Chapter 77. New Scout.
The group opened their eyes.
The instructors were at the front of the group.
Everyone took a look at where they were.
Cosmo and Pamela slapped Henrich and Rexilia awake.
The duo’s eyes fluttered open and they stood up from the ground after being dropped on the ground like sandbags.
They were in some sort of extremely large cave.
The sides were quite narrow . But wide enough to accommodate the 105 warriors. The distance ahead and behind were narrow and bendy.
"We are in some sort of cave," an instructor from Cosmere City University, a pocket world specialist, said. "We need to find an entrance. Caves like this could be very dangerous and could have a lot of naturally formed environmental hazards."
"You mean traps?" An instructor from Harland Metropolitan University said.
"You could say that. Traps like that could be very dangerous. We need to be very careful as we journey deeper towards the cave entrance."
Everyone nodded.
"Stay close," the instructors said to the students from their universities, or to be more precise, their units.
The students nodded and followed.
It was not a problem for anyone to see in the dark because they were warriors and their vision was more potent than that of ordinary people.
Everyone was currently in their battlesuits, weapons in hand.
Aiden was somewhere at the back of the group in his crimson armor. Eyes crimson.
Several tiny crimson arrows floated not too far from him. Apart from the arrows, he held two crimson daggers in both hands. A cave like this was not large enough to sponsor long-range combat. This was why he preferred daggers. The floating crimson arrows were to ensure that he could compensate for emergency threats lurking in the shadows.
He was also scanning across the area.
Several distances ahead in the cave were in his view.
Desmonda, Asmodeus, Luke, Candice, and Seraphina were with him at the back of the group. Each of them were vigilant.
Completely armed for any emergencies.
"We need someone with long range abilities to scout ahead so we can be aware of any unforeseen threats," the pocket world specialist, apparently the tactician of the expedition group, said.
"Who can volunteer?"
A student from Harland Metropolitan University stepped forward.
"My affinity is sensory detection. It’s perfectly made for scouting," the fellow said.
"Alright. Good. In case you discover anything, don’t forget to let us know beforehand." Cosmo nodded towards the student.
"Yes..." The student replied as his eyes turned greyish. He scanned ahead for a while.
"Nothing discovered so far," he said.
The group kept moving deeper into the cave, their guards up.
"The range of his affinity is poor. There’s something ahead," Aiden thought. "Usually I would keep quiet about situations like this, but this is a rank 2 gate. The survival of the instructors is paramount to closing this gate. If they die..."
"You’ve discovered something, haven’t you?" Seraphina was right next to him. She whispered into his ears.
"Mmm." Aiden nodded.
"His affinity is not helping. There are traps 50 meters ahead. Along the walls. Five of them. Some sharp-edged tiny arrow mechanisms. The trigger is most likely 20 meters away from where the arrow mechanisms are. This is because there are small depressions 20 meters on the ground away from where the arrow mechanisms are, which look fairly different from the cave floor. Those must be the triggers, or trap activators."
Aiden’s words caused everyone to look at him in surprise. Even Henrich was quite impressed.
This guy had impressive sensory abilities as well? Everyone, apart from Desmonda and the others, thought.
"This guy is not ordinary. Killing him won’t be easy, but I have to do all I can to eliminate him," Henrich thought.
The fellow who had been serving as the scout got angry. His abilities were being questioned...
"If you are so better than me, why don’t you step forward and become the scout?" He snorted. "I am fairly confident that he’s bluffing."
The instructors motioned for the group to stop moving.
"We need to have a vote on who should be the scout," Pamela said. She trusted Aiden. The kid was not stupid. He was a tactical genius. She didn’t know how he discovered that there were traps ahead when the scout whose affinity was tailor-made for scouting didn’t even discover it.
But Aiden Vhorn was not someone to bluff, considering his nature. Had it not been absolutely necessary, he would not even have spoken. The other instructors and students from Derulo City University thought the same thing.
"Yeah. We can’t move forward blindly. What if Aiden Vhorn is right?"
"Also, what if Tori is right and Aiden is simply bluffing?"
Several conversations broke out at the moment.
"Alright. I have a suggestion," Tori said. His affinity had never failed him. This was an expedition that could help him make a name for himself. After his two-year military service, he had plans to join a good guild. If he had good credentials on his record, things would be easy for him. This Aiden Vhorn was trying to discredit him.
"I will walk ahead and test to see if there are traps ahead," Tori said. "That should help us determine whether or not Aiden Vhorn is fit to be the scout."
He was certain there were no traps ahead. He was an expert rank 1 warrior whose affinity was tailor-made for scouting. If he did not discover any traps ahead, how was it possible for Aiden Vhorn to discover anything?
"Are you sure about this?" An instructor from Harland Metropolitan University asked.
"Yes." He nodded politely as he gave Aiden Vhorn a scornful look.
Several students from Harland Metropolitan University, who trusted in the affinity of Tori and had worked with him before on some missions, also snorted at Aiden.
As for those from Cosmere City University, they were quietly observing everything.
Aiden was calm. He didn’t say anything.
"I could use some blood essence. His suggestion is not a bad idea," Aiden thought.
Desmonda and the others in the group sighed. This Tori guy was willing to go so far to prove a point? How stupid was he?
"Since he’s very sure, we can’t restrict him." The instructors from the three universities discussed and came to a conclusion.
"Do you all agree?" They asked the students.
"Yeah." Everyone nodded.
"Alright. Good luck." An instructor from Harland Metropolitan University patted his shoulder.
Tori walked ahead as the remainder of the group remained behind.
Aiden observed calmly from the back of the group.
"See... there are no arrows ahead" Tori’s voice echoed from ahead...
"I’m 50 meters away from where you guys are right? I’ve also walked... Auggrrhhhhh!"
Puchi... puchi... puchi...
Several piercing sounds rung across the cave as Tori let out dying screams.
Eventually, his dying screams ceased.
Many felt chills crawl up their spines as they looked at the crimson-eyed fellow at the back of the group.
Those who had doubted him earlier reinvented their opinions of him. This guy was the real deal.
As for those who trusted his competence, it only reinforced their thoughts.
"Looks like we have a new scout," Pamela smiled.