The alliance squad and Class-1 clashed head-on. Alliance had boasted as much as thrice the numbers of Class-1, but they couldn't mount in their advantage.
"Report! The opponent has been enchanted with continuous healing!"
"Wasn't the «White Throne» only supposed to be for distance recovery?!"
The situation deepens with new information.
The alliance had already known about the Princess acquiring «White Throne», an advanced equipnt specialised in long-range healing. But the might and potency clearly went beyond their comprehension.
"Do not panic! We're the one with the advantage here! Go in a group of two to tackle singles! Healers prioritise healing! Do not engage any further if your HP is in red, imdiately retreat and receive healing before acting!"
Hyudo, the aide of Lamda, promptly consolidated the movent of alliance, and granted them instruction.
The effect of good leadership was apparent, and while they couldn't subvert the advantage to their favour completely, the situation had subsided to a competent level.
On the class-1 side, Princess Lana was acting three square south from their position (F-18), supporting her classmates with healing. Zephyr, Ester, Rika, and four of were holding the frontline.
Lana and Pala were kept at the rearguard. Ester had been keeping Lamda in check, while Zephyr faced off as many as 12 opponents. Rika and were the first line of defense to prevent any opponent from turning toward rearguard. Pala was the final line of defense for Lana.
With the number advantage, alliance shouldn't have been a trouble to overwhelm their opponent, but—
"A-another person has been eliminated by Brave!"
"Grrh! We have a big crowd, and you're saying neither can overpower Brave even with numbers?! What the heck is he, a high-ranking dungeon boss in human skin? Anyway, the «White Throne» is right there! We need to cut the opponent's lifeline first!"
"We did send so people, but their advances were thwarted!"
"Fuhaha! You're not worthy to reach Lana if you can't even defeat !"
"Tsk! «tal Knuckle»!"
Hyudo launched the single-target «Tri-tree» skill with a shout, targeting Brave, however later easily dodged that.
"Uh-huh, being popular cos with its own con, eh?! —«Lightning Slash»!"
With a broad smile tugging on Brave's expression, he fired his own skill. The other mber jumped in the skin to defend against it.
It should've been 12 vs 1—oh wait, it was 11 vs 1, with one of them being eliminated, battle, and yet, they were failing horribly in getting any upper hand.
Ever since a while ago, the alliance had been made to slowly retreat toward the 4th fortress, forcing them to play defensively. All because Brave was too strong.
They would've liked to go full offensive on him too, but there was no doubt the counterattack would be too heavy for them to handle. At the sa ti, since the alliance squad was amalgamation of many classes, their coordination was rather subpar to say the least.
At the end, theY failed in inflicting any aningful damage to Brave, and whatever scratches they put were healed by distance healing. For the alliance, it was like they're stuck in a nightmarish loop. Despite achieving nothing, their numbers were gradually dwindling.
An impatience continued to scratch the inside of Hyudo.
"Thank you for the opening! «Thunderbolt»!"
"Aaaaahhh, I'm sorry, every—"
"Argh!"
Yet again, one of their mbers was taken out. Brave was like a tidal wave they could see, but couldn't escape.
anwhile, Lamda had changed his strategy, showing an extre resilience against Ester's offense.
"«Sacred Heal»!"
"Healing again?"
«Caliburn Paladin» was the advanced job of «Paladin», so it obviously was packed with recovery spells. Add it to the fact that he had built «Paladin» as a tank, so he was just as much of a damage sponge.
He was at LV50 of «Paladin» when it was co to be known he had cleared the requirent for «Caliburn Paladin» during the trial of «Advanced Job Ascension Ticket». At the revelation, he was brought by «King Absolute» for a power leveling trip, and this ti, he spent the points on both offense and defense.
anwhile, as much of an attacker Ester was, she had been launching her offense from range. It wasn't enough to cut down Lamda completely, especially with his healing, and that he had focused on defending than launching a counterattack,
He forsake his sword, offense, and grabbed the shield with two hands, parrying Ester's attack. With the defensive style, he had locked Ester in one place as the long-range attacks hailed at her from the alliance force. Well, he couldn't have continued his offense for long either way with his remaining MP, so rather than cornering himself with big moves, he might as well utilize the situation.
On the other hand, Ester had no way to know the tactic behind her opponent, and only assud Lamda had no way to counterattack her which was why he was hyperfocusing on defense. She appraised that move highly, as that an Lamda was not trying to overreach himself.
But either way, to break the stalemate, she needed to play her ace card.
Of course, she had one skill that perfectly fit the bill. She had been reluctant to use it as it could allow her opponent to do a counterattack. But, the concern was no more with the support.
Ester dodged the incoming spell from the alliance, and assud her stance to unleash her unique skill, but before could make a move—she heard a huge ruckus from the alliance side, and felt a wave of confusion and panic spreading among them.
