This class war aims for the high point-holding general to be targeted. The vice general is the runner-up, followed by other role holders. Focusing solely on protecting the general with one-point players leaves the attack neglected, and attacking too much makes it easier to take down the general. Acting in a large group makes for an easy target in the end. The standard strategy of creating a base and moving one-point players may seem boring, but it's what works.
In shogi, one doesn't put the king or the gold pieces on the front lines. But this is the world of Megashuva Game, where one skilled player can turn the tide of battle. Besides, generally the general is the strongest, so it's natural for them to move aggressively.
"I wonder what we should do," I whispered to Maria and a few classmates while hiding in the clouds. I'm the weakest-looking one, but we've foolishly adopted the strategy of having the weakest-looking one hold the highest points...or so they think. That, combined with the odds at the casino being the highest for the D class, hasn't helped our case.
We made our base deep within the cave. The flames of the torches flickered eerily as we gathered at the very back. "There's no way out, is there?" I asked simply.
"There won't be any snipers," Garino replied, looking cool as ever as he gazed into the void.
"Well, true. But if they attack, we'll all be trapped," I said. If we get hit with high firepower magic in rapid succession, even I won't be able to survive. Even if I manage to escape, I'll be the only one left alive.
"We won't let them trap us. We've set up numerous traps, and it's easier to hinder group actions. Don't worry, Amachi. My plan is perfect."
"...I see." Can I really trust him though?
"I also want to quickly show the results of my special training," said Maria, the vice captain sitting next to me, fidgeting with excitement.
"I'm sorry, Maria-san. While I know of your abilities, we are currently deploying our spearhead forces. Our strategy is to steadily earn points in the early stages. We will have you conserve your energy in the early stages, and deploy you when the other classes have weakened towards the middle and end stages," I explained.
"I see. Understood. Let's wait for that moment then. I'm excited... to be able to massacre," Maria said with an evil grin, resembling that of a villain.
While Garino and I were somewhat taken aback, I asked, "What's the spearhead force?"
Come to think of it, only Maria, Garino, a few classmates, and I were present here.
"We have deployed a decoy team, a guerrilla team, and an investigative team. This is the strategy," Garino said with a smirk, explaining how D-class was currently operating.
"The decoy team consists of 10 members. They are pretending to be me and moving around. Apparently, there is a strong defender named Nikubu among them. They are an ambush team that tries to take points by switching to an attack if there is an opportunity to do so."
"The guerrilla team consists of 15 members. Claire is leading this team, which aims to get points by attacking other classes. This team has some of the best students in our class. They are elite troops that have been gathered to proactively earn points."
"The investigative team consists of 15 members who are allowed to move around freely to understand the war situation. This team acts as a bridge between the decoy team, the guerrilla team, and our main force. They appear to be moving in small numbers or alone."
The rest of us were just ordinary students.
"Hm? There was some movement," Garino said, looking at his borrowed mobile device.
"Someone got knocked out..." The notification said that D-class had lost one point.
Currently, we had 99 points.
Then, it started. The notifications did not stop ringing. 98, 97, 96, 95... gradually decreasing. It stopped at 90.
"10 people got knocked out..." Garino said with a smirk, making a cool remark.
"Are you okay? Did you encounter a formidable enemy?" I asked.
"Do you think we're okay?" Garino replied calmly, his expression showing no signs of panic.
"Uh, what's up?"
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.
Is there some kind of strategy in play?
They seem so composed.
There must be something going on, right?
"We're heading towards defeat... let's just leave it at that."
"That's no good!! You useless strategist!"
All I could do was grip the collar of Garino, who was breaking out in a cold sweat and getting closer, unable to do anything else.
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.
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/Kazane's perspective/
Three hours have passed since the class war began. It is now past noon.
Currently, A-class is in the lead, with E-class at the bottom.
As lunchtime approaches, it was thought that the battlefront would calm down, but it only intensified. Black smoke was rising everywhere.
In this virtual space, there is no death, but there is pain, as well as sleepiness and hunger. All classes will take a break at some point, and they may have been aiming for this timing.
