Stage V Announcement:
To All Cadets:
Stage V will begin in five days.
This stage will last 10 days and take place in and around the main camp.
Overview:
-Over the next three days, all cadets must form teams of at least 15 members.
-Any cadet who fails to do so or is unable to join a team will be placed on another team automatically.
-Each team must appoint a leader. Once leaders have been chosen, they cannot change teams or betray their team (Please note that betrayal between team members is allowed).
-Each leader will be given a detailed map showing the locations of all 12 zones and their team's designated base.
Objective:
-Capture and hold as many areas as possible during these ten days.
-Each team has a base located near the zones. If your base is captured, your team is eliminated, regardless of control over the zone. However, you can change the location of your base after capturing two zones.
-Zones will grant your team tokens that can be exchanged at the main camp for useful items, such as food, horses, weapons, survival and medical equipment...
Rules:
-The main camp is a neutral zone; no fighting is allowed inside. Otherwise, fighting is allowed everywhere.
-The battle will be fought with real weapons, but killing is prohibited.
-There are yellow tokens hidden throughout the zones that are worth more than regular tokens.
After 10 days:
-The team that captures the most zones and keeps its base secure wins.
-Top performers may receive special positions and evaluations from Central Command, whose instructors will be watching you closely.
After teams are formed, an instructor will provide more details about Stage V.
Good luck!
~Roy
That announcement contained a lot of information to take in. Everyone stood in silence for a moment, rereading and processing the details.
Andrew was the first to break the silence. He turned to me with a smile.
"Roy, this stage is really tough, but it's also fun. There are fifteen people per team, real battles, and betrayal is allowed. The best and most comforting part, though, is that you're not eliminated just because your team lost."
Sophia folded her arms thoughtfully. "That's right. If we perform well individually, we'll be safe. It's not just about winning anymore."
I nodded slightly. "True, but if we get injured or separated like we did in Stage Four, we're out. We can't let that happen again. We have to move smartly and stay close."
Crimzo chuckled softly and folded his arms. "And betrayal is allowed?" Man, they really want to make it seem like a real war. I like that."
I looked around the group, doing some calculations. A team of fifteen people isn't small, but it also means more risk. More people to watch. More opportunities for betrayal.
"We need to start building the team now," I said.
We'll only choose people we trust. I think Andrew should lead this team. He performs well under pressure. With him leading, I'll be able to watch for signs of betrayal.
Before I could speak, Stephanie stepped forward.
" I'll be with you guys," she said spontaneously. Then she turned to me and smiled. "And Roy, you're the real leader here, aren't you? I'm excited to follow your lead."
Oh no. She said it out loud.
Everyone turned to me. Andrew raised his eyebrow and chuckled softly.
"Of course," he said. "Roy is the leader here. No one would argue with that."
The others nodded without hesitation. So, it was settled. Actually, I have a plan. For now, let's just go with the flow.
As we walked out, we were joined by other voices. Kaylie, Loyd, and Ria approached us.
"We want to join you," Kylie said cheerfully. "Honestly? I trust you, Roy. You're the leader I'd bet on."
I felt a little tired when I heard this. I don't know exactly why, but maybe I don't like others depending on me.
Shortly after, Henry and Lora joined us.
Henry said quietly, "We're joining, too. We won't miss the chance to fight alongside you guys again."
Lora added, "This time will be different from last time, too."
I nodded. "Good to hear. Let's give it our best shot."
That meant ten. Only five remained.
I looked around at all of them. They were people who trusted us and had chosen to fight alongside us.
Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing to be surrounded by people who believed in and respected one another.
We gathered near the training ground and formed an open circle. We took turns sharing our ideas and opinions, and everyone was given the opportunity to express their views on what we should do.
Andrew said, "We have to use the first few days to take control of at least two areas. If we can change the location of the main store, it will work in our favor."
Lora, Loyd, and Kylie offered to look for new members.
