Not taking cover was my first mistake though, the explosion was destructive and far-reaching. The shrapnel that was expelled from the epicenter decimated multiple buildings including the one I was occupying. Shards of glass, heated metal, and stone pelted my surroundings. Sending dust and material flying into the air. With wide eyes, I attempted to take cover but fate was not with me as several shards tore at my face and arms."Aahhhh" I screamed in pain with my face half-covered by my helmet, I avoided fatal harm but still, my face from the nose down was shredded and lacerated.


    With various small and large cuts, my arms were in a similar state through my armor reduced much of the damage only some of the shrapnel passed through it. But the pain was blinding with blood dripping down my face I reached for my gun, "ouch" I winced a little my hands raw and bloody. Placing it back down I reached for my large pouch and unclasped the flap grabbing the medical foam. I proceeded to spray it into the open wounds and watched as it foamed up and sealed them, I can only heal my left hand and my arms though. It''s not a good idea to have my mouth and nose covered with foam it would be funny though death by foam suffocation. Then I need a free hand to shoot with this foam will stiffen the site too much to shoot with the hand.


    Suddenly there were dull impact and rolling sounds. I turned just in time to see as one flash grenade and a regular grenade flew through the front window and bounced off the wall towards me. "BANG...BOOM." There was a blinding flash and ringing sound than an explosion. Good thing I was already behind the desk or I would be a little more than half-blind and for sure painted on the wall. My vision came back quickly but my hearing was all but gone between the church explosion and the current one. But I did feel as the floor shook while a notification that my tripwire at the front of the building went off.


    Meaning the swamp rat who tried to frag me got a face full of heated lead. Switching my gun to my pistol I ran for the back window there is no time for a clean getaway. "Crash" the glass shattered around me and as I fell towards the ground I committed to a combat roll as my scary instructor taught me. And I executed it perfectly all that pain was worth it because that just saved my life.


    Behind me, the room I had occupied was shot to death it resembled that fancy cheese that they use to serve on special occasions at the orphanage. It went very well with sandwiches. But enough of that I have to stay focused I ran to the building a street up back towards the way I came into town. While looking over my shoulder I saw someone breach the room I was in. I kicked open a door just as they looked out the window gun raised towards me, jumping behind the wall just as bullets impacted where I just stood.


    "Bang Bang Bang" I returned fire and then popped a smoke grenade out the door waiting for it to deploy more. I proceeded to run towards the entrance on the other side of the building that as it turned out was a butcher shop. I vaulted over the counter and out the front entrance onto a side street. I continued forward towards the edge of town occasionally checking my six.


    "Man what a waste of a good opportunity. At least I escaped this could have gone a lot worse..."Sigh". But what made that church go up like that there had to have been some very unstable material just on the floor.


    (Unbeknownst to our protagonist it was indeed the perfect mix of chance and bad luck coming together to create that result. First, her opponent was on an unstable platform with no railing. Second, a crate of plasma rounds was situated right under that platform, and one of those clips just so happened to be damaged in a fight the day before leaking some of the highly flammable and unstable concentrated gasses into the room. Then in a twist, our protagonist decided to use heat rounds to set her target on fire. He then did not surprisingly catch fire faint and fall back off his high platform right into the gas igniting the crate full of plasma rounds in the process. Thus creating an epic explosion heard through the whole map.)


    The biggest disappointment was missing the chance to grab that special gun but better lost than used by the enemy. Treading carefully through the town was nerve-racking though I had to move slowly or risk walking into an ambush, but fast enough not to be caught by pursuers. Checking all my corners and the windows I though suspect were taking all my brainpower.


    Eventually, I did reach my destination unmolested. The small road leading to the mansion was just insight and the drones I had patrolling the sky already had me in there sightlines. A heavy tension was lifted off my shoulders and I hurried to get to behind the secure and safe perimeter of the mansion security.


    I walked in finding everything the way it was before quiet and lonely the buzz of power running through the walls and ceiling. I can''t wait till this test is over then maybe I can finally spend some proper time with my family and get to know them. While taking the personal elevator to the fourth floor I started unclasping the seems in my armor trying to gain access to the areas I was injured during the confrontation at the plaza. "Ding" The doors slid open and I turned right down the hall.


    Then left into the master bedroom then into the bathroom. I released any Items still on me and stepped into the shower cleaning off all the blood and dust from my body. The medical foam was still stuck to some spots but I pulled it off and underneath the wounds were healed with scabs already forming. I stood there letting the cool water wash over me reflecting on the way I handled that engagement.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Overall not bad but there is definite room for improvement. "Ok" I stepped out and dried using the most ornate towel I''ve ever come across. With gold trimming and fancy embroidery, it just might be the biggest waste in this whole room. Suppressing the mental rant I was about to go on I left the bathroom and refitted my armor to my body adjusting and repairing what I could.


