered and he also shared Ezra’s theory about the ranking system.
As expected, some of the highlines immediately questioned Ezra’s credibility.
But this time...
Nickolas stepped forward.
He explained why the theory made sense which made many people stare at him shocked hearing him support Ezra.
After a short debate...
Veda confirmed he also believed the same possibility and finally...
Tracy raised both hands dramatically.
"Alright! let’s cook!"
"I’m starving!"
Soon campfires lit up around the castle courtyard.
Torches were planted across the walls.
The girls and a few boys who knew how to cook began preparing food.
They had purchased plenty of ingredients during the preparations for the trial.
Just like during the second trial...Everyone would eat together.
Meanwhile...
Nickolas and Veda walked toward the back of the castle.
Bobby followed quietly behind them, he followed because he wanted to see what Ezra had been doing.
When they arrived...
They froze.
Ezra had planted torches along the ground.
The firelight revealed a long vertical line carved into the earth.
It stretched from the left forest edge...All the way to the right side.
Several marked locations appeared along the line.
Each spot stood close to the castle wall.
Nickolas stared blankly.
"Wow...That’s a lot of work for one person."
His earlier complaints suddenly echoed inside his mind.
Now he truly felt stupid.
Ezra stood near the wall, driving a wooden stake into the ground.
His coat was dirty, his trousers were covered in dust and sand.
He had clearly been digging for hours.
He looked up when he noticed them.
"You guys?"
He wiped dirt from his hands.
"Why are you here?"
He pushed the final stake deeper into the ground.
Veda stared at him.
Doesn’t he feel hot? He was wearing a coat...While doing heavy labor.
Veda couldn’t understand it.
"Ezra!" Veda called. "You should come eat dinner."
Ezra looked around at his unfinished traps.
He wasn’t even halfway done, but the sky had already darkened and he was hungry.
He could eat from his personal food stash...
But since the ingredients were bought using group points...
He decided to join them.
"Alright. Give me a minute."
"I’ll wash up and change clothes."
He grabbed the rope hanging from the wall.
Then began climbing back up toward the castle.
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