Halo: Magicka

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.....

A few months later,

"Trainees! You will be going into these two training exercise rooms with your teams having two goals: eliminate the enemy and save the civilians. There will be moving and stationary Holo-bogeys as well as Holo-civilians. Every action you take will be monitored and graded. Good luck maggots, first up is Raptor Team and Serpent Team," An instructor spoke.

I could hear the Raptor Team's footsteps as they began to gear up, the sound of armour clanking and weapons being readied. They were good—no question about it. Strong, fast, and deadly, they had earned their reputation. But today, it wasn't about just being good. It was about being better than them.

I glanced over at Owen, Jonah, and Roland, all of us sharing the same determined look. The tension of the moment was thick, but underneath it all was a silent agreement. Today, we weren't going to be the 'team with wasted potential'.

"Alright, team," Owen said, his voice steady and low, "we've been training for this. No mistakes. We keep it tight, we work together, and we win. Everyone clear on the plan?"

Jonah cracked his knuckles, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Clear. Let's show 'em how it's done."

Roland nodded, his usually laid-back demeanour shifting into full-on focus with a wide grin. "Let's make this count."

I looked at each of them, my mind already running through the sequence of the exercise in my head. I had already agreed with my brother ahead of time. This exercise, I was going to cheat, I wanted to test my little brother's ability as well...

Our own little game so to speak. I would only use spells at his level though.

[Courage x4]

[Inspiration x4]

"Let's Fuckin' Go," I said as we began the exercise.

With a nod from Owen, we moved out, heading to our designated starting point. The training ground was set up like a small urban environment, a mix of open streets and tight alleyways. Holo-bogeys popped up from small metallic devices intermittently, some stationary, others moving unpredictably. The holo-civilians were scattered throughout, just as vulnerable as any real person would be in a situation like this.

I could already hear the faint sounds of Raptor Team's engagement in the distance. They were fast, and efficient—just like we had expected. But I wasn't worried about them. I wasn't worried about anyone but us.

"Keep your eyes open. Civilians first," Owen said as we moved forward, his voice calm but commanding.

Jonah moved ahead, his sharp eyes scanning for any movement. We positioned in an arrowhead formation.

The first holo-bogey appeared—a stationary figure in a doorway. Without hesitation, Jonah raised his rifle and took the shot. It disintegrated into pixels, confirming the target was neutralized, headshot confirmed.

We moved forward, pushing through the environment with purpose.

Another holo-bogey appeared around the corner, and Roland took the shot this time, his accuracy spot on as the target vanished into pixels. We worked seamlessly, each of us contributing without hesitation. It wasn't just about the kills. It was about control, balance, and keeping the team moving as a single unit.

"Check left!" Owen barked suddenly, pointing toward an alley where a cluster of civilians were huddled. A moving holo-bogey appeared a distance behind them, aiming its weapon.

Without missing a beat, I jumped, my eyes focused on the target.

Bang!

I shot it squarely in the face, stopping its advancement towards the group of civilians.

"Got it," I said, my breath steady despite the intensity of the moment.

"Good job, Eli," Roland called out, covering the rest of the 'alley'.

We stood in the middle of the simulated environment, catching our breath as the last holo-bogey flickered out of existence with a headshot. The adrenaline was still pumping, but I felt a sense of satisfaction settle over me. We had worked as one unit—tactical, precise, and cohesive. No mistakes.

Owen turned to look at us, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "That was clean, team. No missteps. We've got the right idea now."

Jonah, surprisingly, wasn't his usual self. He gave a small nod, acknowledging the effort. "Yeah, I'll admit, that wasn't half bad."

Roland slapped him on the back with a chuckle. "Hell yeah, it wasn't. See? You're not always the only one with firepower."

Owen's gaze flicked toward the instructor, who was calling out times. "Serpent Team, run time: 6 minutes 36 seconds," the instructor yelled again, his voice cutting through the air.

I could feel the shift in the area as the instructor's tone took on a new weight. We had done well, but the true test was still coming. The Raptor Team was still ongoing. The sound of their boots echoed from the distance, and a sense of anticipation hung thick in the air.

We watched as Raptor Team filed out of the training zone, their movements crisp and coordinated. They were efficient, no doubt about that. But this wasn't about them. This was about us, proving that we weren't just some afterthought on the battlefield.

As I saw them move out of the training zone, I smiled. Yes, they seemed in sync but... We were different. We had something more than just raw skill. We had synergy.

The instructor shouted, "Raptor Team, run time: 7 minutes 13 seconds."

Well, that's one factor that we have them beat in. We'd kept our movements tight, our shots clean, and every one of them a headshot. No one missed. No mistakes. If anything, that gave us an edge.

Jonah gave a snort of approval, folding his arms, "We're not bad for a bunch of misfits."

As our two teams came back, we watched the tech teams go in to reset the holograms and check the tech before the rest of the teams had their go at the exercise. No one got close to Raptor team's time, let alone ours.

