14] Fourth Event, PP, Pixie x Payne
Pixie POV
Second day of the event, evening was my team doing a new round of striking Bases we can get points from, most of the closest medium and large bases were for pickings, albeit some clearly had been struck by someone else, the residual Poison or sheer damage craters on some did expose whose guild's done that. But by the time we had made a return for a short break and drop the haul, it had been a fruitful hunt, LRSSG has been doing a fine job keeping Our Guild updated on the relative performance of the "Important" Guilds performances.
Even more when they reported that the Holy Swords Core Aces went to strike Maple Tree, since their style of playing is an Orthodox Guild vs Guild strategy, Maple must be void of most Skills and Abilities that make her so dangerous, that it's night and their performance during the day meant all members had worked hard, this is prime moment to hit them, and my team hitting the Holy Swords.
"How's it, Schwartz?"
Whatever reason, Sioux had managed to get another unique series set of gear, not that the typical female Asian martial artist getup isn't a nice fit on her body with curves unbefitting someone the same age as me. The wonder is why she has a Polearm with a special set of built-in skills, just like Son Goku's signature weapon, it can extend to a rather long max range, of which we are using so Schwartz can scout from above.
"They sent the core, the rest of the members have been tasked in keeping the base secure, I bet they will ring an alarm to them once we attack."
"Well…. Then we go with plan V1. Let's start."
Plan V1 is simple, using a specific Blood magic of mine, infiltrate, wreck some of the defenders, and as that happens, a Bombardment from above and subsequent entry by the others to wipe as much of the security as possible and then leave with their Orb. With prep work done, we begin. First, we get a patrol, them done for, I take their souls with Soul of Cuisine extra effect on my biting attacks, then, using some HP and MP, I activate the key component of the infiltration part of plan V1.
[Disguise of Soul]
Once the silent and modest in effects transformation animation ends, I'm just like one of these poor Patrols, Disguise of Soul allows me to temporarily make a full disguise of a player I have their soul in my Pooled counter, only some active spy checking would reveal me, as I'm still a hostile enemy player to the infiltrated side, so an attack will still cause damage particles on me. However no one had done such until now, so I am sure no such methods will happen.
Time passes, and slowly the outer patrols have been gone, paralysis attack potions, courtesy of Elenium Labs, and soon a few in the middle patrol routes notice the absence of them, time to pop the signal.
[Start bombardment]
A minute later, the middle and inner areas suddenly are engulfed in Explosions, fire, Gas and Poison Mist, panic happens and I any I see trying to use Guild chat function I strike them, same for my Team members, now raining death and striking down all they can, the longer they delay the enemy return, the better. Soon, we get the Orb and deploy a generous amount of Smoke grenades and confusion powder bombs. Leaving under cover of it, Schwartz with the crafted mask looked almost SAS like, Alma and Sioux were a funny appearance of a Valkyrie and Elf Archer dressed people with Plague doctor masks.
Quatro from LRSSG would keep a distant eye on the base, and his response a few minutes later told an amusing piece of news.
[Pixie, Payne and his team have respawned, guess their assault on Maple Tree went bad.]
[Copy, whoever is looking at Maple Tree, look out for whatever they may start doing.]
Guild message done, we run off to base.
Payne POV
"Sorry guys, I messed up."
We all spawned in short order, Frederica had been the last one, what we all spawned to see is a heavily battered team who was keeping our base and orb safe, questioning brought a sudden loss of the outer patrols followed by a massive rain of Explosives and Status effect inducing AoE attacks, none saw who clearly stole our orb. For now, we can all rest a bit, Me and the others who attacked Maple tree with me will make a brief review of our failed attack.
"Don't beat yourself too much, no one thought that fortress girl had such an abomination of a Skill."
Dreg comments, of course, Maple and her guildmates would make sure such Skill was kept away from prying eyes, and who knows what else she has under her nigh impregnable armored shell? Same for all others from Maple Tree.
"At least we forced her to use that, I doubt such powerful skill can be used more than once per in-game day."
Also made sense, but if one word describes that guild, Abnormal fits nicely, odds are they will do something very daring to ensure they can keep their position in the Top 10.
"That thing is busted, and Payne, what will we do? We still need to solve the issue of the attacker."
"Commando Wing."
"Huh? You sure?"
"Completely, while the forums and our reconnaissance during the event found some useful bits of information, we have barely a thing even for that guild's eye-catching members, so we can be sure that Guild has a solid information security protocol, or at least their aces hardly ever use more than basic or common skills where there's risk of being seen using it. And there's been a guess from Dread."
I motion for him to take point.
