Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 82

Chapter 82: Sophia II
Shaking off his confusion, Jake decided to focus on the task at hand. He glanced around the battlefield, assessing the aftermath of their skirmish with Sophia’s team. Broken weapons and scattered debris littered the ground, remnants of the fierce battle that had taken place moments ago.

As Jake surveyed the area, his eyes landed on the rest of his team. They were regrouping, checking on each other’s injuries and discussing their next course of action. Despite the intensity of the fight, they all seemed relatively unscathed.

“Since it’s our team’s win, we’ll raid other regions while your team will protect our camp or base, whatever it is,” Jake declared, extending his hand towards Sophia, who was still seated on the ground.

Sophia blinked in surprise at Jake’s proposition, her earlier embarrassment momentarily forgotten as she processed his words.

“Hmm, that’s what the loser’s supposed to do,” Sophia remarked, a hint of playful defiance in her tone as she took Jake’s hand and pulled herself to her feet. Despite the light teasing, there was a sense of camaraderie in her words, indicating her acceptance of their roles in the aftermath of the battle.

Jake chuckled at Sophia’s remark, appreciating her spirited response. “Fair enough,” he replied with a grin, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze before releasing it. “Let’s show them what winners are made of.”

“I get it, Rank 1, but don’t let it get to your head,” Sophia said with a smile, acknowledging Jake’s leadership while also playfully reminding him to stay grounded. With a nod of understanding, Jake and Sophia regrouped their respective teams and set off together.

First, they made their way to Sophia’s campsite to gather their belongings, Once they had collected their supplies, Jake and Sophia led their teams back to Jake’s campsite. Along the way, they shared stories of their adventures and strategized for the challenges that lay ahead.

***

“The announcement said the loser has to guard the base, but we’ll do something different,” Jake declared, addressing his team and Sophia’s team gathered for a meeting after returning from their half-day rest following the battle.

“What do you mean, Captain?” one of the team members asked, curious about Jake’s announcement.

Jake glanced at Sophia, exchanging a brief nod before turning back to address the group. “We will do the reverse,” he declared, his voice firm and resolute.

“I will, along with a few others, guard the base,” Jake continued, his gaze sweeping over the assembled team. “We can potentially secure better rewards by raiding multiple bases, but if we lose our own base, it’s game over.”

He paused for a moment to let his words sink in before continuing. “It’s likely a hidden detail that many would have discovered by now. So, the raid team will be led by Sophia, while I will stay behind to guard the base,” Jake explained, his tone conveying confidence in their strategy.

The team members nodded in understanding, recognizing the logic behind Jake’s decision. Protecting their base was crucial, and they trusted Jake’s leadership to ensure its safety.

“It’s great, I would have been bored otherwise,” Sophia chimed in with a smirk, her competitive spirit shining through.

With their roles assigned and their strategy in place, Jake and Sophia’s teams prepared to embark on their next mission,

***

As Jake had predicted, many among his friends and teammates had already discovered the hidden detail, including all except for Jimmy, whose preference for using his muscles over his brain was well-known among the group.

However, fortune smiled upon Jimmy when a girl from his team took the time to explain the situation to him. With newfound understanding, Jimmy’s team, fresh from their victory against Michael’s team from the Time Dragon Clan, readily accepted their role in guarding the base while Michael led his team to raid other regions.

Mark and Emily Jake sentiment, recognizing the significance of safeguarding their base above all else. With a clear understanding of their role, they committed themselves wholeheartedly to the task, ensuring that their stronghold remained fortified against any potential threats.

Similarly, Iris, ever the strategist, also chose to prioritize the security of their base, understanding the importance of maintaining a strong defensive position. With her leadership, her team stood ready to defend their territory with unwavering determination.

However, Lucien had a different perspective. Fueled by a desire for both victory and personal vendetta, he saw securing better rewards as a top priority. His thoughts were consumed by a fierce determination to outshine Jake and his team, fueled by memories of their previous encounters.

“Besides, I want to crush him,” Lucien thought viciously, his determination bordering on obsession as he envisioned besting Jake in their upcoming endeavors. With a fire burning in his heart, Lucien prepared to lead his team into battle, eager to prove his worth and claim victory at any cost.