I once hid in the shade of a tree to catch my breath. We, the classmates of F-class, were targeted by students from A, B, and C classes. We knew they were collaborating behind the scenes. The central figure among them, yonhishi, had effectively taken control of B and C classes.
This class war is a battle between the ABC alliance of 150 students and 50 students from D-class and E-class.
Some of our F-class classmates have already been eliminated. The three of us, me, Systerissa, and minami, managed to keep our pursuers at bay, but we were at a standstill.
"I don't regret provoking them..."
The problem with this school is not only discrimination against the impoverished due to economic disparities, but also discrimination against beastmen, corruption of the upper class, and various other problems.
Many students who will eventually influence the world are enrolled in this school. Especially in our generation, there are too many of those children of influential people.
That's why we believe that this generation is the only one that can solve the problem if there is a chance. Now, while we are in this school, it is a perfect opportunity to stop the chain of world mistakes...
"I wonder if I'm trying to do something amazing."
That's why I have to demonstrate my abilities to them.
"I have to prove my strength."
"What's wrong, Kazane?"
Minami asked with a worried look as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"Oh, it's nothing. I just feel a little hungry," Kazane replied.
"Even in a situation like this, you're so calm that it's frustrating," Minami said.
The shadows of several students who had launched an attack just a hundred meters away under the shade of a tree were moving.
They seemed to be watching each other's movements. Fatigue seemed to be setting in.
"It looks like there will be more than 20 of them. Let's retreat before reinforcements arrive," Systerissa suggested, placing her hand on her chin and proposing to join up with their classmates.
"Yeah, that's a good idea. But only if we can get away..." There were too many of them. B-Class's top strategist was over there.
They were pretty strong, and the other students were no slouches either. Although Kazane was confident in her swordsmanship, could they really make it through this?
"Huh? It looks like something's going on over there," Minami warned, keeping her eyes fixed on the enemy's hiding place.
"I wonder what's happening? Are they under attack?" Systerissa wondered.
As the ABC Union began to move frantically, the shadows of the trees in the direction they were in were suddenly cooled and frozen into ice. It was an attack by many magical spells.
Explosions rang out, the trees rustled, and a thunderous sound reverberated. The screams were so loud they could be heard from here.
"It seems like another class is attacking," Minami said.
"It seems so... but which class is it?" Systerissa wondered.
In just a few minutes, the sounds of battle echoed, and a huge ice pillar appeared. The cold was so strong that it could be felt even from here.
As if the previous screams and explosions were lies, silence enveloped everything. Where the ABC Union had been, it was now frozen over.
The trees and the earth had turned completely white.
"Covered in blood," Minami said, her face twisted in horror.
A blood-soaked student draped in cold air emerged from the white smoke resembling dry ice.
"...It's the Demon King. That's pretty dangerous. What are we going to do?"
"It seems like an incredibly powerful enemy. More so than anything we've faced before."
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"It doesn't seem like the kind of opponent we can let go. With three of us against one, we might have a chance."
One female student slowly approached us.
"Let's do it. We have to defeat them anyway."
I readied my sword, and the two of them assumed a combat stance.
The student who appeared from the snow and ice was smiling, with an evil grin that seemed to enjoy slaughter...
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After finishing lunch and sipping on tea,
"Out of nowhere, about 30 points were added to D-class." A large amount of points were suddenly added to the D-class.
"It seems like Claire's hit-and-run team is working well. Just as planned."
"Really?"
"Amachi is such a worrier. Don't worry, everything is fine." Garino tapped his temple with his index finger.
"There are no flaws in my strategy. Bwahaha!"
Garino clapped his hands while laughing.
I rolled my eyes.
"..."
I think it's probably someone else. It's not Chiaki. She's doing something else, separate from me. I wonder what she's doing and where she is right now. After the athlete's oath, she was quite excited.
When the starting signal sounded, I saw her run off, shouting "I'm gonna kill 'em all!" That was the last I saw of her.
I hope she's not being tortured or anything.
"We can't share information with Kakko here."
We can only check the battle situation with the points on our mobile devices.
I'll pretend to go to the bathroom later and ask about DROTS's movements.