Chapter 92 - Subjugation Royal day 1 (1)
Our leader takes a second to think. I’m aware of the pressure my question puts on Sophia, but before anything, I need to make sure that our elected leader is able to make sound decisions. Personally, I would not purchase the vehicle, as I believe that although it provides a practical advantage, we’d be able to make do without it. However, what I want from Sophia is not for her to agree with me, but for her to make a firm decision with good reasoning behind it. She’s shown before that she can take the reins during battle, but I need to see if her leadership abilities extend beyond that.
She strokes an invisible beard on her chin for a few seconds, before grinning. “Well, now that my precious teammates have shared their opinions with me, I must make a choice, right?”
Ugo says a few more words before she renders her verdict. He is not as ambiguous as me when it comes to letting her know which decision he wants her to make. “Make the right choice, Sophia Thunderblade.”
Sophia, who still has the shop window open in front of her, lets it scan a nearly invisible symbol on the palm of her hand, the leader crest, and goes through with the purchase. Just like that, our transaction is registered and our wallet is 70 points lighter. Ugo gives her an approving nod, Ray seems indifferent to the decision and Camille’s face contorts with nervousness. Then, following the instructions, Ugo marks a drop point on his map located directly on top of our current location. A countdown timer marking the arrival of our purchases starts, and before anyone can say anything, I question Sophia.
I frown. “...Why?”
“Because I wanted to!” She replies, a smile decorating her face.
Fortunately, however, even Sophia isn’t apathetic enough to not provide any reasoning. Seeing that her joke did not amuse me, she clears her throat and provides an explanation.
“Listen, I know it’s expensive and very hard to miss, those facts are undeniable. However, I’m looking at it as an investment. Not only will it allow us to cover much more distance, giving us the chance to reach crucial locations faster, but it allows us to save energy, and can even serve as bait if we use it widely.” She states.
I’m not convinced. “Is that all?” I ask.
She looks me straight in the eyes. “No… The real reason I decided to purchase this is because there’s no reason to participate in this event at all if we’re scared to expand such a small amount of points. Are we not confident that we can regain 70 measly points? If so, then maybe we should throw in the towel right now. I’m not saying we should spend lavishly, but if we’re scared to purchase something with such an obvious tactical advantage, then maybe we should all go home. That’s the real reason, does that satisfy your curiosity, Alden?”
I chuckle at her response, it’s not exactly what I expected to hear. Ugo looks away in order to not show his emotions. However, from the corner of his mouth I can see that his lip is curled upwards. With the same thing happening to my lips, I utter a few words. “... That’ll do, yeah.”
‘Yeah… that works.’
Now that this has been sorted, we can move on. Before the preparation phase ends, our team explores more of the shop’s items. A few more arguments ensue, leading to more difficult decisions for Sophia, and for the team as well. In the end, our preparation phase purchase list looks like this.
All-terrain, armored transportation unit: Bassline - 70 points
4L filtered water container - 5 points
2x booster vial with injection apparatus - 10 points’
In the next few minutes, a crate is dropped from the sky by an aircraft carrier. Before it can reach the ground with a devastating impact, jet boosters located on its bottom surface cushion its landing, causing no damage to the items inside. The metal plates containing our items fall to the ground with a thud, and here, we find the Bassline as well as the water and the two booster vials we purchased.
The preparation phase finally comes to an end, and the official start of the event is announced by Maestro Palazio.
[Ladies and gentlemen, The Subjugation Royal event has now officially started. At this very moment, our staff is releasing the beasts into the designated perimeter for the participants to subjugate. May the event begin!]
Looking at my team, I say: “Shall we put our first plan into action and gain the lead.”
They all look at me and nod. We do not bother to move from our location to execute our plan and simply begin our preparations exactly where we started. Sophia, as we practiced, envelops our immediate surroundings in ice mist. Following this, she erects a pillar under Ray's feet, who is now especially proficient at using pureflow to enhance his eyes, giving him a bird’s eye view of the surroundings. I place myself near the base of the pillar, guarding it. Similarly, to Ray, Ugo soars into the sky, giving us two aerial lookouts. While Ray’s job is to spot any incoming beasts, Ugo’s job is to make sure that no flying opponent goes for Ray. Finally, Camille executes the cornerstone of our plan. From one of the seeds produced by her body, a very special plant sprouts, the carrion flower.
This entire plan is based on one simple principle, the [Echoed*]’s love for [enlightened] flesh and blood, which they are able to distinguish from ordinary corporeal substances. This is taught in school and I have also experienced it first hand when Sylvia drew the bear’s attention by wounding her own arm during our first trial. As such, basing our strategy on this concept is a suitable path to take. It is almost certain that the beasts are first and foremost governed by their hunger.
