CH 269

ーーMock Guild Battle.

The set-up was basically the same as our E-rank exam from a while ago. The only difference here was the 'five person battle' part.

(*I have added arena illustration in comment section. Edit - I'm getting error, so for now I am updating it in discord server.)

Interpersonal battles on the other hand were allowed rule-wise except that the Sensei group didn't opt for it last time.

The reason why we were able to use the arena despite one of the guilds in this mock Guild battle being F-rank was because of us using the excuse of “practicing for the E-rank exam ”.

It would've been quite difficult to borrow the arena if we hadn't done it given the current situation.

We also have properly gone through all the practice and basic rules and explanation before starting the guild battle since this will save them from spending any such time on reiterating during their E-rank exam.

Guilds that have experienced mock guild battle were spared from lectures and trial battles like the one we had received and their chance of passing the exam was quite high. On the other hand, this also relieved the burden of teacher's so the academy also encouraged students to experience them.

Incidentally, it was Kamui-sensei who explained the rules and I have to say, he's a man with few words but when he spoke, he was quite a fluent speaker.

And so the buzzer rang and the mock guild battle started.

The first move is the most important in a guild battle. Guild battle amateurs first have to understand this fact. I wonder if Saturn-kun and others would be fine?

"Let's go, Karua!"

"Hmm!"

I and Karua, the one with the highest AGI among other members here, immediately rushed out in a two-man cell at the same time as the buzzer echoed.

The place we were aiming for was the same as the E-rank exam from before; castle in the north.

At the same time, aiming at the strategic location sandwiched between the dead center of East and South was our first move.

It may look like we were aiming at the strategic location from our opponent's perspective. Any side that could manage to hold the strategic location down can use it as their second base which will prove to be a great disadvantage for the opposite side on the PvP front. Of course it was easier to overturn the situation of castles since the strategic location was in the center of three castles and it also served disadvantages on defense terms.

Other benefits include being able to take measures against our actions. For example, our opponent can intercept our attempt to return to our base and easily stop us. It's also exceedingly easy to crush each one.

In short, capturing the strategic location holds very important significance in terms of field advantage.

But this wasn't an absolute method either since there are some ways to counter that, like the tactic I had used last time during our E-rank exam. Though these methods were for skilled opponents. One can't simply pull off these tactics if they aren't well versed in the winning tactics.

Let's see, I wonder what step ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star› have taken against our first move......

"Hn, West."

"Ah, well these are novices for you."

In contrast to us, the opposing side seemed to have split into two groups. A three person group went to the Big Castle in the West while a two person group was aiming for the Big Castle in the North.

It wasn't a bad move per se. There are three huge castles in the ‹Diamond› field so it would be advantageous for them if they managed to capture two huge castles that make up for the majority before us. I.e, if we ignore the fact that their ideal plan hasn't taken reality into account. They're underestimating the HP of the huge castle.

Eden moved like the last time with me and Karua heading first, then the rest of the three members trailing soon after us aiming at the north. Basically the whole of our camp was going to take down one Big Castle together.

Big Castle's HP was huge and as there is the rule that said “Big Castle would be occupied by that side whose attack turns its HP 0”, it was no brainer that the castle should be taken down in as little time as possible from the moment one had launched their attack.

There was the fear of the opponent side interjecting in the middle and snatching the pie from our side. Ideally, I would have wanted to take it down in one shot but it was impossible with our current firepower.

To be honest, it would take a lot of time if we tried to take it down with just the two of us. It needs to be attacked by at least 10 skills and magic. It's not the way of guild battle if we take it easy and take our time to take down the castle while our moves are under cooldown.

In the latter half of the guild battle, a situation like ten people taking down one Big Castle was quite a normal scene.

Thus one has to have absolute skills to prevent anyone else from interrupting.

"Hn, and they're slow."

"It's not their fault either. It's that we're too fast."

"Hnn."

Karua muttered while looking at the two man group from the opponent's side, Saturn-kun and Jilong-kun, who were chasing after us.

She was currently using the skill ‹Explosive Speed›¹ of ‹Extreme Speed Star Boots› to fly backward in the air. Dang it, she looked a bit cool doing that. I also want to try that. (*Extreme speed before)

Guarding monsters were another group of small fries on the level that our regular attacks were all it needed to insta-kill them. Our unstoppable advancement was set in stone.

However our opponent's advancement wasn't as smooth. They were spending too much time on clearing the squares.

Well, there were lots of tricks to pull that. Even my current speed was something I have gained after a lot of practice since the time I had first challenged the dungeon. I'm glad all that time I had spent trying to take down the «Armour Golem» of Beg-low while slipping past wasn't all in vain.

Also, there's just a wide gap in our AGI. Karua's AGI was already reaching the mark of 400, and I was also quite fast if I add «Body Strengthening» to the equation, putting my AGI near 320.

