novelraw Chapter 116: Group Stage Tactics Discussion
Chapter 116: Group Stage Tactics Discussion
Hearing this news, the group's spirits inevitably sank a bit.
"But look at it from another angle. Since no one has any expectations for us, doesn't that just mean we have zero pressure?"
"As long as we manage to take down even a single top-ranked Martial Academy, it'll be a massive win in our books."
Seeing the stifling atmosphere inside the minibus, Fly immediately spoke up to break the ice.
"Well said, bro!" the driver couldn't help but chime in just then.
He was a Star City native and tuned in to The Jade State League every single year.
Seeing that Fly wasn't the least bit discouraged after learning about the massive disparity in educational funding, and instead maintained such a level-headed mindset, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of admiration for the kid.
"Fly, you actually have the luxury to comfort the rest of us," Genevieve said.
Wasn't Fly supposed to be the most anxious one out of all of them right now?
Whether it was her, Jett, or 'Emperor' Valerius, failing to secure a high rank wouldn't really be the end of the world. Though it would be a tough pill to swallow for Valerius's pride.
Only Fly was on the chopping block; if their results were poor, not only would Grandmaster Muse terminate his Apprenticeship Contract, but he would also be slapped with an astronomical penalty fee.
He was clearly the one under the most immense pressure, yet here he was, turning around to comfort everyone else.
"Not exactly comforting, just a spontaneous thought. More often than not, it's the very people no one believes in who end up accomplishing the unimaginable."
Fly shook his head slightly. "Everyone has been training like crazy these past few days. I've seen all the blood, sweat, and tears firsthand. So, I really hope you guys don't count yourselves out before the battles have even begun."
"A Beast Warrior's true strength can only be tested on the battlefield."
On the flip side, Fly genuinely didn't feel any pressure at all.
Because he fully believed that their Avengers squad would definitely show everyone exactly what Star City High was capable of!
Furthermore, Fly had absolute, unwavering confidence in his Roach Matriarch.
"Mr. Carter, since the Martial Academies from those seven cities are exempt from the group stages, doesn't that mean there's only one qualifying spot left in our group?"
Fly was perfectly clear on exactly how many cities made up the Jade State.
Excluding the seven cities Mr. Carter had just listed, that only left Star City, Grand River City, Obsidian City, and Sun-Peak City.
"Spot on," Mr. Carter nodded. "Among the cities fighting for the group stage ticket, Sun-Peak City has the weakest economy. They're located deep in the mountains, and for the longest time, they suffered from poor transportation and a sparse population. Their city's Martial Academies aren't exactly powerhouses."
"In previous years at The Jade State League, their roster wouldn't even feature a single Beast Warrior with a Mythical Species Beast Totem."
As far as Dave was concerned, Sun-Peak City was nothing to worry about.
"The real wildcards are Grand River City and Obsidian City. While their overall strength might not quite match ours, the gap isn't exactly massive either. We need to stay on our toes when facing them, lest we get caught slipping," Mr. Carter instructed.
"That's nothing to sweat over, is it?" 'Emperor' Valerius, who hadn't spoken for a while, suddenly chimed in.
In his eyes, those bottom-feeding scrubs ranked below them weren't worth a second thought.
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Right now, their squad boasted himself, Genevieve, and a once-in-a-generation super genius like Fly.
He was utterly convinced that their raw talent didn't lose out in the slightest to the so-called geniuses of Sovereign High. With a stacked lineup like this, breezing through the group stages should be an absolute given, right?
"True." Mr. Carter didn't deny that point.
"But don't forget, our goal isn't just surviving the group stages."
"It's to go the distance, and maybe even..."
"Take the championship."
Although the economic and educational resource gap between Star City and the top-ranked cities was substantial, that didn't automatically dictate their final standing in this tournament.
What if a miracle happened?
With an absolute monster like Fly on their side, Mr. Carter honestly didn't take the group stages too seriously.
Their real targets were those genuine powerhouse academies!
It was just that...
When Mr. Carter casually dropped the word 'championship,' it practically gave the driver a heart attack.
He instinctively slammed on the brakes, causing Fly and the others to lurch forward in their seats.
"You good up there, man?" Fly asked.
