Chapter 101
As he was nearing the camp, he unexpectedly stumbled upon three of their classmates: Whitney, Rex, and another one of their classmate. They were gathered near a clearing, discussing something in hushed tones. The sight of them brought a slight smirk to Ezekiel’s face. This could be an opportunity to strengthen their group, even though the exam was still individually scored.
"Hey, you three!" Ezekiel called out, waving as he approached. "What a coincidence running into you guys out here."
The trio turned to face him, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Ezekiel?" Whitney asked, stepping forward. "What are you doing out here?"
"Just finishing up my shift," Ezekiel replied casually. "I’ve been out hunting and scouting. Found a few interesting spots, but I figured it’d be smarter to work together. How about you three join up with me and my team? It’s safer in numbers, and we can cover more ground."
Whitney exchanged a glance with Rex who seemed to be weighing the offer. "You already have a team?" Rex asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice.
"Yeah, Remillia and the new student, Caleo, are with me," Ezekiel said, mentioning the names with a casual confidence. "We’re keeping an eye on each other’s backs. And let’s face it, we all know how brutal this exam can be. Teaming up doesn’t mean we won’t get our individual points—it just means we’re less likely to get ambushed or lose our badges."
Whitney seemed to consider it, then nodded. "I suppose it makes sense. If we stick together, we can take turns keeping watch and hunt for points. And if someone tries to attack us, we’ll have the numbers to fend them off."
Josh finally spoke up, his tone neutral. "As long as it doesn’t mean we’re giving up our own chances to win."
"Of course not," Ezekiel assured him. "We’re all still in it for ourselves, but it’s smarter to have allies. So, what do you say?"
After a moment of silence, the three of them nodded in agreement. "Alright," Rex said, "we’ll join you."
"Great," Ezekiel grinned, satisfied with the outcome. "Let’s head back to the camp. We’ve got a solid group now, and I think this will work in our favor."