.....

"Congratulations serpent team, you've come out in first place on this exercise. Raptor team coming in at a close second with team Foxtrot in third," Kurt projected, "Now, for the bad news."

"We can only graduate 300 of you from this program."

A ripple of unease spread across the formation. Serpent Team exchanged glances, the exhaustion in our bodies replaced by a sharp edge of focus.

"Your previous grades will be factored in, but the primary determining factor will be next week's final exercise."

The weight of those words hung in the air, a silent countdown ticking in every mind.

"All 104 teams will face the same task: reach the bell. But only 75 teams will pass."

The math hit fast. More than two-thirds of the trainees standing here wouldn't make it through.

"You will face an obstacle course designed to test every single weakness—physical, mental, and emotional. And there will be a twist."

The word lingered. A twist. With Kurt Ambrose, that could mean anything.

He adjusted his helmet under his arm and nodded to Chief Mendez, who stepped forward.

"That's enough for today's trainees. Go get some dinner and rest up. You'll need it."

We broke formation, our boots crunching against the gravel as we made our way toward the mess hall. Conversations buzzed quietly around us, but no one was laughing or joking this time. The weight of the upcoming exercise pressed down on every shoulder.

"Only seventy-five teams," Roland muttered under his breath, his usual light-hearted tone gone.

"That's not a lot of room for error," Jonah added, his fists clenched at his sides.

Owen walked ahead, his expression unreadable as usual. I stayed quiet, my mind racing with possibilities. An obstacle course designed by Kurt and Mendez? It was a good thing I knew what the twist was.

Finally, Owen spoke, breaking the silence.

"Next week, we can't afford mistakes. If anyone slips up, we all fail."

We all nodded, the unspoken agreement settling between us.

...

"What do you think the twist will be?" Jon asked as I met up with him after our teams dispersed.

I just smiled at him.

He groaned at my reply.

"You already know don't you?" He sighed.

I kept smiling,

"Maybe."

Jon rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest as we walked side by side down a corridor towards my new barrack with my team. It was the only corridor without any cameras and I'd already checked it with an apprentice rank [Minor Detect Automaton] spell for any bugs. The dim lights of the mess hall glowed in the distance, casting long shadows across the gravel path.

"Come on, Eli. You can't just maybe me on this. What's the twist? Did Kurt let it slip, or did you… y'know… see something?"

I chuckled lightly, shoving my hands into my pockets.

"It's not about what I know, Jon. It's about how we prepare. I'll tell you this, the course is going to test how a pack of wolves can take down an animal larger than them. It's going to test your synchronicity with your teams. But that's all you're getting from me."

Jon let out a heavy sigh, his boots crunching against the gravel.

"That's vague as hell, Eli. You could've just said 'Be ready for anything' and saved us both the suspense."

"Fine," I said, my grin widening, "Be ready for anything."

Jon stopped walking and pointed at me accusingly. "You are so annoying sometimes. Do you know that, Mr magic-man?"

I laughed as I kept walking, Jon jogging to catch up,

"Well, it seems my trusty sidekick is a little annoyed, ain't that right, Magic boy?"

"Whoa, whoa? Wait, I can't be the sidekick!" He groaned with indignance.

I laughed harder, clutching my sides as Jon's face contorted in mock offence.

"Oh, but you are the sidekick, Jon. The broody demeanour? The dramatic sighs? The constant questioning of the main character's wisdom? Classic sidekick behaviour."

Jon threw his hands up in exaggerated defeat. "Unbelievable! I'm heavier than you, stronger than you, and I'm way better than you with a gun. How does that make me the sidekick?"

"Smart of you not to mention that I'm taller or faster than you but hey, Robin was pretty good with a bow staff. You'll do fine," I grinned, dodging his half-hearted swipe at my shoulder.

"First, I am not Robin!" Jon protested, pointing a finger at me. "Second, you are not Batman, Eli!"

"Of course not," I said, smirking. "I'm way cooler than Batman. Plus, have you ever seen Batman cast adept-level spells? No? Yeah, didn't think so."

Jon groaned, rubbing his temples. "I swear, you're insufferable sometimes."

"And yet, you still follow me around. Classic sidekick behaviour, I'm telling you."

I kept laughing at his expressions as we approached the mess hall doors, the tension from earlier slowly melting away. But under the banter, we both knew the test next week was going to put us all through the wringer.

At least I knew that my team had to prepare for the intercepting instructors wearing SPI armour. Well, having correct information is half the battle won, as evidenced by the UNSC in Operation: Torpedo.

....

The next week,

August 24th 2541, 14:15pm,

The Serpent team and I walked to the designated structure for this test, as instructed, wearing only sweatsuits and our boots.

The heat of the day bore down on us, but none of us dared to show any discomfort. This wasn't just another exercise; it was the exercise. The one that would decide whether or not we'd make it into the next phase.