Lora said, "We know some experienced people. Let's talk to them and see who is serious and trustworthy."
Sophia looked at Stephanie. "Let's get the first aid kits ready. We need to go to a certain place so I can collect some herbs." "
Stephanie nodded with a smile. "Great, let's go! I'll learn a lot from you."
Meanwhile, Andrew, Henry, and I started developing ideas for movement and controlling the map after I took it from the administration.
Henry suggested, "We have to stay in groups at all times."
I nodded. "We always move in groups of at least four or five. No one is alone out there."
As for Crimzo and Ria, he showed her the best spots for attacking and defending positions.
Everyone began to take their spots. Roles were assigned to each of us.
We had three days to prepare.
The following days were filled with constant movement and endless preparations. Everyone was busy and completely focused. Andrew and I spent most of our time reviewing strategies and possible battle scenarios and planning how we would fight as a team. The most important part was fighting as a team.
Meanwhile, Kylie, Loyd, and Lora reached out to people they trusted. They introduced us to three cadets.
Lora brought a tall girl with sharp eyes and long black hair. "Her name is Nessa," Lora said. "She's fast, and she'll be a great asset to us in the field."
Then came two friends of Loyd and Kylie. The first had long hair, a strong physique, and a short beard. His name was Bran.
The other was shorter but also strongly built with a thick beard and a huge hammer slung across his back. He introduced himself as Torin.
By the day before the fifth stage, our team had thirteen players. I was a little worried about reaching the required number, but then two more people approached us. I recognized them immediately—they were the two cadets who had fought alongside James in the previous stage against Andrew and Crimzo.
They approached me directly.
The man said respectfully, "Hey, Red Scarf, if you don't mind, we'd like to join your team."
Andrew stepped forward, raising his eyebrows. "Wait... William, right? And you..." He turned to the girl. "I don't remember your name."
Crimzo smirked. "Alice. She's strong; that's what I remember."
Alice smiled slightly. "You're not so bad yourself."
I looked at them carefully. They had abandoned James back then, but it wasn't betrayal. They wanted to succeed on the stage. That was clear, and it was totally fine.
I said, "I don't mind. Welcome to the team. We're meeting again soon to review our plan and roles. You can introduce yourselves to everyone and get to know each other."
They nodded and thanked me.
A few minutes later, Stephanie approached. She waved her sword as she spoke. "Everything is ready. Sophia and I gathered all the herbs and tools we might need."
I nodded and said, "Thanks for your work," as I wrote down the final names.
She glanced over my shoulder. "What are you writing?" She was very close to my face.
I replied, "I'm finishing our team list. I have to submit it to the administration before the end of the day."
She smiled. "Do you need help?"
"It's okay. I'm almost done."
After that, I gathered everyone together. The new cadets introduced themselves, and we reviewed the team structure. We discussed who would lead the attack, who would defend, who would manage supplies, and how we would communicate. We covered all the details.
The next morning, we got ready early with our weapons tightly strapped around us and our body armor ready. The sky was still cloudy, and dawn had barely broken. We gathered in the open square at the center of the camp. The space was wide, and the ground was hard and covered with sand.
There were four teams, each lined up in rows. As usual, each team's leader stood alone at the front with his team behind him in an orderly formation. The four teams stood side by side, a short distance apart.
To my right stood Oliver. Our eyes met, then he nodded and smiled at me. I looked behind him and saw several familiar faces, including Lauren's.
She was on his team.
I couldn't help but smile grimly. I guess I'll finally see what she's capable of.
In front of us, on a raised platform, stood General Daniel with some of the instructors and Yuri. Then, the general stepped forward.
"Hello, everyone," Daniel began. "You've come a long way to get to this point today. This is the final stage and the final challenge of your journey here."
He walked slowly across the platform.
"Each of you has demonstrated your potential, growth, and strength. But Stage Five is different. It's not just about fighting and skill anymore; it's about thinking, adapting and working as a team."
