Volume 6 Chapter 17 Strategy
How to move forward, we decided through discussion.
"I've come to a realization, after fighting Wrath and all. It's better to fight with everyone. I get stronger with each battle."
Ice, who was sitting across from me, nodded thoughtfully.
"If that's the case... it's good to have someone who can always help you, Wade-kun, right?"
Toxy, who was lounging on the couch, chimed in,
"I think it's better if Wade flies around, don't you? Wade can fight anyone, anywhere. There are exceptions, though."
Ice spoke up again,
"I think there are more situations where exceptions occur, but if Wade-kun wants to fight a lot, it's better for Wade-kun to fly solo and have us join later, divided into teams."
Sandra, who had been quietly observing our conversation, finally spoke up.
"It's better to form a team based on who's hard to kill. I'm almost invincible, and so is Ice. But Toxy and Clay have limited invincibility and endurance depending on the situation."
At Sandra's word, Toxy whined, her voice laced with a hint of disappointment.
"Eh! I thought I was pretty tough!"
Clay, ever the voice of reason, chuckled and corrected Toxy.
"No, Toxy-san. You and I are stable and strong, but when it comes to being hard to kill, we're inferior to Ice-san and Sandra-san. You might be the weakest of our group, and I'm probably next."
I, sensing an opportunity to optimize our team's dynamics, suggested a new strategy.
"Why don't you divide into 2 groups, with the top 2 who are hard to kill providing support?" I proposed. "Clay and Toxy are top-notch in terms of attack power, after all."
Sandra's eyes gleamed with excitement as she responded,
"Then, I'll take Toxy."
Toxy's face fell, her confidence deflating like a punctured balloon.
"I've got taken. So, it's Ice-chan and Clay as a pair, and me and Sandra as a pair?"
Ice, ever the calm and collected one, spoke up, her voice a soothing balm to our conversation.
"But I can support either team, right? And I don't need to leave my house, so..."
Toxy nodded in agreement, seeing the wisdom in Ice's words.
"That's right. So, I'll be with Sandra, and Clay will be alone, with Ice-chan supporting both of us."
Clay, ever the optimist, grinned from ear to ear.
"And if Wade-kun flies around, our stability will be high, right?"
"Alright, let's do that."
A conclusion is reached. Clay will go solo, with Toxy and Sandra as a pair, and Ice will provide support for both. Meanwhile, I'll gather information and join either of the 2 teams, and we'll take on the Four Heavenly Kings as much as possible.
What would happen if the Four Heavenly Kings encountered both parties? Or what if Fist of the Dragon showed up? We had some discussions about those kinds of scenarios.
* * *
The next day, after we'd exhausted all possible topics, we officially headed to the battlefield.
"Alright, let's go!"
"Take care, and don't worry... I'll always be supporting you guys, okay?"
Ice, who was staying behind, smiled gently and waved goodbye. I waved back, and we all headed out to the battlefield together.
For now, I was going to move with Clay. We each had one of Ice's snowmen in our pockets.
"It can split apart on the spot now, right? Wow, Ice has really become reliable!"
"Kippi!"
The snowman was giving us a lively signal. I high-fived the snowman with my finger, and the 4 of us left Karditsa's gate.
"Oh, it's Wade's party! Do your best!"
"We're counting on you! Protect Karditsa for us!"
"Wade's party, go! Take down as many as you can!"
As we walked, people called out to us one after another -- adventurers, knowledgeable women, and even little kids. The gatekeepers also gave us a thumbs-up, saying "You guys are our hope!" and lowered the drawbridge for us.
Then we exited the castle walls on foot. Why? Because we had a convenient way to move around.
"Kipipipip!"
The snowmans appeared from everyone's pockets. Then, the snowmans created some kind of clones.
Birds. They were small birds at first, but they grew bigger and bigger until they were large enough for one person to ride.
We, who had received prior explanations, laughed and said "Whoa!" as we boarded the birds.
Then the birds flapped their wings and took off.
"Whoa, the ground is getting farther away!" Clay exclaimed, looking shaken.
"Wow, this is kinda scary, Ice-chan Please drive safely, okay?" Toxy worried.
"This is fun It's great to be up high!" Sandra said, looking delighted.
"This is comfortable," I sighed in relief.
The 4 giant ice birds soared into the sky. Ice's magic had evolved to the point where it wasn't limited to just snowmans, and could change shape to do all sorts of things.
For example, even if they're divided, as long as one of them remains, Ice can recover the army from there. And if the snowmen can change their form and use a military tactics, they can even fly through the sky like an ice bird.
We, who have received this blessing, are heading towards the battlefield in a flash. We soar high into the sky, about a hundred meters above the ground, and gaze down at the battlefield.
"Whoa, we can see the entire battlefield from here. The enemy army is divided into 3 groups, isn't it?"
I say, using my Ajna Chakra's clairvoyance.
"The lord's army is said to be training the dragons we've captured and deploying them on the battlefield. I heard people in the city talking about it this morning. I think that's the key point."
"Uh, so..."
"If a dragon dies, there will be one of the Four Heavenly Kings there."
Sandra responds to Toxy's question, and at the same time, my Ajna Chakra catches it.
"Hey, on the right side of the battlefield, a dragon has died!"
What appears in my clairvoyance is the image of a dragon, battered by wild magic and collapsing. A Fire Dragon. I have a memory of fighting it, but it's not an opponent that can be easily defeated.
So, I laugh.
"Clay and I will head to the right side of the battlefield. What about you, Toxy and Sandra?"
"Hmm, let's observe the situation and see if we can intervene. If I can drop down into the center of the enemy's crowded formation and deal massive damage with my poison sea, it sounds like fun, doesn't it?"
"I can drop Toxy bombs and then quickly recover. The central battlefield is crowded, so it's recommended."
"Let's go to the central battlefield "
It's decided. Clay and I will head to the right side of the battlefield, while Toxy and Sandra will head to the central battlefield. Ice, who was listening to our conversation, specifies the direction of the ice bird's flight, dividing it into 2 routes.
Then, Clay and I fly to the front lines of the right battlefield, and we exchange a "Ready, set" and "Yeah" with each other.
"So, what's the plan? Strategically speaking, your idea has a lot of impact, Clay."
"That's true. So, let's have Wade-kun support our descent, and I'll go wild until I hit the Four Heavenly Kings."
"Ah, let's do that. Yeah, it's going to be fun. This is the first time I'll get to see Clay's true abilities."
"Haha. Then look forward to it. It'll definitely be more than expected."
We exchanged a sly grin. Then, the 2 of us nodded to each other, lightly tapped the back of the Ice Bird, and jumped off.
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