Chapter 23 – The Tower Trial Begins
The moment Logan's team stepped near the watchtower, the tension thickened. The other teams had already sized up their competition, and Darius Cross stood near the base of the tower, his arms crossed, smirking at Logan.
"You sure you wanna do this, Holt?" Darius called out. "I hear you're more of a 'behind-the-scenes' guy."
Logan didn't respond immediately. He glanced at the tower—it was about 40 feet tall, a rusted old structure from a bygone era. The wooden planks leading up looked unstable in certain spots, and the top had a small platform where the flag was tied to an old railing.
He turned to his team. "I'll climb."
William nodded. "Figured. That means we handle the crowd."
Jessica smirked. "Fine by me."
Matthew cracked his knuckles. "Guess we're fighting already. I was hoping to have breakfast first."
As soon as Logan stepped toward the tower, the countdown began.
3… 2… 1…
The challenge started.
---
Logan moved first, sprinting toward the ladder. The moment he placed his hands on it, a guy from another team lunged at him.
Jessica intercepted.
She caught the attacker's wrist, twisted it, and flipped him over her shoulder. The guy hit the ground hard, groaning.
"Eyes on the climb, Logan," she said, before engaging another opponent.
Logan didn't need to be told twice. He scaled the ladder quickly, moving with precision. Even though his esper abilities were restricted, his body was still trained for agility and endurance.
Below, the fight was heating up.
Matthew used his speed to dodge and counter, redirecting attacks rather than taking them head-on. William, on the other hand, was a powerhouse—even without his Titan enhancements, his natural strength made him a dominant force.
Darius, however, wasn't focused on them. He had also sent one of his teammates up the other side of the tower.
Logan saw him out of the corner of his eye. So that's how it is.
The climb turned into a race.
---
At the top, Logan reached for the flag—only for Darius's climber to grab his ankle.
Logan yanked his leg free, kicked off the railing, and jumped onto the platform.
The other guy pulled himself up and swung a punch.
Logan dodged. His movement was sharp, efficient. The restrictions dulled his esper abilities, but he was still trained.
The opponent charged again. Logan sidestepped, grabbed his wrist, and flipped him over the edge.
The guy barely managed to grab onto the railing before falling.
Without wasting time, Logan snatched the flag.
Below, William saw the movement. "He's got it!"
Matthew smirked. "Time to bounce."
Jessica kicked away her opponent. "Agreed."
Logan leaped off the platform, catching the ladder on the way down. As soon as his feet hit the ground, his team bolted into the trees.
Darius watched them go, shaking his head. "Holt, you just made things interesting."
---
Once the team was a safe distance away, they slowed down. Logan tossed the flag to Matthew.
"First win," Logan said.
William grinned. "Damn, that was a good start."
Jessica wiped sweat off her brow. "But Darius is watching us now."
Matthew laughed. "Please, like we weren't already on his radar."
Logan remained silent. He knew this was just the beginning.
Darius wasn't going to let that loss slide.
After securing the flag, Logan and his team pushed deeper into the wilderness. The trees around them were thick, providing some cover, but also making it easier for opponents to ambush them.
Jessica adjusted her ponytail, glancing at Logan. "So, what's next, fearless leader?"
"We don't stop moving," Logan said. "Teams are going to come after us now. We have the first flag—makes us a target."
Matthew groaned. "So we're just gonna be running the whole time?"
William chuckled. "You'd rather fight?"
Matthew smirked. "If we're picking fights, let's pick smart ones."
Logan agreed. "We're going to need more than one flag to stay in this game. The next tower should be east of here. We move fast, hit hard, and disappear before anyone knows what happened."
Jessica stretched her arms. "I like this plan."
---
They had barely moved ten minutes when Logan stopped abruptly, his instincts kicking in. Something felt off.
A rustling in the bushes. A shift in the air.
"Trap," he muttered.
Before the others could react, four figures lunged from the trees.
Another team.
Matthew barely dodged a punch aimed at his head. "Damn, these guys don't waste time!"
