Conclusion wise, the second guild battle was also ‹Eden› victory.
However the detailed process was a complete 180° flip from how we won the first guild battle.
The Opposing team should have learned their lesson and they themselves would try to avoid battling us, or so I had thought but boy, were we in for surprise, as it was them who instead initiated interpersonal battle. Their plan was to crush us individually with five of them.
Such a strategy isn't bad per se. It's normal to take down strong individual opponents in a group.
And thus, ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star› came to challenge the two-man cell of Karua and me.
I recall their extremely vexed faces. Apparently, that's how much it meant for them to lose in the guild battle.
We made our first move and began to take down the surrounding small castles to gain an edge over the points. Our white team divided into two team 一一 two-man cell of Karua and mine and three-man cell of Lana, shizu and Karua一一to increase our efficiency in point earning.
It was at that moment ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star› came straight towards us with a never seen before zeal.
It started with a surprise attack ‹Mega Flare› from Saturn-kun. That was so close. I mean no way, his aim was spot-on and had I not dodged it, it would have hit me definitely.
Then the rest of ‹Pri-4› came swooping towards us one after another. Even Saturn-kun jumped to attack for some reason. I was a bit flustered when they suddenly made their move. They completely took me by surprise.
‹Pri-4› were somewhat different from their usual self.
How should I say, it's like they're properly following a strategyー, that's right, they were coordinating.
It was precisely that coordination that I had tired my mouth until it was as parched as dessert land to persuade them into following.
Finally, to be honest I was kinda moved. Saturn-kun and party are maturing!
My teaching has finally bore the fruit!
Alas, reality isn't always how it appeared to be.
"Slightly to the right, Saturn-kun! To the front, Tom-kun! Helck-kun, stop Karua-chan from escaping at any cost! Stop, Stop! Back down Jilong-kun, I will heal you!"
There was a commander guiding them. A very cute commander as her white rabbit ear flip-flopped.
一一Why, these guys, even though they never followed my order!
I was a bit too angry seeing that and just slightly, got serious.
"‹Sonic Sword›!"
"Buaaaaaaaaa!?"
"Saturn-kun!?"
I assaulted Saturn-kun who was firing off his magic from a safe place slightly away from there since a while ago and gave Karua a chance to slip towards Misato taking advantage of the gap in their coordination.
None of the people there were capable of giving her a chase.
"Crap, ‹Barrーー"
"Too late. ‹Force Sonic›!"
"Hiyaaa!"
Karua took out healer Misato there and then we made a pincer attack on the rest who were trembling from bottom to top. Inexplicably, all of them parroted “Ridiculous!” one by one. Is this sort of trending catchphrase?
Either way, taking down Healer & Commander Misato out of the picture spelled doom for the ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star›.
Well, they looked so sorry I hadn't wanted to eliminate them but I did shave the HP off the rest of 4 until it was in the red zone.
It wouldn't be a practice if I eliminate them there after all. Not to say I hadn't wanted to incur Lana's wrath by eliminating them so I overlooked them.
Afterwards, they were caught up in the explosion caused by long-range attacks of Lana and Shizu which gave them the direct ticket to ‹Loser's Room› though...... Things like this do happen, don't they? Right.
"Damn it, not just once but twice!"
"Fufu. Is this the taste of defeat..."
"I hate long-range attacks."
"There's no way this Venerable...... This Venerable... Lost."
After the mock guild battle ended, there was the figure of Quartet sitting in trance.
Misato smiled sheepishly as she said “Tahaha, I'm sorry I couldn't be of much help~".
No, you did enough, Misato. I would say it was actually commendable of you to make the prideful ‹Pri-4› listen to you.
In all honesty, I was amazed at the capability of ‹Sage›. It would've been a close call without level difference.
Well now, the mock guild battle is over with this.
Time was pressing so we immediately got things ready and left the arena. We're at present near the F-rank guild house. By the way, ‹Eden› girls went ahead a step earlier to take a shower.
It was fortunate Lana was quite satisfied with the guild battle this time. I am guessing she must be feeling refreshed since she was the last one to deliver the final blow to ‹Pri-4›.
Because her face looked incredibly content that moment.