He turned to the instructors, then back to us.
"This stage is designed to push you forward. We want to see how you work under pressure as part of a real team. The instructors and soldiers will patrol and observe the areas. This isn't just a test, either. It will also help us decide how to divide up the future teams."
He raised his voice.
"So, everyone, do your best to shine and serve your team. Show me how far you're willing to go for your friends and your Empire."
The teams nodded in unison. "Yes, sir!"
Then, one of the instructors stepped forward. I recognized him immediately. He was the same man I had met in Stage Four who came when we called for support for James. He had an impressive presence and was holding a piece of paper.
"Now, we will go over the upcoming rules," he said. "Pay attention."
Everyone focused.
"If your team leader is captured, your team will be expelled. "The goal is not only to conquer areas and protect them, but also to protect your leader at all costs."
A faint murmur rippled through the cadets. This was a major change.
"You may change leaders once," he continued. "But only after changing your base. To do so, the leader must return to the camp and report the change in the presence of the new leader. Each zone has a large tower with a flag on top. You need to place your team's flag on top of the tower to secure the zone."
He paused, allowing us to process what he had said.
Then he continued. "Also, updates will be posted here at the camp every 24 hours. They will include which areas have been captured, which leaders have changed, and what events have occurred. One member of each team must return daily to gather and report this information. Of course, it's optional, but I wouldn't recommend not checking it."
After this, He explained about the exchange stations where we could trade tokens for supplies or support.
Finally, he closed the paper and spoke in a firm tone. "Stage Five begins at dawn tomorrow. You will now proceed to your assigned bases, where you will get ready. Good luck."
The teams began to move, each accompanied by their instructors.
We needed to adjust our strategy now. Sending someone to the camp every day would be difficult but necessary. Crimzo's name immediately came to mind. He was fast and adaptable.
We would discuss it once we arrived at our base.
Meanwhile...
Yuri stood at the edge of the camp with his arms crossed, watching the four teams head toward their assigned bases. Standing next to him was Liam, his old friend and fellow instructor who had taken responsibility for him during the trade.
They stood in silence for a moment until Yuri finally spoke.
"That will be an interesting challenge," he said, smiling slightly. "I think we're going to see a lot of surprises."
Liam nodded while scanning the crowd of cadets moving in formation. "I've watched them closely. Many of them are truly talented."
Then he turned looking at Yuri. "So, who do you think will win?"
Yuri put his hand under his chin and thought for a moment. "It'll probably be a close match between Roy and Oliver. Both teams are full of top-ranking cadets. But if you ask me—" He paused, a small smile crossing his face. "Roy has come a long way. I think he'll win."
Liam raised his eyebrow. "Really? Oliver is very strong as well. I've seen how he fights and plans his battles." Then he crossed his arms. "What do you think? Should we make a bet? Personally, I'm betting on Oliver."
Yuri laughed. "Excellent. Let's make it interesting, then. Ten gold coins."
Liam's eyes widened. "Ten?! Are you serious?"
{One gold coin is worth about $500 in our day.}
Yuri casually raised his finger. "What? Not sure about your decision? You still have time to back out."
Liam stared, then smiled. "Okay, then get your wallet ready, old man."
The two shook hands, sealing the deal.
Liam turned to leave, still smiling. "I'll be watching this closely. Let's see what these two can really do."
Yuri waved as he headed in the other direction. "I'll finish up some reports first. Then I'll follow up, too. See you there."
Yuri walked calmly through the camp, his mind racing. 'That old man, Scott, was right. There really is a traitor among us. When he first told me in the cave, I had my doubts. But after investigating, I found that some things didn't make sense. Now... I'm sure. Instructor Lloyd was supposed to be here. I'll go look for him and see what he's doing.'
His eyes narrowed as he headed toward the academic building. Lloyd was responsible for monitoring the cadets' performance the next day, and he was also very quiet and always punctual.
Yuri moved like a shadow, his footsteps barely audible. It was impossible to notice him unless he wanted to be seen.
