Chapter 14 : Can’t catch up!

“Sweet!”

Sack, the frontline warrior of Team 075, raised the magic core high into the sunlight, inspecting it like a merchant appraising goods, laughing heartily.

Just moments ago, after a grueling battle, Team 075 had successfully slain a Silver-rank magical beast and claimed its core.

“Alright, alright—magic cores are dangerous if unprocessed. Don’t handle it bare-handed for too long,” warned Pete, the team’s swordsman, patting his companion’s shoulder. He produced a containment vessel and placed it in front of Sack.

“Got it. With this Silver core, our score’s locked in—no worries,” Sack grinned, depositing the core inside.

He turned to the girl mage in their squad.

“Wanna take a closer look?”

“No thanks… just having it is enough… let me… rest a bit…”

The exhausted mage sat on the ground, hugging her staff and panting.

In the earlier fight, she had burned through far too much mana.

That was Team 075’s composition: frontline warrior, swordsman, and mage—an all-out offensive lineup that sacrificed sustain from priests or nuns.

“With a Silver core, we’re guaranteed to pass,” Pete said. “Head to the safe zone?”

“Retreat? Too early.”

Sack wagged a finger.

“We still have supplies. After a break, we can handle another fight.”

Pete raised an eyebrow. “So you mean—”

“We agreed from the start—our goal is excellent,” Sack declared confidently. “Only top-tier scores from Avalon open real doors after graduation. You guys cool with just scraping by?”

“…”

Pete exchanged glances with the mage.

Her eyes signaled: still got mana.

The choice was obvious.

“Fine—let’s push it!”

“What the hell?!”

Pete grabbed Sack, who was leading the march, pointing ahead.

“A… package?”

Sack spotted it too—near some rocks lay a backpack, surrounded by battle scars, as if a fierce fight had just ended.

He halted, then turned to the mage.

“Scan it with mana detection.”

“Whoa—there’s a core inside!”

The mage was stunned after probing.

“A core? Free loot from the sky?”

Even Sack found it unbelievable.

“…Probably left by the previous team,” Pete analyzed.

“How do you know?”

“You didn’t read the handbook?”

“Hah, nah—your written scores are solid, so I leave that to you. Just flag stuff like this,” Sack replied carelessly.

“Fine.”

Pete sighed and explained.

“Forced teleport exit cancels your score.”

“Right, that rings a bell.”

Pete pointed at the battle marks. “See that? Some team got ambushed, fought hard, couldn’t win—panicked teleport to survive, prioritizing life.”

“Then we hit the jackpot!”

Sack beamed, sprinting over and crouching by the bag.

“Wait—!”

Pete suddenly sensed something off and shouted.

Too late.

The moment Sack opened the bag, a surge of electricity erupted—golden arcs racing across his body.

Had he not been a warrior with tough physique, he’d be charcoal.

Still, paralysis locked him in place.

“Trap!”

The mage cried out.

The backpack’s lightning-attribute core had immobilized Sack.

“Then hurry and—”

Pete started to urge purification—

Then remembered: mage, not priest. No sacred arts.

No choice—he lunged to separate Sack from the core.

“I sense mana flux—it’s magic!” the mage screamed.

Pete looked down—a magic circle glowed on the ground. He drew his sword, shielding himself.

But it wasn’t offensive—black smoke billowed out, blinding them.

“Argh—!!!”

The mage tried mana disruption, but someone closed in—spell interrupted.

Only a strange wail remained.

“Hey, what happened?!” Pete shouted.

No reply from the mage. Smoke blocked sight—he had no idea.

Lack of healer or priest bit hard.

Enemy struck in the smoke, likely to panic him, force a mistake.

He stayed put, sword two-handed, hyper-alert, focused.

Enemy in smoke, hit teammate—to bait him.

If they showed, he’d unleash lethal sword arts.

One second, two, three…

Time crawled.

Smoke hissed with noise—trying to rattle him. He stayed stone-still.

Stalemate. Once smoke cleared, he’d strike.

“What are you standing there for?!” Sack roared. “Chase!!”

“Chase?” Pete blinked.

“Our cores—OUR CORES!!” Sack wailed miserably.

“…!”

Pete slashed, dispersing thinning smoke—and saw a figure vanishing into the forest.

Sack’s backpack cores, the lightning-ant core—gone.

He understood instantly, face burning with rage.

“Damn thief!!”

“Hehe~ This Silver core is gorgeous… plus the others… should be enough.”

Under moonlight, the pink-haired girl perched on a branch, legs swinging playfully.

She pinched the core, admiring her spoils with delight.

“Shame I was low on mana—or I’d have stripped their gear and supplies clean~”