"Yes! Yes! Wrap around like so, and when he… Hahahaha! Oh, this is greater than I'd ever imagined! Group twelve fall back, group seventeen push forward! Group three, emerge now! To be pushed to the limits like this…how long I've waited for such a moment!"
If only it didn't hurt so damn much. Rider was undeniably in control of the tempo, and having to try and shake the pain out of my hands every few commands was proving to be a bit more than a minor obstacle…
"Shit, another statue down. Merge groups nine and fifteen; numbers too small to be effective individually now. Group two, feign retreat! Groups one and seven, wrap wide on the pursuers! Oh, but how I dislike having to merge those two groups…"
Actually, maybe it was time to switch from macro to micro? Change strategy, work with even more smaller groups…
"…Yeah, actually let's go with that" I grinned. "Reorganize and divide statues into forty groups, based on proximity."
I took the moment the computer reorganized my groups to give my hands a good shake. At a glance, yeah, my fingers were vibrating pretty badly. This was probably the worst they've been since I was seriously playing WotH, way back when.
And yet, despite the pain, I could unequivocally say it was worth it.
For what I was witnessing now… was the most beautiful display I'd ever seen…
"Ok, so that's how you divided them… That can work" I mused, calculating new lines in my head. "Right then, lets see how you respond to this, Rider!"
Just then, in that moment, from the corner of my eye, I saw it.
A second flash of red light.
So, that was Rider's response…
"Down to one command spell already, Rider" I couldn't help but laugh. "Don't tell me you're running out of time already; fun has only just begun!"
"Only someone as sick as you could find amusement in this!"
"Oh, don't lie to yourself, Rider! Admit it! You're enjoying this! You're having fun! And how could you not?! Does this not take you back to when you were alive?! Truly, alive?! Did you not enjoy your life, Rider?! Did you not feel most alive while dancing on the edge with death?! Did you not smile the most upon the field of battle?! Where you shined the most brilliantly?! Where you could showcase your talents; your value?! Where you could create your beauty, in the name of your false god?! How could you-"
"Child, it is done" Caster's voice cut off my transmission to Rider, interrupting our conversation.
"It's done? As in ready to go? On the platform" I questioned Caster, unable to contain my excitement.
"Of course, child! Who do you think I am, to overlook such a thing?!"
"And it'll work?! You're sure it'll work?! Because if it doesn't fly then-"
"Child! It! Is! Done! An absolute disgrace by all accounts due to your insistence it be done within a week, but by your metrics it! Is! Done!"
"Perfect! Add it to the system, Caster! Time to bring this performance to its climatic conclusion!"
I watched with bated breath as the final unit came online in the system.
Good game, Rider... but too bad! I win!
"Well Rider, it's been fun, but I regret to inform you that victory is mine."
"To claim victory while the battle isn't even close to being over…! Your arrogance will be your downfall this day!"
"Yes, well, normally I could agree with such a notion, but you see… I have in my possession something I know you simply cannot deal with."
"You dare underestimate me in such a manner?!"
"Rider, it is precisely because I don't underestimate you that I know you can't deal with this. As is, were it not for the fact you are on the clock, so to speak, with your master's command spells, I have no doubt you could... potentially... find a means to victory. However, that is only because the nature of the battle is no different to any other you have dealt with in life."
"…"
"Sure, the statues are more resilient that humans, granted, but at the end of the day, they're still foot soldiers. They still fight in formation. They still use weapons you're familiar with."
"Your point, child?!"
"The point, Rider, is that you still face a typical army for your days. But the world has changed since then, Rider. Technology has changed. Methods have changed. Concepts have changed. So, let me ask you this, Rider? Do you know what is the most important thing to have in modern warfare?"
"The will and support of the people."
"Hmm… an ideal answer, but there are many people who fight and die for causes they don't believe in these days. The will of the people is less relevant these days than one might think. That, and it's not applicable to battlefields, so much as the larger scope of mobilizing an army in the first place-"
"Enough with your games!"
"Boo... you're no fun, Rider" I teased. "But that's fine, I suppose it wouldn't kill me to just tell you the answer!"
Even within the command room, I could feel the ground beneath my feet shake as the giant bay doors needed for my special surprise began to open, and the platform began to rise.
"What is the meaning of-"
"The answer to the question, Rider, is something you couldn't possibly have known, for you never had to deal with it in life! And how could you have, when technology back then was so woefully lacking?! But that's ok, Rider! You may lose this day, but let it serve as an important lesson for you on modern warfare: never step foot onto a battlefield without first obtaining air superiority!"
I couldn't stop the grin from forming on my face as it flapped its wings and rose from the platform, high into the sky. Through the cameras, I could see Rider, the priest, and even Rider's soldiers come to a momentary stop and gaze up towards the sky.
Towards the source of the giant shadow being cast over the battlefield.
"Witness it's glory, Rider! Witness the pinnacle of the beauty of Daedalus himself!"
Setting it up as its own private group in the system, I gave it it's first command.
The command to signal the beginning of the end.
"Ravage them, o mighty dragon! …Change track!"
"Playing track: Take Over."
Match length: 32:33
Current APM: 267
A/N
I actually don't really know what to put here, so... yeah...
Surprise! It's a dragon!
…See y'all in the next post o7