If I be honest here, the difference was such that I could only pity them. But it wasn't not like I'm going to hold back in the beginning at least.

Ultimately, we had enough time so we also captured the strategic location and then aimed straight at North. Second Move.

The point was to capture the squares in a form like drawing a straight line. Take watch as a reference, our path would stretch straight like a needle pointing at the 12 o'clock from the center (strategic location). This would give us a protection period such that our opponents wouldn't be able to intercept us from the direction of 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock, completely separating the two sides for 2 minutes. The Opposing side wouldn't be able to get closer to the East in the end.

My second move was all about stopping the opponent from taking Big Castle in the East when we would be busy in capturing Big Castle in the North.

And if the opponent wants to aim at the East, they would have to take a long detour by passing through the South so Saturn-kun and Jilong-kun chasing after us were trying to aim for the North desperately.

That being said, they would be facing Lana and others, who were dashing towards our direction as we speak, if they decided to turn back and instead tried to go through the South. I will absolutely stop them from taking the Big Castle of the East.

"Hn, annihilation of the guarding monsters complete."

"Great, let's shave off the HP of Big Castle before the rest of the members catch up to us. ‹Brave Slash›! ‹Lightning Slash›!"

"Nn, Roger. ‹Star Burst - Rain Edge›! ‹32 Star Storm›!"

I and Karua, who were the first ones to arrive at the Northern Big Castle, wiped off any other guarding monsters and began to chip down the HP of Big Castle slowly before Lana and others catched up to us.

The skills Karua was firing off vigorously were the ace skills of ‹Star Cat› she had gained from the 3rd order tree. She was scoring pretty high damage with the rapid fire skills utilizing her speed.

Then we quickly took down all the squares around the Northern Big Castle just as Saturn-kun and Jilong-kun were about to get closer which made them unable to enter since we had entered the protection period.

"Grrrrrrr! Damn you! Get out!"

"Fufu. It's unbelievable my calculation turned out to be wrong. My, my plan to gander at the regretful face of Zephyr by stealing the last hit......"

Saturn-kun and Jilong-kun bashed against the wall as they were stopped by the barrier of protection period but of course, I didn't pay them any heed at all. Having no sympathy for the opponent was the way of games.

And I didn't know Jilong-kun was cooking such conspiracies. I made up my mind to give him a penalty another day.

"I make you wait, Zephyr!"

"Those people are full of openings. Would it be alright if I take a shot against them?"

"Our debut is here! Let's do it!"

It was then Lana, Shizu and Rika entered as if that barrier didn't exist for them. The only ones who could enter the square during the protection period were team members. And Shizu, I understand they're full of openings as they're hitting the barrier but leave them alone.

Besides, attacks from here wouldn't reach them either since they're being hindered by the barrier of protection period. It was in the setting of the protection period that one cannot unilaterally attack their opponents while being protected by the protection period barrier.

"Our first step is to take down this Big Castle. Let's do it as planned."

"A pity."

Shizu's shoulder dropped in disappointment and then she readied her gun. The muzzle was, of course, aimed at the Big Castle. Great for you, ain't it, Saturn-kun, Jilong-kun?

"‹Guardian Dog's Protection›! Let's go! Get, Set and ‹Shining Sabre of the Sacred Light›! ‹Rise of the Sacred Tree›! ‹Divine Pillar›!"

"‹Grenade›! ‹Rapid Fire›! ‹Fire Bullet›! ‹Ice Bullet›! ‹Sand Bullet›!"

"‹Shogun's Burst›²! ‹Flame Slash›! ‹Ice Strike› ‹Lightning Strike› ‹Light Flash› ‹Dark Sweep›!" (*Shogun's Burst - a self buff type skill that increase the dmg based on the number of hits)

"‹Lightning Burst›! ‹Shine Lightning›!"

"‹Delta Stream›! ‹Star Burst Tornado›!"

From top to bottom, Lana, Shizu, Rika, I and Karua immediately slapped down our attacks matching our timing with Lana's ‘Get-Set’ signal. Reason behind the simultaneous attack was to prevent the opponent from interrupting Just in case. Simultaneous attack too was a crucial tactic.

"Ahh, Ahh, Aaaaahhh!"

"Fufu, fufufu, ofufufu!"

I felt like I heard the dumbfounded shout of Saturn-kun and Jilong-kun who witnessed the fall of Big Castle from the other side of the barrier.

"Castle down, Zephyr! Onto our next Target!"

"Let's go Zephyr! To the Big Castle in the East!"

"Hn, let's... gooo."

Though it seemed like Rika, Lana and Karua didn't notice Saturn-kun and Jilong-kun's condition and excitedly rushed for the Eastern Big Castle.

Having no sympathy for the opponent was the way of games…

I also quickly followed them before the protection period could end.