Apparently, the alliance was forced to bear yet another injury on top of their already tattered situation.
"Hyudo, look at that!"
"—!! Everyone retreat! Retreat nooowww!!"
Hyudo's eyes nearly popped out of his eye socket when he turned to look in the south—at the second group of reinforcents marching in their direction—at the warning from his comrade.
Lamda also took a quick notice of the situation, and assud his stance for retreat.
"Ack, this isn't good! Miss Ester, for now, this is your victory."
"You're not escaping! «Chariot Thrust»!"
"«Sacred Scord Manifest - True Barrier»!"
"Rgh..."
"Provide cover support for the Leader to escape! Attack! Attack!"
But how could Ester let him retreat safely? She used the spear thrust category technique and closed the distance at once, utilising the dash from skill. However Lamda halted her advance by materialising a giant shield, and further stopping her was the rain of spells by alliance squad.
Regardless of their coordination, the alliance squad knew very well they would have no umbrella to shield from rain if Lamda was eliminated. So they stopped their movent, and first allowed their leader to escape freely.
"Not on my watch! «Shine Lightning»!"
"Regroup yourself, and fall back now! «tal Hand Guard»!"
Zephyr saw the situation and also burst forth with his area skill, and unleashes it toward the alliance squad.
Hyudo hurriedly put himself between his allies and Zephyr, tanking the damage while urging them to retreat.
The incoming reinforcent could have only been ant for Class-1. It was evident from the fact that they'd crossed the south where Lana was and were rushing in their direction. In that case, they'd no reason to not believe it was a help for Class-1, a tactic laid out by Brave...... probably.
"Eh? Zephyr-san, there seems to be Class-8 with Sierra-san."
"rt's class? ...Oh, I guess, they have decided their side huh."
Zephyr had slowed down on his offense since going alone against the alliance was a rather unwise move when Pala arrived by his side, and inford him of the situation.
Zephyr squinted his eyes, and confird the sighting of Class-8 along with their mbers.
If they're together, that ans Class-8 had decided to support them. It wasn't hard to gauge rt's plan in that case.
"Oh, so Misato really did bait rt to join our side huh. Was this in your plan too, Zephyr-san?"
"Woah there, Pala. I didn't send her to lure rt, alright? It's pure slander."
The reinforcent was expected by Zephyr when he had dispatched Misato to relay ssages to Class-1 base before he appeared in the north to tackle the alliance squad.
One reason was to inform his classmate of their change of strategy. And Misato was chosen for a simple reason; they already had Lana as healer, and another healer was an unrequired. There was a reason why Seraphic Saintess was one of the top jobs after all. And Misato had been feeling a bit down since she saw no room for her to help out.
In the end, there was just the ssenger role she could have taken, though she was genuinely rejoiced to have sothing to do, evident from her bunny hopping-esque gait when she left the place.
Either way, delivering a ssage was just as much of an important role. So, there was not even a picoter of truth in Pala's allegation.
The reinforcent from their class consisted of Sierra, Harmonic Trio, and other three girls from their class. anwhile, the defense of the base was left in the hands of Myu and two other girls, along with Lulu and Ceclia. But in all this, Class-8 was supposed to be nowhere in their plan, so that was a nice surprise. Indeed sothing you would expect from Misato.
In the short while Zephyr and Pala exchanged so words, rt was already close to him. Arriving next to them, he proposed the expected suggestion.
"Zephyr, let's keep it brief. We would cooperate with your class, and shatter their alliance first of all."
"...Just fine with . We will discuss the rest later, but first, let’s deal with the opponent here."
A very straightforward suggestion, very much like him. While there were many things to discuss, like rewards and et cetera, the two leaders acknowledged their overlapping goals, and focused on them first.
Zephyr had also wanted to avoid making Class-8 their enemy; as this was the only result that could follow. At the sa ti, the intention and direction of Class-8 shouldn't have escaped from Rina's eyes, so they'd to take advantage of chaos now before she consolidated the alliance's order.
Now that they'd gained three tis their earlier numbers, it was a perfect chance to hit the nail.
"Then it's a deal. Let's give our all. —Noel, inform our classmates."
"Okay~! Everyone, it's battle ti! We're going to kick away the alliance with the help of Class-1! We will be taking the right wing side!"
Noel grabbed the mick in her hand and announced the news.
"In that case, Class-1 will chase them from the left wing. Zephyr, let's go!"
"Alright! Also, explain to the situation later."
Urged by Sierra, I quickly guzzled a MP Hi-Potion in one big gulp and chased after her.
The battlefield dynamic changed vastly, and within a few minutes, the alliance squad was forced to retreat, while also incurring heavy casualties, to the 4th Fortress which would beco the next stage for the vibrancy of their strength to display.
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