Seraphs of the Emperor’s Judgment

Chapter 116: Final Selection (3)

"Have you all understood clearly?"

Yazdan asked loudly.

"Yes, my Lord!"

The boys shouted their response in unison.

"Then begin your selection!"

The fifty teams instantly turned from their original silence to clamor. Some of them were discussing, some were arguing, and some were simulating various scenarios.

Oskar turned his head to look at his younger brother and said softly:

"Dadd, what do you think?"

"The Logging Gun is too heavy. It takes at least 2 people to carry it, and they'll have to take turns resting in between. The drain on stamina is too great."

"I was thinking the same thing. What about the flare shell?""The Battle Automata should be very formidable, but it only lasts for five minutes. This is our only trump card. If we are unable to rely on the automaton to secure the conditions for victory within those five minutes, then—"

Dadd shook his head. His expression said it all.

"Then there is only one choice."

Oskar's gaze looked toward those Camo Cloaks and Night Vision Goggles.

"If you ask me, just grab the machine gun and get to it."

As soon as Kerisa started hollering, Haomo and Bahram both shook their heads at the same time, while that expert knife-wielder Robin still maintained that attitude of not saying a word.

The four of them, boys from the lower hive, very naturally huddled together. Afterward, they absorbed six boys from other Hive Cities, barely coalescing into a small group.

But the problems with their group were extremely severe. Four people from the lower hive and six people from the upper hive; they found each other incomprehensible in all sorts of aspects.

Therefore, right from its inception, this group was already de facto split.

"Are you going to carry it?"

Among the other six, the tallest and largest boy stepped forward. His name was Ford, the child of an Astra Militarum officer, who frequently boasted to others about his 'art of command'.

"Hmph, looking at your scrawny arms and spindly legs, it would probably crush you to death."

Kerisa did not hesitate to launch a verbal counterattack.

"Heh, your muscles won't be able to keep you alive on the battlefield."

Facing the mockery of this officer's son, Kerisa was just about to retort when Bahram stepped forward and said calmly:

"We are all in the same boat now. There's no need to argue. If we fail, everyone fails together."

"I don't need you to remind me."

"Then what is your opinion—"

"If you ask me, although the machine gun has a huge advantage as a defensive fulcrum, it also means we have no other path but to choose to head straight for a stronghold from the very start. For five whole days, we would be exposed to the sight of the other teams. If we encounter a team that uses the flare shells, relying on the machine gun won't be able to suppress the Battle Automata. We would even be in great danger against a team carrying Grenades."

"Then the Night Vision Goggles?"

"Well, although the Camo Cloaks and Night Vision Goggles are extremely effective at night, how we pass the daytime of the first day is a problem. Moreover, this loadout severely lacks point-blank assault capabilities, and is especially afraid of running into teams with dogs. More crucially, we must possess adequate individual soldier qualities to ensure we aren't discovered or tracked by others when lying in wait or relocating."

As he spoke, Ford's eyes glanced askance at Kerisa.

The words 'do not trust' were practically written all over his face.

"What are you looking at!"

Kerisa instantly grew furious, rolling up his sleeves ready to throw down. Fortunately, Haomo stopped him in time.

"Then we'll choose the protective gear?"

Although Bahram said this with his mouth, he was not certain of this choice in his heart.

The other party also shook his head.

"Choosing the protective gear means we must possess extremely high tactical coordination and execution power. Do you think we have that kind of good coordination?"

"Stop keeping us in suspense."

Haomo let out an impatient sound.

"The way I see it, the flare shells. This choice has higher flexibility. As long as we are careful in the early stages and avoid unnecessary conflicts, by the final day, the Battle Automata will be our key to snatching victory from the jaws of defeat!"

Bahram also approved of this choice; at least it sounded like it had higher odds of winning.

But this spawned a second problem.

"Who manages the flare gun?"

When Kerisa brought this up, no one spoke.

Ford took a glance at the five people behind him, then took a glance at the four people opposite him, a trace of a smile surfacing on his face.

"How about we vote."

"No!"

Kerisa immediately vetoed this opinion.

"This has to depend on ability, not on who has more followers. Because we only have one trump card. Once a mistake is made, we lose everything across the board. It must be controlled by someone sufficiently calm and resolute. You—"

The bald burly man crossed his arms over his chest, wearing an expression of contempt.

"I can't see it."

"What did you say!"

Ford instantly flew into a raging fury, but he lacked the courage to get physical with this big lug.

"Anyway, I support Bahram as the team leader. With him managing the flare gun, I can rest easy."

"Me too."

After Haomo spoke, Robin beside him also stepped forward, making his own stance clear.

"That's probably not good, right?"

Bahram said with a guilty conscience:

"I don't have those qualifications."

"Then who do you think would be good as team leader?"

Haomo asked in return.

"You can't always hide in the back. I know you. You were the exact same way before: every time, you only stepped forward to tell everyone what we should have done from the very beginning AFTER Vayu and I had already made a total mess of things! That won't work this time, buddy. We can no longer wait on that patience of yours. Sometimes, you have to step forward and shoulder the responsibility."

"Do I have a lot of patience?"

"Much more patience than I do."

"But we all support Ford."

The other five boys from the upper hive also stepped forward, supporting their preferred leader.

Amidst the swords-drawn, bows-bent atmosphere, this tiny team seemed to have already reached the brink of collapse...

Ultimately, it was still Bahram who made a concession.

"I also support Ford."

As soon as his words came out of his mouth, the other three were stunned for a moment, followed by weird expressions.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes, I support him."

"Haha! Your choice is completely correct. Once we achieve victory, you all will come to know this point."

Ford said with a smile. Then, he squeezed out of the crowd, went before the Techmarine, and received the flare shells and flare gun.

Their group was practically the last group. After all the teams had finished selecting their extra supplies, the Chaplain raised the Scepter in his hand high and said loudly:

"Very well. May the great Emperor guide you. Now depart!"

Fifty small aircraft landed on the spacious open ground. Each aircraft possessed a corresponding team number. The boys enthusiastically picked up their equipment and sprinted toward their vehicles.

One aircraft after another lifted off, then flew toward the testing area.

Ten minutes later, as a golden firework exploded with a bang in the sky, the five-day death trial officially began.

However, what the boys did not know was that, in actuality, right when they were discussing what kind of supplies to choose, their every single move and action was already under Soshyan's observation.

In the upper deck cabin of the Thunderhawk Obsidian Legacy, Soshyan was currently surrounded by a swath of display screens. Every single display screen was connected to the miniature cameras on the collars of a team's members.

The scene that had just occurred within Bahram's team was also captured by him.

Knowing when to advance and when to retreat was extremely not easy for a hot-blooded boy. After all, at their age, and under such outstanding circumstances, confrontation was much easier than yielding.

At this time, the cabin doors suddenly opened. Sol and Yazdan walked in together.

"Chapter Master, they have all successfully entered the testing area."

"Mhm, then next, we shall take a good look... who perfectly will be the victors."