Reincarnated in the game world ~ A gamer's beginning to [Dungeon job hunting recommendation]-Chapter 651Vol. 11 - - Duel Begins! - Surround the Enemy and Prevent their Offense
"Let's get 'em!"
" " "Let's go!!" " "
The moment the buzzer sounded, we surged out of our base. ππ£πππ ππππ¨π―ππ.ππ¨π
Leaving our base, we split into teams. Ester, Karua took the lead in the first one, heading for the Β«Northwest Giant CastleΒ». They're followed by the square clearing teamβconsisting of Lana, Sierra, Shizu, Mert and Rina.
On the other hand, our three-person team of I, Pamela, and Aegis sprinted for Β«Southeast Giant CastleΒ». Rika, Lulu, Celia, Noel, and Lacritta traced our steps while bringing down squares on the way.
"Aegis, you keeping up with us?"
"Yes, there's no problem!"
Aegis had high AGI, but she still fell short compared to our speed. Then, why did we bring her along with us? The answer was her horse riding skill. With her horse Dandy-kun, she had been sufficiently keeping following us. Horses or mounts were allowed.
As we set out, we turned toward southeast, cleared four squares, and then made a straight dash for south. Now, it was a game of speed; who would reach their first.
Our first objective was to block our opponent from closing in to the Giant Castle. With the given distance, we had the lead. But, needless to say, arriving early wasn't going to secure our chances. Our opponent might also corner us, or interfere in our action against the Giant Castle. It would be a gamble then.
While we had Β«Just Time AttackΒ» mode, the new guild members were still inexperienced to get into the same rhythm as us. Atleast, Aegis, Noel, and Lacritta had yet to get the hang of the timing. In contrast, our second team, targeting the furthest Giant Castle, had the experience in it. This was by intention, since our opponent had the advantage by being closest to it.
Then, how exactly were we going to secure the Β«Southeast Giant CastleΒ»?
The bigger roadblock was if our opponent managed to chase after us. We had to avoid that scenario. Our team had been taking squares along the way moving south, creating a lineup of cooldown that should provide us ample duration to bring down Giant Castle.
In other words, we must prevent opponents from acquiring any square adjacent to Giant Castle.
"We've almost reached the audience stand!"
"It's now, Pamela. Use your search skill!"
"Aye-aye, captain! Β«Search EnemyΒ»! Mhm-mm-mmβhuh... they're still at the end of west-desu. We're in lead-desu!"
"Great! Then, follow the strategy. We're routing to the southeast! Aegis, take the southwest! Just follow the bookmarks!"
"Roger!"
"Understood! I am heading ahead first, then!"
If the enemy catches up, they would interfere in our action, so the best defense is to not let them catch up at all. The plan is to draw a line of squares to the south to establish the protection period, effectively blocking their route, and then leisurely acquire the giant castle. In essence, this strategy prevents the opponent from even taking the squares adjacent to the castle in the first place.
We're approaching the centre, where the Z shaped audience stand blocked the view for both sides from learning what the other was up to. With Pamela's skill, it appeared we're at the lead. (Map AC-23)
The other objective we had was to secure Β«Central East Giant CastleΒ». This had been why we first sprinted toward the southeast, then changed the direction to south, and now, we adjusted our direction to southeast again.
Β«Southeast Giant CastleΒ» was the closest to Β«EdenΒ». Given that information, our opponent should be prioritising the defenseless Β«Central East Giant CastleΒ». We were going to intercept them there. And, that's where Aegis' role came into play, by having her take a different direction than us.
Aegis had been tasked to claim the squares around the audience stand, creating a buffer zone to prevent our opponent. With that, the opponent wouldn't be able to advance north. This was her role.
The rules of square captured said you could only claim the square adjacent to oneself's team. Clearing squares in 'X' or 'diagonal' pattern would leave a gap to pass through. But, '+' pattern left no such gap. (Refer to below images)
Now, Pamela and I were drawing a straight line. Aegis's second task was to reinforce our squares by another row. When I said Rina's Β«Guild Chain BookmarkΒ» was busted, I truly meant it. There were two types of squares, one that Aegis must bring down, and second that she should charge through. What to do in which square was denoted by Rika's skill, Bookmark in short.
With our tactic, we had completely intercepted the route Temple Saber was supposed to take.
"Temple Saber has caught up, and is currently claiming the squares nearby!"
"Well, they can't go for big fish, so they'd have to settle for small ones, eh. They must be planning to create a wall of their own, waiting for the protection period to wear down. Unfortunately, they're bound to be disappointed."
"Ah, our team is here-desu!"
At Pamela's reminder, I also caught up to the approach of Lulu, Celia, Sierra, and Lacritta at the Β«Southeast Giant CastleΒ».
"Great, then let's bring this big thing down! Unique skillβΒ«Brave SlashΒ»!"
"Unique SkillβΒ«Secret Ninja Technique - Clone ArtsΒ»!
As soon as the rest had caught up, we shifted to our target, beginning our offense against the giant castle. Soon, Temple Saber was about to be doused with cold water.
"Β«Sotheast Giant CastleΒ» is down!"
" "Yay!" "
"We did it!"
"Of course you did, Lulu!"
"We got it down, Ritacchi!"
"W-we did it! We just have to keep up like this!"
"What's our next target, Zephyr-san!"
"The plan is the same. Next, we're heading for Β«Central East Giant CastleΒ»."
"Oh, it seems Β«Southwest Giant CastleΒ» might go down soon-desu!"
"Hmm, that seems to be a lost cause. Over there, Temple Saber's group is catching up to block the path."
"Ah, they indeed are. I didn't notice them at all-desu."
"They might have lost their fangs, but they still had that experience. Do not let what's before you blind you. Follow what we had decided on!"
"Yes, sir-desu!"
With one giant castle down, we backtracked for the Β«Central Giant CastleΒ». We had spent enough that the cooldown of the interceptive layer we had drawn had already been out of cooldown. But, of course, there was no need for us to panic. Rika and Aegis had been left behind for precisely that measure.
"Ah, Temple Saber is now taking a detour since they can't pass through!"
"It just means Aegis and Rika have baited them nicely. There's only just five of them, and if we do a pincer, we can bring them down."
Rika had already started to show her brilliance of new advanced job. The Temple Saber claimed two squares due north, creating a protection period, and then tried to detour but their path was blocked.
Temple Saber had the option to either retreat, advance, or fight. But if they advanced forward, it was possible their retreat might be cut off, and that would be too dangerous. So, effectively, they either had to retreat or fight.
"Huh, Brave!"
"So it's Renandol-senpai!"
The squad from Temple Saber was a five-member party. Three of them were on their horse, with their guildmaster Renandol-senpai at the centre, the 4th person was a tank category knight, and the last one appeared to be healer.
The healer was easy to bring down. So, that left four knights, huh. Maybe we might be able to corner them while they protect their healer. I thought, already going through scenarios for a battle, though soon Renandol-senpai's shout followed up.
"We're retreating!"
"Wait, what?! Guildmaster!"
Realising they're outmanoeuvred and outnumbered, their guildmaster promptly flagged retreat. He was correct.
The match had just begun. There was no need to create a sacrifice so soon just in chase of giant castles. Renandol-senpai knew this point very well. At least, his judgments was on-point.
With that, moving onward, we had brought two giant castles to us. Our base was right up, and there was no need to worry about losing it. Now, it's to see if we could also bag Β«Northeast Giant CastleΒ». It would mean scoring half of the Giant Castles to our end.
One thing was for sure. Our tactic was a success. Let's see what our second team would do.
T/N - Well damn, I thought the chapter was updated. I guess site kinda messed up yesterday.
