Enu vs. Oscar(2)

While Enu's team quickly spread out, gathering intel and taking strategic positions, Oscar's team took a different approach.

Unlike their opponents, they didn't split up.

Instead, they stayed together, moving carefully through the ruined buildings of the Apocalyptic Map.

The environment was a mix of collapsed skyscrapers, cracked roads, and overgrown structures, providing plenty of hiding spots but also countless blind spots.

Oscar, their scout, stood at the center of their formation.

His hands moved swiftly, molding something out of the soft, brown clay he carried in a small pouch at his waist.

Within seconds, a small, three-inch figurine took shape in his hands—a miniature humanoid doll with tiny, sharp eyes.

He held it up, his eyes flashing with concentration.

"Go."

The clay doll twitched to life, its tiny limbs moving unnaturally fast as it darted away, blending into the cracks and debris of the battlefield.

Oscar smirked. "That's one scout down. Let's see where they are."

Ayun, the support of the team, stood slightly behind them, her hands glowing faintly as she chanted a low incantation.

Within moments, a soft blue aura spread over them—a buff spell to enhance their speed and reaction time.

Buff's in place," Ayun announced. "I'll keep it active as long as I can."

En, their swordsman, was already gripping his blade tightly, his sharp eyes scanning the ruined cityscape.

He wasn't one for strategy—he preferred to fight first, think later—but he trusted Oscar's instincts.

"What's the plan, Oscar?" En asked, shifting his weight impatiently.

Oscar, now molding another lump of clay in his hands, smirked. "Simple. We don't need to look for them. We let them find us."

Ayun frowned. "You're suggesting we bait them?"

Oscar nodded, his hands shaping the clay into a much larger doll, about four feet tall.

As he finished, the dull, gray figure shuddered to life, its form shifting until it resembled a cloaked human figure. It had no facial features, only a smooth, emotionless surface where its face should be.

We send this forward like a decoy," Oscar explained. "Make it look like we're moving ahead, hoping to grab some flags. Meanwhile, my scout dolls will pinpoint their locations."

"And once we know where they are?" En asked, cracking his knuckles.

Oscar grinned. "Then we trap them."

Ayun let out a small sigh. "You just love making things complicated, don't you?"

"Hey," Oscar shrugged, rolling another piece of clay between his fingers. "I like winning."

The instructor's voice echoed through the massive arena, his tone calm yet brimming with anticipation.

"The second match has begun! Both teams are making their first moves, and it seems we have two very different approaches to strategy."

The holographic screen split in two, showing Enu's team on the left and Oscar's team on the right.

The cadets watched intently as the battlefield unfolded before them.

"Enu's team has chosen a more traditional scouting approach, using their observers to cover multiple angles and secure visibility across the map. Meanwhile, Oscar's team is sticking together, relying on a more compact and controlled strategy."

The camera zoomed in on Enu's team.

"We can see that Enu has positioned his observer high above their formation, giving his team a wide aerial view of the battlefield. Annis, on the other hand, has broken off to scout ahead, while Hanz remains close to Enu, moving cautiously between cover."

The screen shifted to Oscar's team.

"Now let's take a look at Oscar's team. Unlike Enu's group, they have NOT split up. Instead, they are deploying a unique approach—look at this! Oscar is using his ability to create multiple clay dolls, sending them ahead as decoys."

The camera zoomed in as one of Oscar's larger clay dolls moved through the ruins, its form eerily human-like.

From a distance, it was indistinguishable from a real opponent.

"A clever tactic! This will make it difficult for Enu's team to determine whether they are facing real enemies or simply Oscar's creations. And let's not forget—Oscar is a scout. His smaller clay dolls are likely being used to search for enemy locations right now."

The audience murmured in excitement, realizing the potential of Oscar's strategy.

The screen flashed back to Enu's group.

"Ah! It looks like Annis has spotted something!"

"Ah! It looks like Annis has spotted something!"

The camera focused on Annis, who crouched low behind a half-broken wall.

Her whip was coiled at her side, and her sharp eyes were fixed on the clay decoy that Oscar's team had sent forward.

"But will she realize it's NOT a real opponent? Or will Enu's team fall for the bait?"

The audience held their breath as the battle of strategy unfolded.

The instructor's voice rang through the arena, keeping the audience engaged.

"Annis has spotted what she believes to be an enemy and has quickly taken cover behind a broken car. She's showing good judgment by checking in with her leader before engaging. Now, let's see how Enu handles this situation."

Annis pressed a hand to her earpiece. "I have eyes on a target. Roughly ten meters northeast of my position, moving westward. No signs of additional movement. Orders?"

A brief silence followed.

"Is it alone?" Enu's voice came through, low and thoughtful.

"Yes."

Enu frowned, his fingers twitching as he adjusted the controls on his observer. "That's odd. Why is it walking so openly? Something isn't right."

Hanz, who was crouched beside him, whispered, "Could be bait."

Enu exhaled sharply. "Annis, send me your coordinates."