"Just a hunch from my instincts, I followed that Pixie and Fae lady, but I believe they have quite the sharp senses, they knew I was tailing them. Same for that Hektor. This was a superbly planned attack, first they cut the first line of patrols, then overwhelmed the others with a surprise strike, the coordination from the looks had been near perfect, that's shit only Ex Military or Milsim VR fanatics perform."
"So you are guessing it's them for those reasons?"
Frederica still looks unconvinced, fine, I guess it's time for some hard info.
"Schwartz, I know the player, at least his style matches of one Schwartz from the VMB pro league team Powder, VMB is as you all know, a VRMMOFPS, I saw him in the second layer, with Pixie, they were far too familiar with one another."
That seems to sell the guess, partially.
"Alright, that Devouring Pixie KNOWS a Highly skilled VRFPS player, how that fits?"
"They noticed Dread's spying on them, know a skilled player, and from the looks, their guild follows a very efficient structure, Military to a degree even."
"Fine, if you are so sure it's them, worst comes to pass, we just poked an enemy Guild with lots of talented players and may have taken their Orb if we win the attack."
That set, this time, I decide to play safe, Dreg and Frederica would bolster defense, me and Dread would lead an attack force at them. Plans set, once we start building the forces, we realize something. Three players didn't respawn, despite having died only twice if one counts them as part of the ones killed in the strike, fair odds given only two dozen survived with barely any HP.
"This is bad, if commando wing did indeed attack and one of their aces has such a skill, dying against them may pose a risk."
"Want to just pressure their out teams? Better play safe than sorry."
For a moment I do cogitate such, but decide we need at least on good hit at them, attacking their base when most of their best members will be present will ensure heavy losses for both sides…. Maybe….
"Rather, let's strike either Pixie or Fae, they've been attacking with small scale teams, mobile and made of Elites, but with us and numerical advantage, I doubt we will have trouble. And likely ONE of them is doing nighttime attacks."
Dread nods, if we try going for cheap and easy prey, morale will drop even more, as guild leader, I must prove we still match our biggest foes. The strike group is made, playing safe, we have a number of those who died thrice already, with the risk of a skill that bypasses the event death count limit, means we may all be at risk of losing manpower for good way too early, so the plan is me and Dread will bail out the moment it seems such skill may get us.
[Payne, we have spotted Pixie and her team, here's her estimated path.]
"Hmm, this is close, we can get to her quickly, Dread."
"On it."
Speeding up, he and other fast players go, to stop and delay them. Soon after me and my own group start running to meet our enemy.
Pixie POV
[Leader, Holy swords have spotted you, a team led by Dread is rushing to intercept, Payne is coming behind.]
[Understood, how big is their forces?]
[Dread is him going 3 times faster than those on his team, Payne is a 30-man unit.]
[Alright, any reinforcements, delay them.]
"I would have thought he would go full force with the core team again."
Schwartz comes in.
"Maybe your infiltration stint has them scared… didn't those you took the soul been booted off the event?"
"Ah, yeah, oh well, Fae will be happy some tough opposition will be there."
Five minutes in and our first guest strikes at us. Bless our many patrolling raid units and the LRSSG superb surveillance capacities, Dread-San, huh? Like Sally, but even faster and a focused Assassin type.
"Hello, Sir." My best Smile for this guest. "And Farewell."
KLAAAANG
Our Short swords clash, he backs off, his squad catches to him and hurry to pressure my team. Don't mind if I do this then.
[SHARP VINES]
These are a new Vine type I unlocked once I got a new set of unique gear, it was more the amount of uses of it than the gear as I fought the boss, but the simple of it is that it had a Piercing effect, caused Bleeding on anyone hit by it, and damage on your feet or hands by it would lower your AGI and DEX respectively by 5% for the duration of Bleeding. Whipping them and quickly letting them settle on the ground, most of those in front of me got a few cuts and hits, sweet.
"Ugh"
"ACK."
Schwartz and Alma lose no time, sniping the suddenly slower enemies, both score Crits, given they're AGI focused like Dread, those hits kill them, for now, let's keep them wary of who of my Guild is the nasty surprise with a skill to deny revives. The troublesome foe moves to strike, trying to go for the ranged members.
KLAAAANG
Despite my Swashbuckler build, I am sure his AGI is higher, but I have far more range than him, and my AGI and DEX is enough for such to be a threat, the way it is going, his aim is delay is so Payne can come and strike us down. LRSSG did warn right now about it, with some effort, my team readjust our positions so he will be with Payne's group, not much better, but it's above a Sandwich between him and his guild Leader.
A minute later, and our main foe arrives. Truly imposing of the top highest-level player, a Two-handed sword, balanced attack and handling, the true jack of all trades for the Physical DPS centric builds, very different from my short blades, Sioux's Spear or Holy sword's Dreg with his War axe, his is a balance of build, made for most ways of combat, but lacking what the specialized weapons have for specific roles.
