Free Web NovelChapter 208: Chapter 201: The First to Arrive
Day 7 — 05:40
Team Seven
The old patrol path narrowed as it climbed toward the northern ridge.
What remained of the watchtower map showed a direct route across the slope, but age had reduced parts of it to little more than a scar in the stone — roots pushing through, rain having carried sections away, several stretches where the team crossed one at a time while the others watched the ground beneath their boots.
Arven led. Oris followed with the map fragment. Pell came third, his wounded arm secured against his chest when the climb became steep. Daren carried part of Pell’s load without being asked.
Arven noticed. "So it happened."
Daren looked up. "What?"
"You became useful voluntarily."
"I have been useful throughout."
"You attracted a prowler on the first night."
"A minor administrative error."
Pell glanced toward him. "It tried to eat us."
"An aggressive correction."
Arven almost smiled.
The path curved around the ridge and ended at a collapsed section — an exposed slope between two surviving ledges, the gap not wide but the ground beneath it falling sharply into the forest. Oris tested the remaining edge. "Loose."
"Everything here is loose," Daren said.
"That includes your judgment," Pell replied.
Arven studied the slope. They still had rope, though less than before — enough for one secured crossing if used carefully. He anchored it around a thick root and sent Oris first. The scout crossed sideways, testing each foothold before shifting his weight, and reached the far side to secure the second anchor.
Pell looked at his injured arm. "I go last."
"No," Arven said. "You go second."
"If I slip—"
"We pull before you have time to object."
Daren tied the line around Pell’s harness. "I will cross behind you."
Pell looked at him. "To help?"
"To prevent you from making the rest of us carry you after you fall."
"That sounds almost kind."
"Do not damage my reputation."
Pell crossed slowly. Halfway across, the stone beneath his right foot broke loose and his body swung toward the drop. The rope snapped tight. Daren braced behind him while Oris and Arven hauled from opposite sides. Pell found the slope again and continued — no mana used, no one rushing. All five reached the far ledge. The path behind them lost another section moments later.
Day 7 — 08:15
Team One
The mountain night had been worse than expected.
With insufficient shelter material, Team One had built a low trench into the snow and covered it with branches, packs, and the remaining weather sheets. It kept them alive. Comfort had not attended.
The court-trained knight crawled out at dawn with ice across one sleeve. "I have slept in better dungeons."
The mountain veteran checked the sky. "Then you have useful experience."
Two candidates had numb fingers. One had developed a cough. They warmed through movement instead of fire, preserved the remaining fuel, and began descending before the wind strengthened. The lower valley sat visible through gaps in the cloud, and it remained farther away than it looked. The mountain veteran no longer trusted apparent distance. Nobody questioned him.
Day 7 — 09:30
Team Two
The shortened rope failed to reach across a flood channel.
The stream itself was narrow, but the banks had collapsed into slick mud and exposed roots on both sides. Varro examined the gap. "We can jump."
One candidate looked at the equipment. "With packs?"
"No."
They tied the packs together, threw the lighter bundles across, and used a branch to push the heavier load toward the far bank. The cooking vessel landed in the stream. A knight lunged and caught the strap before the current took it.
Varro looked toward him. "Good."
The knight pulled it out. "It is full of mud."
"Less good."
They crossed one at a time using short mana bursts. The final candidate slipped on landing and struck his knee against a root — minor, but the delay cost nearly two hours. The team continued. The damaged rope hadn’t become useless. It had simply stopped making anything easy.
Day 7 — 11:05
Team Three
The charcoal burners had warned Team Three away from the eastern hollow. They followed the western ridge instead, and the beast followed them.
First came branches breaking below the trail, then hoofbeats too heavy for an ordinary animal. The border veteran stopped beside a tree stripped of bark at shoulder height. "It crossed from the hollow."
The court-trained knight looked downslope. "So the warning route is also dangerous."
"The warning was about where it lived."
"And now?"
"Now it is curious."
A horned shape moved between the trees — large shoulders, dark hide, head low enough to charge beneath branches. Team Three didn’t wait for a better view. They left the ridge path and moved onto broken ground where the trees grew too closely for the animal to build speed. The beast followed for an hour without charging, only keeping pace.