Using this characteristic of theirs, our team has concocted this very plan. In fact, the carrion flower has the natural ability to produce the smell of a decaying carcass, which in normal cases would not attract the [Echoed]. However, because she is [enlightened], every plant that Camille produces, is, by extension, also [enlightened], making it easy for the [echo-blessed] scavengers of the savanna to mistake it for [enlightened] flesh, at least that was my initial hypothesis. Thankfully, I was right. We tested this during our simulation training and even asked for special permission to face real [Echoed] in order to confirm that theory.
Of course, not all beasts are attracted by the smell of the dead, but every climate has a few, and that’s what we’re betting on.
As the one who did most of the research in the DaiKar library, I warn all of my teammates.
“This is the grasslands, watch out for [echo-blesseed] vultures, the rest of the scavengers should be on foot!”
As per my predictions, our spotter speaks up. “I see, six… no , seven bone-planted quadruped beasts heading in this direction. The pattern on their fur resembles that of hyenas but large bone spikes protrude from their spines and their tails are ridiculously long, almost resembling a crocodile’s!”
“Can you tell their class?” Sophia asks, calmly.
“I’m not entirely sure, However, since there are so many of them and they mostly look like their ordinary animal counterparts, I think it’s safe to say echoborne, the weakest!”
I feel the ground thump as they come closer. Camille, who is still focusing on making the plant emit more of its smell, by forcefully amplifying the chemical process causing it, asks a question as well. “W-what about the sky? Anything?”
“...Yes, two, far in the distance. I can’t describe them, they’re too far, but they’re not approaching, they’re observing. I think they’re at least echotoned.” Ugo says, his hand gripping his sharpsong tighter.
“Should I take one or two out right now? Seven might be too much for us, especially if th eother two join!” Ray asks.
“No! Follow the plan, we can’t scare them off yet!” Sophia retorts.
As the hyenas get closer, I step out of the translucent ice mist, and make sure they see me, heightening their hunger even further. When I’ve ascertained that their gazes have locked onto me, I instruct Camille.
“Ok! They’re on me, set the field, Camille, Sophia!”
“O-okay!”
“Roger that!”
I retreat to the center of the mist and go back to my post guarding the pillar, the hyenas are but a few seconds from reaching us, I feel the ground thumping as they draw closer. Now, it’s only a matter of if we can execute as well as we plan.
The first beast steps into the mist and lunges for me, my teammates do nothing, now is not the time. I parry with my shield, and strike its abdomen with my sharp song. It scrapes against the bone plating on its stomach area and the beast is pushed back. The second one enters the mist, and still nothing happens. It does the same as the first one, and is pushed back, as the initial hyena lunges for me again. The third and fourth hyenas enter the mist, I don’t think I can fend them off without getting bitten. This time, Sophia joins in and helps me repel them. The hyenas have now locked onto her too. The last three hyenas who have been lagging behind, however, reach the mist in a sorry state. The smallest one can no longer use one of its hind legs, while the other two have small bullet holes in the open areas of the bone platings, causing them to bleed and pant a little harder. They do not lunge for me as soon as they reach the mist.
Their state means that Ray has followed the plan. His role was to injure the stragglers behind the pack as the forefront members of the horde entered the mist. As the faster ones have already engaged in combat, this would not increase their wariness, and the attacks would have reduced the overall power of the horde. Generally, the ones to run at the front of a pack are the most courageous individuals, or the leaders of the pack. As such, it’s to be expected that the rest would follow despite their injuries. I do admit I was afraid regular animal psychology would not work on the [Echoed], but it seems I was worrying for no reason.
The next cog of our plan turns. Sophia shouts to Camille. “Now!”
Vines sprout from the ground and tie themselves around the hyenas feet, immobilizing them for a few moments. Quickly, ice pillars rise as well, piercing the hyenas in their weak spots. Their vitals are protected by the bone plates, but this will slow down their movements. Then, it’s Ray’s turn, while Ugo maintains the stand-off with the far-off airborne [Echoed]. With jawdropping precision, Ray shoots one of the hyenas, and, as the pellet lodges itself in its eyes, a small explosion ensues, killing it instantly.
‘Woah, that’s new’
Now there are six left, eight if I count the other two.
Team
Zeta
Purchases
The Bassline - 70 points
4L filtered water container - 5 points
2x booster vials with injection apparatus- 10 points
Special events conquered
Current zone
Grasslands
Active members
Sophia Thunderbalde
Alden Thorne
Ugo Brightscar
Camille Starforge
Ray Burst
Eliminated members
Points
20