Chapter 42: The Dance of Puppet Kings
Day Two – Round Two: Strategy Over Strength
The sun rises, casting golden light across the Grand Arena, now packed to its limits. The crowd roars with excitement, banners waving high as the long-awaited second round begins.
Princess Akane, standing behind Lux, gently places a hand on his arm.
> "Lux… good luck and take care."
Lux smiles, nodding.
"I'll come back with a win."
On the other side, Captain Elara leans toward Synoh, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
> "Show me what you're hiding in this round, Synoh. I want to see the real you."
Synoh grips his blade's hilt tightly, his expression calm but focused.
---
MC steps into the center with a mic, voice booming across the arena.
> "Now, let Round Two—The Puppet War—BEGIN!"
> "Each side commands 20 puppets of equal strength! Your objective? Outwit, outmaneuver, and eliminate your opponent's army with tactics and skill! Magic is forbidden! Only your mind and command remain!"
---
The match begins.
Lux, ever the tactician, splits his puppet forces evenly—10 to the front, 10 to flank. A classic siege maneuver to crush Synoh's formation from both sides.
But Synoh… remains still.
His puppets stand in one large group—20 seemingly packed together.
Lux narrows his eyes.
> "He's not moving?"
He smirks.
> "Let's break the wall."
But unknown to Lux, Synoh's formation is a bluff.
Only 15 puppets are present.
The remaining 5 are buried underground, hidden in flanking positions, motionless, waiting.
---
As Lux's puppets attack head-on, Synoh's line holds—tight defense, no retreat.
Suddenly—the earth splits!
> "Now!" Synoh shouts.
The hidden puppets burst from the ground, striking Lux's flanks from behind with surgical precision. Lux reacts instantly.
> "Fall back! Group B, cover the rear!"
But it's too late—Synoh's defenders switch to offense at the perfect moment.
> "All puppets—go all out!" Synoh commands.
Lux's army collapses, overrun by Synoh's well-timed switch from defense to assault.
---
The crowd erupts.
MC's voice roars over the arena:
> "And the winner of Round Two—Synoh!"
---
General Leonhart, arms crossed, gives a rare nod of approval.
> "Simple… but brutally effective. A real battlefield mind."
Captain Elara smiles knowingly.
> "He's not just instinct—he's strategy too."
As the puppets are cleared and the dust settles, anticipation swells for the final round.