"Welcome back to the live broadcast of the Martial Arts Festival team competition. I am commentator Yusha. After the lunch break, the second round of matches is about to begin, and I believe many viewers are eagerly waiting…"
Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Yusha naturally took over all the commentary work since Yasuo-sensei couldn't be here. Despite being alone, Yusha actually felt more comfortable than before.
It was indeed the right choice to prevent that healing-type teacher from treating that guy…
Yusha smiled brightly, secretly thinking with a wicked heart.
Meanwhile, in the players' lounge, Tiran had already arrived at the entrance, and the Milt team's players even arrived earlier than her.
"Hey, little bunnies, you all look energetic."
"Coach, technically we are older than you…" Mellen sighed while carrying his gun. Yes, that was the most frustrating thing. They were all young people in their twenties, but Tiran was only just eighteen... It was truly unfair.
"That doesn't matter!"
Tiran glared and stared back at Mellen, waving a finger and said, "I've explained the tactics to you all in detail from start to finish. We absolutely must win this round! I'll teach those black iron wastes who can only fight in the mid lane what a real Summoner's Rift is!"
"Coach, according to your personal ladder rankings, the opposing team has an average of Challenger! " Ruhl stood up straight, and the tasu shield made a dull thud on the ground.
"Then let's make them look as bad as a Master!" Princess Hina widened her eyes, waving her little hand grandly.
"Oh oh oh!"
Just kidding, within a day, she has taught them all the tactics in the game—4-1 split push, dragon cave gank, group of four taking two, dive under tower, vision control. She remembered every tactic she could think of. She had to live up to the team's efforts!
...
So, with the Milt team feeling pumped up, the first match of the second round began.
In terms of individual strength, Milt indeed had nothing to boast about. If someone checked their personal ladder rankings, they would find that except for Nancy, who was not particularly strong in one-on-one combat, the other five starting players all ranked in the top twenty. The only other team to achieve this level of performance was currently sitting in first place, the Gai School, waiting to be challenged.
"Although I am Milt's teacher, it seems a bit boastful to say this, but I believe the viewers can see that Milt Academy's tactics and the first-round match are completely different."
"As you can see, each player from the Milt team has exchanged their starting points for a scouting guard at the fountain. These small magic items may not have any attack power, but they provide vision for each player within a certain area. Ah, less than three minutes into the game, Milt has already used their vision advantage to initiate a team fight with fewer players and severely damage the opposition!"
...
"Well done!"
Confirming that the opponents had disappeared from their vision, Mellen and Josiah clapped their hands.
Petra breathed a sigh of relief and sheathed her sword. "That Judicator is really strong, and with his assassin-like fighting style, one wrong move and we could be taken out preemptively."
Because they speculated that the opponents wouldn't be familiar with those items like Tiran, who could be considered a bug-like existence in this world, all five of them had inserted trinkets into the enemy jungle brushes before engaging in combat.
Then they discovered a Holy Knight and a Priest who were attempting to attack the monsters and score points. Unfortunately, the opposing team still had three people in the middle lane, putting too much pressure on Milt to clear the minions under the tower alone. The remaining four players went for a sneak attack.
This is where the individual skill of the Temple Church team shines. Despite being outnumbered 2 to 4, they managed to hold their ground and not get instantly killed, giving Judicator a chance to arrive and help them escape the battlefield. However, the opposing team had a healing spring and it would take at least five minutes for the Priest to fully recover.
"Ruel, how is it going over there?" Joshua asked through the communication circle on his collar.
"They have two knights retreating, probably afraid you'll come over and trap them," Ruel's voice sounded calm, as if the earlier attack from the three opponents had not fazed him.
Well, it makes sense. Ruel is ranked third in the Academy, with all of his talent focused on defense and strength. In addition, he had a tower protecting him. Even if he couldn't keep the opposing team at bay, dealing with three opponents at once wouldn't be a problem. He wasn't the kind of character who could be instantly killed by the Judicator from the opposing Church, even if it meant taking a hit from the tower.
"Retreat?" Joshua smiled. "Perfect, let's regroup here and push through the middle lane to destroy a tower."
Since entering the team competition, Joshua had taken full command of the team, not because the others couldn't come up with strategies, but because his abilities as a Frost Mage were better suited for the position.
When Milt and the other five players gathered in front of the tower in the middle lane, there was no one under the opposing tower.
...
"Did they all retreat?"
In the healing spring of the Temple Church team, the Judicator looked at his teammates still lying in the healing circle behind him and activated the communication circle on his collar.
"Yes, but our tower..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the broadcast announced that the Church's tower had been destroyed.