Quartet, who were in trance all this time, looked like they also finally swallowed the outcome as they were having sorrowful expressions when we reached there. I really don't get why they were making such long faces.
"God damnit! Do we really have no choice but to keep living under Zephyr's hegemony!"
Saturn-kun howled.
When did I seize hegemony in my hand? I don't remember though.
"Fufu, the class, no, the whole academy year will now dance on the palm of Overlord now that we have lost."
I wonder who might be the Overlord in Jilong-kun's words. He couldn't be talking about me right? I'm ‹Brave› after all.
Just clarifying but ‹Dungeon Activity› doesn't have any ‹Overlord› titled job. There's ‹Champion› job though. (T/N: A Wordplay here, first one is compound of Supreme/Hegemon+King character and second one Supreme/Hegemon+Person character)
"Are we really going to continue to be subjected to that kind of violence, guhh."
Huh, Violence? As far as I'm concerned, I have only guided them in the dungeon so it shouldn't be about me. It was just they sucked so much that I had to be a bit spartan in my guidance but there's no way this and that are connected. But if possible, I do want to go a bit more spartan in their training.
"Don't give up yet, you guys! Our resistance has just begun. Endure it for now, but worry not, we will prove ourselves by taking the control in our hand! Are you really fine with letting Zephyr the final laugh!"
There do exist people who keep the never-give up spirit afloat alone huh. Helck-kun might actually be the relatively decent among these four I think.
Truly, I'm saying ‘relatively’, okay......
I don't know if Helck-kun's speech sparked any hope in them but no longer was there any despondent look on their face, there were now flame burning in the eyes of the rest of the three.
"That's right. We haven't lost yet!"
No way, you lost though.vCompletely and utterly, you forget?
I quipped internally at the shout of Saturn-kun. They were kinda radiating an aura that said "interruption isn't allowed” so I and Misato distanced ourselves and watched them from the sideline.
"Fufu, you're right. That's not the full extent of our power."
"We still have much room for growth! Let that guy take the lead for now but we will soon overtake him!"
"That's the spirit guys! We're going to make that guy Zephyr spit out «Stunned silly, I relinquish the seat of Overlord» definitely!"
" " "Oooohhh!!!" " "
These guys, don't tell me they completely forget I'm also here?
But I see, so it was indeed me whom they're referring to as Overlord all this time. I mean I did kind of sense that though.
"?"
Misato turned to look at my face as if asking “Is what they are saying really true?” to which I horizontally shook my head.
Hmm, they're now causing the harmful rumors to spread out so i think it's about time to bring them to their senses.
"You guys sure are saying whatever suits you."
"一一一一!!?"
Quartet let out a silent shriek when I called out to them, jumping in fright.
"Ze, Zephyr. What are you here!?"
"Fufu, did you hear us talking by chance?"
"All loud and clear. Because I was here from the beginning."
Saturn-kun trembled at my reply.
"Don't tell me, you're going to silence all of us here finding us bothersome!?"
Just what kind of existence am I for them for god's sake? I really want to know the answer for once.
Unfortunately, it's more important to stop them from overblowing harmful rumors anymore for now.
"Well there you got your guild battle. And what was it, something like a loser becoming subordinate?"
"ーーーー!!?"
Quartet shivered once again at my words. Good grief, it was clear as day from their expression they didn't even think about it. Heck, they hadn't even imagined themselves losing most likely. Sure enough, their pride doesn't know when to chill out.
That being said, they're such a handful to make them subordinate. I don't have any intention to absorb ‹Best of the Best, the Great Star›. Because they're such a handful. Important things need to be said twice.
"W, what are you planning to make us do?"
"Let's see......"
Quartet expressions became the likes of those death row inmates waiting for the guillotine on the scaffold to serve its purpose when I showed my contemplating look.
Why the hell are they making such an expression, I really really must ask what in the name of god did they think of me actually later.
But that's for the letter, I have to say at least this much.
"You're spouting harmful rumors, so cease any of such ill remarks (?) about me first of all. Also, I can see you guys are really ignoring what I have taught you guys so we're going to do practice as much as possible. Fret not, I will also tag along with you guys to the extent possible, I will give you guys a special menu as a present."
I conveyed them so with a wide smile.
Quartet showed the expression of someone facing a demonic abyss.