The training field was quiet, and the squires watched with trepidation. At the area reserved for captains, Colonel Z'yna turned to address them.
"Do you boys see anything that you like?" she asked.
A captain, armor marked with four scales and three flames replied, "I think I like Squire 344. He may not have the best command, but I don't need him for that."
Another captain, adorned in similar insignia, chimed in, "I agree with Akesh, he could add to any company, and being from the Dubois, he comes with a lot of support for the Legion. How about you, Cade? Rumor has it you're forming your own company."
Captain Cade sat stoically, his gaze fixated on the field. His armor bore five scales. "I don't have much need for him," he said coolly without diverting his eyes from the action. "His style doesn't fit my unit. Also, I don't have time for rumors and you shouldn't either." Silence once more amongst them.
*****
On the field Sohan and Aisling prepared for their last clash, the battlefield painted with hues of crimson, black, and grey
"Well then you have gotten what you want, so come to my sweet deer let's see what you got," said Sohan gripping his heated saber tightly along with an energy pistol his tone challenging yet teasing at the same time with a touch of humor. "I am running low on radions probably can't even use my weapons for too long so how about we end this quickly I have a massage to receive after this."
Aisling's eyes narrowed as she tightly gripped her single remaining tonfa, "Let us see what you can do pretty boy," Aisling shot back in a fierce tone a teasing smirk on her lips. They then erupted in a feverish clash, Aisling advanced swiftly, her tonfa charging with energy. Sohan, in response, fired his pistol to disturb her movements each shot trying to disturb her flow rather than inflict a devastating wound, The staccato of shots sent fleeting arcs of energy across the field as he deftly dodged the suppressed fire raining in from Aisling's heavily armed teammate.
Aisling closed in taking a wide sweep with her tonfa but mid-swing a sharp pain raced up her ankle, not allowing it to stop her as her suit injected pain medication into her. Sohan blocked the attack with his saber while engaging his thrusters for a small retreat dodging bullets fired at him preventing his counterstrike but he failed to dodge a tonfa to his throat.
"Tsk. Annoying, your gorilla is annoying," Sohan drawled, spitting out blood from his mouth.
"Sorry that you can't charm him like the others," Aisling said activating her thrusters to compensate for her injured leg, she surged forward to close the gap. In a graceful motion, she aimed to grab hold of Sohan's long, flowing curls. Her hand unfortunately missed the mark and ended with a pistol shot into her flight unit. The attack sent a jolt through her systems, and one of her four thrusters sputtered and went out. Sending her into an uncontrollable tumble. Sohan grabbed her leg as he sent her sailing through the air towards her teammate. Aisling tried to use her thrusters to regain her balance. But before she could stabilize, a flash of steel and the heated edge of a saber tore through her armored midsection, the blow painfully slowing her descent. Aisling wrapped her arms around Sohan in a desperate bid to pull him close, a powerful arm on her back rested on her back stopping their mid-air journey. Before Sohan could step back the cold, unforgiving muzzle of an SMG came to rest against Sohan's forehead. As the frey stopped Colonel Z'yna announced the end of the assessment. Turning to the captains she signaled for them. Captain Akesh then stepped forward solemnly
"Our company will take squad 2," he declared, stepping down slowly before seating himself again as the other captains remained silent. Just when it seemed at squad 3 wouldn't be selected by any captain, Cade finally spoke up, "Squad 3," and then fell silent once more. Everyone looked at him in surprise as it didn't seem as if the Aisling squad deserved the honor even if they fought a bitter battle.
Next, a new pairing of squads marched onto the field, Squads 1 and 13. The towering figure of Askel Astason loomed over the arena, his powered gauntlets equipped with knife-like claws making a formidable impression. Unlike the heated battle from earlier, this was more of an exhibition match. With relentless precision, Askel tore through every squire who dared approach him, his overwhelming presence assisted by the fact that even his squad seemed to be composed mostly of support personnel rather than trained combatants. This was unlike Askel in training this was pure brutality an individual who was more beast than man. While Squad 1 was also selected by Captain Cade while no one paid any attention to Squad 13 whose members now lay on the floor with broken bones and armor thrown about.
As the next match was announced Squads 5 and 9 marched into the field.
"As I said Gilbert, today will be a special day," said Alexander in a hip tone.
*****
Doctor Wolmer sat in his office, a holographic screen before him displaying the assessment of the squires. Beside him sat the ginger-haired Great Knight, his armor still had streaks of dry blood.
