Chapter 459 - The Great Magic Doll Battle
The announcement had just been made—match commencement was imminent, and the signal in the form of a light spell would soon illuminate the sky. Everyone waited in anticipation.
Though numerous Magic Dolls already stood upon the battlefield, their initial placements were sufficiently scattered to prevent immediate combat. The field stretched wide and open, offering clear views across vast distances. In theory, teams could take their time observing the movements of rival schools before deciding their next move.
Yet a newly introduced rule made such leisurely observation impossible.
Otherwise, given the sheer size of this battlefield, even with many Magic Dolls deployed, most teams might simply watch and wait—leading to a complete stagnation of the battle. That would be dull for the spectators and risk dragging the match out unnecessarily. The new rule had been implemented precisely to prevent such a scenario.
"Everyone, I trust you all have the priority objectives memorized. As always, follow instructions closely. Maintain frequent communication and move as cohesive units."
"Yes!"
Club President Hermira recited her usual rallying cry. At this point, confirming the strategy was unnecessary—her words served merely as a final reminder.
The members fully understood the new rule.
The battlefield consisted of a sixty-square grid, each square measuring fifty meters on all sides—an immense expanse.
Under the new rule, immediately after the match began, the first Safe Area would be designated, and all teams would be forced to move toward it. Every ten minutes thereafter, a new Safe Area would be announced, and teams would again be required to reach it within thirty minutes.
The Safe Area was defined as the square randomly selected by the Headquarters, along with the eight surrounding squares. If a team's Flagship Machine was not inside the Safe Area at the moment the deadline expired, they would be immediately disqualified.
Therefore, at minimum, the Flagship Machine had to begin moving toward the Safe Area without delay.
If the Safe Area was close to their current position, the burden of movement would be light. One might even wait at the edge of the zone, ready to intercept enemies as they arrived. Alternatively, a team could launch a surprise attack from within the Safe Area against those rushing in.
Conversely, if the Safe Area was distant, teams would have to rush toward it, remaining especially vigilant against ambushes during transit.
The battlefield was far larger than it appeared. Traveling from the far northwest corner to the southeast edge spanned roughly 4,200 meters in a straight line. At the average speed of a running human, such a journey would take about twenty-five to thirty minutes.
For teams qualified to reach the finals, maneuvering their dolls at such speeds posed no technical challenge. Still, the margin for error was slim—the time limit was exactly thirty minutes. Where the Safe Area would be set was therefore a critical factor.
Particular caution was needed during movement, as combat could erupt at any moment.
Victory in battle meant nothing if time ran out. The Flagship Machine especially had to constantly monitor both time and location. At the same time, any movement that might expose it as the Flagship had to be avoided.
With the added pressure of strict, mandatory movement, the balance between offense and defense became crucial.
Though combat would inevitably occur during transit, reckless aggression was forbidden. No matter how many enemies were destroyed, the match ended the moment the Flagship Machine fell. This was a battle royale where the last surviving Flagship claimed victory—so fundamentally, defensive tactics held the advantage.
The ideal approach: keep distance from enemies, avoid drawing attention, minimize damage, and survive as long as possible.
But such a passive strategy was unrealistic. The forced movement rule existed precisely to prevent it.
Since this was the first round, unexpected developments were entirely possible. A cautious, conservative team might even emerge victorious. With no school having thoroughly refined their tactics yet, the overall quality of strategies might end up rather underwhelming.
Still, one could only hope that Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy would take the initiative—bold, aggressive, and unyielding.
As I scanned the surroundings with detached curiosity, the signal spell finally shot into the sky.
The finals had begun!
"The Safe Area is... slightly east of center. Quite a distance away."
Immediately after the opening light spell, characters displaying the grid coordinates glowed in the air. The magic was far clearer than expected—there could be no mistake in reading it.
The Safe Area lay roughly 2,000 meters in a straight line. Even if our members drove their dolls at full sprint without pause, it would take over eight minutes. For other schools, likely more than ten. Considering this was purely travel time, it was a considerable distance.
"Move quickly, everyone. Proceed as planned—advance in a straight line for now!"
On Vice-President Mildree's command, all forty-seven Magic Dolls launched forward in unison.
Fortunately, no teams had been positioned directly in our path. Others lay to the north and east, but judging by their speed, they couldn't intercept us.
"Oho! Multiple teams are converging on Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy. As expected of a top-ranked contender—they're being targeted right from the start!"
That was the commentator's voice. But naturally, our members had already noticed the surrounding movements.
"Don't break away. Let them follow. We need to see exactly who's chasing us."
"Yes!"
President Hermira analyzed the situation and issued her order. Nearby, Mildree and the squad leaders acknowledged with calm precision. Objectively speaking, in the finals, our Saint Emeralda team's doll operation skill stood clearly above the rest—by a full head, at least. This superiority was evident in our movement speed, which gave us ample room to maneuver. Escaping was effortless.
