Adelaide(2)

On the screen, the Scout's observer continued to weave through the trees, scanning for hidden flags. Meanwhile, the instructor's voice rang through the speakers, providing commentary on the match.

"The opposing team is making use of their Scout to locate flags, a wise strategy. However, by prioritizing objectives over combat, they risk being caught off guard by Adelaide's team, who are lurking in the shadows. The question is, will they detect the ambush in time?"

The holographic screen flickered, and a red marker appeared, indicating movement—Adelaide's team was closing in.

Visconti smirked. "Looks like they're about to find out."

The screen zoomed in on Adelaide's team as they launched their ambush.

The opposing team had been too focused on gathering flags, their Scout's observer soaring ahead, leaving them unaware of the shadows creeping closer.

Adelaide was the first to strike.

She darted forward from her concealed position in the thick foliage, her movements swift and precise.

Her blade gleamed as she lunged at the nearest opponent, forcing them to drop their collected flags in order to defend themselves.

"Adelaide moves in first, as expected," the instructor narrated, his voice steady. "Her team takes advantage of their opponents' distraction, striking from multiple angles. A textbook ambush—short, efficient, and decisive."

Before the opposing team could regroup, one of Adelaide's teammates, a wiry young man with a dagger, slipped behind their Scout and disrupted the observer, sending it crashing to the ground.

Eliminating their means of surveillance—smart move," the instructor continued. "Now, the opposing team is blind."

Another member of Adelaide's team, a long-range specialist, positioned themselves atop a fallen tree, picking off targets with precision shots.

One cadet from the opposing team barely dodged in time, rolling behind cover as another arrow nearly grazed their shoulder.

The fight lasted only a few minutes. Outnumbered and outmaneuvered, the opposing team had no choice but to retreat, abandoning the flags they had collected.

"And just like that, Adelaide's team dominates the match," the instructor concluded. "By maintaining control of the battlefield and forcing their opponents into a defensive retreat, they ensure victory. The opposing team was too focused on the objective and forgot the most crucial aspect—survival."

Kieran crossed his arms and frowned. "That's all? No drawn-out battle? How boring."

Enu scratched his chin. "With Adelaide's personality, it's odd that she didn't draw out the fight. She's usually more… aggressive."

"Probably because her team isn't that strong in combat," Visconti mused. "If she dragged it out, they might've been at a disadvantage."

"Yeah, I guess," Kieran muttered, still unimpressed.

Despite the match not lasting the full 90 minutes, the schedule remained unchanged.

The next match, featuring Enu's team, was set to begin at 9:30.

For now, there were 20 minutes left before the battle resumed. The cadets in the stands relaxed, chatting amongst themselves as the battlefield was reset for the next fight.

The stadium buzzed with energy as the instructor's voice rang out, echoing across the venue.

"For the second match, the chosen battlefield is… the Apocalyptic Map!"

A murmur ran through the crowd.

The Apocalyptic Map was notorious for its unpredictable terrain—collapsed buildings, unstable ground, lingering smoke, and abandoned vehicles that could either serve as cover or traps. It was a map that demanded adaptability.

You have ten minutes to strategize before deployment," the instructor continued.

On the massive holographic screen, the profiles of Enu, Hanz, and Annis appeared on the left. On the right, their opponents were displayed—Oscar, Ayun, and En.

"Apocalyptic, huh?" Enu mumbled, crossing his arms with a deep frown. "That map's trickier than the rest."

Kieran leaned forward, scanning the screen before smirking. "Oh, your opponents are Oscar's team."

Elijah shot him a look. "You sound way too entertained by this."

Kieran chuckled. "Because it is going to be interesting."

"What? You know them?" Enu asked, only half-joking but fully hopeful. "Tell me their abilities."

Visconti smirked. "Yeah, no."

Traitor," Enu muttered under his breath.

Kieran leaned in with a teasing grin. "That means you're screwed, Enu."

Enu exhaled through his nose and turned to his teammates. "Fine. We'll figure it out on our own. Let's go strategize."

As soon as they were dismissed to strategize, Enu led his team to a quieter corner of the waiting area.

His usual carefree demeanor was gone, replaced with sharp focus.

"Alright, listen up," he began, arms crossed. "The Apocalyptic Map is unpredictable. Expect unstable ground, collapsed buildings, narrow alleyways, and tons of debris for cover—but also potential traps. It's not an open battlefield like the Modern Map, which means visibility will be limited."

Hanz, leaning against the wall, nodded. "Bad news for us since none of us are long-range fighters."

"Exactly," Enu agreed. "Oscar's team might take advantage of that. If they have a long-range fighter, we'll be forced into a defensive position before we can even get close. That's why we need to control the engagement distance."

Annis twirled one of her daggers between her fingers. "So what's the plan?"

"We use the environment to our advantage," Enu said. "Instead of running around aimlessly, we force them into close quarters—make them fight on our terms."

Hanz smirked. "Ambush tactics, huh?"

"More like calculated engagements," Enu corrected. "We'll divide the map into zones. Annis, you'll be our scout. You move faster than either of us, and with your whip, you can maneuver around obstacles quicker."

Annis grinned. "Got it."

"Hanz, you and I will handle direct combat. We stick together and pick our fights wisely. No unnecessary risks. If we can cut down their numbers early, we gain the upper hand."

Hanz cracked his knuckles. "Sounds like my kind of plan."

"Right," Enu agreed. "Hanz, your swordsmanship is strong, but on this map, movement is key. Don't get stuck in narrow areas where you can't dodge properly."

Hanz nodded. "Got it."

"Annis, your whip has reach, so you can control the mid-range fight. Use it to disarm or trip enemies before they get too close. And keep your dagger ready in case they rush you."

Annis smirked. "Oh, I always keep my dagger ready."

Enu rolled his eyes before continuing. "As for me, I'll handle both offense and strategy. I'll direct our movements and make sure we don't get cornered. If we see an opportunity to divide and conquer, we take it."

Enu exhaled, scanning his teammates. "One last thing—adapt. No plan survives the battlefield intact. We stay flexible and work with what we have."

A countdown timer flashed on the holographic screen—three minutes remaining.

Annis adjusted her whip. Hanz rolled his shoulders.

Enu smirked. "Let's give them a fight they won't forget."