The Ancient Genes

Max and Aria continued to move and even bumped into a few students but regretfully, they weren't from Orca.

While they were travelling, Max had contacted Mr. Cool as well and informed him about Venice.

"I think your teammates have already found a base to operate from….you sure you have no idea about it?" Max suddenly asked as he looked at Aria.

Aria didn't speak but Max could understand from her hesitation that something just couldn't be said.

He had seen Aria constantly observing her surroundings and sometimes even stopping to look at tiny details on things.

It seemed Orca had carefully planned things out. Leaving traces or information in form signs on things like vehicles, dumpsters, vending machines..

These people really had thought it through.

'No wonder they dare to play it at maximum difficulty…..I wonder what they have in store as their trump card to win the event…' Max pondered as he moved along the way.

At this moment, Max suddenly paused.

"What's wrong?" Aria asked as she looked at him.

"I just seemed to have found someone familiar….it seems the time for us to separate have come.." Max said and then turned around to move in a different direction.

Aria looked at him and followed behind.

A minute later, the two came in contact with two other students who were out on a hunt.

The two people seemed to have noticed their arrival as well but still calmly faced the large lizard-like beast at hand.

Max didn't do anything to help but Aria pulled her rapier out and rushed in to support them.

They were her teammates after all.

After the beast was taken care of, the familiar guy suddenly looked towards Max and then at Aria.

"It's been a while…" Max said as he looked at Norek, an old acquaintance and a dual element user who had followed Lisa to Arcane.

He seemed to have connections with Kingsman as well.

"You really dare to smile at us...if it was someone else from Orca, they would be running after you with their weapons…" Norek shook his head as he looked at Max.

Norek looked at Aria and quietly discussed something after taking a few steps away.

Max obviously heard everything. Aria first explained why she was with Max and then Norek filled her in about how they had succeeded their first step of plans and he was currently on look out to gather the missing people as well the one who had come in today.

Max was a bit upset that they didn't use direct words and were talking about their plans in a roundabout way.

Max didn't pay them any further attention and looked at the other guy who was quietly standing there.

'Another one?' 

Max was finally realising that his conjecture might be correct.

It seems that the Ancient Families had sent in their people as well. Who knew they would be mixed in like this?

Could it be they had their Youth enrolled in the Academy and lying in wait?

Max frowned.

If it really was like that, why didn't his Master inform him about it...something was not fitting well…

It seemed he would have to look after it once the event was over….

A minute later, Aria walked up to him.

"Thanks for the help….I will have to go now…''

Max nodded.

"If we come across each other on the fourth day, then don't hold back because I definitely won't." She said with a smile as if a few things had never happened before.

Max smiled and went along with her, "Definitely, so you better let your teammates keep their distance from me…"

With that, Max turned around and left.

Aria looked at his leaving back for a few seconds before slapping both her cheeks as if waking herself and then turned around with a smile.

'Look ahead not behind…' Aria muttered before accompanying Norek and the other guy to leave the place.

...

Max continued his search and after an hour so, he suddenly saw a signal flare being launched in the distance. It was one of their own...

«Anyone near the signal flare?»

«Lear: No, it's too far from here...I can barely see it…and it's in the opposite direction....by the way I found Wilson...»

«Axel: I can't even see it...and I found Eren as well...»

«Ruler: Fine, you guys continue...I will go and check it out…"

Max immediately sped up towards the place. It was pretty far away from him too but at least it was in the direction he was planning move to. He just hoped that whoever it was could hold on until he arrived.

…

"Hell no!! I am not going to do it!! A single slip and I will be torn apart.. ." Eren protested as he looked at Axel in fear.

"Why are you so scared? Nothing will go wrong....even if you slip...you are exaggerating it....it will bleed a bit at most....." Axel replied.

"Those hungry eyes want to devour me....why don't you put yourself in my position..." Trent retorted.

"I would have gladly done so, but can you my thing as good as I can?" Axel asked with a meaningful smile.

Eren began to hesitate.

"Don't be like that. It Don't you want to win? Are we going to let those nobles look down on us?" Axel said with a frown but grinned inwardly. He understood Eren well.

"But….I will die like this…" 

"I am here. Just believe in me and bait the beasts....I guarantee you nothing will happen…even if you slip in the worst case, just forfeit...I bet they will only be able to scratch you before you will be out abd safe.... " Axel said as he thumped his chest.

"But I don't want to go out so early...''

"A guy who is so confident of slipping at important times won't be of any use.....you will get hurt instead..so you better leave... " Axel said it a concerned look making Eren's face ugly.

Axel so Eren's face and knew he was almost there. He wrapped his arm around his neck and began to persuade him.

"Fine, I will do it..."

Eren gave a nod when Axel riled him up after trash talking a bit about the arrogant noble lady from Ocien who was looking down on them....and had insulted Max for being in a team full of cowards and weak ant like people...

Eren's face was almost burning in anger after Axel was done with him. He was ready to show Ocien their place.

"Ok...when I signal you...cause as much commotion as you can and then take the invisible cloak and dash towards the exit and wait for me where we met earlier…" Axel said as he looked at Eren.

Eren took in a deep breath and then left.

Axel smiled and prepared himself. He needed a good estimate of the amount of beasts, have an idea about the layout of the area and most importantly find what kind of beast was the Lord of the area.

Axel patiently waited for a few minutes before a loud explosion rang out. It was immediately followed up with the angry howls of beasts.

"It's time to move…"