Finding checkpoints, as the name suggested, was a type of Trial, in which, Trialists had to search for various checkpoints scattered in an area. Those who found all the checkpoints first, would be considered to have cleared the Trial. Or so the normal checkpoint missions went. In the information they had about the Final Trial, sometimes, there could be variations in the mission.

  For instance, instead of finding all the checkpoints, the objective of the Trial could be to see who would find the greatest number of checkpoints in a limited amount of time. There was even a variation, where in, Wanderers had to leave their marks at checkpoints, with their competitors having the right to erase those marks. In the end, the Wanderers with their marks at all or the greatest number of checkpoints would be considered to have cleared Trial.

  There were quite a few other variations too, but their essence was the same. To clear the Trial of finding checkpoints, one had to be fast and efficient. Especially if those checkpoints were hidden in mountains and valleys. And if those mountains were to be covered with forest, then finding the checkpoints would become even more of a hassle. Only someone who could see through the barrier of all the foliage, and had a great eye for details, would be able to find checkpoints in such a case.

  “…in case the mountains are covered with dense forests, Lia will act as our scout. If there is enough light, I will be the scout. In unexpected situations, Zain will take over as the scout…”

  “…since finding checkpoints is all about speed and efficiency, would it not be better to split in groups, and spread out to cover more area?”

  “Only if we were taking the Trial alone. As it stands, we will be facing hundreds, if not thousands of Wanderers. We will still be outnumbered by tens, maybe even hundreds of times, but facing our enemies as a team would at least give us a better chance for survival…”

  “…I almost forgot about them…”

  “…Speaking of our enemies, since they have chosen to challenge us to the Trial, they will most certainly not focus on the Trial itself. Or at least a majority of them should not. Most of them would probably come after us. As such, we need some reliable defensive measures… Fran and Vestia, we will leave our defences to you.”

  “…Defend against hundreds of Wanderers?”

  “We will not have to face them all at once. Just like us, they will also be transported to the Final World randomly. That is something not even the council can tamper with. If you still feel unsure, then you can also ask for Ralph and Aren’s help as you see fit. Just make sure that we are not blindsided, and taken out in one blow.”

  “Leave it to us,” Vestia said, nodding with a smile.

  “I believe you,” Alnea said, nodding back, before glancing at Norren and Cecilia. “Lia, other than acting as scout, we will also form the vanguard of the team with Norren. Whenever we meet enemies, the three of us will have to be at the front, and make sure that no one gets past us. Zain, you will act as support with Karl when you are not acting as a scout. And when you are, your priority will be to save your life. Got it?”

  “Understood.”

  “Karl, I will leave the back of the team to you.”

  “…That is a heavy ask, but alright.”

  “And Yuri… Since you have the best overall view and judgement of situation amongst us, I am giving you the right to command us in battles. You can direct us as you wish. And support us as you deem necessary. There is just one thing I am asking of you. Do not let any of us die,” Alnea said, before quickly sending the rest of his words through their rings.

  “Don’t refuse me, Yuri. Since you have the ability, you should make use of it. I can exercise myself later, but this time, we cannot afford to make any mistakes.”

  “…I will try my best.”

  “That is all that I am asking,” Alnea said, smiling in relief, before turning back to the rest of his team. “Then next, let us move on to…”

  River basins, lakes, forests, and grasslands, the other four terrains were just as tricky as the terrain of mountains and valleys. Especially the river basins and lakes. In such places, it was not only necessary to scour the lands for traces of checkpoints, but they also had search under the water. With variations like quagmires and swap added into the mix, those two terrains would be like nightmares. Though, in a sense, those terrains were still more amiable than the terrain of the Night Canyons…

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  “…As such, in these two terrains, Vestia will take the lead, with Lia and Norren acting as her support. And I will provide support with Zain in the back, while also taking care of our defences with Fran. The rest will be the same…”

  “…In the grasslands and forests, Lia will take the lead at night and whenever there is not enough light. Rest of the times, I will be leading the team. Everyone else will arrange yourselves accordingly…”

  After arranging plans for the five terrains, it was time to go back to the mountains and valleys, and begin anew with a different Trial.

