Chapter 440 - The Road to Merciless Victory
After a brief respite, the third match began without mercy.
The invited referees must have understood the intensity of the previous matches. Even if they had their own thoughts, they proceeded mechanically as if they had cut off all emotions, following the prearranged rules.
The morale of the opposing schools had reached its breaking point, and the outcome was already clear from the moment the match began.
Their movements had noticeably worsened since the last match. If they had been sluggish before, they were even slower now.
Had they fallen into internal disagreements? It seemed they were no longer in a mental state to continue the match.
However, the intervals between matches were decided by the opposition, and we were merely playing along. Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy had made no demands, accepting the disadvantage and marching into the trap head-on, determined to crush it and pursue victory with ruthless determination. The question was, what would they do?
"Just like before, we'll attack the western turret. If they don't put up a fight, we'll flatten them again."
"We'll take less time this time! Hurry, hurry!"
The demoralized and exhausted enemy was no match for us. We would show no mercy. If they lacked the will to fight, we would crush them thoroughly, ensuring they never dared to challenge us again.
Such opportunities must be seized to ensure dominance in future encounters. If they feared us, they would fail to perform at their best, unable to face us in a fair fight.
War is not a one-time event. It leaves lasting impressions, both positive and negative. Their attempts to undermine us were part of a strategy for the main event. If they intended to act, they had no right to complain about the consequences.
We would crush them thoroughly!
"We'll devastate the west. Edith Squad, head south next!"
"Chelsea Squad, follow suit!"
"Sigurdnaught Squad, be on guard in the rear and follow. Minister, the southern and northern teams are attempting to regroup."
"They are moving too slowly. Even if they manage to catch up with Edith Squad and Chelsea Squad, it won't be enough. They must realize this, which makes their actions peculiar."
"Look! Are they using magical devices?"
Mildree had noticed. The southern turret team had been using magical devices for a while now.
"...Is that water, perhaps?"
"Probably. It's hard to see, but isn't the ground becoming waterlogged?"
"Now that you mention it, yes. But it's futile. Can the Sigurdnaught Squad flank the northern team from behind?"
"There's a route through the stone walls, so flanking them shouldn't be a problem. They are likely aware and hiding their flagship machine, though."
"Indeed. Show yourself and give them ample warning. Delay the northern team's convergence from the north just in case."
"So, Edith Squad and Chelsea Squad will break through the southern team, and we'll attack the northern team from the front?"
"Their disarray is obvious. A straightforward frontal assault will defeat them both. Their plan to slow us down with water is too naive. We'll make them realize the folly of underestimating us."
Given the outdoor setting, the magical doll battles must account for adverse weather conditions. Rain doesn't halt the matches, and operating in muddy environments is inherently more challenging, reducing speed.
The rule against aggressive magical devices means that a simple yet effective solution is to spread water, hindering the enemy's advance. Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy considers this tactic as well.
However, such strategies are easy to anticipate and counter.
To surpass the norm is what makes us strong.
"Keep up! If you fall behind Edith Squad, you'll have extra practice tonight!"
"What are you talking about! We're faster!"
Chelsea Squad and Edith Squad raced forward as if in competition. Even in a muddy, flooded battlefield, they could maintain their speed on paths covered with thick grass or gravel. Securing such routes was essential, and the conditions did little to slow them down.
Ensuring a clear path was a necessary step. If only muddy routes were available, they would still be prepared.
A team that excels in challenging conditions can be truly called strong.
Turning weaknesses into strengths is the hallmark of a formidable opponent.
Chasing down a retreating enemy and breaking through a waiting one are both the prerogatives of a champion. They wouldn't escape just by spreading water.
On the contrary, the enemy's surprise at our speed would only deepen their confusion.
Or worse.
"What's happening?"
"A self-inflicted defeat? Can that even happen?"
"I couldn't see clearly. What happened?"
"The southern team's flagship machine got its feet stuck in the mud and toppled over, and its allies tripped over it and were defeated by their own weapons. It's a sorry sight, even from the enemy's perspective."
The light magic signaling defeat spread the news instantly. The northern team, unaware of the full situation, would have found the sudden defeat of the southern team suspicious.
Without giving them time to think, Edith Squad and Chelsea Squad overtook the defeated southern team and, like hungry beasts, attacked the remaining northern team.
The enemy was too disoriented to form a cohesive defense, under pressure from the appearance of Sigurdnaught Squad behind them.
A team that couldn't even form a defensive line had no chance of victory. The battle was a farce.
"Got it!"
Chelsea triumphantly declared as they took down the enemy's flagship machine. The blue light magic signaling victory illuminated the sky for the third consecutive match.
The three schools, once considered strong, had displayed nothing but pitiful performances. Their pride was shattered.
"The fourth match will start soon. Prepare quickly and use any remaining time to recover your mana!"
