บท 48: Chapter 48 - Three Paths to Conquest
Atlas and his elite subordinates gathered in the fortress to discuss the first wave of battles, set to begin in just two days. Edrik stood at the front, leading the discussion. Not because he was the most experienced, but simply because he had a knack for articulating strategy in a way that was easy for everyone to understand, especially for Atlas.
There were three primary strategies they could adopt for the upcoming battle: Attack, Defensive Hold, and All-Out Confrontation. Each option offered distinct advantages and disadvantages, allowing each lord and their territory to approach the conflict according to their strengths and resources.
Atlas nodded slowly, absorbing the significance of each choice and weighing which approach would best serve them.
Edrik continued his explanation.
The goal of each battle was to earn Rank Points, which would allow a Lord to climb the ranks—from Division 1 to Division 5 and, eventually, to the next rank. In Atlas's case, he needed to progress through these divisions to reach Rank 2: Scout.
The First Strategy: Attack
This proactive approach involved challenging a nearby opponent directly on their own territory. The primary goal for attackers was to break through enemy defenses and secure victory points.
[Advantages:]
[- Higher Rank Point Reward: Successful attacks yield more points, 20 rank points.]
[- Loot Opportunity: A victorious attacker can claim a portion of the defender's resources as spoils.]
[Disadvantages:]
[- Risk of Counterattack: If the attack fails, the defender is allowed to launch an immediate counterattack.]
Edrik concluded, "It's a high-stakes move, but the rewards can be worth the risk."
The Second Strategy: Defensive Hold
In this strategy, Lords remain on their own island, focusing on fortifying defenses to repel potential invaders. Rank points are earned by successfully defending against attacks.
[Advantages:]
[- Defensive Rank Point Gain: A successful defense awards 15 points. While this is fewer than the points awarded for attacking, it ensures the island's safety and prevents resource loss.]
[- Resource Protection: With a successful defense, all resources are retained, strengthening the island's security and stability.]
[Strategic Preparation: Defenders can set traps, reinforce environmental fortifications, and take full advantage of the home field, significantly increasing their chances of success.]
[Disadvantages:]
[- Slower Progression: Each successful defense earns fewer points than an attack, which may slow rank progression.]
[- No Resource Gains from Opponents: Defending only provides rank points, without the resource bonuses that come from a victorious attack.]
Atlas continued, "How far can these attacks go? I mean, is it a fight to total destruction, or does each Lord get a second chance?"
Edrik nodded and explained. "In both Attack and Defense scenarios, attackers and defenders have the option to retreat or surrender before reaching total devastation."
He added. "However, the earlier they choose to retreat or surrender, the greater the penalty. Think of it like this. If they retreat with only 40% damage taken, the penalty will be steeper than if they'd waited until they were down to the maximum threshold of 10% remaining."
After taking these actions, both attacker and defender enter a 1 month cooldown, during which they can focus on rebuilding and fortifying their territory.
Atlas nodded slowly, summarizing what he had learned.
"So, whether attacking or defending, each Lord still has a chance to fight in the next battle, but they'll face penalties, losing rank points, resources, or even facing death."
He nodded again, realizing that, despite setbacks, Lords still had the chance to reset their strategies and come back stronger.
"What about an All-Out Confrontation, Edrik?"
Edrik explained the final strategy:
The Third Strategy: All-Out Confrontation
In this high-stakes strategy, both Lords meet on neutral ground or at a contested location, engaging in an unrestricted battle. This option is the riskiest, but it also offers the greatest rewards.
[Advantages:]
[- Highest Rank Point Reward: Victors earn 25 points, making this the fastest path for rapid rank advancement.]
[Disadvantages:]
[- No Retreat Mechanism: Once the battle begins, there is no option to retreat. If one side is overpowered, surrender is the only escape.]
[- Severe Consequences on Loss: If a Seeker surrenders, the winning Lord gains control of the defeated Lord's island and all its resources.]
Edrik continued, "Because of the high risks, not many are willing to choose this third option. Both sides must agree to an all-out confrontation. When a Lord challenges with an attack, the other side can respond with a defensive hold or accept the challenge as an all-out confrontation."
Atlas nodded thoughtfully. "So by issuing an attack challenge, a Lord is also opening themselves to the possibility of an all-out battle?"
"Exactly. If they choose the attack strategy, they should be prepared for the greatest risk as well."
Atlas processed the information carefully: Attack, Defense, or All-Out Confrontation. If someone was greedy enough, they might choose the riskiest option, the all-out battle. But that path left no room for error. If they lose, they'd face either death or complete subjugation to the victor.
He recalled what Lyrassa had shared; over hundreds of years, she had only chosen the defensive strategy, growing her island slowly and steadily.
Karian, on the other hand, was more aggressive, preferring to attack and advance quickly.
Edrik mentioned that he varied between attack and defense based on his assessment of each opponent.
Milo? He said he always started with defense, though he often counter-attacked once his opponent was weakened.
And Morganna? She didn't give any comments.
"Now tell me, Edrik—what's the best strategy for our island?" Atlas asked.
"I can only provide a logical assessment; the final decision is yours," Edrik replied.
He continued, "We have several powerful individuals. An attack strategy would be feasible, and with our strength, we could execute it effectively. However, the risk is that our opponents might respond with an all-out confrontation if they underestimate us—especially since they won't likely anticipate Milo as a threat."
He paused before adding, "As for defense, we have the flame beacons, but at this early stage, a defensive stance would still result in some damage to our island, which would take time and resources to repair. I'd say we have a stronger edge in attacking rather than defending—not because our defenses are weak, but because the potential damage we'd sustain in defense could slow us down."
Edrik continued, "But attacking head-on also carries risks, since we haven't fully assessed what our opponents might be hiding. We don't know what surprises they might have in store."
Atlas nodded thoughtfully. "And what's the status of our preparations with the troops?"
Edrik gave a slight smile. "Not to boast, but our troops are at a solid level. Their armor and weapons have been upgraded over the past week of hunting at Flare Peak, though not all of it is fully reinforced yet."
He went on, "As for the Elite Subordinates, only Lyrassa and Milo are still waiting for their Signature Weapons. But Lyrassa is still more than capable in her support role, and Milo, well, Raze, he's plenty powerful even without one."
Atlas nodded again. "Right… understood. Thanks for the assessment, Edrik."
He then stood and faced his Elite Subordinates.
"We'll review our defenses thoroughly over the next day. Make sure everyone, every team, is prepared with their part of the strategy for the battle," he said, his gaze steady.
"We'll engage in at least one battle, then assess whether to continue or shift to the fallback phase." He paused, considering. "If needed, we'll activate the Reinforcement Phase, where we retreat behind the protective barrier, giving us time to regroup and rebuild."
With the first battle wave less than 48 hours away, they had only moments to finalize their preparations. This would either be their first major victory—or their first significant loss. The outcome would be known soon enough.
***
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