The Tactical War Begins

Simulation Arena – Mission Briefing Area

The lights dimmed as the AI-controlled holographic interface activated, casting a detailed 3D map of the battlefield into the air before them. The terrain was set—an urban combat zone, complete with abandoned buildings, narrow alleyways, and key control points that could dictate the flow of battle.

Colonel Duvall's voice echoed through the chamber. "Mission parameters are as follows: Team Bao will take the assault role, tasked with breaching and capturing an enemy stronghold. Team Callahan is assigned the defense role, responsible for holding their position for fifteen minutes or eliminating the attacking force. Victory is determined by mission success, not complete team elimination."

Jiro studied the holographic layout, his mind already dissecting possible entry routes. "We won't have the luxury of a straightforward approach. If they're as defensively disciplined as rumored, they'll have every critical entry point covered."

Vivian smirked. "Then we just have to be unpredictable."

Aiden cracked his knuckles. "I say we go in hard and fast—give them no time to react."

Desmond shook his head. "That's exactly what they're expecting. If we rush, we'll get funneled into a kill zone."

Bao remained quiet for a moment, eyes locked on the map. Then, he spoke. "We create an illusion of an aggressive push while circling to their weakest flank. If we divide their attention, we can stretch their defense too thin to hold."

Jiro nodded. "A feint and strike maneuver. It could work."

The simulation gates slid open, and the team stepped into the artificial cityscape. The countdown began.

3… 2… 1… Begin.

Instantly, the environment shifted, the hum of the AI systems activating the simulation. Gunfire simulations cracked through the air as Team Bao moved into position.

Jiro took point, leading the feint attack from the front. His calculated movements drew Team Callahan's attention, forcing them to reinforce the central courtyard.

Meanwhile, Bao, Vivian, and Aiden flanked the outer perimeter, using the alleyways to bypass the main choke points. Desmond covered their approach from a rooftop vantage point, feeding live enemy positions through the team's communication system.

"Four hostiles repositioning westward," Desmond reported. "They're adjusting their formation."

Bao smirked. "Good. They're taking the bait."

As Callahan's team committed to countering the feint, Bao's strike squad breached from the rear.

The fight erupted in seconds.

Aiden slammed a stun round into the first defender before they could react, while Vivian weaved between cover, neutralizing their support gunner. Jiro's distraction ended the moment he saw Bao's signal—he disengaged and rejoined the core squad just in time to collapse the enemy formation.

Callahan's team scrambled to reposition, but the momentum had shifted. Within minutes, the stronghold was overrun.

"Mission success. Team 12 wins."

The simulation terminated, the urban battlefield flickering out of existence as the lights in the chamber brightened once more.

Jiro exhaled, removing his visor. "That was cleaner than expected."

Vivian grinned. "Told you being unpredictable works."

Desmond nodded. "Still, they weren't pushovers. We won't get away with the same trick twice."

The celebrations from their last victory were short-lived. The next challenge loomed over them like a dark cloud, and this time, they wouldn't be able to rely on misdirection alone. The AI system announced their next opponent.

Team 12 vs. Team 1.

Jiro immediately frowned as he pulled up information on Grayson's team. "They ranked top three in last year's advanced battlefield simulations. Specialized in rapid counterattacks and adaptive tactics. They don't just hold ground—they strike back harder."

Desmond let out a sharp breath. "So basically, we're in for a war."

Vivian cracked her knuckles. "I say we hit them before they hit us."

Bao, however, remained quiet. Something about Grayson's team made him uneasy. This wasn't going to be a battle they could win through superior strategy alone. They were going to have to fight tooth and nail.

The holographic briefing displayed the new battlefield: an abandoned industrial complex filled with rusting scaffolds, collapsed ceilings, and dimly lit corridors. Unlike their previous engagement, where an open cityscape allowed for fluid maneuvers, this terrain was a nightmare for attackers. Choke points, elevated sniper positions, and multiple hidden entry routes.

The mission was clear: Team Bao was on offense again. Their objective? Secure the central control room within 20 minutes. Team Grayson would defend it with everything they had.

"Alright," Bao said, finally speaking. "We can't afford to take a direct engagement. If we move predictably, they'll box us in. We need multiple points of entry. Aiden and Desmond, you take the left approach—create enough noise to draw their attention." He turned to Vivian and Jiro. "We'll infiltrate through the collapsed roof section. If we time it right, we can catch them in a crossfire."