    Now I need to decide next steps obviously it''s too dangerous to go point seeking on my own so ether I wait it all out, or I seek allies. But it''s not like I know many if any other contestants and the two I kind of made an accord with are who knows where. So I either get lucky and find one of them if there not already dead and hope they don''t betray me, or I seek out others and hope they don''t just shoot me.


    Ok, so that''s no good choices and only mildly bad then worse choices to choose from. Yea I''ll just hold up here till I''m forced to do something else. "Hmmm" Alternatively I could task one of the drones to seek out contestants and hope one of them is who I''m looking out for.


    "Alrighty, that might not be a bad plan." I start swiping at my PAL "AI task drone two for scouting the movement and faces of the contestants in the area."


    With that out of the way, all I have to do is wait and see if trouble finds me first or help dose. But just in case I should shore up the defenses around here and then restock on supplies maybe I''ll find something I missed before. I surveyed the mansion again checking on the traps I already placed and setting up more on the ground and second floor. I rigged most of the large windows with smart bombs that will react to hostile movement. I also booby-trapped some of the rooms and hallways on the second floor that could be possibly accessed from outside.


    With that done I revisited the armory and added some more remote detonation bombs to my loadout. Placing some in the armory itself ready to armed and ready to blow if I lose control of the mansion. My preparations complete I just decide to relax on the roof rifle at the ready in case someone comes along to visit uninvited.


    While the day dragged on I got several scout drone reports of people moving around and fighting each other but none of them were my potential allies. I did however find someone interesting one of the clan heirs I meet when the tests started has wandered into the town.  Her name was Alada if I remember correctly, the cute nerdy redhead was no longer wearing that baggy jumpsuit. She was suited up in light armor much like myself and boy did it reveal the curves she was hiding before.


    But that''s not the import part, what is though is the fact that shes destroying anyone she comes across. Armed with what seems to be a compact submachine gun loaded with explosive rounds. She''s literally tearing through the competition there bloody prices scattered over the battlefield. With very acrobatic and swift reflexes she seems to be just about unstoppable in an urban environment where she can take advantage of so much cover and blind spots. One guy who was hiding behind a wall even got flanked she flipped over then shot him in the back he and the wall were destroyed he never saw it coming.


    Her fighting style could be a direct counter to my sniper focused one if I miss the first shot. Man, I never expected someone so harmless looking too be so vicious. Well, I shouldn''t be surprised she''s not fourth place in this generation for nothing. Now the question is should I avoid her or try and take her out or even try and team up with her.


    I continued to think about it as I watched her continue the massacre, by this point she has basically cleared out the whole town. Anyone drawn to the fighting has ether died to her or the other people heading there, and then those who survived proceeded too be eliminated by her next. So either way, she benefited in the end.


    Then in the corner of the display being streamed through to my helmet from the drone, I spotted an individual walking out the forest heading towards town. And who else could it be but one of the people I was looking for the upbeat party girl. She of course was looked a little different being in armor and all but I recognized her. I never did learn her name though I should fix that. But she''s heading straight towards killer queen Alada and I cant have an alliance if the other members are dead.


    So time for action I grab my gear and head for the side of the roof hooking some rope to the edge I repel down the side of the mansion. I unclip myself 8ft from the ground so no one can use it to reach the roof. I hit the ground feet slightly numb from the impact. Hopefully, I can get there before a fight breaks out between the two heading into town everything has become silent the fighting has ceased. But from my drones visual I notice that everyone else is dead. We are all heading for a street not far from the edge of town I occupy but it seems despite my quick response they will make contact before I get there.


    --------------------------------------


    POV: Cion (aka party girl)


    It seems one of the Elite 4 is wreaking havoc all over this part of the sim test I wonder which one it is. "No matter either way I''ll kick there butt and bring them down a notch." I''m tired of dads nagging and the way they get all the attention I mean are the rest of us in the top 20 garbage on the roadside. Our skills do not differ that... "Bang bang"


    (The corner of the wall directly to the front right of Cion was fired on right then. Flicking dust and brick into the air right in her face.)


    "Damn" I barely avoided those impacts its a lifesaver I have good reflexes. I did catch a glimpse of her thought its Alada she might be quiet but she just might be the most annoying to deal with out of the elite 4, she''s fairly adaptable to a lot of combat styles. People don''t call her the all-rounder for nothing, many have underestimated her and paid the price. I don''t plan to be one of them.


    I Check my ammo before I engage this will be interesting. I circle back to the other side of the building I''m on...."Bam bam bam" I fire a few rounds as she tries to outmaneuver me by building hopping but I give her no chance. I''m keeping this a mid-range fight there''s no way I''ll let her keep her pace and close the distance. "Bam bam bam bam". This fight is just getting started.