Omniscient Extra's ViewPoint: Supreme Adaptation-Chapter 24: Phase 2

A while later, every student had linked up with their squads, and once again, the mechanical voice echoed through the air:

"It is time for the commencement of Phase Two: The Three Trials. The first trial will test your strength. Your squad must work together to defeat a Titan-Class construct..."

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

Titan-Class construct?

The answer was obvious.

A beast—or any type of creature—formed from a hologram, imbued with the strength of a Titan.

The spectators, however, remained silent, observing from above.

Positioned at a special vantage point sat the Academy's Board, consisting of the Head, Vice Head, General Staff, and the Five Councilors.

Vorden recognised them all too well.

Suddenly, the pink-haired girl, Cherry, leaned towards him with a mischievous grin.

"So we're facing an actual Titan? Wouldn't that be amazing, Burden—ah, I mean, Vorden."

Vorden's face almost went red.

Surely, she was teasing him at this point.

He could just—ahh!

The voice continued:

"One by one, your squad will be called forward in numerical order, starting from Number One."

As soon as the announcement ended, the ground beneath the students shifted, moving them backwards and expanding the arena.

The empty spaces transformed, morphing into a vast rocky landscape, complete with towering mountains.

A hologram, yet unnervingly real—solid to the touch, detailed down to the cracks in the stone.

Then, another wall rose, blocking the students' view of the arena beyond.

The mechanical voice sounded again:

"Squad Number One, please step forward. Green indicates a pass, meaning your team will advance. Red signifies failure and immediate expulsion. Thank you."

Four students strode forward—an all-boys squad.

Their confidence was plain to see, exuding an air of certainty.

Oh, for sure.

Overconfidence kills, though.

The wall parted just enough to let them through, and they stepped in without hesitation.

A field analyst followed closely behind.

As soon as the opening sealed shut, a sharp ding echoed, marking the start of the trial.

"It seems those fools had no plan and got in over their heads." Vorden shook his head. "Since we're up soon as Squad Sixteen, we'd better prepare now that we know what we're facing."

Other smart teams had already gathered, discussing strategies.

Meanwhile, some squads aimlessly loitered, seemingly unbothered.

"I like the leadership spirit already," Cherry said with a grin.

Damien studied the towering wall for a moment before turning to Vorden, who had fallen deep into thought.

"So, what's your plan?"

Vorden snapped out of his thoughts, his focus shifting back to the team.

Three pairs of eyes rested on him.

"Oh, right. First, I need to know your attributes. If you want, you can keep your Hindrance a secret. Also, tell me at least one weapon or item in your Augmentation that's suited for combat. If you don't have any, then share your Special Sense."

He scanned their faces. Hesitation lingered in their eyes.

Weak attributes? No way.

No matter their rank, attributes determined everything.

A weak attribute could turn even a Lurker into easy prey for someone like Damien—if he had a stronger one.

The fight might be tough, but the winner would be obvious.

Cherry was the first to speak.

"I... umm... have a..."

She hesitated for a while, looking down at herself.

Vorden smirked inwardly.

Oh, now you can be humble. I really want to know your damn Attribute—and even your Hindrance. You're so doomed, Pinky.

Finally, she found her voice.

"...Godforged attribute. I can create weapons and armour from raw energy, shaping them to my will. My only Special Sense is Ironspike—the ability to summon iron blades from the ground. For attack-type Augmentations, I have none. As for my Hindrance... no way I'm telling you that."

Vorden was quite surprised.

Her Attribute would be useful in battle, but the part that vexed him was that he wouldn't be able to get back at her.

Damn. What a pain.

He sneered and turned to Damien, who spoke up without a hint of hesitation.

"DoomSight. I can see through darkness, illusions... and even glimpses of future attacks. I'd rather keep the rest of my information a secret."

Cherry and Luminen almost exploded in shock.

That was so overpowered.

He could probably go against the Titan alone—though if his Hindrance was severe, he'd still need backup.

Vorden grimaced.

He wasn't that over the top.

On his own side, he had Adaptation—and that meant this guy might just stand a chance against him.

But if Vorden could adapt successfully?

Then Damien was dust.

"Good one, though," Vorden commented, before turning his attention to Luminen.

Now it was his turn.

Luminen clenched his sleeve, his eyes shifted between them before lowering to the ground.

He swallowed, pausing as if unsure whether to speak.

"...Lightbloom. I can glow as bright as the sun. I'd rather keep the rest of my information private."

Luminen's fingers twitched slightly, his gaze flickered between them before settling on the floor, once again.

The three looked at him with unreadable expressions.

Cherry had already dismissed him as useless.

Vorden and Damien thought differently.

They saw gold in him.

No, from this moment on, "bastard" no longer applied.

He was an angel.

What Cherry failed to realise was how valuable his Attribute could be.

If Luminen could blind their enemies, rendering them incapable of fighting, they would have the perfect opening to strike.

