William, his eyes constantly scanning the churning water ahead, continued to shout out warnings, his voice hoarse, his throat raw. He relied more and more on pure instinct now. "Right! Rock! Big one!" "Dip ahead! Brace!" "Branches! Left side! Low!"

  Julia, her face a mask of concentration, her hands moving in a blur of intricate gestures, shifted the Reinforce spell from one section of the boat to another, a tireless guardian against the relentless assault. Roland and Jett, their muscles screaming in protest, their faces set in grim determination, fought to steer them through the chaos, their oars their only connection to control. Caspian, his face pale but resolute, helped to steady Julia, his own rudimentary attempts at the Reinforce spell adding a small, but crucial, layer of extra protection.

  They were a team, highly co-ordinated and efficient system, their individual skills combining to create a force greater than the sum of their parts. They were fighting for their lives, for their mission, for the fate of their kingdom. They were learning to anticipate each other's moves, to react instinctively to each other's warnings, to trust each other implicitly.

  But even as they celebrated their small victories, their near misses, their successful navigation of each obstacle, William couldn't shake a growing sense of unease. He knew, with a chilling certainty, that the worst was yet to come.

  He glanced downstream, his eyes trying to penetrate the swirling mist and spray, his mind racing. There were too many obstacles, too closely spaced, too perfectly positioned to be entirely natural. It was as if the river itself had been designed to be a death trap, a gauntlet of hazards specifically crafted to test their skills, their courage, and their luck to the absolute limit.

  And then, he saw it.

  Up ahead, the river narrowed, constricted by a massive outcropping of rock, a natural chokepoint that funnelled the already turbulent water into a raging torrent. It was a solid wall of white water, a chaotic jumble of rocks and swirling currents, a place where survival seemed impossible.

  He knew, instinctively, that this was the most dangerous section of the rapids yet, the ultimate test of their skill, their courage, and their luck. He needed more information, a clearer picture of the obstacles, a way to find a path through this seemingly impenetrable barrier.

  It was at this point, he knew he needed to activate EMMA, immediately focusing his mind, requesting a detailed 3D visualization of the river ahead, an analysis of the currents, the obstacles, the potential paths through the chaos. He needed options, strategies, a way to navigate this deadly gauntlet. The holographic map sprung up, and William immediately felt relieved. If he was just observing and looking ahead, this section was literally impassable. However, using EMMA, he could filter out some of the unnecessary visualisations, and was able to get a clearer picture.

  But time was running out. The boat was rapidly approaching the chokepoint, the roar of the water growing deafening, the spray blinding. He couldn't wait for EMMA to complete its full analysis, to provide a detailed breakdown of the situation. He needed to act now, to make a decision, to guide them through, even without all the information.

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  He focused on the 3D holographic image hovering in front of him, the swirling colours, representing different depths and current speeds, the jagged outlines of submerged rocks, the tangled mess of fallen branches. It was a chaotic jumble, a seemingly impossible puzzle. But amidst the chaos, he saw it.

  A tiny gap, a narrow channel, on the far right side of the river. It was barely wide enough for the boat to pass through, but it offered a potential escape from the main force of the rapids, a way to avoid the worst of the obstacles.

  And then, he noticed something else. The shape of the rocks on the right side of the channel. They weren't flat, vertical walls. They were angled, sloped, like a… ramp.

  An idea, crazy, reckless, but potentially brilliant, sparked in his mind. If they could hit that ramp with enough speed, at the right angle, they might be able to jump the boat, to launch it over a significant portion of the obstacles, to bypass the chokepoint entirely. They may still crash, but at least it would be in a more manageable section of the rapids, not the death trap that he was looking at.

  It was a long shot, a desperate gamble, but it was their only chance. There was no time to explain, no time to debate, no time for anything but action.

  "Roland! Jett!" William shouted, his voice strained, his eyes fixed on the approaching chokepoint. "Steer right! Aim for those rocks! Full speed ahead!"

  He pointed towards the angled rock formation, his finger unwavering, his voice imbued with an urgency that brooked no argument. "Julia! Reinforce the bottom of the boat! Only the bottom! Now!"

  His commands were met with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. Steer towards the rocks? Full speed ahead? It sounded like madness, like a suicidal order.

  "Are you insane?!" Roland shouted back, his voice incredulous, his eyes wide with alarm. "We'll smash to pieces!"

  "Trust me!" William yelled, his voice desperate, his eyes pleading. "There's a gap! A ramp! We can jump it!" Or we crash, he thought to himself, not voice this out loud.

  There was no time for further explanation. They were seconds away from impact. Roland, his instincts screaming against it, his experience telling him it was madness, had to make a choice. Trust the young recruit, the novice adventurer, who had, admittedly, proven his worth time and time again? Or follow his own gut, his own training, and try to navigate the seemingly impossible chokepoint?

  He made his decision. He trusted William.

  "Right!" Roland roared, his voice filled with a mixture of desperation and reluctant faith. "Full speed ahead!"

  He and Jett dug their oars into the water, their muscles straining, their faces set in grim determination. The boat surged forward, accelerating towards the looming rock formation, towards what looked like certain destruction.

  Julia, her eyes squeezed shut, her hands glowing with magical energy, focused the Reinforce spell on the bottom of the boat, creating a shimmering barrier of protection. She didn't understand William's plan, didn't see the gap, didn't see the ramp. But she trusted him. She had to.

  Caspian, his face pale with terror, his body braced for impact, only heard only the last parts of the shouts. Seeing the boat hurtling towards certain death, he let out a small, involuntary scream, a sound that was swallowed by the roar of the rapids. He had no idea what was happening, no concept of William's insane plan. He could only trust in his companions, in their skills, in their luck, and pray that they somehow survived. He closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable.