Chapter 316 - Should Have Seen That Coming.

"As for you Brian, the defensive capabilities of the earth element is the best among other elements, but the problem is that it is stationary. You will just be a seating duck as the beasts slowly break through your defenses." Blake pointed out.

The rules of the exercise were that the selected teammate couldn't move out of a specified range, meaning that Brian would have no other choice than to form a turtle shell he could hide in. 

"The goal of the exercise isn't for me to kill the beasts. All I have to do is survive long enough for you guys to arrive band save me." Brian said.

"Yes, but with the amount of beasts beyond the wall, your defenses wouldn't be able to withstand the attacks me. The earth element can be countered by brute strength and we all know that most beasts have that in abundance." Blake explained.

He made them imagine a scenario when multiple layers of earth domes had been erected by Brian, but a sabertooth moose was to ram into it. There would be no way that his defenses could withstand the raw power of the charging tank, and the earth element currently had no way to prevent such a scenario.

"If so, how will the plant element perform any better?" Castiel asked.

"Unlike the earth, the plant element is very annoying and can't just be countered with only brute strength. To free oneself from the binds of the plants technique is needed, and unintelligent beasts lack that." Blake pointed out. "Besides, the plant element has a larger range of effect than the earth element."

After thinking about what Blake said and seeing he was right, Brian couldn't help but ask Luciano who had been silent. "Is that why you suggested she did it?"

Luciano nodded before turning to Tessie. "I won't ask if you can handle it because I know your capabilities. The main question is, are you ready?"

Tessie pondered for a few seconds before taking in a deep breath and answering with a determined expression. "I am."

Once all the teams were done selecting a teammate, they were escorted to their assigned locations outside the wall by the special ops team using the floating orb.

Once they got to they landed on the spot, Major Reeves raised his hands and a mana shockwave moved all the beasts away, leaving a 4 meter wide space where the selected teammates were directed to land.

The moment they touched the floor the beasts began jumping at them, but they continuously rammed into a mana barrier placed all around the area.

The moment the special ops team left the area for the wall, rock domes erupted from below and the mana barriers were taken down.

"Just like I thought, the distance between the wall and Tessie is great, meaning she would have to defend herself for a while." Blake said as they watched as the beasts swarmed towards the rock dome and began attacking it.

The dome was created by Major Reeves who was in the demigod realm, so no one was worried about it getting destroyed by the beasts.

"Listen up! The floating orbs given to you are not meant to be used unless your final teammate has equipped theirs." Major Reeves said confusing every single person.

'What the fuck is he saying?!' This was the one question that was in everyone's mind but no one could voice out there thoughts especially now that they were less than half an hour from completing all the lessons.

The new rule disrupted the plans of some of the teams, meaning they would have make some adjustments, but the main problem was that their teammates beyond the wall had no clue of what was going on.

"Yes?" Everyone was still thinking about their next course of action, but that was when they saw the leader of team that had lost one of their members raising his hands.

"You didn't mention this during the exercise briefing. So why now?" The 2nd year team leader asked with restrained anger.

"Firstly, I never said you would use them in the first place, so why the surprise." Major Reeves smirk making the students realize that they had been played. "Secondly, it makes the exercise more realistic. If a member of the ash corps were to be trapped beyond the wall, the special ops would be sent to save him/her, but the ash cop beyond the wall would have no idea of how he would be saved."

'That makes a lot of sense… How was I not able to anticipate this?' Blake thought. 'He did say we had to weave through the beasts, and if we had the floating orbs wouldn't it have been too easy for a final exercise?' Blake thought.

Hearing no fault in what Major Reeves said, the 2nd year team leader had a dejected look on his face as he turned to his team to draft a plan.

Unlike other teams that only needed to adjust a few things, his team had a lot to change because charging through tens of beasts with only 3 people would be very difficult.

"If care is not taken their teammate wouldn't be the only person that needs saving." Luciano said almost causing the trio to burst out in laughter.

The teams were given a few more minutes to adjust their plans before they had taken their positions at the edge of the wall.

"Go!" Once Major Reeves gave the signal the teams jumped off the wall, all the way to the ground. Except for Luciano, everyone else in the team readied their weapons as they were about to leave the protection of the city's barrier.

At that moment the rock domes exploded outward, blasting away beasts on and around it, thus giving the students in them some breathing space.

"What took them so long…" Tessie said as she looked around to assess the battlefield before opening her palm and dropping a green thorny seed to the floor.

Mother Seed!