Chapter 596 - 596. Martial Art Formation
On the left-wing, Bowler was accompanied by Fierce Flame and three of Domon's past students as they led the others. Jason might be a gentleman but he was not as extreme as Domon. Since this was a battle, he threw away his reluctance against the opposite-sex and initiated attacks on their opponents without reserve.
Jason was an Inquisitor now, in a set of medium armors instead of healer robe. He had gone back to Thereath yesterday to take the trial as he originally intended. He passed the trial this time. He then used his contribution points to exchange for uncommon medium armors and a long mace. He just joined not long ago, so his contribution points were not that many to get rare equipment.
He failed the Priest trial a few times, but he passed the Inquisitor trial on the first try, so he still got Inquisitor's exclusive skill. It was called Empowering Prayer. It increased defense and added constant small HP recovery to all allies within a ten-meter radius for three minutes. He cast the spell just before their team clashed with their opponents.
His level was still low, and he just changed to elite class, so his attributes were still the weak healer version. Yet, his staff techniques gave him more than enough edge to deal with whoever came his way, providing he was not careless.
His partner, Balo, the orc Battle Monk, could afford to be reckless instead. That class, added with the physical superiority of the orc race, allowed him to fully exhibit his martial prowess. His flurry of punches and kicks repelled anyone who tried to come near.
The third of Domon's ex-student was a vampire woman named Michelle. She was a level 44 Blade Dancer wielding two sabers. She was using a different dual sword art from the one Domon taught Jack, the art was called Twin Blossoming Swords. Her two sabers twirled at high speed whenever she swung them, like having two mini rotating blades on her hands. When she danced around the enemies, the two rotating swords swiped around her, both repelling enemies' assaults as well as wounding them.
In the middle of their formation, behind Jeanny's center wing, was Viral Cora who was playing her flute. The bard's song effect covered a large range. The class was a must-have for any large-sized group. The two newly recruited members, Olddemon and Sturdy Serpent stood guard beside her.
The two were ranged classes, so they had no problem at the backline while still providing support to the frontline. Especially Sturdy Serpent, he had the longest range as a gunner. He crouched to activate his shooting stance and shot at any visible opponents. He was not the best sniper, but his experience in the military gave him good accuracy in shootings.
Olddemon cast Hell Gate. Because his spell was below level 10, it only summoned two hellhounds. The hellhounds pounced on any opponent who tried to get to the backline. When an opponent still managed to slip through, he cast Hell Whip to hold that person down while his allies delivered the punishment.
When Olddemon saw a reprieve, he used the chance to cast Hellish Explosion, Warlock's level 40 spell. It was the same spell that Scarface had cast during the battle of Crestfall Plains using a magic scroll. Yet, that fearsome spell that decimated all the players except Jack at the time, was no longer a guaranteed one-hit kill. This spell caused damage over 1000HP for players in a large area, but the current players mostly had HP over 2000, even the magic users.
Additionally, the opponent's group also had Sentinel. This class used Protection Field, a level 35 Sentinel's skill. It created a field that reduced damage to all allies within a certain radius. Thus, reducing the Hellish Explosion's damage even further.
Wicked Witches' warlocks did the same, to which Everlasting Heavenly Legends' Sentinels countered. Both sides fought to a standstill.
Nova, who was observing the battle from a distance, said, "They have some pretty good players."
Queen Magenta, who was standing beside her, replied, "Maybe, but their overall players were still below ours. They couldn't win just by relying on a few experts."
It was as Queen Magenta said, a few of Everlasting Heavenly Legends players might appear in advantage, but the majority of its members were lacking if compared to Wicked Witches members. Wicked Witches members were above average for every two hundred combatants they sent.
Jeanny had arranged so that not only the core members received Domon's tutelage, but also a portion of the trusted veteran members. But they had only started training less than four months ago, they couldn't possibly be compared to Wicked Witches veteran members who had received professional training for a much longer time.
Even though the core members had started using time chambers, the amount of time they could spare was not that much. Additionally, only the core members were allowed to use the chamber since there was a limit to how many people could fit inside. So the advantage was not yet too apparent.
"You are right. In time, our force will overwhelm theirs," Nova said, agreeing with Queen Magenta's assessment.
Time continued to pass on the battlefield. Nova and Queen Magenta's confident expressions slowly turned to a scowl.
"What's wrong? Why can't we beat them? Our players obviously had a higher standard than a large portion of them," Queen Magenta uttered.
"… You are not wrong," Nova replied.
"Then why can't we finish them yet?"
"… Not only that, we are slowly getting pushed back."
"What?!" Queen Magenta observed the situation more closely. It was indeed as Nova said. It seemed that it was their force that was struggling. "How?" She asked.
"Do we not know the martial art teacher that Jeanny mentioned? The one who she said to have taught her the spear art?" Nova asked instead.
"From the report, it is just an unknown old man. His description doesn't fit anyone famous in the gaming community," Queen Magenta answered.
"Find out his name. That old man might be a martial art grandmaster."
"A… a grandmaster? Why do you suspect that?"
"Look closely at their formation," Nova pointed at the battling forces. "See how our enemies clustered in a pattern?"
The battlefield was chaotic, it is difficult to see any pattern in them. But the two were standing on a small hill by the plains. They were watching the battle from a slightly elevated position, so they could see the whole situation better. After a longer observation, Queen Magenta saw it as well.
Everlasting Heavenly members were spread out with small clusters. Each of these clusters had nine players situated in a particular pattern. Each player within this cluster covered and assisted each other almost perfectly.
When observed from a full perspective, the whole force followed the same formations as well. Nine clusters formed a larger but similar positioning. With each cluster able to assist the other clusters on occasion. There were two of these nine-cluster formations side by side. The excess members formed isolated clusters. If anyone from the main clusters fell, the ones from these isolated clusters would hurry to move in and replace the fallen person.
"It is a martial art formation," Nova said.
"What? I thought that only existed in old stories?" Queen Magenta said.
"No one used this technique anymore since firearms were invented. But in this game world where people didn't die from a single gunshot, it was surprisingly effective… Anyway, one who knows such formation technique can only be those old-fashioned martial art grandmasters."
It was as Nova suspected. It was Domon who taught them this formation technique. It was called Nine Stars Formation. Jeanny realized that Domon's martial teaching would take some time before they saw some results, so when he heard Domon mentioning this formation during their talk, she asked Domon to teach the core members and most of the trusted veteran members.
The players on the battlefield slowly realized the pressure as well since the casualties they suffered were getting increasingly more than their opponents. Selena received a message from Nova, telling her about their opponents' formation technique. But even if she knew, there was nothing she could do against it.
Seeing there was no other way, Selena decided to use their secret weapon.
"Cover me!" She shouted to others. She then took position a little bit to the back and started casting.
When the spell formation was formed, it formed very slowly. The first rune also appeared very large. Jeanny who saw that understand what it was.
"A mega spell!" She shouted, she then looked back and uttered "Trinity!"
Trinity, who was behind her, nodded. She moved back as well. "Everyone, to me!" She yelled.
Four magic-based elite classes came to her side. While several other melees came to protect them under Jeanny's order.
"Ready?" Trinity asked the four.. The four nodded, the five then started casting spells at the same time.