Chapter 52 - Attack, Defend, or Die Trying
The training was finally complete. Atlas had not only leveled up several of his skills, but pushed his limits in every way possible. Now, with less than two days before the first wave of battles, the focus had shifted, away from combat drills and into recovery and strategic planning.
At last, the moment had come.
Atlas and his elite subordinates gathered in the central hall of the fortress.
Edrik stood at the head of the room, leading the discussion. It wasn’t because he was the most experienced tactician, but because he had a sharp ability to break down strategy into terms even the most battle-worn soldier could grasp. And more importantly, his methodical clarity helped Atlas weigh the choices ahead with confidence.
"There are three core strategies we can employ," Edrik began. "Attack, Defensive Hold, or All-Out Confrontation. Each has its own risks... and its own potential."
The room quieted, all eyes locked on him.
"An Attack strategy means pressing forward aggressively. High risk, high reward. Ideal if we want to pressure the enemy early."
"A Defensive Hold keeps our forces strong and protects our territory, safer, but slower in terms of advancement."
"And then there’s the All-Out Confrontation, a gamble where everything is on the line. If we win, we win big. But if we fail... it could be devastating."
Atlas nodded slowly, absorbing the weight of each path.
Edrik continued, "The goal of each battle is to earn Rank Points. The more points we gain, the higher we climb. Each Lord begins in Division 1 of their current rank. To advance to the next, we need to move from Division 1 to Division 5. And then, if successful, we ascend to the next rank."