Vol. 5 - Chapter 269 - Mock Guild Battle Start! Checkmate in just two moves!

ーーMock Guild Battle.

ーー‹Capture the Castle› ‹5 person battle› ‹Diamond Shape Field›.

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.

"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.