The other teams were scattered around, waiting for their designated times. Everyone looked tense, a heavy mix of anticipation and dread hanging in the air.

We reached our designated starting point with our instructor ushering us in, and there it was—the obstacle course. Twisting and winding through rugged terrain, it was a chaotic maze of physical and mental challenges designed to push us to our limits. In the end, the bell sat atop a high pole, glinting in the sunlight like an unattainable prize.

"Serpent Team, you will begin this test in five minutes as soon as you hear the buzzer go off!" Soong barked, Me and Owen were fortunate enough that Soong was designated to continue teaching us. Before long, he disappeared through a door on the left side of the building.

"Let's do this," Owen said, his voice steady but low. He glanced at each of us, his eyes hard. "Stick to the plan."

"Always," Roland replied, adjusting his boots.

Jonah just nodded, cracking his knuckles. "Let's ring that damn bell."

I looked over at the course, my mind racing through the possibilities. The instructors in SPI armour would be the biggest hurdle. They'd be faster, stronger, and better equipped than us. But they weren't unbeatable.

Plus, I had cheats enabled.

[Heroism x4]

[Inspiration x4]

[Protect Other x3]

[Defend]

We stepped up to the starting line, the weight of the moment sinking in.

I glanced at them, my mind racing. They don't know about the instructors yet. I'd hinted at it before, but I hadn't outright told them about the SPI-wearing roadblocks.

The buzz of the starting alarm cracked through the air.

We launched forward.

Owen led the charge, sprinting with powerful strides. Roland and I flanked him, while Jonah anchored the rear. The first obstacle, a wooden wall, came up fast. Owen vaulted over it in one fluid motion. Roland followed, and I climbed over next. Jonah simply grabbed the top and heaved himself over with a grunt.

We hit the trenches next. Deep, uneven, and disorienting.

"Down!" Owen ordered.

We dropped into the trench, knees hitting the damp earth.

As we pushed forward, I caught movement from the corner of my eye—a flash of metal. My stomach dropped.

"Contact left!" I hissed.

A stun round cracked into the trench wall next to Jonah, kicking up dirt.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Jonah growled.

Roland cursed. "You fucking knew, didn't you, Eli?!"

I ducked down as another stun round whizzed past. "You'd have overthought it if I told you outright!"

Owen grunted, dragging Jonah forward by the collar. "Less arguing, more moving, even if Soong is a bitch for this!"

We pushed through the trenches, but the instructors weren't letting up. They were closing in, moving with eerie confidence in their SPI armour. Fucking Alpha washouts...

"Up and out!" Owen barked.

We climbed out of the trench and dropped into a low crawl under barbed wire. The wire hung menacingly close to our backs, and I could hear Jonah grumbling as he squeezed his wide frame through.

"Keep moving!" Owen urged.

But as we cleared the wire and scrambled to our feet, two armoured instructors appeared, cutting off our path forward.

Roland swore under his breath. "What now?!"

My mind raced. We don't have weapons… but we do have terrain.

I bent down and grabbed a handful of dirt and gravel. "Use what we've got!"

Owen caught on immediately. "You heard him! Jonah, draw their attention! Roland, with me!"

Jonah let out a loud war cry and charged the first instructor head-on. It was pure brute force against reinforced metal, but it was enough of a distraction.

Roland and Owen flanked the second instructor while I circled wide.

"aim for the visor!"

I hurled the handful of gravel at the second instructor's faceplate. Tiny rocks pinged against the reflective glass, and while it didn't do much damage, it disoriented him for half a second and mudded his vision.

That was all Owen needed. He lunged low, sweeping the instructor's legs out from under him. Roland followed up with a rock the size of his fist, slamming it into the instructor's helmet with a dull thud.

The first instructor shoved Jonah back, but Jonah, ever stubborn, wrapped his arm around the instructor's neck from behind, trying to lock him down.

"Move!" Owen barked at me.

I didn't hesitate. I bolted for the bell tower, Roland right on my heels.

Another instructor—this one larger, broader—stepped out from behind the base of the tower.

"Don't stop!" Roland shouted.

I spotted a loose rock on the ground, grabbed it, and hurled it with every ounce of strength I had. It hit the instructor square in the visor.

"Go!" Roland yelled, barreling into the instructor while I sprinted for the ladder.

My arms and legs burned as I climbed, but I didn't stop, didn't look down. The wind howled as I reached the top. The bell rope was right there.

I gripped it tightly, my knuckles white.

Clang!

The bell's sound rang out, sharp and clear over the chaos below.

I leaned over the edge and saw my team regrouping. Owen was breathing hard, Jonah had dirt smeared across his face, and Roland was still standing guard, fists clenched.

We'd done it.

Serpent Team had rung the bell.

Thank you to whoever granted me cheats. Lord knows I needed them.