Unclassified; Zero and Still Standing

Squad 11-A gathered one last time beneath the trees before separating.

Seth stood at the centre.

"We split into three groups."

Everyone fell silent.

"The first group’s objective is straightforward. Capture the main target."

He looked around.

"For this task, we only need a few people. Myself..."

His gaze settled on two people.

"Corvane."

Mahirah’s head snapped up.

"And Nyreth."

At the mention of her name, Heidi stiffened.

Mahirah frowned immediately.

"Seriously?" she asked. "You want me wasting my time hunting someone who isn’t even half an opponent?"

Seth ignored the complaint completely.

"The second group."

He pointed toward several squad members.

"Containment."

He unfolded the map.

"11-D will most likely divide to cover more ground. Your job is to make sure they never get the chance to regroup."

His finger traced several routes through the forest.

"Pressure them. Drive them farther apart. Force them deeper into the jurisdiction."

He selected eight students for the task.

"The remaining group..." His eyes swept over the rest. "Capture as many members of 11-D as possible."

He paused.

"And remember." His tone sharpened. "No unnecessary engagements."

Seven names followed. The students quietly sorted themselves into their assigned teams.

A lazy voice interrupted.

"That’s eighteen in total."

Everyone turned.

Norman wandered out from the bushes as though he’d been there all along.

His eyes were bloodshot.

"Did you forget about me, Prefect?" he asked with a crooked grin.

Seth barely looked at him.

"Apollo." He said instead.

Apollo lifted his eyes.

"You’ll remain independent."

A brief pause.

"Only intervene if something goes wrong."

Nobody questioned the decision.

A few, however, exchanged uneasy glances. None of them had forgotten what had happened two days ago.

Seth looked around once again, making sure everyone had been grouped right.

"That’s it. We move."

The groups immediately began separating.

Seth walked over to the vines Heidi had prepared earlier. He selected one, coiled it neatly, and slung it over his shoulder.

Norman continued staring at him with poorly concealed resentment.

Heidi hadn’t moved.

She remained standing where she was, looking distinctly uncomfortable with her assignment.

Mahirah looked no happier.

Nearby, Apollo sat on the thick root of a tree.

He loosened the straps of the walking boot on his foot and removed it.

Mahirah noticed.

A scoff escaped her.

"Funny."

Apollo didn’t respond.

"You didn’t move an inch when we were dealing with seniors." She watched him flex his foot. "But now we’re facing 11-D and suddenly you decide to take that thing off."

"It’s becoming a nuisance." Apollo replied simply.

He stood.

Mahirah watched his movements carefully.

For just a moment, concern crossed her face.

Then she quickly folded her arms and looked away.

"You sure you can walk fine without it?" She asked reluctantly.

Apollo glanced at her. "There’s no need to worry."

Mahirah immediately flared.

"I most certainly am not!"

Seth finished securing the rope.

"Let’s go."

He turned and headed into the forest.

Mahirah frowned once more and followed.

Heidi silently fell in behind them.

Apollo watched them disappear into the vegetation.

***

Seth led the three-man team through the forest.

Without his glasses, the world had become an irritating blur of colours and outlines.

Every few steps, he rubbed his eyes instinctively, trying to force them to focus.

It didn’t help.

Behind him, Mahirah’s attention kept drifting toward Heidi.

She couldn’t understand her.

The same girl who had calmly wandered into a battlefield full of seniors now looked strangely tense over the prospect of capturing a Zero from 11-D.

It didn’t add up.

Her gaze shifted to Seth.

"Remind me why you put me on this team again?"

Seth continued walking.

No reply.

Mahirah gritted her teeth.

"We’re hunting a Zero. My time would be better spent with the other teams. Doing meaningful work."

"Which is exactly why you’re here." Seth answered at last.

Mahirah’s expression darkened.

"Are you keeping keeping an eye on me or what?"

Seth stepped over a fallen log.

"We all know 11-D isn’t one of the best classes." He spoke matter-of-factly. "Morally, we’re supposed to hold back during such encounters."

He paused.

"Your track record says you won’t."

Mahirah stopped walking.

"And who exactly gave you the right to make that decision for me?"

Seth didn’t even look back. He simply kept walking.

Mahirah stared daggers at him, fists clenched.

Morally, he said.

As if she wasn’t aware of the concept.

Everyone always painted her as the villain when all she ever did was what needed to be done.

She highly doubted the others would obey Seth’s order completely either.

***

As their opponents had anticipated, Soraya had also divided Squad 11-D into smaller groups to move quietly and avoid detection.

Each group would cover a different section of D-4.

If anyone located the Scale carrier, they were to immediately notify the others.

No one was permitted to attempt a capture alone.

Yesu moved silently through the undergrowth.

James stayed close behind.

Carrots brought up the rear.

The forest had become eerily quiet.

No birds. No insects. Even the wind seemed to have stopped.

It was as if the environment knew what was about to go down.

The three advanced carefully.

Well, two of them did.

Crunch.

Snap.

Crunch.

Every step Carrots took sounded twice as loud.

James grimaced.

"Would you get a grip?"

"I’m trying," Carrots whispered back. "My Ability’s acting weird."

"What does that even mean?"

"It feels like it’s on defense mode or something."

"Then turn it off."

Carrots slowly turned to stare at him.

James immediately softened.

"...If that’s possible, of course." He said politely, with a nervous smile.

Yesu suddenly stopped.

"Someone’s ahead." She said.

All three crouched behind a cluster of bushes.

Through the leaves, four members of 11-A came into view, searching the area.

Carrots leaned toward James.

"Can you tell if one of them has the Scales?"

James focused.

His eyes swept across pockets, belts and jackets.

There were no bulging pockets. Not even slightly.

He listened.

"The Scale carrier’s not here." Yesu declared.

Carrots frowned at her.

"How do you know that?"

"I don’t hear anything jingle when they move." Yesu explained.

James immediately looked at her.

"Are you really sure you don’t have Heightened Senses?"

Yesu looked genuinely confused.

Carrots nudged him impatiently.

"So? Are there any Carriers or not?"

James shook his head.

"No carrier."

The instant the words left his mouth—

"There!"

A slab of earth burst from the ground and hurtled straight into their hiding place.

Carrots exploded upward.

Her fist met the rock head-on.

Boom!

The slab shattered into dozens of fragments.

Pebbles rained over them.

"Run!" James shouted.

The three bolted through the trees.

From behind came an angry voice.

"What is wrong with you?"

One of the other 11-A students rounded on the attacker.

"Camden said no unnecessary engagements!"

"And Camden also said to capture." The Earth User countered. "I’m getting them."

He took off after the fleeing trio.

The remaining three hesitated.

Then, with reluctant curses, they ran after him.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!