  “Then next, let us discuss our plans for Trials that involve searching for items…”

  Once again, as the name suggested, such Trials were mostly about searching for items scattered about in a certain area. But that was in normal cases. Sometimes, instead of scattering the items, the Trial would directly give them to the participants, and then ask them to fight each other. The ones who collected all, or the greatest number of items would clear the Trial.

  “…If the Trial is about searching for items, I would be a better scout. If it is about snatching items, Lia will lead the team…”

  “…Again, in case we are sent to river basin and lakes, Vestia will have to lead the team…”

  “…For grasslands and forests…”

  “…If the Trial is about invading territories…”

  Such Trials would be a hassle. Even more so than searching for items. After all, no matter how well the items were hidden, it would not take more than a week to collect all of them. Trials involving invading territories though, could go on for as long as a month. Maybe even two. Or longer. As long as a team did not capture the territories of competitors in the Trial, the Trial would never end. And they had to do this while defending their own territory.

  “…Norren, Karl, Ralph, and Aren will stay back to defend our territory, while the rest of us will slowly search for other territories, and capture them one by one…”

  As for the variations in the Trial, they were even more of a hassle. Especially so, when the Trial allowed the defeated parties to recapture their territory. Alnea could not even fathom how long such a Trial would go on for. Unless he killed all the enemies he defeated. Just to finish the Trial a little early…

  “…We will talk about what to do with our defeated enemies when the time comes. For now, what we have discussed should be enough. Then next, let us move on to defending territories…”

  The most dangerous of all the Trials. Defending territories. Especially if they happen to be the ones who had to defend their territory. That would be akin to letting all of their enemies know of their location. Or at least that would be the case in normal scenarios. There were some variations where they would have to defend against Oren Beasts. Adolescent Stage Oren Beasts, of course.

  The Final World did have traces of Adult Oren Beasts, and even some Beast Lords when it was captured by the Lost City, but that was ten years ago. Since the small world was captured to train False Wanderers, all the excessive threats that would not be conducive to their training, and instead, would almost certainly prove to be fatal, were purged from its lands.

  Still, it was not as if facing Oren Beasts was going to be easy. On the contrary, for most of the Wanderers, it would be more dangerous of the two scenarios. Yet, for the Star Seekers, it seemed to be the safer option. And easier too. Given his Fate though, Alnea was almost certain that if the Trial asked them to defend their territory, it would be against other Wanderers.

  “Let us assume the worst, and say that we have to defend our territory against other Wanderers. In that case, most of our enemies should take some time to band together, before coming at us. And this time is what we would be aiming for. Using the materials provided by the Trial to offset its difficulty, we will have to cover our entire territory in traps, enough to blow it up into the sky. Only then, will we have a chance of clearing the Trial…”

  In comparison to defending their territory, achievement missions were much more complex. On the surface, the Trial would just ask them to complete a list of achievements in a set amount of time. The team which completed the greatest number of achievements in that time would be considered to have cleared the Trial. In effect though, there were too many possibilities of variations in the list of achievements to come up with a set plan.

  “…For now, we can only assume a few situations, and plan accordingly. But do not stick too much to the plan…”

  It was an odd feeling, making a plan, and then asking his teammates to not stick to it. But that was just how things went in life. He could plan all he liked, but things would never go according to his wishes. Especially so, in the case of special missions. At least with the achievement missions, he could still make a few guesses as to what kind of achievements the Trials would ask him to make. Like killing their enemies, finding certain items, or exploring the Final World.

  Special missions, however, were all unique. They could be anything, from creating an Arcana, to digging into the ground. Maybe even swimming up the river. The only thing that was certain, was that no two special missions could be the same. Naturally, it also meant that no one could plan for the special missions. They could only wait, and let Fate take its course. Or in his case, let the Curse take his Fate.