The final stage of Event 3: The Battle of Strategy was unlike any other round the competitors had faced before. This time, the objective was clear yet surprising: capture the enemy's central command point or eliminate the opposing team's leadership. It was an unexpected twist. Until now, the emphasis had always been on territory control or tactical maneuvers, never the outright elimination of a team leader.
As Caelan's team absorbed the new objective, they could feel the shift in the air. The weight of this battle was heavier than any they had faced before. The stakes were higher—one misstep, and they could lose everything. Three teams had advanced to this final round: Caelan's group, the Ironclad Legion, and The Blades of Night—each known for different strengths.
"It's never been about eliminating the leader," Seraphine murmured, her brow furrowed as they huddled in their war room, preparing for what would be the most critical match yet. "This changes everything."
"It's a trap, in a way," Dorian added, studying the map projected in front of them. "They know leaders are often the strategic core of a team. If you lose your leader, your group will crumble."
"Which is why we can't put Caelan in unnecessary danger," Lysandra said firmly, her eyes moving between the members of their group. "If we lose him, we lose everything."
Aldric crossed his arms, a scowl forming on his face. "We can't keep Caelan on defense the whole time. With two other teams out there, it'll be a disadvantage if we just bunker down. Both sides will eventually turn on us."
"And if we prolong the battle, we'll only tire ourselves out," Dorian continued, echoing Aldric's concern. "We can't afford to let the battle drag on. It'll weaken us more than them."
The group fell silent for a moment, their expressions grim as they considered the challenge ahead.
"We need to be aggressive," Caelan finally said, his voice calm but resolute. "Both sides know we're a threat. If we wait too long, we'll be caught between them. We need to hit them both before they have a chance to coordinate."
"You want to attack both teams simultaneously?" Seraphine asked, arching an eyebrow.
"We have to," Caelan replied. "If we focus on one, the other will swoop in when we're vulnerable. We need to pressure both camps."
Dorian nodded in agreement. "We'll need to divide into two units for that. One to create distractions, and one to infiltrate their command centers."
"Exactly," Caelan confirmed. "Aldric and I will take one side, Seraphine and Dorian will handle the other. We'll need to rely on stealth for the infiltration. The distraction team will cause enough chaos to keep their attention off us."
"What about the defense?" Lysandra asked, her voice suddenly sharp with concern. "If we leave our camp unguarded, they'll just attack our command point while we're busy."
The room went quiet again, and all eyes turned to Caelan. They knew he had to be on the frontlines, but leaving their command center exposed was a dangerous gamble.
"I'll stay behind," a soft voice interrupted the tense silence.
The Assault Begins
The teams were deployed to their respective locations. The simulated battlefield for the final match was vast, divided into three distinct regions: a dense forest where The Blades of Night were stationed, a heavily fortified desert camp belonging to The Ironclad Legion, and Caelan's own base, nestled within a crumbling cityscape.
Caelan and Aldric's squad moved swiftly toward The Blades of Night's territory, while Seraphine and Dorian headed in the opposite direction toward the Ironclad Legion's camp. Each group had a dual objective: cause enough disruption to keep the enemy off-balance while the other half of their team infiltrated the command centers.
As Caelan's group approached the forest, the tension grew palpable. They could already sense the presence of enemy scouts patrolling the outskirts. Aldric grinned, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Ready to make some noise?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Caelan nodded. "Let's give them something to worry about."
With a sharp signal, Aldric's squad launched their assault, crashing through the enemy lines with brute force. The trees reverberated with the sound of clashing steel, and the air crackled with magic as their presence was made known. The Blades of Night scrambled to respond, rushing to defend their camp from what they believed was an all-out attack.
But while the enemy's attention was focused on Aldric's squad, Caelan moved quietly through the trees, using the chaos to his advantage. He and his infiltration team slipped past the enemy's defenses, moving toward their command point under the cover of nightfall.