He approached the corridor where the instructor's office was located—Office 2F, at the back of the academic wing. Morning light leaked through the narrow windows and fell on the stone floor. The building was almost empty because there were no classes.
Yuri reached the office door. It was open and empty.
He frowned slightly. 'He was supposed to be here if he wasn't in the square...'
Yuri approached the wall and walked down the hallway, discreetly checking the adjacent rooms one by one. Nothing.
Then, he stopped.
He made his way to the far end of the hallway, where the cleaning room door was closed, but he heard a strange sound coming from within.
Yuri narrowed his eyes and crept forward silently. When he reached the corner near the cleaning room, he leaned against the wall and listened for any indication that someone was inside.
Suddenly, he heard the door open, so he quickly retreated to the next room.
There he was.
The instructor came out of the room wearing his usual uniform with his glasses on his nose. His beard was carefully brushed, his hair was short, and his body was in good shape. He held a small piece of paper in his hand.
Yuri didn't move. He didn't even breathe. Hiding in the shadows of the nearby room next to the door, his body blended into the wall like a ghost.
The instructor carefully folded the paper and put it in his uniform pocket.
Without looking around, he adjusted his coat and left, walking calmly as if he had nothing to hide.
But Yuri followed him.
Not too close. He kept a safe distance, thinking. 'Let's see where you're going, Mr. Lloyd.'
He followed him until the man reached the edge of the side garden. Lloyd went behind the old storage shed. Hiding there, Yuri watched the instructor kneel next to a wooden pole, look around once, and whistle softly.
A moment later, a white pigeon landed from the roof of the nearby main building.
Yuri narrowed his eyes, trying to understand what was happening.
The instructor took a small patch out of his pocket, rolled it up, and placed it in a metal tube tied to the bird's leg. Then, he patted the pigeon gently and released it into the sky.
Yuri didn't see a letter, but everything was clear now. The moment he realized this, the pigeon disappeared into the clouds.
'So, it's true,' he thought grimly. 'Someone is sending information from the inside. But who is on the other end of that message? I need to know that now.'
He moved quickly in the blink of an eye.
Before the instructor could react, Yuri was behind him. A powerful blow to the back of his knee knocked him to the ground, and a precise blow to his ribs left him gasping for air.
The instructor hit the ground hard.
Yuri calmly bent down beside him. He grabbed the man's wrists and twisted them behind his back, pinning him to the ground with a smooth movement. The man resisted, but it was impossible to escape Yuri's grip.
"Hello there, Mr. Lloyd how are you." Yuri said in a calm tone. His voice was almost gentle, and he had a slight smile on his lips. "You know, I already knew everything. So, if you want to keep your joints in their place, I suggest you answer to my questions quietly."
Mr. Lloyd froze, and panic flashed in his eyes. He realized he was surely dead.
He thought. 'Damn it... It's Yuri... I can't survive this.'
Then, Yuri noticed it too late. Lloyd clenched his jaw.
Crack.
The sound was faint, but Yuri's eyes widened. "No!" he shouted, trying to put his hand over his mouth, but it was too late.
Lloyd's body shook.
Foam gathered at the corners of his mouth. His eyes rolled back. Within seconds, he was dead.
Yuri stared, frozen, trying to catch his breath. Then, he grabbed Lloyd and shook him violently.
"You moron!" He muttered, checking his pulse. But there was nothing. The poison had been too fast. "I don't understand how anyone could end their life so cheaply like this."
He stood up slowly.
He felt a bitter taste in his mouth. 'He broke something in his mouth to kill himself...just like the one who shot the princess.'
He looked at the body, then at the cloudy sky.
"It's not about Drayton or any other empire. It's something completely different..."
His eyes narrowed, and worry spread across his face.
"They're moving, and I was too busy watching the camp to see them sooner."
He turned. "I have to tell Daniel. Now." Then, he hurried to his office.