All the spectators could see that the only company that had the potential to defeat the Second Corps was the Fifth Corps. Even Ralph could not deny that!
The Divine Guard Chiefs of the City of Shadows knew each other's strengths well. They all knew how terrifying the Divine Guards produced by Ralph were. Although Aobashi's First Corps had yet to engage the Second Corps, by extrapolating on historical trends, the spectators thought it likely that the First Corps would again lose to the Second Corps.
On that year, the only team that had outperformed their past performances was the Fifth Corps. They had cleanly and successfully plundered divine essences from the Seventh Corps, showing their extraordinary strength.
The strength they displayed seemed extraordinary. Will Ralph's Second Corps finally be defeated? some of the spectators hopes while some doubted. Their gazes were gathered on the sand table, fully concentrated on the two forces that were on the verge of clashing
Han Shuo still had the same old unflappable smile. His divine guards, tempered in the Eight Desolation and Torture Formation and trained by the Cauldron Spirit, had all mastered the simple but unique demonic combat techniques that would bring out their full potential.
The Divine Guards produced by the Second Corps were extremely powerful, but strength was not the only factor that determined the outcome of a team battle. Team unity and overall coordination were also crucial. Han Shuo was certain that his Fifth Corps team was superior to the Second Corps team in this regard.
In addition, the Fifth Corps team had Sanguis, Bollands and Gilbert with extraordinary strengths. Sanguis and Bollands possessed attack methods unlike any other. Han Shuo was sure that the trio could make a huge, unexpected difference at critical moments!
Having looted the Divine Essences from most of their opponents, Kiffan set out to find the Fifth Corps, as Ralph had ordered. The gap between the two companies was rapidly closing. It became clear that the conflict was inevitable.
As the two teams were about to meet, Han Shuo felt a little uneasy. The spectators could clearly see everything that was happening in the arena through the sand table. Han Shuo was afraid that Bollands and his company might do something very illegal right in front of Wallace and the spectators. Ralph was even more nervous than Han Shuo because he had ordered Kiffan to kill all the divine guards of the Fifth Corps. With so many watchful eyes watching the battle, he would be caught immediately if Kiffan tried to kill anyone on purpose.
But it was too late now for Han Shuo or Ralph to do anything!
The inevitable battle had finally broken out. Kiffan, leading his Second Corps Divine Guards with unstoppable momentum and overwhelming power, charged at the Fifth Corps Divine Guards. He commanded in a loud, cold voice, "Attack! No need to be polite!"
The Second Corps had successfully looted Divine Essences from the Fourth, Sixth and Third Corps. Their morale was as high as ever. Every one of them was steaming with the desire to slaughter. Having survived the cruellest of trials and training, these Divine Guards had greater individual strength than any of the other companies. They charged forward with fierce and vicious faces. It was terrifying to stand in their path.
Bollands gestured to his divine guards and calmly ordered, "Second Corps is nothing like Seventh Corps. Take up a defensive position!"
These Divine Guards of the Fifth Corps had braved countless deadly situations in the Eight Desolation and Torment Formation. Their tempered minds were very resolute and firm, unaffected by the imposing and murderous demeanour that seethed from the Divine Guards of the Second Corps. Following Bolland's instructions, the Fifth Corps Divine Guards immediately spread out in a U formation facing the Second Corps Divine Guards.
"Let them in!" Bollands continued to give methodical orders to his divine guards. He was not charging blindly as he had done against the Seventh Corps.
All the divine guards of the Fifth Corps watched the attacking Second Corps coldly. At Bolland's command, the formation once again became orderly. It became a series of smaller U-formations, each holding five or six men. The Divine Guards were spaced about two to three metres apart - a distance that would allow them to assist each other without hindering each other.
On the sand table, the Company of the Fifth Corps was like a beautiful and intricate piece of origami being unfolded. It took them little time to rearrange themselves into a neat and tidy formation. It was clear to the spectators that each Divine Guard of the Fifth Corps was the same distance apart. The semicircle they formed looked like a diagram drawn after precise measurements of angles and distances.
A radiance of astonishment flashed from the spectator's eyes. Even without looking at the Fifth Corps' strength, from their ability to get into such an orderly and well-coordinated formation in little time, the spectators knew just how much effort had been put into training the divine guards. It looked as though the divine guards knew where they should be in the formation in order to maximize their power.
How remarkable! thought the spectators.
Ralph was a knowledgeable person. It took him just one look at that incredible coordination displayed by the Fifth Corps divine guards to realize just how much effort must have been put on team training. The most terrifying divine guard Companies were usually those that could fight as a team. For some reason, Ralph suddenly felt uneasy about his divine guards charging into the formation recklessly.
The battle finally broke out!
The first to attack wasn't those of the Second Corps but the Fifth Corps from their defensive position!
