Ren and the rest found themselves, after the transportation, in a rocky desert-like area. There was sand, boulders, and cliffs all around them, but Ren didn't focus on that. He focused on something more important. He looked around until he found it. He saw a car right next to them.
"Oh… then we're gonna be on the escort team," Ren said, making the other three focus on the car as well.
Peter went to check the inside of the vehicle and saw a civilian puppet sitting normally in the backseat. Other than that, the inside looked normal. It was just another advanced hover limousine—it wasn't a combat car or anything. Peter closed the door and looked back at the rest.
"Okay. The car looks normal, but first, before we start anything, let's all check our phones to see if there are any messages," Peter suggested.
They all followed along. Ren pulled out his phone and saw only a single message talking about the car.
The car has a self-driving feature, so most of you can just use this feature and all of you can defend the car. But everyone has the option of disabling the auto-driving feature so one of you can drive manually. This option exists for anyone who has a superpower that helps them with driving vehicles—or any power in general that will give them an advantage in driving—or for anyone who has extremely advanced driving skills.
That was the end of the message.
Ren looked back at his teammates, who appeared to have just finished reading the message as well. The message itself was interesting, Ren thought. Giving the students this option brought more complexity to strategy.
But sadly, I don't think we can use the self-driving feature much…
Rex doesn't have powers. Sophia is hiding hers for some reason. And as for Peter, I honestly don't know yet if he has anything. As for advanced driving skills… I personally never learned how to drive. Not out of choice—it's just I didn't get the opportunity. No one taught me how to.
He decided to ask the rest.
"Okay guys, I don't think the part about powers helping with driving will be a factor. So does anyone here know how to drive?" Ren asked.
Sophia and Peter shook their heads.
But Rex slightly lifted his hand, making everyone stare at him. Seeing the anticipation in their eyes, Rex quickly clarified.
Look I'm not incredible at driving. I just know how to drive—it's nothing crazy or anything."
So we better just keep auto-driving on."
"Actually, I do think you need to drive, Rex," Peter said.
Rex looked at him like he'd just lost his mind. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? I literally just told you I'm not that good. It would be better if the car drove itself."
"Yes, I know. But Rex, I believe with your incredible senses, driving through this training area would be much better for us in the long term. I know it might be difficult, but you can see far away—you'd know if the terrain is good to drive on. You'd hear if something is wrong. I truly believe you'd do great if you drove," Peter said, grabbing Rex's shoulder with confidence.
Rex glanced down at the hand on his shoulder, then rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine. We're wasting time discussing this. So let's move."
Rex quickly got into the driver's seat, and everyone followed along. Peter got in the front passenger seat, while Ren and Sophia took the back.
As soon as they got in, Rex activated the car.
Ding.
A message notification rang—but it only came from one phone. Peter's.
When he checked it, he looked surprised. "Looks like… the map of the area was sent to me."
He turned the phone around to show them.
The map displayed the entire training area. It was shaped like a rectangle, and they had to travel from the bottom to the top. There were also a few extra details marked along the route—terrain indicators, obstacle zones, and possible interception paths.
"I guess I'll help you navigate through the road," Peter said, showing Rex the map while the two of them focused on it in the front.
In the back, Ren noticed something.
There was a compartment beside the seat. He opened it and found a futuristic handgun—obviously a stun gun.
When he glanced at Sophia, she had found hers too.
"Well, I guess they provided us with weapons this time. Like in the elevator in the first test," Ren said.
"Hey Rex," Ren called out.
Rex glanced back, and Ren handed him the handgun.
"I found this in the backseat. You can use it."
Rex grabbed the handgun, and a wide grin spread across his face. "Hell yeah. Finally I get to use a weapon in this whole test."
Ren leaned back into his seat and looked at Sophia. Since she isn't using her powers… I guess then Sophia will keep the gun too.
And with that, they started moving.
Ren stayed quiet in the backseat, letting the others handle things for now. He listened as Rex and Peter discussed their route—terrain, turns, possible interception zones—while occasionally glancing at the map.
Beside him, he heard Sophia fiddling with her gun.
He glanced over.
She wasn't really messing with it—just checking the weight, balance, and grip like she was getting familiar with it.
Seeing that, Ren leaned back and closed his eyes, sinking into his thoughts.
Hopefully Kai got into a good team…
Unlike him, Kai didn't seem to have met or gotten to know many of the other students. That was too bad. If he were here, he would've provided them with incredible firepower—
Wait a minute.
Firepower.
Ren's eyes snapped open in horror.
He looked at his teammates properly for the first time since they started moving and then he realized something.
His team… might be weak.
Rex yes he knew he was skilled and reliable. His senses alone made him valuable.
But considering that Sophia refused to use her powers…
Having two people without visible powers and only one of them being combat-reliable was a problem.
A real problem.
His gaze shifted to Peter.
Does he have powers… or is he hiding them like Sophia?
Because depending on Peter's situation…
This could go bad.
He'd become the center of the team's combat strength. He'd have to carry their offensive output alone.
He was confident in himself—but taking down four other students by himself?
Yeah… no.
Ren leaned forward slightly and cut straight to the point.
"Hey, Peter."
"What is it?" Peter glanced back.
"Do you have any powers at all?"
Peter didn't respond for a split second making ren Nervous before Peter started smiling casually.
"Yeah, dude. I do have powers."
Ren sighed in relief.
"Wait—what type?" he asked, almost getting his hopes up. Just because someone had powers didn't mean they were offensive.
"Well… I have super strength and super durability," Peter said.
"And by the way My super durability is greater than my super strength. That's why I mainly function as a tank in team roles."
Ren smiled, genuine excitement showing.
Okay.
Even though Peter didn't have some crazy destructive ability like he'd hoped… it fit.
It made them balanced.
Peter as the tank.
Himself as the main attacker from close and mid-range.
Rex providing long-range support with his gun.
And Sophia…
He wasn't sure yet where she fit. He hadn't seen what she could really do—other than the fact that she could sneak behind people incredibly well.
Still…
With a better feeling about the team's composition settling in his chest
He leaned back as the hover limousine continued forward across the rocky desert road.