Chapter 460 - A Series of Encirclements
"――The next Safe Area is in the northeast corner, and it's far away again!"
The match has been ongoing for over an hour, and the Third Safe Area has been announced.
More than twenty teams have already been eliminated. Moving across the vast battlefield, along with the skirmishes that occur along the way, is a significant burden. Combat is one thing, but the movement itself is especially challenging.
If your current position is at one end of the battlefield and the next Safe Area is at the opposite end, the distance to cover becomes considerable. Diagonally opposite corners would make the movement even more arduous.
We have no idea how the next official match will go, but at the very least, the rules for this particular aspect might be revisited.
Thinking about it, the ten-minute interval after the Safe Area time limit, where battles often break out, likely leads to quick resolutions in the finals. The people who set the rules probably expected early eliminations. With all the Flagship Machines gathered in one place, it would be the ideal moment to strike.
However, in reality, there hasn't been much aggressive fighting during those ten minutes. Most teams use the time to prepare for the next phase. This is probably because they anticipate that a ten-minute fight might not be cleanly cut off, and they consider the potential for interruptions.
If the next Safe Area is far away, engaging in combat would mean not having enough time to reach it, leading to a certain defeat. This fear makes teams wait for the next Safe Area announcement before making any major moves, hoping other teams will clash and weaken each other.
At the moment, Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy is also focusing on defense and movement rather than rushing into attacks. They will likely move only when the number of remaining teams has significantly decreased.
Careless movements could result in being surrounded by multiple teams and failing to reach the next Safe Area, leading to defeat. Avoiding aggressive moves is a strategic choice to prevent that worst-case scenario.
There are still forty-two teams left, but their strength is gradually dwindling.
By this point, every team has a good idea of which teams are formidable, thanks partly to the helpful live commentary.
Naturally, our Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy is on high alert for practically every team.
Aside from the live commentary, we stand out for our exceptional speed. Our movement, divided into four units, is a spectacular display of agility and coordination, further highlighted by the commentator's excited commentary. We often take down Flagship Machines during our movements, which naturally draws a lot of attention.
We are making a strong claim to be the undisputed rulers of this battlefield, even before the final resolution.
And with that, the future course of the match becomes clearer.
This is a battle royale, after all. It's natural for weaker teams to try to bring down the strong ones en masse.
Without any formal coordination, this is the natural progression. Regardless of where we strike, it will likely happen this way. The moment seems to be approaching.
The main concern here isn't the number of enemies but the distance to the Safe Area and the available time. From where I stand, it seems we still have some leeway.
"We're being encircled! And there are a lot of them, Hermira! What do we do?"
"They're setting up an encirclement, ignoring the Safe Area? But with those moves... All units, converge!"
Following Hermira's orders, the four units began to gather with a speed and precision that seemed to mock the slower movements of the enemy.
The coordination and execution were flawless, a testament to the exceptional skills of our forty-seven members, who are heads and shoulders above the competition.
"This is getting interesting! Fifteen teams are setting up an encirclement, but Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy is concentrating their divided units into a single point! What will happen next?"
Helpfully, the commentator provided the number of enemy teams, which would otherwise be difficult to discern with the colorful bibs on the Magic Dolls.
Nonetheless, this concentration of forces is bold. We could break through the encirclement even if divided into four units. The fact that Hermira is bringing them together suggests she has something in mind.
"Form a circle!"
With Hermira's command, all our members understood what was to come.
In just a few seconds, forty-seven Magic Dolls formed a perfect circle, a defensive formation that allows equal strength to be directed in all directions.
Fifteen enemy teams, despite their disorganized approach, managed to complete the encirclement.
"Here they come!"
With the time limit to reach the Safe Area in mind, the enemy had no time to spare. They moved quickly to take down Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy.
However, the hastily formed coalition couldn't coordinate their attacks. It was a chaotic assault, which was likely disappointing to us, given our expectations.
There was nothing to fear. Hermira gave her order with confidence.
"Charge in all directions!"
The forty-seven dolls, like bullets, surged outward with a sudden burst of speed.
The enemy, expecting us to stay defensive, was caught completely off guard. Their encirclement, which was already a weak configuration, was easily broken.
"This is an incredible offensive! Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy's Magic Dolls are exploding outward, breaking through the encirclement!"
Equipped with short spears, our dolls charged with lethal precision. They struck and eliminated any target they could, using their shields to knock others away. The difference in skill and power was starkly evident.
"We have plenty of time to reach the Safe Area. Once you break through the encirclement, rejoin your units. Pursue fleeing enemies only if it's feasible, but avoid deep pursuit."
"Understood!"
While giving orders to everyone, Hermira was already surveying the battlefield, both visually and through her enhanced magical senses.
The enemy's encirclement was already crumbling. Their combined strength was no match for our superior tactics.
"This is incredible! Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy's perfect multi-front battle has reduced the fifteen encircling teams to just seven in mere minutes!"