Right when Kiffan and his Second Corps divine guards arrived at the center of the semi-circular formation, Bollands, in a callous face, gestured with his hand. The Fifth Corps divine guards suddenly launched a hail of ranged attacks at Kiffan and his company, catching some by surprise.
Sanguis and Gilbert left the formation and charged at Kiffan. Bollands took no direct part in the battle, but continued to shout orders from his position, instructing the Fifth Corps Divine Guards to attack the Second Corps Divine Guards from all sides. As a commanding officer, Bollands did not make rash decisions, but after careful observation, instructed the team to make appropriate adjustments. They managed to hold off the attacking Divine Guards of the Second Corps.
When broken down into individual Divine Guards, the Second Corps was stronger than the Fifth Corps. However, the latter was far superior in terms of teamwork. With the Divine Guards of the Fifth Corps working together like the well-oiled gears of a well-built machine, the Second Corps' Divine Guards had no chance to counterattack as the attacking forces bombarded them so frequently.
Han Shuo's order to Bollands was simple - kill the Divine Guards of the Second Corps mercilessly! And Bollands had faithfully carried out the order. In a short time, many of the Second Corps Divine Guards had been injured.
"Beautiful! Now that is real teamwork!" exclaimed Camilla. With an excited and happy face, she said to Han Shuo, "This is an eye-opener. Every member of your Fifth Corps truly considers themselves part of the team. None of them break away and abandon their teammates under such stress. They even manage to defend their position perfectly, blocking any gap the attackers try to reach. Truly extraordinary!
After a short pause, Camilla glanced at Ralph disdainfully and added, "The attackers may be made up of individuals of greater strength, but their teamwork is far inferior to that of Fifth Corps!"
Camilla's Fourth Corps had been badly damaged by Kiffan's company. She seemed to enjoy watching the attackers get a taste of their own medicine, and repeatedly made sneering comments to irritate Ralph.
Naturally, Rugersey and Erebus, whose divine guards had also suffered similar injuries at the hands of Ralph's men, didn't miss the opportunity. Erebus remarked, "That's very true. It looks as if the Second Corps has caught a Tartar! Strongest in team combat? Not anymore!"
"It seems to me that they only became the strongest in team combat by combining the strongest Divine Guards. From the looks of it, even they do not know how to unleash the power of the team!" commented Rugersey.
The three of them turned quite happy, feeling that Han Shuo had slapped Ralph in the face on their behalf. They stood to the side, glancing at Ralph with their gloating eyes as they commented with their taunting words. Ralph's face grew darker and darker.
Ralph understood the common sense that one mouth is no match for three mouths. Although he was extremely annoyed and angry, he did not retort. Besides, he knew that if he did retort, the Three Great Patriarchs might join the Three in mocking him. He had offended far too many people!
"Have you finished, you lot?" Wallace could not take it any longer and he scolded.
With Wallace having spoken, Erebus, Camilla, and Rugersey tactfully shut their mouths. The three had big, satisfied smiles on their faces after getting a little revenge for their losses. They continued to watch the battle on the sand table.
Just you wait! thought Ralph with his teeth clenched. He was considering how to teach the three a lesson after the competition was over.
"Someone got killed!" exclaimed Andre suddenly.
The spectators were shocked and immediately stopped their teasing. They put on solemn faces and turned their attention back to the sand table.
A Divine Guardian of the Second Corps fell to the barrage of ranged attacks. Although all that could be seen of him was a small black dot on the sand table, you could tell he was dead by the fact that he was still and stationary. Otherwise he would be doing something about the countless attacks landing on his body!
Wallace's expression changed. He lifted his head from the sand table and looked at Han Shuo. There was a clear intent to inquire in his eyes. Han Shuo forced a smile and shrugged at Wallace, indicating that he had no idea how the situation had come about. Though he might appear normal, Han Shuo was feeling rather uneasy.
"He should not have died!" said Andre. After a short pause, he explained, "If one of his teammates had helped him, he would have only suffered minor injuries. But at the critical moment, his teammates had coldly withdrawn and abandoned him. It is his own comrades who cause his death!"
Wallace's face trembled slightly as he heard these words. The Second Corps had always attacked wildly in every match. Many of their weaknesses were covered by their terrifying individual strengths. Once they engaged their enemy, they would usually quickly overwhelm them with brute force. They had never been in such a passive situation before, so their indifference towards their comrades had not been revealed until now.
Andre's word had undoubtedly shifted the blame to the Second Corps. Han Shuo became a little more relaxed and looked at Andre with a faint smile. He knew that with Andre's explanation, Wallace would not blame him.
"Another death!" exclaimed Batúk. He raised his head to look at Ralph and said, "It's the same situation again! It seems your troops never want to help or care about the lives of their comrades. Is that what you call teamwork?"