The court knight looked back once. "I preferred the marsh."
"No, you did not."
"I prefer remembering the marsh."
That, the border veteran allowed, was possible.
Day 7 — 12:20
Team Four
Team Four reached the last badland ridge before midday. Beyond it, the terrain softened into dry grass and scattered trees. The marked point lay somewhere past the next valley. Their water would not last comfortably.
Rellan checked the containers. "Enough for today."
"And tomorrow morning," the engineer said, "if nobody behaves creatively."
Rellan accepted the remark without argument.
The team leader chose a shaded route along the northern face of the ridge — it added distance but reduced heat. Nobody argued for the direct path. Earlier in the trial they might have. Now they understood that the shortest route often demanded the highest price.
Day 7 — 14:10
Team Seven
The northern ridge ended above a wide basin, and at its centre stood a stone marker wrapped with red cloth.
For several seconds nobody spoke.
It was less impressive than Daren had imagined. "No welcoming formation," he said.
"No banners," Pell added.
Daren looked toward him. "That was unnecessary."
Arven studied the basin. The safest route descended along a broad game trail. A large territorial beast occupied it — lying beneath a cluster of trees near a water hole, heavy-bodied and plated along the shoulders, two long tusks curving from its lower jaw.
Oris watched it through the leaves. "It has not seen us."
Daren examined the slope. "We can kill it."
Arven looked at him. "Can we?"
"We are five knights."
"We are five tired knights with knives."
"It is between us and the marker."
"The route is between us and the marker."
Daren understood the distinction. The direct descent would take less than an hour. A narrow ravine to the west offered another approach but would add several hours over broken ground. Pell shifted his injured arm. "The longer route."
Daren looked toward the beast again, then nodded. "The longer route."
No argument. No pride. Arven folded the map. "Move."
They left the basin edge before the beast noticed them.
Day 7 — 15:45
Eastern Training Grounds
Cedric moved Team Seven’s marker onto the final approach. "They avoided the territorial beast."
Malen looked at the route. "Correct."
Lucas glanced at the estimated arrival time. "They were less than an hour away."
"From the beast," Malen said.
"From the destination."
"Both were true."
Lucien read the observer note. Daren had recommended the longer path after initially suggesting combat — another correction, another sign that the candidate had begun placing the mission above the need to prove himself.
"How capable are they?" Lucien asked.
Cedric checked the report. "Pell’s arm injured but usable. Mana reserves moderate. Food nearly exhausted. One weather sheet lost. All five mobile."
"Combat-capable?"
"For a limited engagement."
Malen nodded. "Then if they reach the point, they pass."
Lucas looked toward the marker. "Do we tell them what they passed?"
"No," Lucien said.
Lucas appeared unsurprised. "Of course not."
Day 7 — 17:55
Team Seven
The western ravine was worse than it had looked from above.
Loose stone shifted underfoot, thorned brush narrowed the floor, and the route forced them around two fallen trees. Pell’s pace dropped. Daren took the rest of his equipment. Pell looked at him. "You are carrying too much."
"You are carrying an injury."
"I can still manage."
"So can I."
Arven watched but didn’t interfere.
By the time they left the ravine, evening light had begun stretching across the basin. The territorial beast remained near the water hole. They emerged behind a low rise and moved toward the stone marker without entering its sightline — no one ran, because running wasted energy and attracted attention.
They reached the red-cloth boundary at 18:22.
Arven crossed first. Oris followed. Pell entered third. Daren and the fifth knight came last. All five stopped inside the marked circle.
Nothing happened.
Daren looked around. "This is either the extraction point or a deeply disappointing memorial."
A voice answered from behind the stone wall. "It is the extraction point."
Three concealed observers stepped into view — two in field cloaks, the third carrying a communication set. The candidates reacted at once, knives rising. Arven recognized the uniform beneath the cloak and lowered his weapon. "You followed us."
"From the beginning," the senior observer said.
Daren looked toward the forest. "How closely?"
"Closely enough."
"That answer is hostile."
"It is accurate."
The observer examined the team. "All five alive. All five inside the marked boundary. Essential equipment retained except for documented losses. Team remains mobile."
