Omniscient Extra's ViewPoint: Supreme Adaptation-Chapter 28: Cruel Leader

"...Thirteen Minutes left."

***

Beyond the towering wall, Squad Eighteen's voices were faint but clear to Vorden's ears.

They were arguing, trying to piece together a way out—just as Squad Sixteen was.

Cherry was the first to break the silence. She clenched her fists. "So... what now? We can't just stand here."

Luminen, still catching his breath, ran a hand through his hair.

"Twelve minutes left," he muttered, as if saying it out loud would slow time.

Vorden let out a short, almost amused breath. "We don't have to do anything."

Cherry blinked twice. "What?"

"We just let them fail," Vorden added.

For a second, neither Cherry nor Luminen spoke. They just stared at him, dumbstruck.

Damien watched their reactions without saying anything or reacting.

Cherry's gaze sharpened. "You're saying we let Squad Eighteen get eliminated?"

Luminen's breath hitched. "Isn't that... I don't know, a bit cruel?"

Vorden gave them both a look—menacing but calm.

Then, he stepped between them, lowering his voice so only they could hear.

"Just follow my damn lead. No objections."

Luminen shifted uncomfortably.

Damien, who had been quiet the entire time, simply folded his arms and said nothing. He didn't object.

'This guy doesn't stop amazing me...' Damien said inwardly.

That was enough for Vorden.

He took a few steps back and raised his voice just enough for Squad Eighteen to hear.

"There has to be a trap reset trigger somewhere! If we trigger it, the walls will shift again!"

There was silence.

Then, murmurs from the other side—exactly what he had hoped for.

"Wait—seriously?" one of them asked.

Vorden smirked. 'Hooked.'

"Yes! If the maze changes based on movement, we need to force a reaction! Everyone—jump in place!"

However, this failed.

The squad hesitated.

"How do you know that?" another voice asked.

Vorden grimaced.

'Shit. Just be dumb. Is that so hard?'

Vorden didn't hesitate.

A moment of doubt could ruin the entire plan. He adjusted his stance, putting on an air of certainty.

"I heard it from one of the instructors before the trial started," he said smoothly. "They mentioned that the maze adapts to erratic movements. It's not just about walking into dead ends—the walls respond to patterns."

There was a pause from the other side. Then, a sceptical voice.

"And you just happened to hear that?"

Vorden scoffed, as if offended by their doubt.

"What, you think they just tell everyone the tricks? You think Soul Academy plays fair? If you've been paying attention, you'd know that the ones who listen survive, and the ones who question everything end up getting left behind."

Silence. A long one.

Cherry stole a glance at Luminen, who looked increasingly uncomfortable.

Vorden pressed on. "You lot can waste time debating whether I'm lying, or you can do something before the clock runs out."

He paused for effect, then threw in the killing blow.

"But sure, if you'd rather gamble your fate on the Academy's kindness instead of taking action, be my guest."

That did it.

There was a shuffling of feet, then someone from Squad Eighteen muttered, "Bloody hell... fine. Everyone, just jump."

The sound of multiple feet hitting the ground echoed through the maze.

One second.

Two seconds.

Then—

CLANK!

The floor trembled beneath them, a deep, mechanical grinding sound roaring from behind the wall.

And then—screams.

Cherry's breath hitched.

Her head snapped towards Vorden, eyes wide in shock.

Luminen looked just as horrified, his throat tightening as he pieced together what had happened.

"Vorden?"

He barely reacted. He simply exhaled, his expression unreadable, before turning towards their newly revealed exit.

"See?" he said, as if it had been the most obvious thing in the world. "Problem solved."

Cherry couldn't speak for a few seconds.

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she muttered, "You're actually evil."

"That's the only way to survive in this world." He agreed with a shrug.

Luminen swallowed hard, still processing everything.

Damien, who had watched the whole thing, let out a quiet chuckle. "Well, that was something."

Vorden didn't even glance back. "Nine minutes left," he reminded them, running forward.

And despite the unease clawing at them, Cherry and Luminen followed along with Damien.

After running for six minutes through the maze and encountering more than five traps along the way, they had finally reached the end.

Following their recent entrapment, this was the best outcome they could have hoped for.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

Crossing the finish line, they arrived back at the arena.

Around twenty-three squads had already made it, all panting heavily.

Looking up, Cherry noticed there were only three minutes left.

"I really hope they make it out before time runs out," Cherry murmured, staring at the maze and waiting for Squad Eighteen to appear.

She and Luminen were weighed down by guilt.

Vorden and Damien, on the other hand, couldn't have cared less.

They had made it out—that was all that mattered.

Who gave a damn about the others? If Squad Eighteen had the brains, they would have done the same.

Surprisingly, with just a minute left, three more squads emerged.

Most people were happy for them. Others remained indifferent.

Since Squad Eighteen had only been a voice to them, they had no way of recognising them—and the same was true for Squad Sixteen to them.

Neither side knew the fate of the other.

Damien glanced at the three squads, noticing that one looked more displeased than relieved, despite making it out.

He couldn't be certain, but a thought lingered.

Perhaps that was Squad Eighteen.

The clock reached zero, and a loud ding echoed throughout the arena as the vast space returned to its normal state.

The field analyst, who had been absent for some time, suddenly reappeared and announced the teams that had failed and were now expelled:

"Squad Eighteen, failed—expelled."

"Squad Twenty-three, failed—expelled."

"Squad Twenty-one, failed—expelled."

"Squad Twenty-five, failed—expelled."

It was now clear—Squad Eighteen had not made it out.

They had failed.

Despite all of Vorden's deception and the time they had stalled, it had worked. Squad Eighteen had been eliminated.

"I should tell them to be smarter next time—if there is a next time."

The losing squads were immediately escorted out of the arena, their faces filled with disappointment.

Vorden deliberately avoided Cherry's gaze.

He could feel her frustration, the unspoken anger over what they had done.

Damien stepped closer to her and spoke in a low voice:

"Kindness is a luxury in this world. It blinds you, weakens you. The people who cling to it are the first to be trampled. Do good all you want, but remember—no one thanks a corpse."

Cherry turned to look at him, but Damien did not meet her eyes. Instead, he simply turned and walked back to Vorden's side.

His expression remained blank, showing no emotion.

"Thank you for what you did back there," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Cruel, yes—but effective. And that is what matters."

He folded his arms.

"You are determined to claim your place as a leader. Keep proving it at every stage, and I will follow you without question."

Vorden's expression was unreadable at first, but for a brief moment, something—perhaps satisfaction—flashed in his eyes.

This was progress.

Before he could respond, the mechanical voice echoed through the arena once more:

"You have all demonstrated great success once again. It is time for the final trial: The Unyielding Descent."