"No way, it was my misjudgment. Milt was prepared," there was no trace of despair in the Judicator's voice, only calmness and strength. "Everyone, buy scan charms and surveillance guards. We need to control the vision as well."
...
"Now both sides are engaged in a tug-of-war, using scan charms and surveillance guards to gain control of vision, while also wearing down the opposing towers' durability through the three lanes," Princess Tiran, sitting in the spectator stands, propped her chin and stared at the close-up shots of the players on the big screen, listening to Yusha's commentary, yawning.
Well, it's their first time, after all. It's unreasonable to expect a perfect reproduction of the match... Besides, Milt's teachers are not professional commentators. If they were to commentate on a duel, they could explain all the sword techniques and spells perfectly, but with the current situation, there's not much to say.
"But... it's about time, isn't it?" Tiran shifted her gaze away from the screen and looked directly at a spot on the field that hadn't been captured by the autonomous surveillance balls.
"You see, this is how vision works... It's actually quite interesting."
...
"Milt has two people attacking the Steel Feathered Dragon in the river!"
The voice of the Priest echoed in the Temple Church's communication channel. Their surveillance guard placed in the dragon pit had captured the sight of the injured dragon, as well as the figures of Maelin and Ruel attacking it.
"Great opportunity! Captain, let's go!"
Saint Knight No.1 was eager to go.
Judicator, hidden in the brush on the top lane in stealth mode, was lost in thought, his head lowered. Suddenly, he had an idea and a hint of helplessness appeared on his face concealed by his hood. Then he stood up and said, "Never mind, let's go. One knight will ambush behind the Dragon Pit, and the remaining two will follow me through the river."
...
"A large-scale team fight is about to erupt at the Dragon Pit, where the epic monster, Steel Featherwing Dragon, resides. Two members from team Milt are attacking the Dragon, and Shield Warrior Ruel has just taken a round of Dragon's Breath damage. The Gunner is joining in with the damage, fantastic! Milt successfully kills the Dragon and obtains an attack buff!"
"Wait, suddenly there is a Holy Light Seal on the ground. It's the Blessing of the Great Angel! Temple Church chooses to engage in a team fight at this moment to surround Milt, who has just killed the Dragon, when their state is less favorable."
At the same time, as Yusha said, MacLenn and Ruel on the field were indeed facing a three-on-two situation. In a situation where both sides had similar strength, having one more person or one less person could be the decisive factor in victory or defeat.
But it's not us who have fewer people now.
The charge of the Holy Knight is imminent, and Judicator's blade is about to strike, but another change occurs on the ground.
A wall of icy blue rises abruptly, exuding a piercing coldness.
"It's Yousha's Frost Barrier! Milt's team, hidden in the brush at the edge of the Church's vision, launches a surprise attack! Yousha divides the battlefield with the ice wall, along with a blizzard crowd control. A three-on-three battle has begun!"
On the other side of the ice wall, Ruel and MacLenn have already looked maliciously at the other end of the Dragon Pit, where the Cleric, under the amplification of the Great Angel, is present.
"Pay no attention to us, retreat immediately!"
On the Church's communication channel, the embattled Judicator calmly gives the order.
If they don't retreat now, it would be easy for two warriors to dismantle the Cleric, who is protected by only one knight. Furthermore, Judicator is currently unable to support them and if their two teammates leave, it would be a certain death in the five-on-three situation.
Of course, after their teammates retreat and lose the amplification of the Great Angel, it would be difficult to win against the opponent who still has the attack buff.
"We retreat as well, every man for himself."
After a fierce battle, one knight from the Church loses combat capability and is forced to retreat, and the remaining two are also wounded, barely managing to escape.
They really are a top-tier team. Even though the advantage of knowing the rules is all on Milt's side, they were not completely overwhelmed.
"But, that's it. To expand an advantage during an advantage, the best method—"
Recalling Tiran's guidance, Yousha immediately issues the next command.
"Engage the Elder Dragon."
The Elder Dragon, a four-headed Chimera, can provide a reinforcement to the minion wave after receiving a certain amount of damage. If lucky, they can end the game with one wave.
- That's what they say.
But well, life is made up of various surprises and unexpected events.
For example...
"Welcome, dear heroes. You have come to defeat me, haven't you?"
In the enormous Dragon Pit, a figure much smaller compared to the vastness of the pit leaned against the stone wall, wearing an expression that questioned the meaning of life. Mechanically, the figure repeated the clichéd lines used in countless stories of defeating demon lords and dragon adversaries.
"Uh...? It's Mr.Aya, no, Miss...?"
The entire Melt team was confused.
