Kairos secretly felt relieved that none of the four captains from Snowdrifts and his four buddies is here to hear this question. Otherwise, an argument will start and never end.

With a sig he replied honestly, "the Bagua formation Second Variation: Yin-Yang array, is a powerful attacking skill which leeches the power from everyone close by, but there were not enough people gathered to defeat Jones.

As you saw for yourself, even with that many people, we can only take out Calculus, and there was fewer present at the time Jones and I fought."

What Kairos said was the truth. However, he kept the more sensitive information to himself.

Those that were present had seen that the Second Variation comes with the ability to immobilise the enemies with immense pressure during the energy suction process. Otherwise, with such a long activation, the targets would have plenty of time to escape.

However, only he knows that the victim cannot be greater than the one controlling the array at the formation heart.

During the fight for George, it would be impossible for Kairos to use this method, especially since Jones was at mid D rank. On the other hand, Calculus who was higher ranked was truly unfortunate that there were enough people around to supply energy to the Bagua Second Variation, and his own teammates trapped him in the chaotic melee. If he had known, he would have fainted from the anger.

Of course, there are no stratagems without a weakness, and usually the stronger its effect was, the more distinct its flaw would become. There’s no question that Kairos would choose to withhold telling everything, especially in the future, when everyone is rivals, they will be wary his Bagua formation and its Second Variation.

The War Tent broke into a boisterous discussion with everyone mumbling their opinions, but most had already chosen to place their trusts in him.

The Snowdrifts had already proven themselves on the battlefield, making their leader, Kairos, a far better candidate than the rest. Especially, his commands in saving Alucard’s team and commemorating the three commoners who have died in his team have won him the hearts of both nobles and commoners. It was a far cry from the usual leaders these students were used to.

"You’ve all heard him! With this, I'm sure that everyone agrees to have Kairos as our commander. If nobody objects, we will make it official," Smaller Kitty says as he took a serious look around the tent.

The nodding heads acknowledged Kairos to become their new Red Team’s Commander. Those that were secretly envious, or believed they could do better, stayed silent; knowing that they do not have any way to convince the rest otherwise.

"Well now… Let's have a celebration for our new leader and to clear up this grumpy mood!"

"Hey! You just want a party!" Small Kitty heartlessly exposed his plans.

"Oh, come on big bro, we have been so stressed up recently with all these different situations that woman lands us in," the other twin complained. Because the two looked identical, even in their posture and voice, it was a really odd scene that made the rest stare.

"Well, you're right on one thing. With Luciette as our opponent, everyone have been too stressed recently, and we really could use some time to relax, what do you think commander?"

After a moment silent, Kairos realised he was being asked.

"Uhhhh! Sure!" He says in a hurry and everyone laughs.

"REPORT!!" That dreaded word once again came intruding into the war tent.

"Oh man, what is it this time?" someone complained.

"Couldn't be anything good being so fast after our last fight," another person remarks.

"Umm...go ahead?" Kairos says, uncertain how a proper commander would answer.

"ehhh?....", the messenger got confused by the strange reply but quickly reports, "We’ve found major activity from the Orcs. It looks like an entire horde is travelling towards our base like a net closing in… What’s more, their warriors are marching at the front and, they are all war painted. "

"How many are coming, and how far away are they?" Kairos asked immediately, his awkwardness gone and replaced by keen judgement and sharp instincts.

"All of them! From their marching speed, we estimate they will arrive in a full day's time."

"Looks like the party is shelved. Everyone, prepare for the siege!

I want those ramparts to be repaired within twelve hours. The moat will only serve us in battle if we have a defensive wall!

Small, please gather twenty men and move our resources to the hill base. Also, I need our engineers to create a barricade in front of its entrance. It has to be the kind able to be shifted into position quickly and rooted into the ground. Get Edward & Jim to help you on designing this. Go now."

All the captains rushed out of the war tent except Smaller, Snow and Leaf who now gathered around him.

"Do you guys have anything to add on?" He asked.

"Seems fine for now. Except for explosives, our supplies are high as usual."

"The hill base have running water I presume?"

"Yes, there are several deep wells with direct access to an underground lake.”

As Kairos was not a member of the tactician, there is some information that he had not previously been privy to and need to catch up on quickly.

"Hmm, does the water source lead to anywhere?"

"Yes, it exits into the nearby river, the same one we diverted into our moat. Unfortunately, its currents are too quick with dangerous sharp bedrocks, and submerged for too long for us to escape with that route."

"I see, with a swift subterranean river like that, it’s no wonder George did not order to poison it and take back our base.

Ensure everyone has basic medical supplies on them, and I’ll leave the final checks to you,"

The three tacticians excused themselves to oversee the work.

“W…wait…,” Kairos suddenly asked just before they left the war tent, “Did I do okay?”

“…”

…..

Half a day ago, Calculus waked on a stretcher. His subordinates had just brought him out of the East Camp, and he was unaware of what had happened to himself.

"Where am I? He groggily asked his men.

"Young Master, we've retreated after Kairos attacked you in the middle of the fight. You are quite seriously wounded, sir!"

He quickly asked a few more questions and found out that he had been rendered unconscious by a powerful blast from above.

The young noble's face turned red with anger, his veins popping out on his forehead and he swore angrily, "Kairos! Once again you used trickery and humiliated me!

Peh. It is too late for you to regret. I will take away all the lives of your friends and send you to hell."

His murderous rage gave him the strength to get up from his stretcher, and with a push, he landed on the ground. He waved off the others’ hurried attempts to aid him. His shiny scalp at his crown reflected the light shining through the dense forest leaves.

Even until now, no one dares to tell him of his hairless misfortune.

"Hmm. Somehow it feels rather airy in this part of the forest," he noticed absently.

What is left of his hair tangled in the soft forest breeze and lightly waved before his eyes. It created an illusion in his mind, of how cool he must appear to his men, and he strutted proudly past them and walked into the forest.

“Wait here for me.”

Accompanied only by his slave guards who are in eerie silence, he quickly found a noisy river and made his way over.

He patted down on his robes and removed a small pouch that had been sealed by the same gel which coats everyone's weapons. Few students know that the gel can be used for another purpose: to prevent mana leakage.

He took out a unique nail, specifically made to handle the gel, and used it to pry a small opening in the pouch.

If he removes the nail the gel will immediately reseal itself, so he hastily squeezed contents of the bag into the river.

A deep purple liquid of pure mana flowed out mixed, with a strong scent of blood.

When mana mixed with blood, it becomes much more potent, but also, unstable. Many blood magic ends up in tragedy. However, this time Calculus is not attempting such a dangerous action.

He had released into the waters a mixture of the liquid mana he collected from the Orcs' crystal eggs and some of Kairos' blood he gathered during their duel.

When the mixture touched the river, it quickly flows down the stream carried along by the currents, but immediately the top layer started diffusing into the air behaving like all mana would as they return to nature.

As its scent wafts through the forest, the Orcs that had returned to their village once again stirred. The smell of vengeance carried upon the wind.

This time, besides the scent of their children's blood, an unknown person's blood is mixed in. These War Beasts, slow-witted by nature raged in anger, believing they will be able to avenge their children by finding the one with that scent.

With their keen senses, the creatures quickly a target for their rage not even a quarter of an hour later.

With intentions of war, they set forth towards the East hill.

.....

Meanwhile, a loud, heart-wrenching scream could be heard nearby down the river.

A kneeling boy gripped at his hair as he finally saw his reflections in the water.

"H..H.....HOW!?" he cries bitterly.

"Where have my h..hair gone?!

KAAAIIIIROS!!!!!!!!!!!"

.....