"...Eight teams are pursuing us. Almost every nearby team has joined the chase?"
"Well, that figures. But look—they're wary of each other, keeping subtle distances. This situation... could we use it?"
"Strike first. While moving, we initiate. Scatter into squads, head toward the Safe Area, but slow down to lure the enemy. Let's make them fight each other."
"Yes!"
The main force split into five units: Hermira and Mildree's main squad, Edith Squad, Chelsea Squad, and Sigurdnaught Squad.
Each unit was evenly matched in size, and all demonstrated equal mastery in operation. To outside observers, it would be impossible to determine which unit housed the Flagship Machine.
"Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy, the team everyone's watching, is being pursued—yet suddenly disperses! Their defenses appear dangerously thin now. What will happen next?"
The single cohesive group that had advanced from the northwest starting point split cleanly into four.
While still aiming for the Safe Area, one unit veered sharply north, another slightly northward, a third southward, and the last continued straight ahead.
This route selection was designed to manipulate the pursuing teams, deliberately adjusting speed to draw them in.
By carefully calibrating speed and trajectory, the four units aimed to lure two enemy teams each into direct conflict.
"Chelsea Squad, slow down a bit more! Synchronize timing—countdown from five!"
Hermira monitored each unit, aligning their movements. This was the moment to make the enemy bite. So far, everything was unfolding exactly as planned.
"...Three, two, one—evasive action! No attacks, focus solely on evasion. Disengage after ten counts!"
The timing was flawless. Each of Saint Emeralda's four dispersed units was caught and attacked by two enemy teams each.
Our side refrained from unnecessary retaliation, skillfully drawing the aggressors into one another while preparing to disengage. For now, avoiding chaos upon entering the Safe Area took priority over combat. Fighting would come inevitably later—clinging to battle in this early stage was unwise. That said, if a swift opportunity to eliminate enemies arose, engaging was acceptable.
The moment our dolls halted, the enemy saw their chance and surged forward. This was exactly what we had orchestrated. Even if I were in their position, I couldn't have ignored such an opening. After all, they were the ones chasing us. Having caught up, there was no reason not to attack—they would charge in, carried by momentum.
"The first clash of the finals pits Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy against no fewer than eight teams! Will the top favorite be eliminated right here, right now?!"
Any team as overwhelmingly favored as this would be a nightmare in the late game. It made perfect sense for others to cooperate early and eliminate the threat.
Moreover, Saint Emeralda was now split into four smaller groups. With the Flagship's location unknown, even failing to destroy it, reducing their numbers would still be worthwhile. There was momentum to gain, and nothing to lose. Most teams would think this way—and rightly so.
Had our members been of average skill, defeat at this moment would have been highly probable. The situation was that dangerous.
But we acted precisely because we could. Our club was one that fought like champions. Facing teams of inferior skill gave us no reason to fear—and this scenario was of our own design. A calm assessment of our movements and capabilities made it clear: the probability of defeat was extremely low. If we somehow lost, I'd laugh it off.
"...Eight, nine, ten—each unit, disrupt the enemy and disengage! Regroup with the main force and proceed straight to the Safe Area!"
Amid the clashing of weapons and shields, the dolls wearing Saint Emeralda's identifying bibs smoothly slipped away from the dense combat zones.
A flawless disengagement, without a single loss. Soon after, the fleeing dolls accelerated, swiftly reuniting before dashing toward the Safe Area.
Left behind, the enemy teams became entangled—two pairs locked in chaotic combat. With their backs exposed, any attempt to retreat would leave them vulnerable to attack from behind. Now, they had no choice but to fight the enemy directly in front of them to even move.
Thus, on the battlefield Saint Emeralda had abandoned, eight teams fragmented into four clusters, each now fighting for survival.
"What is happening here?! The teams that were pursuing Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy are now forced into battles of their own! What an exciting development right from the start!"
Among the eight teams, some dolls began breaking away. Those were likely the Flagship Machines and their escorts. So obvious it was laughable. They'd probably be intercepted and eliminated by another team en route to—or just before reaching—the Safe Area. If we had the chance, we'd crush them ourselves.
"Halfway to the Safe Area, and we still have time. Advance cautiously, watching for ambushes!"
Most teams still seemed uncertain how to balance movement and combat. It wouldn't be surprising if some failed their first movement and were disqualified on time.
The real battle would begin in the mid to late game, after the surviving teams emerged from this opening phase. The true fight had only just begun.
Finally, the finals have begun.
This installment covers the opening phase. The next parts will progress through the mid and endgame, likely spanning three short chapters—or around that length. Even if it runs slightly longer, it should stay within a tight range.
Please stay tuned for the final battle!