Pell looked toward him. "Did we pass?"
The observer studied the record slate. "You completed the route."
"That was not the question."
"It is the answer you are receiving."
Daren looked offended. Arven looked tired. Both reactions were expected.
Day 7 — 18:35
Team Seven Extraction Camp
A small field camp stood beyond the basin, hidden behind the western ridge.
The candidates received water, hot food, and medical attention, though nobody was allowed to sleep yet. Pell’s arm was cleaned and rebandaged. Arven’s ribs were checked. Daren tried to stand after finishing his meal and discovered his legs had opinions about that. He sat again.
The communication set activated. Malen’s voice came through clearly. "Team Seven."
All five straightened despite exhaustion.
"You reached the extraction point first." Daren glanced at the others. The small satisfaction on his face lasted less than a second. "You completed the survival route."
Arven asked the question. "What comes next?"
"A medical review. Equipment inspection. Written debrief. Individual questioning."
Pell looked at the communication set. "And after that?"
"You will be informed."
Daren leaned closer. "So the assessment is not over."
"No."
"What exactly did we earn?"
"Entry into the next phase."
The five candidates looked at one another. Daren closed his eyes. "We crossed a forest, a ravine, three predator territories, and a collapsing ridge to qualify for more assessment."
"Yes."
"That feels unnecessarily organized."
From the other side of the communication set, Lucas’s voice appeared faintly. "I said something similar."
Malen continued as though no interruption had occurred. "You will remain at the camp until transport arrives. Do not discuss your route with other teams."
Arven looked around. "There are no other teams here."
"Not yet."
The communication ended. Daren stared at the silent equipment. "That man could make a victory sound like a scheduling notice."
Arven leaned back against the field cot. "We arrived."
Pell looked toward the meal still in his hands. "We also have food."
Daren considered that. "Then this is a victory."
Day 7 — 19:10
Eastern Training Grounds
Cedric moved Team Seven’s marker into the completed column.
Two teams had withdrawn. One had passed the route. Four remained in the field.
Lucas looked at the completed marker. "They are not returning here?"
"Not yet," Malen said.
"The next phase begins at the forward site?"
"After recovery."
Lucien reviewed Team Seven’s preliminary evaluation. Arven had maintained discipline and adapted plans without freezing. Pell had remained useful after injury and accepted redistributed support without making it into something it wasn’t. Oris had scouted carefully and avoided unnecessary exposure throughout. Daren had corrected repeated mistakes, brought mana use under control, and learned to carry responsibility without being ordered to.
The fifth candidate had been steady throughout — rarely making the best decision first, but almost never turning a bad one worse.
No perfect candidates. That was expected. Lucien hadn’t asked for perfection. He needed people who could adjust before their mistakes became fatal.
"Keep their identities separate from the withdrawn teams," he said.
Cedric nodded. "They still know nothing about the programme."
"Good."
Lucas looked toward him. "At what point do the candidates learn why they are doing this?"
"When knowing does not influence whether they deserve to continue."
"That is a very Lucien answer."
Malen looked at Lucas. "What does that mean?"
"It means I understood it and disliked the timing."
Day 7 — 23:55
Assessment Record
Team Seven reached the extraction point at 18:22 with all five members alive and operational — the first team to complete the survival route.
Team One continued descending from the mountains with reduced shelter equipment. Team Two advanced north with shortened rope and minor injuries. Team Three remained under pursuit along the western ridge. Team Four crossed the final badland ridge with limited water.
Two teams withdrawn. Four still active. One arrived.
The seventh day ended with the first proof that the route could be completed — and with five exhausted knights discovering that survival had earned them no explanation. Only another phase.
Day 8 — 00:00
*Knight Candidate Assessment — Updated (Classified)*
Candidates active in field: 23
Teams active in field: 4
Teams completing survival route: 1
Teams disqualified: 2
Candidates awaiting next phase: 5
Rescue flares available in field: 4
Elapsed time: 162 hours, 30 minutes
*Ninety-Day Review: 50 days remaining.*
*Arsenal Before the Breach: 2 years, 325 days remaining.*