"Y-yeah... I'm fine..." The driver wiped the sweat from his brow. "The championship... you kids sure dream big."
"But hey, I gotta respect the courage!"
The driver had originally assumed that these kids were aiming for the top eight at best, maybe the top four if they got lucky.
Who would've thought that right out of the gate, they had their sights dead set on the championship trophy!
Now that was what you called daring to dream!
Dean Sterling, who had remained silent up until now, picked up right where Mr. Carter left off.
"Those powerhouse schools don't just boast exceptionally talented students; they're backed by entire teams of professional analysts and dedicated trainers."
"If we show our hand too early, their analysts might dissect our weaknesses and devise countermeasures. That would put us at a massive disadvantage in the later stages of the tournament."
"Therefore, our goal for the group stages is to violently carve our way out while keeping our trump cards strictly under wraps."
With that said, Dean Sterling fixed his gaze firmly on Fly.
Genevieve and the others seemed to catch on immediately, simultaneously turning their heads to stare at Fly as well.
"Vic, are you saying... you want me to solo the group stages?" Fly was a little taken aback.
He had originally figured that the group stages would play out like the Freshman Invitational finals, where he'd be held back as the final boss. But to his surprise...
"Exactly. That's the plan," Dean Sterling declared with absolute certainty.
"The footage of your matches from the Freshman Invitational has long since been uploaded to the web. The moment you advance past the group stages, the analysts from the other academies will undoubtedly pull all-nighters studying your past fights. However, after your recent grueling training, all of your strengths have undergone earth-shattering transformations."
"This effectively renders all their current intel completely obsolete."
"Genevieve, Valerius, Jett, and Fly, I thought long and hard about this, and ultimately decided to have Fly, the strongest among you, handle the group stages."
"The group stage uses a round-robin format, meaning we'll have to take turns fighting the other three Martial Academies."
"The winner takes one point."
"If a single school manages to secure three points, they instantly qualify for the top eight."
"Conversely, if multiple teams end up tied with two wins and one loss, there will be tiebreaker matches."
"Based on these rules, I believe that having Fly take the vanguard is our only sure-fire way to rack up victories and secure a qualifying spot while keeping our true power hidden."
Dean Sterling broke down the tactical analysis perfectly.
In truth, it wasn't just Vic; even Mr. Carter felt this was the most optimal arrangement.
"There are risks involved, though."
Worried that Valerius and the others might feel a sense of disappointment at being benched, Dean Sterling quickly elaborated.
"Specifically, I'll be heavily restricting Fly's use of his newly acquired abilities and Skills. He'll only be allowed to fight using the moves he already revealed during the Freshman Invitational."
"If, under these severe handicaps, Fly actually ends up losing, then the rest of you will step up to secure the victory."
The other three exchanged a quick glance.
No matter how you sliced it, they were a unified team.
Their true, ultimate goal was the championship trophy of this league.
"I have no objections," 'Emperor' Valerius stated clearly. "If Fly fails to put down our opponents, I'll take the stage and guarantee the win."
"I'm totally fine with it too," Genevieve agreed with a gentle smile.
Fly would lead the charge, followed by 'Emperor' Valerius as a backup, then Genevieve, and finally Jett as the absolute last resort. The logic was sound: the stronger the competitor, the better their chances of securing advancement without tipping their full hand.
However, this setup inherently made Jett the sacrificial lamb of the team. During the group stages, his chances of actually seeing any action were practically zero.
But as long as it meant punching their ticket to the top eight, Jett was more than willing to bite the bullet!
"Works for me," Jett chuckled. "Though, with Fly's ridiculous strength, I'm pretty sure he's just gonna solo all twelve of them."
In Jett's view, the educational resources of those other three Martial Academies paled in comparison to Star City High. Those competitors probably couldn't even measure up to the Fly from back during the Freshman Invitational.
A 1v12 sweep wasn't just possible; it was highly probable.
Just as everyone solidified their group stage tactics, Fly's phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket.
Fly whipped out his phone, only to see a new text message from his mom.
[Knock 'em dead, sweetie!]
[Mom just transferred you three thousand bucks. Spend it well, and don't skimp on yourself out there.]