Chapter 21 : Retreat


    The Commander of the Valiant Wave guild stood in the midst of his members, his expression a blend of frustration, concern, and deep thought. He listened intently as his guild members recounted the unexpected intrusion and subsequent defeat at the hands of an unknown player named Straight.


    His eyes flickered here and there as he absorbed the information. The Commander was well aware of the significance of this encounter, recognizing that it had not only exposed their vulnerability but also threatened the balance of power they had worked to establish in the battle.


    "So, a single player managed to break through our ranks and defeat some of our elites," he muttered, his voice carrying a weight that demanded attention. "We need to gather all the information we can about this player, Straight. Right now."


    The members nodded in agreement, their expressions serious. The Commander was known for his tactical acumen and foresight, and his reaction now was a mirror to the gravity of the situation.


    "We just underestimated him Commander Kael," one member admitted, his frustration evident. "He took us by surprise, and before we knew it, we had been washed away by the moment..."


    The Commander named Kael gaze swept over his guild members, his demeanor firm but still remaining thoughtful. "It''s clear that we can''t take him lightly. If he''s managed to achieve such a feat, there''s a reason behind it. I see that being strong is enough of a reason."


    The one who said before was about to say something but then remained tongue tied. It was clear that he believed they or even he could defeat him, but he didn''t dare to say anything at the moment.


    Kael paused for a moment, his mind clearly racing through the possibilities. "We''ll gather as much information as we can about Straight. His background, his backing, or maybe even his reason of power. I believe he had a powerful item on his side, or maybe he got an advancement in tier. We''ll analyze what we can."


    The members exchanged glances. They understood that their Commander''s words carried a directive to assess and adapt, so they could only follow the orders.


    "Our reputation is on the line," Kael continued. "We can''t afford to let one player disrupt our plans or threaten our standing. Let''s turn this setback into an opportunity to strengthen our guild for now..."


    The members nodded. The Commander''s words resonated with them, igniting their drive to work collectively to regain their position and reputation in the public.


    The Commander turned to survey the battlefield where the skirmish had unfolded. With a steely walk, he began to outline a plan of action.


    …


    “Hmmm…”


    Kael''s sharp gaze swept over his guild members as he processed the information that he had.


    "We will retreat," Commander Kael ordered, his voice carrying authority. "Regroup at a safe distance. We need to assess the situation and gather our forces."


    His mind was already forming a conclusion, and he knew that a tactical retreat was the wisest course of action at this point.


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    “What…”


    “How could we even do that?”


    “Isn’t this too soon of a decision, Commander?”


    Murmurs of frustration and disappointment could be heard among them. The idea of a retreat was met with resistance, as some members were concerned about how it might be perceived by their rivals and the gaming community at large as losing the battle.


    Kael, however, wasn''t one to let pride cloud his judgment. He understood the flow of the situation and the need for a safer approach. Putting his hand on the table, he addressed his members with a calm yet authoritative voice.


    "I know that a retreat might not sit well with some of you," Kael began, his eyes meeting the gaze of his guild members. "But remember, our goal is not just to prove ourselves in a single battle, but to secure our place as a formidable force in this area. We cannot let our emotions guide our decisions."


    He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing, "Retreating doesn''t mean defeat. It means we are regrouping to fight another day. And when we do, we will be better prepared, armed with knowledge about our opponent''s tactics."


    He pointed towards the battlefield they had just left with his thumb, "Look at what happened today. Underestimating our opponent cost us. We cannot afford to repeat that mistake. Our strength lies in our unity, our strategy, and our understanding of our own feats.


    This retreat is not a retreat in the face of defeat. It''s a tactical decision to ensure our victory in the long run. We will gather information for now, analyze our opponent''s strengths and weaknesses, and come back to take what is ours. Our rivals may celebrate this small victory, but mark my words, being safe is better than being sorry.”


    Silence then followed his words. The members exchanged glances, and slowly, the initial resistance began to fade. They realized that Commander Kael''s reasoning was sound, and that their guild''s reputation was built on solid decisions, not impulsive actions.


    …


    The members quickly obeyed as they but by bit began to withdraw from the battlefield. Commander Kael watched as his guild members moved slowly, their retreat looked like a well-executed maneuver.


    As the Valiant Wave members regrouped, Commander Kael''s mind was already at work. He enacted a forum with his direct underlings, made up in a relatively secured position.


    "We need to know more about our adversary," Kael said, "This player Straight has proven to be a formidable player. I’d like to know more about him.”


    His lieutenants acknowledged his words. Kael paused for a while, allowing his words to sink in among the guild members.


    Kael''s gaze remained fixed on the battlefield’s direction for a moment longer before he turned away, and somehow his eyes had glints appearing.


    "One of the commanders of Wreaking Havoc is known to be strong, and we have a rare opportunity here. By letting Straight face off against him, we''ll be able to gauge both their strengths and powers…"


    “Ahh…”


    “You mean…”


    A murmur of understanding rippled through the group as they absorbed Kael''s words.


    "Our main goal isn''t just to defeat Wreaking Havoc in this battle, we aim for long-term dominance, and to achieve that, we need to understand our rivals thoroughly. We''ll use this retreat to observe Wreaking Havoc''s Commander''s fighting style."


    Kael explained the true purpose behind their tactical retreat.


    "With the way we retreat, I believe they will be meeting with each other soon, and I also believe in Straight''s prowess to test that man, and this battle will give us valuable insights. Be strategic in our approach, as you need to always look at the bigger picture."


    He addressed his members directly, his tone rallying them for what lay ahead.


    With a nod, Commander Kael led his guild members to another secure location where they could watch the situation better. The battle might have taken an unexpected turn, but Commander Kael seemed to have an expression that he was open with the ongoing situation.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at a certain place, Noah stood up against a certain man, where looked at the Paladin in front of him interestingly.