The Scrap Tamer - Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Team 7 Vs Team 5

The team continued heading towards the supply box Clara had spotted while making sure no one or nothing lay in ambush for them.

The team didn’t have to walk for long before they came into an open area with the tall buildings surrounding it.

“It’s right there” Clara pointed in the direction of an abandoned looking store.

Just at the entrance, a crate with military camo which made it obvious enough that it was the supply box, stood.

The team approached it, with Reid walking forward to open it. He crouched down when he got close enough, only to spot a small screen on where the lock was supposed to be.

He tapped on the screen, causing it to turn on, producing a blue glow. On it, a small keypad was displayed and Reid understood what it was asking for.

“Ethan, do you think you can hack this open?” he turned to the guy who knew much more about tech than any of them and asked.

Ethan approached and also crouched in front of the box, tapped the screen a few times before saying,

“I can, but it’ll take a couple of minutes”.

“I can do it in one” Marcus suddenly said, making everyone turn to him.

“You can hack?” Lisa asked. Marcus looked nothing like a tech guy so their surprise was justified.

“Not really” he approached the crate and picked it up.

Intently looking at the small screen as if figuring something out, he grabbed it and before anyone could say anything, he ripped it out.

“T-that was our only way to get the crate open” Ethan stuttered out “without that screen the crate will force shut, with no way to open it”.

Marcus, feeling embarrassed, put the crate down and awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“I’m sorry, I thought ripping the screen off would help” He sincerely apologized.

“Well it di—” Ethan wanted to continue but was cut off by Reid.

“It’s fine” he said.

Copying [rewind] from Rusty, he reversed the damage done, with the screen going back in its spot.

Since Nyx was currently on his head, the team automatically assumed it was one of its skills but that didn’t make the sight any less fascinating.

“That’s pretty cool” Clara commented and Reid just nodded.

“Since we’re not allowed to use our inventory, we’ll have to carry the box until we find a temporary base where Ethan can try opening it.” Reid said as he stood up.

“I’ll do it” Marcus volunteered. Ethan didn’t seem like he wanted Marcus anywhere near that screen again but the decision rested in the hands of their leader and Reid chose to allow it.

Marcus proceeded to hoist the crate over his shoulders, not even flinching from its weight the weight.

“Let’s keep moving” Reid said, but before they could continue on their way, a voice suddenly came from across them.

“And where do you think you’re going?” The speaker asked.

Reid and his team turned to the voice and were faced with a team of five, each with their forged-beasts at their side.

Unlike theirs, the new group consisted of 2 male and 3 females. The first female, who looked like the leader, had short black hair with green eyes, she looked like a typical tomboy. By her side was a white wolf.

The second female had platinum blond hair coupled with bright blue eyes. On her shoulders was what looked like a hawk but smaller.

The last female and one of the males looked very much alike, probably twins. They both had Auburn hair and hazel eyes. Wrapped around the girl’s hand was a mini green serpent and by the male was a black panther.

The last guy looked big, almost as big as Marcus himself who was pretty big. His forged-beast was a weird one because unlike most who had theirs looking mostly like animals, his was in the form of a metal golem.

The one who asked was the male of the twins.

Reid and his team spared them a brief glance before they continued walking forward.

“I’m gonna ask you to drop that crate” The big guy of their group was the one to speak this time “and do so while I’m being nice.”

“How about no” Clara responded.

“Then we’ll have to force you to give it up” The opposite team took a battle stance as they allowed their forged beasts to grow into their battle sizes.

“Not interested in a fight” Reid calmly said. He was confident in his team winning but that would just lead to them wasting energy.

“Oh, I’m sure you’re not” the tomboy leader spoke “now either hand the crate over or we’ll take it ourselves and trust me, you wouldn’t like our methods.”

That was going to be a problem. You see, as much as Reid didn’t want to waste energy fighting, he equally didn’t want to give up the crate since there was no guarantee he would find another.

With a sigh, Reid said “put the crate down Marcus”.

“Glad you understand” the tomboy leader said with a smile and was about to walk forward and collect the crate until Reid’s next words came.

“We wouldn’t want you breaking the screen again while fighting” He said and his team immediately took their own battle stances.

“Ah I see” the tomboy leader said before turning to her team “let’s try not to hurt them too bad, after all, this is just training”.

________

Outside the simulation, commander Ajax stood, looking at what was happening inside.

Currently, his cameras were focused on team 7 and 5. Both teams contained geniuses so he was curious to see how this fight would turn out.

Probably with both teams completely exhausted, making them easy targets for both the simulated primals and the officers who would be hunting them down.

“Should I stop them sir?” one of his subordinates asked. He was the captain of one of the group of seniors so commander Ajax also allowed him a tablet to view the ongoing test.

“It’s fine, besides, I want to see how strong this year’s batch is compared to yours” he responded and went back to watching the fight that was about to happen.

The officer also returned his attention to the tablet in his hand. Since commander Ajax was so focused, this fight should be interesting, was what ran through the officer’s mind.

________

Back in the simulation, Team 7 and team 5 were locked in a standoff, both sides assessing the other.

Getting bored of the stalemate, Clara fired the first shot which acted as a signal for the fight to begin.

Her shot was aimed at the twin with the snake for a forged beast but before the bullet could land, a green barrier rose from the ground and blocked it.

“Tch” Clara clicked her tongue in annoyance. She had hoped to take out one of them in a single shot.

“Clara, handle the one with the barrier and try to find an opening” Reid gave the command “Marcus, you handle the big guy and Lisa, you’ll handle the guy with panther”.

“Ethan, be ready with some boost and heal” He continued “I’ll handle the leader and the one with the hawk”.

“I can handle the one with the hawk” Ethan spoke up.

Reid looked at him and could see the determination in his eyes so he allowed it. He was trying to keep their support safe but at the same time, he realized that he was underestimating home without knowing his full capability.

“Fine, but retreat if she gets too much to handle” he said and Ethan nodded.

The moment Reid gave the command, both teams clashed in the open space, each targeting their assigned opponent.

______

Clara repositioned immediately after her first shot was blocked, she delivered a couple more shots but they were all blocked by the barrier.

“Tch” She clicked her tongue again “why don’t you stop hiding behind your shell”.

She taunted, hoping to make the opponent drop her shield which didn’t work.

“Why don’t you actually try and land an attack” The opponent taunted back. She knew that she held the advantage while behind her shield so there was no way she was going to give it up.

Clara was getting more frustrated. Every shot was blocked by the pesky barrier and it was getting on her nerves.

But that’s when she spotted it, through the eyes of her falcon floating above. What she spotted made her smirk but her opponent didn’t seem to notice it.

“Don’t you see?, there’s no way your bullets can get through my forged-beast’s barrier” the twin spoke up “I’ll just stall like this until your team is defeated and you’ll be next.”

“Is that so?” Clara asked in a tone which made the twin frown.

Clara proceeded to fire three rapid shots. The first two were blocked by the twin’s forged-beast’s barrier which made her smug again.

“See, I told you it’s no—” before she could complete what she was saying, she felt something pierce her shoulder.

“You were saying” Clara’s grin widened.

As it turns out, the barrier she created by her forged beast only focused on one direction, leaving her open in the others.

That’s why Clara fired the first two shots as a distraction. The third ricocheted off a metal pole behind her and pierced her shoulder.

With her first attack landing,the tides had turned in Clara’s favor and she wasn’t about to let that opportunity pass..