Chapter 14
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Formation Battle
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Demian looked at the 2nd Platoon, formed in a triangular formation before them.
In truth, the skill level of the trainees was more or less the same. What mattered was how meticulous they were with the details.
“Let's just stick to what we practiced.”
“Alright!”
“Kyle, stick to the plan. When I give the signal, you need to push the guys in front hard.”
“Heh heh, don't you worry. When it comes to strength, I'm confident! I'll send 'em flying.”
Kyle's eyes widened, his expression triumphant. But the tight formation seemed to bother him, as he kept shifting his body.
“Hey, Kyle. Hold still.”
“Damn it, it's suffocating.”
Demian's square formation was incredibly dense.
But soon…
“Begin!”
The moment the instructor's shout erupted, every member of the 1st Platoon glared at the 2nd Platoon with fierce eyes.
“Uraaaaaaah!”
“Kill them all!”
The trainees of the 2nd Platoon charged toward the 1st Platoon's defensive line in their triangular formation, screaming.
The first move was the 2nd Platoon's attack.
The 1st Platoon was in a square formation, raising their shields to block the assault.
However…
“…Isn't that formation a bit too narrow?”
“Being packed together like that can't be a good thing.”
“Hmm…”
The instructors, watching from the platform to judge, wore puzzled expressions at the 1st Platoon's square formation, which was much denser than the standard.
If they were packed that tightly with no space, they certainly wouldn't fall over, but…
“But after blocking one attack, they won't be able to do anything else. They'll just be sitting ducks.”
“Let's just wait and see.”
The instructors watched the formation battle between the 1st and 2nd Platoons with expressions of keen interest.
“*Phew…*”
“This is… pretty nerve-wracking, huh?”
“Feels like a real war, doesn't it?”
The 1st Platoon trainees, gripping their shields tightly, muttered as they swallowed hard.
Though their spears had cotton bags instead of blades, they were still dangerous enough to deliver a significant blow if struck properly.
From the center of the dense formation, Demian watched the 2nd Platoon. And then…
“What the hell are these bastards doing?”
“It's way tighter than a normal square formation.”
“It's just a cheap trick! Just smash through them!”
The trainees of the 2nd Platoon, charging with high morale, shouted as they slammed into them with their shields.
*CRASH!*
A powerful sound echoed as the 1st Platoon's square formation shuddered. However.
“…Huh?”
“What? Why does it feel so solid?”
That was it.
Because they were packed so tightly with almost no space, the square formation itself felt like a single wall.
And at that moment.
“Push!”
“Hraaaaaaaagh!”
“Uraaaaaaah!”
Kyle and the other 1st Platoon trainees in the second row roared as they pushed the backs of the shield bearers in front.
Naturally, the shield bearers at the front also pushed back against the 2nd Platoon's front line.
*RUMBLE!*
In that moment of intense struggle…
“Whoa? Whoa, whoa!”
“We're… we're being pushed back!”
“Hold! Hold the line!”
“You bastards! We're the ones attacking!”
Faced with the 1st Platoon's powerful counter-push, the shield bearers at the front of the 2nd Platoon couldn't hide their bewilderment.
Moreover, that wasn't all.
*THUD!*
As their opponents were pushed back, the 1st Platoon's front-line shield bearers took two steps forward, quickly bending their knees and lowering their bodies.
And in that instant.
*WHAM!*
The spearmen in the second row powerfully thrust their spears forward.
The 2nd Platoon shield bearers screamed at the unexpected attack and retreated.
“Aargh!”
“W-What the!”
“These bastards…!”
At the perfectly executed combination, the expressions of the 2nd Platoon trainees twisted.
Just one exchange.
From that single exchange, they instinctively felt it.
That they… were going to lose.
But the fight wasn't over yet.
As the 2nd Platoon's attacking formation crumbled…
“Kyle!”
“Hyaaaaaaah!”
Kyle, who had been in the second row, charged forward and broke through the 2nd Platoon's front line.
*CRASH-CRASH-CRASH!*
He was like a tank.
As Kyle, who sent an opposing shield bearer flying with his shoulder without even holding a shield, broke inside, the 2nd Platoon's leader couldn't hide his panicked expression.
“What is that monster?”
The immense strength was enough to make one wonder if he was even a trainee like them.
*RUMBLE!*
Immediately, the 1st Platoon trainees poured through the opening Kyle had created, splitting the 2nd Platoon's formation.
At the center of the flawlessly moving trainees, Demian shouted orders, busily directing them.