Meanwhile, at the Ironclad Legion's Camp
On the other side of the battlefield, Seraphine and Dorian were employing a similar tactic. Dorian, known for his precision and tactical thinking, had set up a complex series of distractions—small bursts of magic and illusions designed to confuse and disorient the enemy.
As the Ironclad Legion scrambled to deal with the unexpected assault, Seraphine's squad moved like shadows through their camp, silently neutralizing guards and advancing toward their command point.
"We're close," Seraphine whispered into her communication device, her voice steady. "Keep them distracted just a little longer."
The Defense: Elena's Stand
Few hours before the assault begins, at Caelan's camp
"I'll stay behind," a soft voice interrupted the tense silence. It was Elena, her gaze steady as she looked around at her teammates.
Everyone turned to her, surprised. Elena, though capable, had not been the most combat-ready member of the group. She had mostly stayed in the background, supporting with knowledge and strategy rather than directly engaging in battle.
"Elena…" Caelan began, his voice laced with uncertainty.
"You should let me do this," Elena said, her voice steady and filled with resolve. "I may not be as strong as the rest of you, but I've studied the terrain and the strategies of the other teams. I can set traps, illusions—anything to keep them at bay. They won't even reach our command point."
"But Elena," Lysandra interjected, a slight frown creasing her brow, "this will be risky. If they break through, you'll be left alone to defend."
"I won't be alone," Elena said confidently. "Lysandra can monitor everything remotely, and if it gets too dangerous, she can help me. I'll just need you to trust me on this."
There was hesitation in the room. They all knew how vital the defense was—if the enemy managed to breach their defenses, the battle would be lost. But they also knew that Elena wouldn't offer to take on such a critical role unless she believed she could handle it.
Caelan exchanged a glance with Lysandra, who gave him a small nod, signaling her trust in Elena's decision.
"Alright," Caelan said, exhaling deeply. "We trust you. Set the traps, be careful, and if anything goes wrong, let Lysandra know immediately."
Elena gave him a reassuring smile. "I won't let you down."
Present Time
Back at Caelan's camp, Elena was putting her plan into action. The area surrounding the command center was littered with traps, illusions, and enchantments, each one carefully placed to confuse and mislead any enemy attempting to breach their defenses.
Elena moved quickly; her eyes sharp as she monitored the traps she had set. The enemy's first wave of attackers approached cautiously, but as they moved deeper into the camp, they fell into one illusion after another. What seemed like solid ground would collapse beneath their feet, while familiar landmarks would shift and change, leading them in circles.
Lysandra, watching the scene unfold from her control center, couldn't help but be impressed. "She's doing it," she murmured, her eyes fixed on the screen. "They're completely lost in the illusions."
Elena stood at the center of her defensive web; her hands raised as she manipulated the mana flowing through the traps. Her heart pounded, but she remained calm and focused. She had trained for this, and now she was proving herself.
The enemy soldiers continued to fall into her traps, one by one, their morale wavering as they realized they were being toyed with. But Elena knew this was only the first wave. The real challenge would come when the leaders of the enemy teams made their move.
The Final Push
As the hours passed, the battle raged on across the battlefield. Both of Caelan's attack squads had made significant progress, but they knew time was running out. The longer the battle dragged on, the more likely it was that the enemy would regroup and counterattack.
In the forest, Caelan and Aldric's squad had reached the outskirts of The Blades of Night's command center. They moved carefully, avoiding detection as they prepared for the final assault.
"Ready?" Caelan whispered; his voice barely audible.
Aldric nodded, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's finish this."
Lysandra's Surprise
Back at the control center, Lysandra continued to monitor the battlefield, her eyes darting between screens. But as she watched Elena's traps ensnare the enemy; something caught her attention—a subtle shift in the flow of mana.
"What is that?" she muttered to herself, her fingers dancing across the console as she zoomed in on the anomaly.
Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. "No way…"
The scene ended with Lysandra staring in amazement at the screen, her mind racing as she pieced together the implications of what she was seeing.