***

“Captain, when will someone come?” Cilia asked, leaning against a nearby tree.

Jake, who was meditating with his eyes closed, responded calmly, “I alone am enough to secure our base. You guys can go and raid.”

“Really? Captain!” Jess exclaimed, her excitement palpable as she eagerly awaited confirmation of their next move.

Jake chuckled and nodded in amusement as he observed his team members eagerly preparing to embark on their raid.

“These fools,” Jake mused to himself, shaking his head affectionately at their enthusiasm. Despite his inward amusement, he understood their excitement and eagerness to take action.

“Well, can’t blame them. I’m getting a bit bored myself,” Jake admitted silently, his thoughts drifting as he settled back into his meditation. Closing his eyes once more, he focused his mind, allowing a sense of calm to wash over him as he prepared to maintain vigilance over their base.

Soon his team departed too, they thought of moving in different direction from Sophia team.

***

“It’s already the 4th day,” Jake mumbled to himself as he lay on the soft grass, reflecting on the uneventful days that had passed since the start of their mission. Thus far, no one had attempted to invade their base, and Jake had grown accustomed to the quietude.

However, just as he began to resign himself to another day of solitude, a muffled sound of footsteps caught his attention. Alert and vigilant, Jake activated his Akashic Sight, allowing him to perceive beyond the physical realm. Through this heightened awareness, he detected a figure stealthily approaching their flag—a simple “J” on a white background—the symbol of their base.

“Oy!” Jake called out to the figure, causing him to flinch and glance in Jake’s direction.

Upon receiving no response, Jake persisted, “Which team do you belong to?”

The student utilizing stealth seemed surprised as they cautiously replied, “You can see me?”

“Of course, dumbass. Who else is here?” Jake retorted with a hint of annoyance, his voice firm and resolute.

The blonde student emerged from stealth and greeted Jake with a simple “hello.”

Jake, still reclining on the soft grass, queried, “Which team?”

“I belong to Simon’s team. My name is Ethan,” the student, Ethan, responded.

As Jake listened, an image of a narcissistic individual flashed through his mind, prompting him to remark, “So you belong to that narcissistic freak’s team.”

“Well, since that guy hasn’t annoyed me yet, you can go back,” Jake dismissed, his tone casual yet firm, allowing Ethan to retreat without further confrontation.

Ethan nodded silently and departed without further ado.

“Hmm, he really left? I thought he would fight me,” Jake murmured to himself, shaking his head in mild surprise. With a shrug, he closed his eyes once more, returning to his state of meditation, content in the quiet solitude of their base.

While Jake closed his eyes, Ethan returned to raid team from his region.

As Ethan rejoined the raid team from his region, Simon, who stood at a distance from Jake’s base, greeted him with a curious glance. “Oh, you have returned. But where is the flag?” he inquired, his gaze fixed on Ethan, awaiting an explanation.

“I failed,” Ethan admitted bitterly, frustration evident in his tone as he recounted his encounter with Jake.

Simon’s expression darkened at the news. “That base belongs to Rank 1. There’s no way we can win against him,” Ethan added, his bitterness palpable as he reflected on the futility of their attempt to infiltrate Jake’s base, especially given Jake’s keen perception that easily detected even Ethan’s stealth.

Ethan’s frustration deepened as he contemplated the failure of his Phantom core’s stealth, a trait inherited from his lineage that made his family renowned as an assassin clan. Despite his Phantom core being capable of concealing his presence to the extent that even those five major ranks above him couldn’t detect him, Jake, whose rank was lower than his, effortlessly perceived Ethan’s stealth as if it were a mere triviality.

“Humph, so what if he’s Rank 1,” Simon snorted dismissively. “I am also Rank 1 in beauty,” he proclaimed proudly, striking a pose as he admired his own reflection.

Ethan, however, felt a wave of nausea wash over him as he observed Simon’s self-absorbed display. Unable to shake off the memory of Jake’s less-than-flattering evaluation of Simon,