"The second trial will be a team battle" said the god.
The announcement washed over the seven participants. Still laying in his bed, it was plausible that the cyborg boy still slept. However, Kay reeled from the news.
'Shit'
He threw a hesitant glance towards Sanson, however, the mage was enraptured in the god's speech.
'I forgot. He practically worships him.'
Though Kay had learned more sides of Sanson, there were some parts that had stayed consistent throughout. Namely, his love of magic, and of course, because the god had promised everyone access to it in their next life, the old mage faced the god with diligence.
"You will compete in teams. One will consist of three, the other of four," continued the
god.
At this, several of the contestants stared at the god with a mix of anger and confusion.
All except the knight and Sanson, who seemed to be waiting for further information before casting judgment.
"Isn't that unfair?" asked the vampiress in an accusatory tone. It was clear that by unfair she was referring to herself. Only if she was on the team of three would she be displeased.
"I suggest you let me finish, or would you prefer I bind your mouth again," said the god, holding his hands in preparation for a clap.
The vampiress shot the god with a glare from her blood-red eyes. Elegantly sipping her drink once more, she withdrew from the conversation.
"Good, it appears that some of you are capable of learning," said the god, his face morphed momentarily into that of a Cheshire cat.
"The trial will be a siege battle. Those on the team of three will defend, while the four attack."
Clap. The scenery of the jungle and tower vanished. Slowly, a town began to take shape around the seven and the god. How exactly the god was doing it he wasn't sure, but it was a physical process. Granted, the building was severely sped up.
Kay watched spellbound as cobblestone roads were paved and houses were built, the architecture reminiscent of a medieval village. They stood in the middle of a street, at the center of the ever-expanding city.
Then, about a mile inwards, a gargantuan building was taking shape. Towers were built, the bricks raining from the skies and fitting perfectly into place. A mansion would've been dwarfed by the castle. Eventually a massive wall took shape, blocking the view of the still-constructing castle. Lining the perimeter, it was roughly thirty meters high. Watchtowers formed, placed every several meters, making for easy vantage points.
Suddenly, the town seemed pitiful in comparison to the stone fortress before them.
"This will be the site of the second trial. That castle will be the home of the three," said the god, the colossal building and protections completed.
"Since this trial isn't a free-for-all, how will the points be tallied? " asked the moth girl.
"An excellent question. The points will work differently depending on which side you're on. Those who are defending, will gain five points for each day they successfully repel any attacks. All for a maximum of fifteen points, if they do so for three days."
Kay's heartbeat accelerated as a realization dawned on him. The first trial had net seven points at best. It inspired equal parts fear and hope, knowing both that his shoddy performance could be redeemed, while also knowing that it was imperative he perform well to capitalize on the many available points.
"As for the attacking team, most of the power lies with you. Those who are defending are tasked with protecting a golden crown. Your goal is simple: retrieve the crown and escape back to the town. Doing so will award you ten points. However, fail to do so by the end of the third day and the trial will end. Of course, in that case, you'd get zero points."
'So if the siege team succeeds on the first day, they'd get ten while the other side gets zero, huh' thought Kay.
It seemed like a fairly balanced game. The initiative rested entirely with the offensive team; the speed at which they won decided the point gap. For example, if they won on the third day then each team would receive ten points. A stalemate.
However, the god was not yet finished.
"There will also be one traitor. One of the four siegers will have a separate role: to sabotage their teammates." the god's face shifted to that of the devil.
"For the sake of this trial, those attacking will be immortal, in a sense. While it is possible to die, you will always return from death. Though, there is a caveat," the god's face hadn't changed. The face of the demon smiled wickedly at the seven participants.
"Each death will result in the deduction of a point from that person. Dying ten times, even if it results in victory, will net that person zero points."
"What if someone exceeds ten times?" said the knight.
"Die more than ten times and I will begin sapping points that you earned from the first trial. Though, in your case, I suppose you would simply end with a negative score."
The knight sneered at the god's derision. Kay could feel a malicious foreboding seeping into his bones. He wholly believed that the knight intended to even the score from the first trial, with interest.
"In turn, each death of a teammate will add one point to the traitor's score. Although, he will not receive ten points from stealing the crown. His only method to gain is by getting his teammates killed. That doesn't include himself. The death of the traitor carries the same point subtraction as the others."
In theory, the traitor could gain infinite points. The death's of the three siegers were a resource he could mercilessly exploit. It was a selfish role, where one person benefited off the misfortune of others.
"Any questions?" asked the god. Nobody moved, too preoccupied with absorbing the rules, and weighing the merits and demerits of each side.
"In that case," he pointed towards Sanson, the knight, and vampiress. "You three will be defending. You'll only have one life, but your advantage is great." He gestured at the massive castle shrouded by peerless walls.
"Those remaining will be siegers. The traitor will soon learn of their role."
Once again, the god clapped, and with the noise the three defenders vanished, presumably teleported to the castle. The god had disappeared as well. Only Kay, the cyborg boy, moth girl, and salaryman remained.
None of them spoke. None of them moved. Though technically their numbers were greater, the existence of the traitor muddied the air. Added to the common knowledge that siege warfare always favored those defending, soured the mood further.
Then, a voice broke the silence, though it didn't come from the four. Just barely perceptible, the mischievous god whispered in his ear.
"Kay Solus, you are the traitor."