Of course, his best role was as a distraction, but his Hindrance could change everything.

Even so, his attribute was worth the gamble.

Vorden extended his hand for a handshake.

Luminen froze, hesitating as he glanced between Vorden's face and his outstretched hand.

...It had been five minutes.

'You idiot. Just shake my hand already.'

Vorden's hand was starting to ache, his forced smile barely holding.

At last, Luminen accepted the handshake, his cheeks tinged slightly red.

'What does that even mean?'

Vorden withdrew his hand and turned to share his plan with the squad.

Their Attributes gave him plenty to work with.

A strategy was already forming in his mind.

But just as he was about to speak, he noticed their expectant stares.

Right.

He hadn't told them his own yet.

"Let's just say, I can umm..." Vorden desperately searched for a lie.

Wait—maybe they had seen his face on screen at least once.

Not that it mattered.

His Attribute wasn't announced because the test showed he had none.

Would saying "none" affect his image as team leader? Maybe.

But there was no way he was revealing Adaptation.

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Why not just go in there, defeat the Titan-Class construct, and bring the trophy home?

That would be easier than explaining.

Then, an idea struck him.

He exhaled and spoke.

"Let's just say... I have Tactician's Insight. I can analyse battle situations in real time, predicting possible outcomes and weaknesses in both allies and enemies. Keeping the rest a secret also."

Cherry raised an eyebrow.

Turns out she was the only who revealed most of her information. Betrayal to her face, then.

Damien narrowed his eyes slightly.

Luminen looked... just as always.

"So your Attribute is similar to Damien's?" Cherry asked rhetorically.

Vorden nodded positive with a raised chin and shoulder.

It was the perfect lie.

A skill like that wouldn't have been obvious in the test, and it would explain why he might take charge naturally.

It also made him seem valuable without needing direct proof.

Now, he just had to make sure he didn't slip up.

Vorden took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.

They needed an approach that minimised risk while maximising their strengths.

The Titan-Class construct would be overwhelmingly strong—facing it head-on was out of the question.

"Alright, listen carefully," he began. "First, Luminen, you're our key opener. As soon as the fight begins, you blind the Titan. Not immediately—wait until it commits to an attack. If it swings or charges, that's when you strike. It needs to lose sight at a critical moment."

Luminen nodded hesitantly, still unsure but willing.

"Cherry, you'll capitalise on that. Once the Titan is disoriented, you create a shield around us, thick enough to block potential debris but not so heavy that we can't move. Your second role is weapons supply—arm us with whatever we need."

Cherry raised an eyebrow.

"What, so I'm a blacksmith now?"

'Of course. I'm certainly not using my Creed Blade when I have you now.' Vorden said inwardly.

"You're a key part of the attack," Vorden corrected. "We'll need weapons that can pierce or at least damage the Titan's weak points. If it's holographic, the weak spots will likely be at the joints or core. Damien, you'll use DoomSight to find them. Any blind spots or structural weaknesses—call them out."

Damien's lips curled slightly.

"Not bad..."

"Now for engagement," Vorden continued. "If it's purely a construct, then it likely follows a programmed pattern. It won't adapt like a real Titan would. That means its attacks will be based on set behaviours. We can exploit that. Cherry, as soon as Luminen blinds it, you summon iron spikes from the ground near its feet—enough to destabilise it but not make it collapse yet."

Cherry smirked.

"Finally, something interesting."

"Good. After that, Damien and I will attack simultaneously. I'll bait it into exposing a weak point, and you'll strike the moment it's vulnerable. If all goes well, we take it down without engaging in a prolonged fight."

The team processed his plan.

It was solid—precise, calculated, and minimised unnecessary risks.

Even Cherry looked impressed, though she didn't say it outright.

Luminen, still tense, shifted slightly.

"And... what if it doesn't work?"

Vorden shrugged.

"Then we improvise. But this gives us the highest chance of success."

Just as they were finalising the plan, a loud clang echoed from the arena's gates.

The first squad had returned.

The students turned to see Squad Number One emerge—bruised, battered, and in complete disarray.

Their armour Augmentations were shattered, cracks and dents covering their gear.

A luck they even had one.

One of them still held a broken chain weapon, though it was barely usable.

Most striking was their squad leader, limping forward with a visible grimace.

The field analyst stepped forward, his voice was cold and indifferent.

"Squad Number One—failure. Expelled immediately."

A red light flashed above them.

The murmurs among the students grew louder.

Some barely stifled their laughter, while others felt terrified.

This was now a brutal elimination test.

Just as Vorden had predicted, this would soon create desperation, leading to the willingness to do anything—no matter how grim—to enter the Academy successfully and avoid embarrassment.

Fear crept into the crowd, unspoken but present.

Vorden glanced at his team.

They had no choice but to succeed.

"Squad Number Two, please step forward."