After the team competition ended, Lancelot's reputation in the special training camp soared. Many members took the initiative to chat with him and get closer to him.
That evening, Lancelot went to see Instructor Bette. Bette first gave him some pointers on using guns, then taught him three gun-fighting techniques.
One for attack, one for defense, and one for evasion!
Lancelot learned quickly. His muscle control was even better than Instructor Bette's, and he gained a basic grasp of all three gun-fighting techniques in just one hour. Once again, he shocked Instructor Bette, who even suggested that Lancelot switch to the gunner class rather than waste such an extraordinary talent for firearms.
He wasn't joking. Instructor Bette really did have that idea, but Lancelot politely declined.
Of the three clones, he was the only one with ordinary talent.
Logo and Gustavo were both growing very quickly. If Lancelot didn't want to fall behind, the ability-user system, which could make him stronger quickly, was the best fit.
That was especially true of the Innovators. Although they burned through their lifespans, as long as they could overcome life-and-death trials time and again, they really did grow stronger fast.
The next day, two square metal arenas stood in another training ground.
With his hands behind his back, Instructor Tarn explained the rules of the individual competition.
"The individual competition will use an arena format. The rules are the same as the arena battles in the preliminary round of the Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination. You'll draw lots at random and fight one-on-one. The winners advance, and the losers enter the repechage. Three of the final top ten will come from the repechage..."
"Because our resources are limited, the special training camp hasn't acquired dedicated treatment pods. However, Instructor Jace has powerful healing abilities. Combined with medical treatment, those will be enough to heal your injuries, so don't worry about getting hurt. Give it everything you've got. There's no place for cowards in the world of supernaturals!"
As he said the last sentence, Instructor Tarn swept his fierce gaze over the members below. His imposing presence made them unconsciously straighten up.
"If you're ready, let's draw lots!"
"Lancelot, what number did you get?"
Burke leaned over to ask.
"Number fifteen!"
"What a shame. None of the four of us drew a bye!" Burke said gloomily. Then he turned to Cole and gave him the middle finger. "It's all your fault. You dragged down the limit of our luck."
"Are you asking for a beating?" Cole gave him a hostile look.
"Come on, come on! Who's afraid of you?" Burke taunted. Cole curled his lip and ignored the muscle-brained fellow.
Soon, everyone had drawn their lots. A female member with C-rank potential drew the bye and hopped around happily.
"The draw is over. Take your places in the arenas!"
As soon as the instructor finished speaking, numbers one and fifty-three stepped out of the crowd and headed for the arena on the left.
Numbers two and fifty-two headed for the arena on the right.
"Go, Cole! Flatten that big guy!"
Although Burke and Cole often bickered, they were actually the closest of friends.
Cole had drawn number fifty-two. As it happened, his opponent was Hopkin, one of the two tanks on Windsor's team.
"Heh heh, watch this, brothers." Cole rubbed his hands together and stared at Hopkin with ill intent. Hopkin's face stiffened, but he still strode onto the arena and beckoned to Cole with great bravado. "Come fight!"
"Oh? You've got some guts!" Cole raised an eyebrow, then jumped onto the arena, his big belly bouncing up and down in waves.
He hoisted his belly. When the countdown ended, Cole thrust both hands forward, sending a cone-shaped energy wave at Hopkin.
Time slowly passed. As expected, Cole defeated Hopkin. Next came Burke, who had drawn number six. His opponent was also someone with C-rank potential in the Physical Enhancement category. The two hulking slabs of flesh rubbed up against each other, but in the end, Burke proved the better of the two and won.
Lancelot was the third member of the squad to fight. His opponent was a young woman with telekinesis named Duolaini. She was delicately beautiful and wore her hair in a ponytail.
Duolaini's telekinesis had a powerful mind-eroding property. She could silently take control of a person, and a direct mental assault could also leave an enemy dizzy and confused.
But that didn't apply to Lancelot.
[Tenacious Will] Passive - Thanks to your strong willpower and tenacious character, you are immune to some forms of mental control and charm.
Lancelot successfully resisted Duolaini's telekinetic assault. He lunged forward and reached the young woman, his fist flashing like a burst of light. With just one punch, he eliminated her.
"Damn it, why couldn't I control him?" Duolaini clutched her stomach and bent over as she struggled off the arena. While Instructor Jace treated her, she muttered to herself indignantly.
But Duolaini greatly appreciated the way Lancelot had defeated her without holding back.
Compared with the hypocritical way other men behaved-wanting to strip her naked, throw her onto a bed, and do whatever they pleased with her, yet acting politely to her face and going easy on her in a fight-
She preferred men like him, who were straightforward and truly treated her as an opponent. Although he was still younger than her, his cold manner really did make her heart flutter.
As Duolaini thought about it, she unconsciously put her index finger in her mouth and sucked on it.
The fighting continued. Once the first round was over, every member of Cole's team had advanced.
At the start of the second round, Burke drew number one and faced a contestant whose ability countered his. He was the first to be eliminated.
Lancelot was the second member of the squad to take the arena. He won again, but with considerable difficulty.
Unable to use his secret technique, he had only two points of physique. Even with his superb fighting skills, it was only natural that he struggled against an opponent with an overwhelming advantage in attributes.
The arena competition differed from the team competition. Apart from mechanical-type supernaturals, no other supernaturals were allowed to use firearms.
As a result, Lancelot was at a disadvantage when facing medium-range energy attacks.
That was especially true of large-scale bombardments that covered the entire area. There was nowhere to dodge, since the arena was only so big.
Cole was third to take the arena and successfully advanced.
Rui faced Li Ge, who had B-rank potential, and narrowly lost!
At the start of the third round, Lancelot was the first to take the arena. This time, he was extremely unlucky and ran into Windsor.
The result went without saying. After about ten seconds, Lancelot left the arena in a sorry state and entered the repechage.
The individual competition lasted all day. In the end, Lancelot relied on his two points of physique and his fighting skills to win one of the three top-ten spots available through the repechage.
In the final contest among the top ten, he ranked ninth in points.