Jiro nodded. "They'll expect a flanking maneuver, but if we make it look like a frontal attack, they might commit too early."

Aiden smirked. "Got it. Give us a minute of distraction, and we'll give you an opening."

The buzzer sounded. The simulation activated.

Instantly, the industrial zone came to life. The sound of distant machinery hummed through the area, and dim emergency lights flickered in and out. The battlefield was a maze of rusted steel and shadows.

Aiden and Desmond wasted no time. They moved in low and fast, their footsteps muffled as they approached from the left flank. Desmond let off a burst of suppression fire, forcing Team Grayson to take defensive positions near the control room entrance.

"Contact—three hostiles reinforcing the entrance!" Desmond called over comms.

Jiro and Vivian moved with precision, scaling a broken scaffold leading to the upper floor. Bao followed closely behind, heart pounding as he adjusted his visor. He could see the enemy placements from above—they were well-organized.

"We need to strike now," Jiro whispered. "They're repositioning."

Bao nodded, signaling for Vivian to take the first shot. She aimed her rifle and fired a stun round, catching one of Grayson's teammates off guard. He staggered backward, giving Aiden just enough time to rush in and knock him out of the fight.

Team Grayson wasn't just defending—they were baiting them in.

From the shadows, an ambush was triggered. Two concealed opponents sprang out from the side corridors, pinning Aiden and Desmond down with rapid fire. At the same time, a sniper from the far end took aim at Jiro.

"They anticipated the flank!" Jiro shouted, barely dodging a shot that ricocheted off the steel beam beside him.

Bao clenched his jaw. They were being pushed back.

With Aiden and Desmond locked down and Vivian struggling to reposition, they were seconds away from complete failure.

"Jiro, cover me!" Bao ordered as he leapt from the scaffolding, landing directly behind an enemy combatant. Before they could react, he struck hard with his baton, disabling their rifle. The enemy turned, swinging wildly, but Bao ducked, swept their legs, and took them out in one precise movement.

Jiro took his opening, snapping a clean headshot with his stun rifle, dropping the enemy sniper before they could reposition.

But the fight wasn't over yet.

Vivian was locked in close-quarters combat with one of the remaining defenders, struggling to gain the upper hand. Desmond, injured from a lucky enemy shot, was trying to cover Aiden, who was now fighting two opponents at once.

"We're losing ground!" Desmond warned, firing wildly to keep pressure off Aiden.

Bao had to act. Now.

He moved fast, closing the distance to Aiden's fight. He caught one of the enemies off guard, driving a strike into their side before kicking them toward Aiden—who finished the job with a knockout punch.

Only one enemy remained.

Grayson himself.

Final Showdown

Grayson wasn't just another soldier. He was a survivor.

While Team Bao had been scrambling to regain control, Grayson had been analyzing the battlefield, waiting for his chance.

And when it came—he took it.

With speed that caught even Bao off guard, Grayson maneuvered through the wreckage, dodging Jiro's suppressing fire and closing in fast. A stun grenade went off, forcing Vivian and Desmond to fall back.

It was down to Bao and Grayson.

Grayson didn't hesitate. He launched into a flurry of precise strikes, forcing Bao onto the defensive. He was fast. Precise. Every move was calculated.

Bao blocked the first two hits but took a glancing blow to the ribs. He gritted his teeth—if this kept up, he would lose.

Then, instinct took over.

Bao stopped dodging. Instead, he stepped into Grayson's attack, absorbing the next blow and using the momentum to shift their position. In one fluid motion, Bao twisted, locking Grayson's arm and flipping him over.

A hard strike to the chest ended the fight.

Silence.

Then, the simulation terminated.

The battlefield faded into darkness, and the overhead lights flickered back to full brightness.

"Winner: Team 12."

For a moment, none of them moved. They were exhausted, breathing hard, barely able to process the win. They had done it—but only by the narrowest of margins.

Desmond groaned. "Someone remind me why we signed up for this?"

Vivian let out a breathless laugh. "Because we don't like losing."

Jiro exhaled sharply. "That was… closer than I'd like."

Aiden sat up, rubbing his sore jaw. "At least now we know what it's like to almost lose."

Bao didn't say anything. He just looked up at the observation platform.

There, standing among the officers, was Colonel Duvall. And next to him, an unfamiliar figure—one that Bao was certain hadn't been there before.

A new player had entered the game.

And Bao knew this tournament was only getting started.

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