Obtaining Legendray Dragon Template At The Start As A Side-Character!-Chapter 49: The Expected Betrayal

With the explanation finished, Elric raised his hands, and the entire trial ground changed shape. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of different trees came out of the soil, and the dirt field turned into a green forest.

Each group was spread into a different area, and all of them were kept far from the bracelet platforms so that fairness would be maintained.

"The trial will begin in thirty minutes."

"Was that also luck?" At that moment, Selen raised her eyebrows and looked at Reinh. She was not the only one. All of them were looking at him in surprise.

They were wondering how their leader also knew the content of the second phase of the trial. On the last day of training, they had practiced something very similar to this phase.

It was not exactly the same, but it was very close and very accurate. They were prepared for a phase like this and already had strategies ready.

The same was true for the first phase. First phase one, and now phase two? One time might be luck, but two times? They were not stupid.

This made them start wondering if the Patriarch had told him everything beforehand. One thing had to be considered: contrary to what the entire clan once believed, Reinh was actually very powerful.

Now that they thought about it, that in itself was strange.

How could an illegitimate child be this strong? There was only one possibility, that the Patriarch had been secretly helping his illegitimate son all this time.

The conclusion they reached was simple: the Patriarch loved Reinh, had raised him with care behind the scenes, and supported him in every way. He had even told him the details of the trial.

"It was luck," Reinh noticed their surprise, but he was not going to give a real answer.

Lioren wanted to say something, but their leader did not allow it and continued.

"Do not waste time. Our group has a flag bracelet. Since we are seen as a big threat, all three groups will attack us for sure. Use the formation and strategy we practiced before."

Reinh was sure that their group would be attacked. The main reason he had trained the group in advance was exactly this.

The five commanders sighed and nodded. Right now, winning this phase was more important than asking questions.

If they could win in this phase as well, it would mean they had won both phases of the group trials overall.

At that point, being accepted in the trial would become easier for them. They would only need to perform a little well in the individual phase, and that would be enough.

The other groups also made their preparations, and finally the time to start arrived.

"The flag bracelet holders are Group Ten and Group Three. Phase Two officially begins," Elric’s voice echoed.

The five groups that won the first phase were placed at different points in the forest with careful distance between them. But even before the official start, many looks already had one direction.

Group Ten.

Because of Reinh. His name was now spreading among the young people like a warning.

A short murmur moved among the groups.

Group Three? They were not a big threat. In fact, they were not a threat at all. They had no performance that made others worry and no special ability.

But Group Ten... that was different.

Among the trees, a little away from the others, three people were standing.

Diana, Lucien, and Zane.

The leaders of the three groups that did not have bracelets. After phase two started, they did not attack one of the bracelet groups directly. Instead, they found each other first.

Zane was the first to speak. His wooden sword was on his shoulder, and his breathing was heavy but excited.

"Let’s not waste time. The best decision is to attack Group Ten. It is better to remove one big threat together."

Lucien nodded with his thin and calculating smile.

"I fully agree. The most logical target is the strongest threat. We remove Group Ten first, then we decide the bracelets between us."

Diana’s eyes moved over the forest ground, but her mind was elsewhere. She did not want to use such a coward method, but it was not a bad idea.

"What about Group Three?" she asked calmly.

Lucien shrugged.

"A small team is enough for them. Ten people from each team. Just to be safe. Whoever takes their flag bracelet can keep it."

Zane laughed. "Then it’s decided."

The three leaders made a temporary alliance without a formal pact, without shaking hands, only with looks. At that moment, each of the three groups separated ten people and sent them toward Group Three’s location.

The rest? Like a wild wave, they moved toward Group Ten.

In a denser part of the forest, Group Ten had already taken position. Lioren checked the paths carefully with his eyes.

Kael was on a tree branch above, watching.

Neria had spread the members at set distances to keep cohesion.

Aren placed his large wooden sword on the ground and waited. Selen moved from shadow to shadow, ready for fast strikes.

And Reinh? He stood at the back. Calm. Still. Like someone who already knew the result. The strange part was that Aron was nowhere to be seen.

Some members of other groups watching from afar sneered.

"They are here!" Kael shouted.

From three directions, dozens rushed toward Group Ten. The sound of breaking branches, running, shouting, and wooden swords hitting filled the air.

Kael shot the first wooden arrow and knocked one down. Selen slipped into the enemy line like a shadow and targeted knees and wrists.

Aren stood in front like a wall and took the hits.

Neria shouted, "Keep your spacing! Second line, fall back!"

Lioren guided paths, "Controlled retreat on the left! Do not get trapped!"

They had trained. Every move was coordinated. Retreats were not random. Hits were not without aim.

But the number of enemies was too large. Another wave came. Then another. The defensive circle became smaller.

Kael had to jump down from the tree.

Aren was breathing hard. Selen took a hit on her shoulder.

But they were still holding. Still, no matter how strong and prepared they were, in the end they were still twelve-year-old kids, and their stamina had limits.

And at that moment, a gap opened. On the right side. A place that should have been covered.

Three enemies passed through without resistance and appeared behind the defense.

Lioren shouted, "Who was covering that path?!"

"Me," came a voice no one expected.

Everyone turned. It was Julian, one of their own members. He stepped aside, and it was clearly on purpose.

The enemy came through the gap.

Neria’s eyes widened. Selen cursed under her breath. Aren growled.

Julian stepped back... and stood behind the enemy line.

This was clearly a betrayal. They knew Julian was trash in every sense of the word, but they had never expected him to betray his own group like this.

Didn’t he understand that his group’s defeat meant his own defeat as well? Or did he really want revenge so badly that his eyes could no longer see the truth?

And the defensive circle collapsed right there.

And Reinh only watched.