Light spells marking the destruction of Flagship Machines were firing off one after another. It was hard to tell which teams had fallen.
In the chaos, Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy continued their relentless assault, not allowing a single enemy to survive. This was a truly remarkable feat.
All members are top-notch.
This confirms the reputation we've earned and even surpasses the expectations of our opponents. The clear superiority of our team is undeniable, even against such a large number of enemies.
Teams from other schools, even those far from the action, can hear the commentator's voice. As the match enters its final stages, we will be even more closely watched.
"Rejoin the main force! Prioritize moving toward the Safe Area!"
Cutting down the enemy can be exhilarating, but time passes quickly. Soon, we had less time than we thought. We also needed to consider the possibility of other teams waiting to ambush us near the Safe Area.
The number of teams that had encircled us had drastically decreased, and the few remaining with their Flagship Machines intact were scattering. Chasing them would be a waste of time if we couldn't identify the Flagship Machines.
"There are seventeen teams left! We've moved past the mid-game and entered the final stages!"
It was already that few.
"Mildree, can you see anything? The direction of the Safe Area, it's probably fortified close by."
"Yes, I can see it. It looks like multiple schools are working together again. It almost feels like it's us against everyone else. The defense looks thick, but do you think we can break through?"
"Unlike earlier, they're focusing on defense and not planning to attack. I'd like to try, but it might be too risky at this critical moment."
"Breaking through at one point or spreading out? If we take too long, we might run out of time."
The defensive line, consisting of hundreds of Magic Dolls, stood firm. Even with our superior skills, breaking through would not be easy. Trying and failing would probably mean running out of time. A hasty charge without a plan was not an option. We needed a strategy, and time was running out.
Hermira briefly glanced at me, but I didn't say anything. She understood the need for quick decision-making and quickly averted her gaze.
"President, do you approve?"
"Sigurdnaught-san."
My sister, who usually stays in the background, spoke up.
"Not everyone needs to survive. Sigurdnaught-san and I will act as decoys."
"You mean to be bait?"
"We will charge the left and right flanks of the defensive line. This should thin out the center. Break through there. I'll leave my unit with the main force."
"We don't have time to hesitate. Understood. Sigurdnaught and Harriet, charge the flanks and draw as many enemies as possible."
"Understood."
The two dolls nodded and separated from the main force, charging ahead like missiles.
Using secret weapons wasn't a bad idea. They were the sister of Leader Anastasia Union and a senior member of the Kikyo Society's Security Bureau. They were a bit overpowered for a student competition, but I thought it was better to use all available resources. Even if it wasn't them, others could also serve as effective decoys.
This was a classic moment, like, 'Leave this to me and go ahead.' It was a good setup.
"Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy is sending just two dolls charging at the defensive line! Their speed is incredible, but isn't this a reckless move?"
The commentator was shouting with excitement as they noticed our plan.
My sister and Harriet struck simultaneously, targeting both flanks.
Their exceptional skills were on full display. The first charge blew away the shields of the dolls that tried to block them, and they swept aside the ones on either side. Shields that couldn't withstand the impact were scattered, and more dolls were knocked down.
They struck with their spears and destroyed the fallen dolls, creating a domino effect. They continued to strike and eliminate enemies with ruthless efficiency.
The students from schools still in the running were skilled, but they were no match for these two.
It was like two ferocious, sentient beings had entered the world of puppets. They ravaged the peaceful and harmless dolls with relentless combat prowess.
The disparity in skill was overwhelmingly clear. No amount of effort could close this gap.
It seemed that these two were now giving it their all, likely realizing we were nearing the final stages. They had felt the stress of holding back, and now they were ready to unleash their full power.
Their aggressive display inspired the rest of the team to step up their game.
The pace of the battle quickened. The E team, led by Edith, charged through the thinned center of the defensive line. The outcome was already clear.
"We're through! Hermira, the pressure in the center is weak! We can break through!"
"Full speed to the Safe Area! Stay alert for attacks from the sides. Prioritize movement. Engage any pursuing enemies once we reach the Safe Area!"
"Sigurdnaught and Harriet, hold on for fifteen more seconds! I'll start the countdown. Come back safely!"
The intense spirit and determination were contagious, and even the enemy teams were roused to fight back. They faced the relentless assault of my sister and Harriet without fear, even as they were systematically eliminated.
It was exciting. This is what a final battle should be. Even if the outcome was one-sided, it was still captivating.
Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy's Magic Doll Club is giving it their all in the finals!
We're giving it our all!
By the way, this isn't directly related to the story, but I'm planning to post a new work soon.
I aim to upload it the night of January 27th, before it turns to January 28th. I'm currently doing a thorough review.
I hope you'll read it. I think it's quite interesting, and I'd really appreciate it if you did. Honestly, please do.
I've written more details in my activity report, so feel free to check it out.
Thank you for your support!"