ushernet Chapter 160 Training Arc • 7: Player Roles II
Chapter 160 Training Arc • 7: Player Roles II
he instinctively stepped back as they marched forward. even though they weren't real orcs, they were terrifying enough. their sheer size and power were intimidating, and their clubs smashing into the ground sent tremors through the chamber.
he glanced at ryn, hoping for some semblance of encouragement, but the ranger's cold glare told him he was on his own.
"the team's depending on you!" ryn barked, pacing the edge of the training area. "you're the last line of disruption. stop thinking like a soldier and act like a ranger. move!"
aeric gritted his teeth, his body surging with adrenaline. the first orc charged toward him, club raised high.
"are you going to wait for them to hit first?! the first thing i said about rangers is that we do not wait. rangers are strikers! strike!"
"don't stand still! keep moving!" ryn kept shouting.
aeric rolled to the side just as the club came crashing down, the impact sending shards of crystal stone flying.
he summoned a glowing red whip of his divinity, snapping it at the orc's legs. the energy wrapped around its ankles, and with a sharp pull, aeric yanked its legs out from under it.
everyone raised their brows in surprise. 'he can already manipulate physical divinity to create constructs? i didn't teach him that...'
"good!" ryn praised. "but move on, ranger! you've got two more breathing down your neck. stay ahead!"
the second orc was already upon him, swinging its club horizontally. aeric ducked, the club whooshing over his head. he lunged forward, driving his energy whip into its side, but the orc barely flinched.
"don't waste energy on brute force!" ryn growled. "you're not here to kill them — you're here to stall them. get creative!"
aeric's mind raced. 'get creative. great creative.'
he moved his eyes about and clocked on an advantage. quickly, he darted behind a nearby pillar, the orcs snarling as they chased him. as he ran, he spotted a loose crystal embedded in the wall.
it was then that an idea clicked.
he sprinted toward the crystal and slashed at it with his whip, shattering it. the energy released sent a burst of light and heat that momentarily blinded the orcs.
"better!" ryn called out, though his tone remained critical. "now use the terrain! don't fight fair! there are no rules in a dungeon! no rules in a beast glade. it's not your job to fight fair!"
aeric spotted a set of chains hanging from the ceiling and quickly activated the divinity in his legs.
the girl was the complete opposite of ryn. her gentle smile and warm demeanor instantly put aeric at ease.
"support is all about the team," she said with a soft and hearty voice. "we heal, we strengthen, and we make sure everyone else can do their best."
she handed aeric a small vial of sparkling liquid. "this is an amplifying elixir. it will amplify your divinity temporarily. i want you to try channeling that energy into something supportive — maybe a buff or a human shield for me."
aeric hesitated, unsure how to proceed. he summoned his divinity but struggled to focus it on any of those things. buffs could only be done through skills it seemed, and human shields as well.
"it's okay," bel said reassuringly. "not everyone is suited for support. just try your best."
after several failed attempts, aeric slumped his shoulders and shook his head. "i don't think this is my role."
bel tilted her head and smiled. "i understand, your highness. it's alright. knowing where you don't fit is just as important."
then the finale arrived, it was alzera's turn to teach aeric on the role of a tactician. perhaps, although argued, the most important role of all.
"are you ready for this, aeric?" she asked with a taunting smile.
aeric raised a brow. "ready for what exactly?"
they arrived.
alzera sat cross-legged across from aeric at a glowing table, the player x player board game between them.
"this is where the real challenge begins," she said with a grin. "a tactician has to think ten steps ahead. every decision you make affects the entire squad."
the board lit up, projecting a map of a fictional battlefield. each player had small tokens representing their squad members.
alzera leaned forward. "now i ask again. are you ready, prince aeric?"
aeric grinned. "born ready."
the rest of the squad gathered around, jostling for front-row seats. kael laughed. "my money's on alzera!"
ryn scoffed. "i bet on the prince."
the game began.