"How did you arrange for this to happen? I doubt Z'yna would even give you the time of day," the Knight remarked, scratching his thick beard.
"It wasn't easy but you must understand even though I'm out of the magistrate's office, I can still tap into a few resources," said Wolmer leaning back, his gaze transfixed on the video feed. "Plus, not all the numbers are truly randomized, some are assigned based on the Colonel's preference."
"Oh, so why did she allow Squad 1 such an easy match?" The Knight asked arching his eyebrow.
"Because Askel is too strong," Wolmer replied matter-of-factly. "It doesn't matter who he fights, he's going to win. Might as well not waste everyone's time."
The Knight leaned forward, his interest piqued.
"Do you think Alexander can win? Based on my observations, Gilbert isn't exactly a walk in the park, and Alexander's track record against him is, to say the least, dismal."
Wolmer chuckled softly as he studied the files on Gilbert that were available to him. "Do you think that's the only arrangement I made? Don't worry, Mister Gilbert won't be escaping this."
*****
The match between Squads 5 and 9 erupted with chaotic intensity. Both squads, determined not to let the past become the future, clung to tight formations, unlike previous matches. The equilibrium was held until Squire 314 managed to slip behind Squad 9 to attack the unsuspecting Chen Mei. Wolfgang who was supposed to be guarding her vigilance was lacking. In that split second, her peril was averted by William, who lunged forward and stabbed at him with his spear. Seeing his assault fail, energy-charged along the shaft of his spear, and he drove it into the ground, triggering a localized explosion that sent the retreating attacker reeling.
"Wolf, stay sharp, we can't end losing to them again," William barked, activating his thrusters, he surged after the fleeing squire.
This incident caused a shift in the battle as Squad 9's formation was broken. Seizing the moment, Alexander and Vivian coordinated a double-team effort on Gilbert. Unwilling to back down, Gilbert responded with ferocity, he unleashed a hail of fire from his dual LMGs, the rapid successions of bullets forcing Alexander and Vivian to hold their advance as they struggled against his fire.
The equilibrium of the clash was shattered when Anastasia's plea played over the comms.
"Guys I require help here! I can't exactly patch up Kean and not get shot at the same time," she shouted while kneeling behind cover, firing controlled bursts at Squire 314 who at some point had escaped William's pursuit.
"What is Wolfgang doing? Sleeping," came Gilbert's furious roar across the channel, his exasperation palpable. The distraction proved costly. Seizing the lapse, Alexander closed in on Gilbert, launching a precise thrust at his midsection but a slight twist by Gilbert caused him to miss the command unit. Reacting instinctively Gilbert pivoted swiftly `ramming the butt of his LMG into Alexander's helmet, buying himself the few seconds needed to swap weapons.
Before they could save them Anastasia and Kean were taken out by Squire 314 who was in turn taken out by Adam. He then went about using his rifle to take out Squad 5's mechanic and medic in quick succession. Seeing the situation of his squad Gilbert instructed
"Adam, hold off Vivian. William and Wolfgang, take out the other two, and Chen Mei, hang back and help only when necessary," he barked across the comms channel. At his command, the entire Squad sprang into action. Gilbert managed to bring the tempo of the battle back under control.
Refocusing his efforts back to Alexander, Gilbert twirled his dual swords as he hacked relentlessly at him, placing him on the defensive. Blow after Blow, they exchanged injuries in strikes aimed to fatally wound the other, the majority of Alexander's strikes aiming for the command unit looking as if he is trying to disable his suit.
Then, in a split second that proved costly, Wolfgang made another mistake and exposed William causing a severe blow to his side resulting in serious injury. His body convulsed as the impact and scorching energy tore into his defenses, leaving him bleeding and barely upright.
Seeing William's dire straits, Chen Mei surged forward while shouting over the comms
"I'm going in Wolfgang protects us!" She said saddling up beside William before dropping her medic kit onto the ground and getting busy fixing him up. Adam seeing the situation fell back to help while keeping Vivian at bay. Adam then launched a a few smoke bombs between them covering them as he tried to buy more time. William's injury was too severe hence it was taking Chen Mei longer than she thought to fix him up.
"It is okay Mei, stay back you have done enough," William said, using his spear to help himself to his feet. "Wolfgang guard her and provide cover while me and Adam can take out the rest of them."
Wolfgang stared deep at his helmet before speaking in a somber tone "I'm sorry, William" he said. William simply gave him a bump on the shoulder before dropping his spear and taking out his rifle, he leaned against their cover and joined Adam in keeping the the three members of Squad 5 at bay.