Extra's Ascent

"Fiona! We'll both hold our position for now!"

Saldrich's voice rang with firm resolve, and Fiona gave a silent nod of agreement.

There was no need for all of them to push forward recklessly. Two players had already advanced, charging in without hesitation. Adding another to the offence would only create unnecessary risk. Regardless of their class ranks, the unknown always lurked ahead.

If danger erupted in front, they would need anchors at the back to stabilize the defence. That was the duty Saldrich and Fiona took upon themselves.

At this stage, Aydin and Selina weren't just teammates, they were probes, experimental figures hurled into uncertainty to decipher the enemy's formation and tactics. That's exactly what they were. And, in Saldrich's eyes, it was a fitting title for two who ignored all tactical reasoning and chose to operate independently, as though they'd forgotten they were part of a cohesive squad.

"Damn it! What kind of cursed matchup is this!?" Aldrich hissed under his breath as he twisted and ducked, barely avoiding a cascade of stone bricks sprouting unpredictably around him.

It felt as though the ground itself was targeting him. Or had he simply wandered into a particularly volatile section of the terrain? He couldn't tell which was true. Either way, his path was a maze of obstacles now. Thick, towering blocks obscured his line of sight, blocking any view of what lay ahead.

He had no idea how Valeria and Opius were faring on the frontlines.

Surely, the opposing team had also left someone to guard the goal. Understanding who stayed back and who advanced would be essential. Yet in the current chaos, Aldrich was blind to their movements.

That wasn't the worst part.

He clenched his jaw.

Their team was up against an overwhelming lineup of two B-ranks, one A-rank, and a single S-rank, versus a formation composed entirely of four S-ranks.

The odds weren't just unfavourable, they were nearly insurmountable.

But Aldrich refused to be cowed by numbers. He wasn't the type to lower his head and accept defeat, even if the outcome seemed preordained. His pride and relentless ambition forbade such surrender. No matter the adversary, he would claw his way to the top, leaving shattered dreams and defeated teams in his wake.

This examination wasn't merely a challenge to overcome, it was the battlefield where he would carve his name in stone. Make his ambition of a LORD feel closer to realization.

"I'm counting on you all," he whispered, activating his one Clover Eye, a skill that sharpened perception and bolstered awareness.

Whatever lay ahead, he would meet it with full clarity.

Meanwhile, Valeria and Opius sprinted in unison. Their strides were measured, synchronized, each footfall echoing a shared purpose as they surged ahead to retrieve the ball and attempt a score.

"The ball! Where is it?!" Valeria came to a halt, scanning frantically.

The stone bricks had erupted across the entire field in irregular sizes. Their asymmetrical growth distorted the terrain, making it nearly impossible to see clearly. Everything from the opponent's goalpost to the ball itself had vanished beneath the jagged skyline of craggy stone.

"We need to get to higher ground! Now!" Opius called, already ascending a nearby structure.

A higher vantage point would offer a clearer layout of the field and the advantage they desperately needed.

Both Valeria and Opius had reached a level of mana mastery that allowed them to circulate energy through their feet. With that control, they could scale the rugged stone effortlessly, bounding up the vertical walls with the grace of trained acrobats.

Once they reached the summit, they separated. Valeria moved right, Opius veered left, each scanning a portion of the field to expand their visual coverage.

"There!" Opius exclaimed, eyes narrowing on the prize.

"Where?!" Valeria joined him, eager to spot the target.

He pointed ahead. The ball rested precariously atop one of the smaller bricks, dwarfed by the towering slabs encircling it.

"I see it now," she said and her voice immediately shifted. "But so do they."

Across the field, Aydin and Selina had reached the same conclusion and their swiftness put them at a clear advantage. They had already closed the distance, navigating the jagged stonework with fluid momentum.

"Move! We can't let them get there first!" Valeria urged.

Without waiting, she launched herself forward, using the layered arrangement of bricks as a staircase to propel toward the ball. Opius trailed closely behind, pouring every ounce of strength into his stride.

They couldn't afford to lose this race.

Giving their rivals first possession would all but guarantee a goal. The difference in power was already stark enough. They couldn't allow an even wider gap to form, not if they wanted a fighting chance.

But hope flickered weakly in the wind.

Aydin was already stretching out a hand, fingers just inches from the ball.

"Not on my watch!" Valeria's voice turned fierce.

She stopped chasing and changed her strategy. Accepting that she wouldn't make it in time, she planted her feet and hurled a blazing fireball toward Aydin's outstretched arm.

His instincts kicked in. Aydin jerked back, narrowly avoiding a direct hit. The searing flames missed by a breath, forcing him to break stride and reposition.

"Now!" Valeria roared.

Her calculated risk had created the window Opius needed. He leapt into the opening, scooping up the ball without so much as breaking pace. His hand clutched the sphere, and his body pivoted instantly toward the enemy goal.

Momentum surged beneath his feet as he tore through the narrow corridor between stone obelisks. Valeria remained behind him, ready to provide cover fire. Aldrich would surely follow up from the rear.

Everything hinged on speed and timing now.

But victory never comes without resistance.

"Not so fast!"

A thunderous blow collided with Opius' jaw. A fist, charged with brute force, came from the side, smashing him cleanly off his path. His body spiralled through the air, crashing violently into a stone wall that crumbled beneath the impact.

"No!" Valeria's voice cracked in horror.

Selina stood in the aftermath, holding the ball with a triumphant glint in her eyes.

"Trying to steal the spotlight? I don't think so," she sneered.

She had intercepted not just the play, but the momentum of their entire team.

Opius groaned, barely conscious from the impact, while Valeria watched helplessly from above.

The worst-case scenario had unfolded.

Selina had the ball.

And with that, the balance tipped devastatingly in the enemy's favour.