章 13: Strategy
War, a specter that haunts the deepest fears of humanity, stands as one of the most dreaded phenomena. It is the visceral outcome of simmering conflicts, a brutal dance enacted by opposing factions.
In the current realm of <<Saga of the Divine Swordsman>>, war's ominous presence weaves through the fabric of reality. Strangely, the average person remains blissfully unaware of this brewing storm, shielded by a deceptive calm—until Volume 7, when the tempest crashes into the forefront of every consciousness.
Orcs, ogres, Shadow Seekers, and dark beasts surge past once-impenetrable borders, and demons descend from the vastness of space. It marks a dark turning point, a narrative plunge into a visceral abyss that left my stomach churning from the author's unflinching portrayal.
This VR mock war, while a mere precursor, pales in scale and brutality compared to the impending conflict. Yet, it offers a foreboding glimpse into the horrors that await.
Interrupting my contemplation, ranged fighters from my team showered their attacks upon the second-years entangled in combat with the dark beasts.
I quickly identified the eight Class A students among the second-years, seemingly unaffected by the menacing presence of the dark beasts.
"Class A students," I transmitted through the comms, "Get ready to face your adversaries."
The strategy was clear—fighting fire with fire.
To counter the Class A students who were breaking away from their second-year allies, our plan involved pitting them against our own Class A champions.
In a one-on-one scenario, victory rested mainly with Lucifer and Ren, with Rachel having a fighting chance but not a guaranteed win.
The support of our ranged fighters was pivotal, ensuring that the odds tilted in our favor.
Let's not forget the other first-years; they wouldn't stand idly by.
Victory was the only outcome I would accept.
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Lucifer's blade compelled two second-years to retreat simultaneously, his power so overwhelming that their joint defense couldn't withstand it.
With deliberate precision, he carved through them, inflicting wounds before delivering the final blows.
"Lucifer," Arthur's voice echoed through the comms, "Head to the building on your left. I need you to handle around twenty second-years solo. Can you manage that?"
A grin played on Lucifer's face at the audacity of the request. Twenty second-years? It sounded absurd, but he confidently replied, "Yes, I can do it," and dashed toward the desolate building.
Surveying the ongoing struggle between second-years and dark beasts, Lucifer noticed the dwindling numbers. Suddenly, a dark magical projectile zipped toward his chest.
He agilely dodged the attack, paying no mind to Kali, who had redirected her attention to another target. Lucifer pressed on toward the building.
With no one around, he couldn't fathom how Arthur planned to herd twenty students over there. Yet, an instinctive trust in Arthur's directives propelled him forward, a trust that whispered of assured victory against any odds.
In alignment with Lucifer's belief, second-year students were skillfully guided by the first-years and dark beasts toward his location.
Engaging in swift exchanges with a few of them, Lucifer contained their movements, preparing to unleash the full force of his Gift for maximum impact.
"Did you foresee this too, Arthur?" Lucifer pondered before unleashing a thunderous explosion that engulfed him and the twenty-three second-years.
On the alternate flank of the battlefield, Jin confronted Kali, seizing the opportunity by leaping from her blind spot.
His daggers gleamed in the virtual moonlight as he coated them with a dark aura, aiming to pierce through Kali and bring her to the brink of death in a single strike.
His attempt was semi-successful. Kali's right arm bore the brunt of the attack, but she managed to halt the second dagger with her own dark aura, compelling Jin to retreat.
Relentless, Jin activated his Shadow Armour, persistently pursuing Kali. He inflicted wounds without concern for any other opponents.
'I should take my pill!' Kali contemplated, just as Jin's dagger sank into her thigh. Her excessive mana usage against the dark beasts left her without enough to cast a 5-circle spell against Jin.
Before she could ingest the pill, a tendril of lightning streaked across her body, and blood sprayed in its wake.
Thuck!
Her left and right arms were severed.
"Take her as a prisoner, Jin," the dark-haired boy instructed. Jin nodded before assaulting her with dark magic.
Dazed from the overwhelming pain of losing her limbs, Kali was unable to react before succumbing to unconsciousness.
Arthur pondered for a moment before issuing more rapid-fire commands into his comms, "Unit 3, veer right and strike the second-years that managed to escape the clutches of the dark beasts. Rachel, keep a protective curtain for Lucifer. Ren, take charge of Unit 2 and 4, confront the trio of Class A students advancing on Building 4. Cecilia, weave your magic to aid Unit 5 in tackling the surge of second-years from the left-middle flank."