"Hermira, what's the plan? The same setup?"
"Mildree, check the other schools' preparations. They're slow to gather their dolls and lack spirit. We'll crush them thoroughly."
"No need for mercy. If we ask Evilbanshee-sensei, she'd say the same. Let's repeat this until they admit defeat or regain their fighting spirit."
The club president and vice president nodded in agreement, relaying their strategy to the members. If the other schools didn't change their tactics, they would face the same fate. No new tricks or magical devices would be revealed, only the continued demonstration of Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy's strength and merciless resolve.
"What are they doing?"
I sighed to myself. My broad magical perception detected unusual movements at the western turret. About ten people had gathered, likely the officials and referees of the three schools, discussing something.
Are the referees in on their plans? They should keep to the schedule.
"They're running late. It's already time for the fourth match to begin."
"The last match was pretty bad. Maybe the referees are confirming whether to continue."
The obvious delay was starting to raise suspicions among Hermira and the others.
If I were an advisor for the three schools, what would I do?
According to the rules, advisors cannot offer advice during official matches. However, in practice, it's different. If the members are being crushed without learning anything, it's better to offer guidance.
But recovering from such a beating in a short time is difficult. The faint angry shouts carried by the wind could be from the advisors, who need to regroup before the members can.
A charismatic leader who could rally fifty members would be ideal, but that's asking too much.
So, they might try to involve the referees and go all out, no holds barred. That's how severe the situation is.
Continuing would only sap their confidence. It would be better to end the matches now.
Hmm. If I were their advisor and couldn't get the referees on my side, what would I do? Even so, fleeing isn't an option. It's unacceptable.
The only way forward is to win.
Victory, nothing else.
It might seem difficult, but it's worth considering. All three schools are enemies here, so they don't need to beat Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy.
Ah, right. If I were in their position, I would betray the school I had allied with and focus on defeating another enemy to regain confidence.
Toppling one of them would be enough for now. Even a small victory could be significant for the future.
Betrayal is fine. They could even use Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy's offensive to crush their enemies. Even if they are defeated afterward, taking the initiative would yield valuable lessons.
Passively accepting defeat without a strategy is the worst outcome.
The practice matches were scheduled to end at dusk, leaving about three hours. That's enough time to turn things around.
Yes, it's doable. I would do that.
No matter what, ending the day like this is unacceptable. The humiliation must be rectified on the spot, at least to avoid carrying it into the next day.
"They're running late! How long are we supposed to wait?"
The curly-haired girl's voice carried a hint of impatience. The current delay was boring, especially for someone eager for the next match.
Most members, including myself, share the sentiment of wanting to get moving.
If we have to wait much longer, someone will complain. We deserve an explanation if they're going to keep us waiting.
"Teacher, if we don't hear anything in five minutes, I'll head to one of the turrets."
It wasn't about empathy for the frustrated Edith; it was time to act.
"...There's no need. Someone is coming this way."
We could see figures approaching. Two men in the official match referee jackets were making their way over.
"Hermira, let's go. They have something to say."
"Everyone, please remain here."
Seeing the delay as tedious, the president and vice president decided to meet the referees. As their advisor, I should join them.
I gracefully landed after jumping down the turret's steep stairs, ignoring the curious glances from the girls rushing down behind me. My skilled magic ensured my skirt didn't flip indecently.
The three of us walked elegantly to the referees, who delivered their message succinctly.
"The matches are over?"
"Several students are unwell, and it's impossible to continue."
The referee, despite a neutral expression, couldn't hide his frustration. They were probably fair and hadn't conspired. The strict schedule suggested they had decided not to push the practice matches further.
Hermira and Mildree were clearly unhappy.
"Teacher, what do we do?"
"We're leaving. They've already started packing up."
"What? Really?"
They were rude, inviting us and then leaving without a word. But never mind. Their poor judgment would haunt them for a while.
"There's nothing we can do. Thank you, referees. I hope for your future success at Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy."
"No need for formalities. You must be tired. We look forward to your future achievements."
"Thank you. We'll pack up as well."
Sigh. Today's practice was disappointing.
It wasn't pointless, but it wasn't the proper training for the main event. If the other schools hadn't resorted to such antics, we could have had more strategic and engaging battles. With today's outcome, we've effectively eliminated three strong contenders.
Objectively, those schools were at a level worthy of the title 'strong.' With few such schools, their absence would make the tournament less exciting.
Winning against weak opponents has little value.
What's the fun in defeating weak enemies? The challenge lies in rising above formidable foes.
"Evilbanshee-sensei?"
Hermira and Mildree looked at me curiously as I stood lost in thought.
Hmm, I can't leave it like this.
"Both of you, start the cleanup and board the bus. I'll pay a visit to the other schools and be back soon."
"Visiting..."
"I'll be quick. Wait for me."
They can run, but only if I allow it. I haven't given them permission to leave.