"For a man not into the game he's playing, he certainly plays it well enough…"
I couldn't help but sigh as I returned my focus to my own movements. The way Rider had clipped the wings of my formation just as I commenced the battle of annihilation at its center deflated me slightly, I'll admit. I knew this was never going to be an easy fight; I'd have been disappointed if it was. But still… I couldn't help but feel like I should have been able to do more with that opening, besides just reset the conditions to where they started.
"Ah, blast! That's the third unit lost… They're starting to pick up on how to deal with these things."
Just keep them moving. So long as I could keep the groups moving, keep them rotating, then they couldn't be encircled by the askar. So far, they were the only ones finding success in destroying the control units on the statues.
…That could always change, though, if my movements left any of the statues exposed long enough to arrow fire.
"If only Rider knew the extent of how effective his strategy was" I laughed slightly, taking a moment to shake the growing pain out of my hands.
It would only be momentary relief, for my hands would need to immediately return to the keyboard and mouse for control, but I would take any moment of relief I could.
"Still, that was one command spell gone. Only two more to go..."
The fact he only managed to take out three of the five hundred statues and was already down a command spell… I could win this war of attrition… I could legitimately win this war of attrition! Especially if Caster got the ace in the hole done anytime soon! If Rider's men couldn't handle these things, then how would they deal with that surprise? They couldn't! Rider would have to take to the field to fight directly, not just overview and command! That would be the final nail in the theoretical coffin; the last push to drain him completely and cause him to dissipate out of this war.
…Provided it didn't just enable me to eliminate him outright.
"Perhaps that's a bit of wishful thinking on my- hmm?"
Well now… these movements were certainly new… What kind of trick were you up to now, Rider…?
"Analyzing the potential lines… Ok, group three reposition. Group seven reposition. Group one, hold position. Main unit, spearhead formation, push forward. Group two, return through doors nine, reposition to doors three. Group eight, return through doors one, reposition and emerge through doors seven."
…Ok, with a small force pushing to contest group one, and the movement of the horseback archers… So that's the line he's taking…
"Group one, fall back. Main unit, circle formation, hold position. Group two, switch to doors thirteen. Group seven, engage. Group three, join group six, engage."
I don't get it, Rider… What is this supposed to achieve? All you're doing here is- Is… Oh fuck!
"Group two needs to come out now! Group three, disengage, reinforce the main unit! Group one, push forward! Group six… fighting retreat. Fuck that's micro intensive… Group five, circle formation, hold position! Group eight, push to group five! Group four-"
…Group four needed a fighting retreat as well! Oh, this was going to be so sloppy…
"Ok. Ok, ok, ok… Going to take casualties here, but… Ok, all groups converge on main unit! Enter pre-set formation three and hold positions!"
One... two… four… nine… Agh, seventeen units were going to go down! Seventeen down, from one push! It wasn't even like I didn't see it in time either! Sure, it was never going to be casualty free, but losing seventeen there…
…I got to move faster… Just push through the pain for a bit and move faster! You can still salvage this!
"Damn Rider, that was dirty" I couldn't help but laugh as the inevitable end of the line finished playing out. "I did not expect something like that from you!"
"I'd hope someone daring to challenge me on the battlefield would expect me to do what it takes to win the game."
"…Ha… Hahahahaha! So, you admit it, Rider?!"
"I acknowledge your viewpoint! Mistake that not for condoning it! Alas, if acknowledgement is required to defeat you here, then so be it!"
"Acknowledgement of the void, at last! Congrats, Rider, for you have taken the first step to true enlightenment!"
So, he's finally accepting it… Looks like we do have a real game on our hands! Very well then! Time to kick things up a notch!
"I give you that round, Rider, but don't think I'm just going to take it lying down! All units, new orders! And switch track!"
"Playing track: The Only Thing I Know For Real."
Match length: 20:21
Current APM: 148
A/N
Both these parts should have been up Saturday night.
I was lazy; have no excuses.
My apologies, and thank you all for your patience o7