Addressing Jin, he directed, "Escort her to the secluded location I specified, and then rejoin the fray. I'll save her for the final reckoning."
The conflict raged on.
Acting on Arthur's directive, Unit 3 plunged into the battle, clashing with the surviving second-years who had eluded the dark beasts.
Amidst the chaotic clash, Unit 3, led by the Jake, Raul, and Elena, tactically engaged the surviving second-years. The air crackled with the clash of weapons, shouts, and the pained cries of combatants.
Jake, his rapier gleaming, engaged in a fierce duel with a second-year wielding a greatsword. The clash of metal echoed as their weapons collided, each strike attempting to find a weakness in the other's defense.
"You're weak," Jake taunted, his blade dancing with precision. The second-year's foot slipped ever so slightly due to the taunt, allowing for another member of Unit 3 to stab him from the side.
"Ugh!" he groaned before being killed by Jake's rapier.
Raul, with twin daggers in hand, executed swift maneuvers, darting between adversaries. His blades left trails of crimson in their wake as he struck with calculated ferocity.
Elena, positioned strategically, conjured ethereal flames that danced through the air. The flickering flames mesmerized their foes, creating openings for Jake and Raul to exploit. "Feel the heat," she murmured, her eyes ablaze with concentration.
[4-circle spell: Fire Wave]
Her spell caught the second-years off-guards, burning a few of them before they raised their aura to defend.
Ren engaged with the three Class A students with eight other students from Unit 2 and 4. Frederick, Rank 3 of the second-years, thrust his spear clad in water aura forward.
Ren simply smirked before trapping it using [4-circle spell: Rift Unbound]. The eight first-years charged at the two second-years while Ren continued to fight against Frederick alone.
Frederick had achieved the novice realm of mastery with his Grade 5 art, a commendable feat. In contrast, Ren found himself in a less favorable position, yet he possessed a Grade 6 art bestowed upon him by the Kagu family.
Ren's Grade 6 art bore similarities to Arthur's Grade 5 art. Instead of intricate movements that gathered and coalesced mana, Ren's art focused on simpler yet more numerous techniques.
With the combination of this Grade 6 art and Ren's remarkable Gift, [God's Eyes], he effortlessly discerned weaknesses in Frederick's guard.
The second-year lunged with his spear, a deceptive movement that caught Ren off guard. The spear's trajectory shifted unexpectedly, aiming for Ren's head with the precision of a sword.
Adapting swiftly, Ren ducked and dodged the attack. In a countermove, he unleashed a kick fueled by space aura, forcing Frederick to cough up blood.
Seizing the opportunity, another first-year student hurled a 3-circle [Fire Sphere] at Frederick's back. The flames engulfed him, a combination of fire and aura creating a dazzling display.
A resounding explosion echoed through the battlefield, instantly capturing everyone's attention. Ren's head snapped toward the source of the sound, his [God's Eyes] cutting through the smoke and debris to reveal the unfolding spectacle. What he witnessed left his eyes wide with disbelief.
It was Lucifer.
However, the magnitude of Lucifer's power surpassed anything Ren had witnessed before. His left side was engulfed in a blazing inferno, melting the ground beneath him. In stark contrast, his right side emanated an intense cold, freezing the air itself.
'What in the world is happening?' Ren wondered. Never before had he encountered such a display of power, even with his uncle being a <Radiant>-rank and his father an <Immortal>-rank. They were undeniably stronger than Lucifer.
But how could a mere <White>-rank first-year eliminate several second-years with seemingly no end in sight?
Disbelief and fear painted the faces of the surviving second-years. Each swing from Lucifer's body sent them staggering backward, some even left with grievous wounds.
This was more than talent; it was sheer dominance.
Ren, once hailed as destined for greatness, felt a reality check. Born with both [God's Eyes] and a triple affinity for space, time, and gravity, he was supposed to be the strongest in his generation. Yet, that title slipped away when Sun Zenith, the prodigy of Mount Hua, reached <Ascendent>-rank at the age of 19.
Now, facing Lucifer's overwhelming power, Ren's confidence wavered. Crushed by the realization that he might never escape Lucifer's colossal shadow, Ren understood that merely sharing the same core rank wasn't enough. To grow, he needed to give it his very best.
No longer fueled by misplaced arrogance, Ren acknowledged the challenge ahead. If he didn't rise to the occasion, he would remain forever eclipsed by Lucifer's formidable presence.
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