“Spread out left and right to secure the area! Kyle! Push back anyone who charges!”
And the instructors watching this scene couldn't hide their dumbfounded expressions, their mouths agape.
“What… what is this situation?”
“First Platoon Leader. Did you give your platoon members separate training?”
“Uhm… no. I'm a bit surprised myself.”
Even Brian was astounded by the performance of his own platoon members.
Their movements had the air of elite soldiers who had undergone advanced training.
And there was a reason this was possible.
It was because after every training session, Demian would point out each member's weaknesses and conduct additional training inside the barracks.
“Shields up! Don't let them drop below your shoulders!”
“Hey, do as you were taught! We move on the signal!”
Even in the rather urgent situation, the members of the 1st Platoon communicated by shouting to one another.
Then, coordinating their movements, they gradually pushed back the 2nd Platoon and secured more space.
Just as Demian had taught them.
It had only been a short time, but by simply doing what they had learned, they were producing these results.
“Now!”
*CLANG!*
*CRASH!*
On Demian's signal, the shield bearers who had pushed inside simultaneously sent their opponents flying, completely splitting the 2nd Platoon in two.
And Kyle charged toward the isolated 2nd Platoon leader.
“Uraaaaaaaagh!”
At the sight of Kyle charging with a tremendous battle cry, the 2nd Platoon leader recoiled in terror.
“S-Stop that guy!”
“Not a chance!”
“You're not getting away!”
At the 2nd Platoon leader's command, other shield bearers moved to block Kyle. But…
“Heheheheh, you fell for it.”
“…!”
“What did you say?”
The very moment everyone's attention was focused on Kyle…
*SWOOSH!*
Someone leaped up from behind Kyle and landed on his shoulders.
“Nice, Kyle.”
The dark figure that used Kyle as a springboard shot forward and instantly struck the 2nd Platoon leader in the chest with his spear.
*THWACK!*
“Kugh!”
The 2nd Platoon leader fell flat on his back.
Demian mounted him and snatched the flag he was holding.
“This is our victory!”
Demian shouted, raising the enemy's flag high.
It was an utterly overwhelming victory.
At the sight of the battle between the two platoons ending in an instant, the instructors rose from their seats and applauded without realizing it.
“Incredible.”
“This… looks like it's going to end in a landslide victory for the 1st Platoon, doesn't it?”
“Well, if the other platoons are on the same level as the 2nd, perhaps…”
“But I don't think that's necessarily the case.”
“…?”
At the instructor's words, the others turned their gazes to the other formation battle he was watching.
***
“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it…!”
The 4th Platoon's leader, Torn Eye, was unable to break through the 3rd Platoon's solid formation.
“Push harder! Push! Put more strength into it!”
Torn Eye, directing from the center, screamed desperately.
At his shout, the shield bearers at the front of the 4th Platoon gritted their teeth and pushed, but…
“Ugh-aaaaaaaah!”
“Hraaaaaaah!”
The 3rd Platoon's defensive line didn't budge an inch.
Rather, as time passed, the uniforms of the 4th Platoon trainees began to be stained with blood.
The constant impact on their unhealed wounds caused them to reopen.
“…Their fighting spirit is impressive.”
It was no exaggeration to say that the 4th Platoon was running on pure malice.
Gerard, the 3rd Platoon's leader, watched them intently before asking Apel, who was beside him.
“What should we do?”
Apel looked at the 4th Platoon trainees.
They were all sweating an unusual amount. Moreover, red drops of blood were falling at the feet of a few of them.
It meant that every single one of them was in poor condition.
“Let's just hold our ground. Time's almost up anyway… they won't be able to break through.”
The attacking formation had to break through the opponent's formation and seize their flag within the time limit.
But with the time limit nearly over, there was nothing the 4th Platoon could do.
Scattering their formation for a pointless attack didn't seem like a good idea.
Gerard nodded.
“Then… is it our turn to attack now?”
“Stooooooooop!”
Just then, at the instructor's resounding shout, the straining shield bearers of the 4th Platoon collapsed in a heap.
As if they had exhausted all their energy in the last attack, they were breathing raggedly.
“*Pant… pant… pant…*”
They needed time to catch their breath, but…
“Switching offense and defense!”
At the instructor's swift pace, the 4th Platoon trainees could only grimace as they forced their heavy bodies back up.
But then…
“What are you doing! Is this all you've got? How are we supposed to crush those 1st Platoon bastards like this?”
Torn Eye berated his platoon members.
Something was off; their coordination was completely out of sync.