Jessica ducked a sweeping kick and retaliated, grabbing her attacker and using his momentum to flip him into a tree.
William didn't even flinch as a guy twice his size rushed him. He sidestepped, grabbed the guy's arm, and threw him into the dirt.
Logan, meanwhile, faced off against the apparent leader of the group—a tall, lean guy with sharp eyes. He was fast, even without abilities. He threw a quick jab, but Logan caught his wrist, twisted it, and shoved him backward.
The guy staggered but grinned. "Not bad, Holt."
Logan didn't recognize him, but he wasn't surprised that his name was known.
"No hard feelings," the guy continued. "We just need that flag."
Logan smirked. "Come take it, then."
---
The ambush turned into an all-out brawl.
Jessica and Matthew worked together, Matthew using his agility to dodge and counter while Jessica used precise, brutal takedowns.
William, as expected, was an unstoppable force, shrugging off hits and tossing opponents like ragdolls.
Logan kept his fight clean and efficient, dodging, countering, and striking with calculated precision.
Within minutes, the attacking team was on the ground, groaning in pain.
The leader wiped blood from his lip, laughing. "Alright, alright. You win this round."
Logan didn't reply. He signaled to his team, and they quickly disappeared into the forest.
---
As they ran, Matthew chuckled. "Damn, we're kinda badass together."
Jessica smirked. "You just realized?"
William shook his head. "We're gonna have to fight again soon. No way we go unnoticed after this."
Logan knew they were right. The wilderness event was far from over, and every team out there would be gunning for them now.
He looked toward the trees ahead.
Let them come.
After the ambush, Logan and his team moved swiftly through the dense forest. They needed to avoid unnecessary fights while securing more flags. The wind rustled through the trees, masking their footsteps as they navigated deeper into the wilderness.
Jessica adjusted her backpack straps. "We should find a place to rest and come up with a strategy."
Logan nodded. "We'll set up near the river. Water source, natural cover, and easy escape routes."
Matthew groaned. "Man, I could use some real food. Rations suck."
William smirked. "You mean you can't survive without your protein shakes?"
Before Matthew could reply, Logan raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
He scanned the trees. Something was off.
A faint shimmer—almost imperceptible. Then, a flicker of movement.
"We're being watched," Logan murmured.
---
A dart whizzed through the air. Logan dodged, but it struck a tree behind him, embedding deep into the bark.
"Tranquilizers," Jessica whispered. "Someone's trying to take us out quietly."
William clenched his fists. "They messed up if they think we're easy prey."
A soft chuckle echoed from the trees.
Then they appeared.
Five figures, dressed in black tactical gear, melted out of the shadows. Their leader—a tall, wiry guy with a jagged scar across his cheek—smirked.
"Well, well," he said. "The infamous Logan Holt."
Logan's eyes sharpened. "And you are?"
The guy tilted his head. "Just another competitor. But unlike the others, we don't fight fair."
Logan barely had time to react before three more darts shot toward them.
---
Logan shoved Jessica aside as a dart whizzed past her ear. William tore a branch off a tree and used it as a makeshift bat, deflecting another dart.
"Run!" Logan commanded.
They bolted through the trees, dodging incoming fire. The enemy team was skilled—tracking them effortlessly.
Matthew activated his synth watch, scanning the terrain. "They're herding us!"
Logan cursed under his breath. If they got cornered, it was over.
Jessica suddenly veered left, sprinting toward an incline. "Follow me!"
Trusting her instincts, they changed course. The enemies hesitated for a second—just enough time.
Jessica led them through thick underbrush before diving into a shallow ravine. The moment they hit the ground, she gestured for them to stay low.
The enemy team ran past them, unaware they had slipped away.
---
They waited until the footsteps faded before William let out a low whistle. "That was close."
Jessica smirked. "Told you I had a plan."
Logan exhaled, glancing back toward where the enemies had disappeared.
"They're skilled," he admitted. "But we'll turn the tables."
Matthew grinned. "You're thinking payback?"
Logan's eyes gleamed. "I'm thinking we hunt them instead."