Kill The Extra-Chapter 50: Midterm Examination [3]

"Hey, Lucas."

Ryker’s voice brought Lucas’s gaze up from his teammates as he was coming near the gate activation platform. Ryker gave a short nod and a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His black coat swayed lightly as he approached them.

"Ryker, You are here..." Lucas replied with a nod. He felt tension stir in his chest, though he couldn’t explain why.

Ryker walked past him, stopping in front of the rest of the team and said in an excited voice, "So these are our teammates, huh?"

A tall, lean boy with a long black coat and emotionless eyes gave a curt nod. "Name is Rio. I am a Reaver. Close quarters specialist. I cut through things."

"...Cool," Ryker replied, raising an eyebrow before turning to the others.

The two girls next to Rio looked almost identical. They both had sharp eyes and pale features with long silver blue hair tied into high ponytails but their energy was anything but alike. One stood tall, her arms crossed, standing with exuding silent confidence. The other glared at Ryker with suspiciously

"My name is Aurora," the confident one said first, "As you can see, I am an Etherweaver. I specialise in long range support and battlefield control."

The other one flicked her gaze away. "Selena. Same class as her. Try not to get in my way."

"Twin Etherweavers, huh?" Ryker muttered under his breath. "This will be fun."

The last girl leaned against a stone pillar, she had shining bow in her hands and she had a cocky smirk on her face. Her hair was short, dyed in streaks of red and orange. "Name’s Zeke," she said. "I am a Spectral Marksman. I shoot fast and I shoot loud." She laughed but there was a hollowness behind it like someone who had forgotten what a genuine laugh sounded like.

Everyone turned to Ryker, expecting his formal intro.

"My name is Ryker. I am a Sanctorum. I specialise in healing and support." He folded his arms. "Glad to be on this team"

The atmosphere eased slightly.

"Glad to have you," Aurora said and even Rio offered another small nod.

"So," Ryker clapped his hands, "We need to talk about strategy. We will be scattered when we enter the gate, everyone got that right?"

Everyone nodded.

"Then let’s lay it all out. Once we are in, we won’t have time for delays."

Selena stepped forward first. "We find each other quickly then regroup in the central zone. That way, we are not caught in a bad position"

Aurora shook her head hearing Selena’s plan, "That’s inefficient. The central zone is likely the hottest point of conflict. We should link up two at a time then move as a unit."

Rio offered a different suggestion, "No regrouping. Eliminate enemies near you and make noise. Draw attention. Force them into an open area."

Zeke chuckled hearing his plan, "That’s one way to start chaos. I say we climb. High ground is an advantage. Watch for movement. Pick off targets from above."

Everyone looked at Ryker, waiting.

He rubbed his chin. "All of those could work depending on the terrain we find ourselves in. But we don’t know what’s on the other side. Here is my idea, the first sixty seconds, everyone focuses on survival and identification. Use flares, 9nce we locate each other then we will fall into a three to three formation. Front line distracts and the backline supports and cleans up. It’s simple and adaptable."

Murmurs spread through the group. Everyone nodded thoughtfully.

Except Lucas, who had been silent.

He shifted slightly, then cleared his throat. "I... have a suggestion too."

Selena narrowed her eyes. "You?"

"You’re not even in the conversation," Zeke added with a scoff. "Why bother?"

Lucas flinched but didn’t back down. "Hear me out. Please."

But it was met with silence....

Then Ryker raised a brow. "I am curious. Let’s hear it."

Selena sighed. "Fine."

Lucas stepped forward and took a deep breath. "As you all know, we all will be separated, right? But there’s a pattern to how Abyss Gates scatter teams. It always creates a staggered circle. That means if we each move slightly left while ascending terrain, we will rotate toward each other by default. The central area isn’t our target. The edges are. That’s where the monsters spawn. We should bait them into our path while linking up."

Ryker blinked.

Aurora was the first to nod. "That... actually makes sense."

Selena frowned, considering. "A rotational sweep formation...?"

Rio grunted. "Simple but effective."

Zeke gave an impressed whistle. "Damn, didn’t think an assaulter had it in him."

Ryker looked at Lucas. He smiled faintly. "Then it’s settled. We will follow Lucas’s plan."

Everyone murmured in agreement.

That was when Aurora raised a point. "We will need a captain, then. So there won’t be any confusion during combat."

Hearing this everyone turned towards Ryker.

"You are calm under pressure," Rio said flatly. "Leader material."

"Yeah," Zeke nodded. "You kept us grounded back here. So it should be you."

Aurora and Selena silently agreed with slight nods.

Ryker blinked in surprise, "I appreciate that you all think this highly of me, really. But I think the one who proposed the plan should lead the team. Lucas should act as the captain."

Lucas looked startled hearing Ryker, "Wait.....what?"

"You earned it," Ryker said with a casual shrug. "We follow your plan. So, you lead."

The team exchanged glances.

It felt strange, maybe even awkward... but no one protested.

"...Alright," Aurora finally said. "Lucas it is."

Lucas remained frozen for a beat, then slowly nodded. "Okay. I will do my best."

The atmosphere softened. The lines between individuals began to blur into something resembling unity.

As they moved toward the gate, the air hummed. The shimmering curtain of the Abyss Gate rippled like a mirror dipped in a storm.

Ryker stood at the front, arms folded, gaze steady.

Lucas lingered behind, his thoughts drifting.

’That plan...’

It had taken him a while to remember it. It was Ryker’s plan in the novel. He is the one who suggested the plan Lucas used.

In the original story, Ryker had been the one to lay it out confidently and after the midterm examination it also impressed the professor.

But now... he had held it back.

’Why?’

This wasn’t the first time either. Ryker had acted strangely since the simulation incident six months ago. He was still composed, capable but at the same time he was not.

In the novel, Ryker had been indifferent and sometimes he was arrogant but he was still a brilliant Sanctorum, a supportive character who played his role and never interfered.

But this Ryker?

He supported Lucas.

He pushed people forward. Defended him when others doubted.

’Why?’

Lucas couldn’t shake the feeling something was different.

’Yet, despite everything... many events still unfolded the same way. Small things. Random moments. Pieces lining up exactly like in the novel.’

And Ryker was always at the center of it.

Lucas clenched his fist.

He is not the main character but he is changing everything.

Lucas felt a sharp chill crawl down his back. frёeωebɳovel.com

’Is it possible?’

’Could Ryker know? About the novel? About him?’

The idea seemed ludicrous, impossible... but not entirely.

He needed to be sure. Absolutely sure.

One mistake and everything would fall apart.

"Lucas."

Ryker’s voice snapped him back to the present.

He looked up.

Ryker and the others stood in front of the gate, the final call echoing through the arena.

"It’s time," Ryker said.

Lucas nodded.

He followed the group, walking toward the shimmering portal. Everyone passed through one by one, vanishing into light.

Before entering, Ryker turned.

He looked back at Lucas, offering a small, knowing smirk.

Then he disappeared.

Lucas stared at the spot for a second longer.

His heartbeat felt heavy in his chest.

He gripped his spear tighter and took a deep breath.

’Not now. Focus on the midterm. This part of the novel went smoothly. It should be fine.’

Still...

As he stepped through the gate, the last thought in his mind wasn’t about the exam.

It was about Ryker’s back as it vanished.