“I told you to have two guys attack one of their shield bearers at the same time when we started. That's how you break the front line!”
“We did that! But what can we do if they just hold on?”
“Those guys are tough as nails. Three guys were backing up the one we were attacking!”
Torn Eye frowned at his protesting platoon members' words.
“So you're telling me you're mad at me because two of you couldn't take down one guy?”
“No, the guys behind him were covering… Never mind. I don't even have the energy to be angry.”
“Come on, what's with you guys? It's not over. We have to defend this time.”
“Yeah, if we defend well, it's a draw. Let's just do our best.”
As a few other members mediated, Torn Eye just sighed and returned to his position.
“Everyone, let's get it together! Fighting!”
Torn Eye shouted, but no one in his platoon responded.
And so, the match began, with the 3rd Platoon attacking and the 4th Platoon defending.
“It'd be better to break through right away, right? They look pretty exhausted.”
Before moving the formation, Gerard looked at Apel and asked.
He felt there was no need to drag things out against an already exhausted opponent.
But Apel shook his head.
“Rather than that, it will be quite taxing for them if we just keep tapping their shields with our spears while they defend with the shields pressed to their bodies.”
If they held the shields against their bodies, every tap from a spear would accumulate damage on their unhealed wounds.
Gerard smirked at those words.
“So, you mean we stick to the textbook but drag it out a bit?”
“Yes, sir. Time is on our side.”
At that answer, Gerard stared intently at Apel.
It had only been two weeks, but the Apel he had come to know in that time was a truly peculiar fellow.
‘…Has he already studied tactics?’
His understanding of formations, his exploitation of the enemy's weaknesses.
Of course, that might be standard on a battlefield, but…
‘For a fourteen-year-old to do this… in a training camp like this, it's not normal.’
Somehow, he grew curious about the boy's background.
He had a strong feeling that Apel was certainly no commoner.
“Alright, let's do it that way.”
Gerard then moved the formation into position, looking at the members of the 4th Platoon.
They wore fierce expressions, filled with malice, but fighting spirit alone couldn't win a battle.
“Charge!”
Soon after, following Apel's strategy, the 3rd Platoon kept a slight distance and began to strike their shields hard with their spears.
*BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!*
Each time the blunt wooden poles struck their shields, their bodies shook violently.
The best-case scenario would be for them to lose their patience and charge out during this process.
Of course, even if they didn't, this alone would be enough to whittle down their stamina.
*BANG! BANG! BANG!*
The 3rd Platoon made the most of their time, continuously hammering on their shields.
In response, the expressions of the 4th Platoon's shield bearers began to contort.
“You bastards! Just hurry up and charge!”
“They're stalling for time!”
As their irritation mounted, they started spewing curses.
*BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!*
The 3rd Platoon's spearmen paid them no mind, staying hidden behind their own shield bearers and continuing to extend their spears to strike them.
“Kugh!”
Eventually, one of the 4th Platoon's shield bearers at the very front staggered, creating an opening.
And in that moment…
“Now's our chance!”
“Hraaaaaaagh!”
At Gerard's shout, a waiting 3rd Platoon shield bearer at the front charged fiercely into the opening.
*CRASH!*
As he slammed into them with his shield raised, the 4th Platoon's front line wavered significantly.
“Aaaargh!”
“Don't fall! Hold on!”
But it was impossible to immediately close the gap that had already formed.
As the 4th Platoon's formation crumbled.
“Apel!”
At Gerard's shout, Apel immediately ran toward a platoon member in front of him.
And as Apel ran, one of the 3rd Platoon members pressed his shield tightly to his body, creating a foothold for him.
“*Hup!*”
The moment Apel stepped on the shield and leaped…
“*Hap!*”
The 3rd Platoon member who had become the foothold powerfully pushed his shield upward, launching Apel into the air.
*WHOOSH!*
In an instant, Apel vaulted over the 4th Platoon's shield bearers and, upon landing inside, his eyes flashed.
Mana infused the spear Apel was holding.
*THWACK-THWACK-THWACK-THWACK!*
And with a series of dull thuds, the 4th Platoon's formation completely collapsed.
“W-What are you doing! You idiots!”
Torn Eye screamed at his platoon members. And at that moment…
“…It's over.”
Demian, who had finished his match early and come to watch the 3rd Platoon, muttered quietly.
He had certainly thought the boy was no ordinary fellow, but…
‘So, the real match will be against the 3rd Platoon.’
Demian's gaze was fixed on Apel.