What Commando Wing's scouting of his Guild and his own personal way of fighting revealed is a simple thing, ample preparation and for the really though fights, using some kind of unique skill Frederica has to power Payne for truly monstrous Bursts of attack power. So I can make an easy guess, half of his team are Mages keeping buffs on him, the rest with Dread have the task to cage us in for his attacks.
Schwartz and Alma snipe the Healers and whoever they can to keep the encirclement attempts at bay, Sioux clashes with Dread, or rather, keep him forcibly in her by threatening to rip a new hole in one wing of their attempt at pocketing us, he has no choice but strike her, Sioux isn't easy pickings however, training with me and Fae, under threat of Germanian Supplementary training if she failed, there's little someone of the level of Dread can do that is truly above her current skill level.
For now, that makes Us Guild leaders have a fight of our own, Payne is above me level wise, stacked with as many Buffs his support team could put on him, and it's easy to see he has a great game sense. He may have a Game sense, but does he have a sense under lethal high-risk scenarios? Doubt it. Our weapons clash, briefly, that alone allowed me to gauge how bad the Stat gap is, not much at baseline, but he can tank hits, I cannot.
…
Ten Minutes in and the fight has stagnated, Payne has taken damage, but it's been an exhaustive mess, his Healers are so troubled by the rampant Sniping from my archers the supporters had to stop keeping the Buffs to fire Spells to suppress them, so his HP was dropping, not at a pace where we will win before attrition beats us. Sioux is being as much of a Berserking Valkyrie, troubling Dread.
…
Five more minutes in, and we both commit to such an exchange of blows it looks hilarious, me biting his ankles, him dealing scratch damage that bypasses the Perfect Parry's damage nullification value, for a few moments we did such silly trade of HP, until he starts a Skill, an attack, normal, his best attack is under Cooldown, our situation is that solely because that failed.
[Squall Slash]
"Payne!"
Dread? Suddenly, before the strike even gets halfway, Sioux enters the fray, and blocks the attack with her hands, ah yes, she went for those niche Fist based skillset. That one is… ah yes… that one.
[DISARMING THROW]
That is considered a Grab and Interruption type of CC attack, so Payne's sword skill is forcibly cancelled, and as she grabs the blade in a handblock method, she just kicks it in the air, grab his arm extended due to the attack, and without a skill whatsoever, she just Judo Throws him, he slams in the ground, damage is minimal since that isn't a Skill, but he doesn't even recovers his bearings fully when the sight changes to…. Sioux's Ass….
[GROUND POUND]
WHAM
A critical, and a Head bonus Crit, oof, My apologies Payne. Before she even starts trying to keep hammering, Dread Interferes, letting Their Leader to recover.
"Seems we're outmatched here, retreat."
The Holy Swords make a hasty retreat. Once we take a Potion or two, count how much ammo and supplies we still have, a new message comes, from Chris, he had been doing raids on other bases further away.
[Leader, you can get that bet from Aru, Maple Tree is rampaging, their aim seems to hasten the event end.]
[Copy, then all forces are to return, we will make prep work to 'help' them.]
Speeding towards our base, Pixie team would rest, Fae and two other teams would be given supplies to do their share of destroying enemy Guilds. Once she arrived, during her quick rest, most members put a healthy amount of space between themselves and her. She's smiling, yup, she had gotten her first great high on Adrenaline in a month, the number of times she goes Flying with an Orb to relieve stress always rise in frequency when no Adrenaline high moments come to her.
'Fae, you had fun?"
She beams a smile at me, how cute…. For my mom.
"Indeed…. How about you get them in the friend list? I want to do some PvP on that Payne…"
I look at Hektor…. Yup, he's just as invested.
"Hektor, someone got your fancy?"
"Pixie! Quite so, not on the Holy Swords, I had to outsnipe an Archer from that so-called Rapid-Fire Guild, best duel of ranged wits ever."
Everyone was having fun, so it's fine and ok. Leaving things at that, I also let out a nice Smile. For some reason, the three of us sitting together had a 15m radius that the members kept between us and them as they walked around…. How rude. Once they rested, Fae's team and the other two departed. A few Hours later the event ended as the number of surviving guilds closed into the ones in the top 10 ranking.
Commando wing landed at 4th place, some last-minute orbs acquired did up our ranking, that our defenses were a bit past what could be breached through efficiently just helped keep Our base untouched by those rampaging monsters of Maple Tree. The party Maple held for landing Third place was nice, and that not one soul in there considered her way of Playing normal.
