Last Era

Chapter-4(Part 2) Selection Tests II

I take the other guy's gun and pull the trigger a number of times, but not a single shot comes out.

The light along its grip dimmed the moment I picked it up....then that means I can't use other's weapons....

I hastily looked to the sides to see if anyone was coming in my direction after the repeated gunshots.

But I didn't spot anyone close by. So I checked my equipment again and I started moving ahead as I ran along from the sides like I did before.
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After running for a while I came across the remaining members of the other team...and their floating defense point.

The density of trees behind them was unusually thick like a wall of sturdy wood, so this time I didn't circle them from behind.

The members stood at one meter distance with the defense point as the center.

Like the first two vanguard members they had also materialized their shields and guns ready at hand.

Impatience and anxiety colored their faces.

I looked at them from a distance crouching from the shadow of a tree.

Hmm... the lag between two shots is large so I can't start with the gun. I should move in and take out the first guy with my fists and then shoot the next...but then....

Then the last guy will take distance and...take me out.

Can I block it with my shield...? Hmm...I could have had more options if I could use the other guy's gun.

My eyes narrowed and I propped my chin with my fingers... maybe I should have gone back and brought another vanguard. That said I wonder how the rest are doing.

The fact that we couldn't communicate with the rest of the team was quite the harsh rule. We had to place utmost trust in the abilities of our comrades and not make hasty decisions.

But since I took out the vanguard it shouldn't be too much trouble for now.

I dispersed my thoughts and looked at the center of their formation. One was standing right next to the floating lamp with his shield on the ready while the others stood about 1.5 meters from the center like guards each at a side.

I couldn't shoot directly at the lamp from this distance and I'd have to deal with them before I could.

I re-played the plan in my head and started moving slowly along the shadows closing in from the side.

I was now right to their formation. I was roughly less than two meters from them. My body lightly peeked from a tree...

...I extended my gun, pointing it right at the guy in front of me... I pulled the trigger and-

"......!!!"

The blue light shot forth with a strong knockback and hit the guy's head knocking him unconscious.

The other two reacted quickly. The center guard raised his shield ever more vigilant and the other guy not sparing a second jumped back and pointed the muzzle of his gun in my direction.

I leapt of the tree's shadow sprinting in a low posture with my shield materialized.

The mid-guard pulled the trigger and the bullet blasted on my shield.

Normally the force should have knocked me off my balance...but I held the shield at a tilted angle so as to deflect the shot and not block it.

The plan worked but it still succeeded in stopping my sprint.

I kicked the ground and leapt taking cover behind a tree.

I held my gun upright and my back close to the tree...and waited.

If I had continued then he would jumped back further and the bullet would load before I could have reached him.

The second shot didn't come, most likely he noticed too that the gun couldn't rapid fire. But I too couldn't wait longer, the shot from that gun would easily penetrate the tree and reach me.

If we fought barehanded or without these weapon restrictions then I'd have had more combinations and strategies to use and would have won more easily.

I grit my teeth in chagrin and took the posture to dash out again, but!-

".......!!!!"

-a gun shot resounded....

It wasn't from the direction of the opponent team but from the other side.

The mid-guard's body fell to ground powerlessly. I looked to my side and found a figure standing at a distance...

My eyes quickly shifted to center guard.

He froze at first but raised his gun about to take a shot at me who now revealed himself from the cover...but-

I reacted just a bit faster. I pointed my gun's muzzle at him and pulled the trigger.

The bullet knocked the gun from his hand. He raised his shield in fright.

I dashed towards him and in seconds I appeared in front of him.

Frustrated he charged at me in a tackle. But I sidestepped to the left dodging him and drove a right sweep with my leg aiming at his gut.

He fell to the ground holding his abdomen in pain and gasping for air.

I pointed muzzle at his head.

"......!!!!"

The gunshot echoed...and shortly another bullet was fired.

The lamp was shot at its head portion and I fell like its batteries drained.

The figure walked towards me...I'd already guessed his identity...that grin was something I couldn't forget even if I wanted to...

...Chester

"Congrats, Eric~", he said to me in his casual voice...

I simply sighed in relief and looked at him calmly...i owe him this win...

...The surroundings were now once again wrapped in blinding white light.
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