Bastard Homunculus: Reborn in the Corpse Pit-Chapter 199: Capture the Flag(Part 6)

"Well, looks like Ravella and Cleaza got taken out. Guess it’s just the four of us left," Mused Aster, as he glanced around at the others.

"Should’ve figured this would happen, you should’ve told them to locate Raven’s flag and then come back here instead of trying to fight him. The best way to defeat his team is to take out everyone else, Raven is simply way too powerful," Sighed Tacitus.

"So, what’s the plan, Captain?" Inquired Nile curiously.

"Yeah, should we keep staying here or head out?" Added Zina.

"Well, assuming Ravella left a trail for us to follow like I told her to, we should have a path straight to the spot where the Second Squad’s flag is. We know the Commander Squad is at least down to two members, but we have no info on the situation with the First Squad.

With Akila out, there’s no one left who can breach my Telekinetic Zone, since Raven can’t move away from his flag, so there shouldn’t be an issue with me staying here to defend our flag by myself.

Alright, then, you three, time to move out. If Ravella left a trail, follow it and try to eliminate Raven’s teammates. If there’s no trail, then look for one of the other teams instead. But knowing Ravella, I doubt she neglected it," Remarked Aster.

"You know it’ll be completely impossible to sneak up on Raven, right? Between his senses and his ability to sense Mana, there’s no way we can catch him off-guard. So, even if his remaining teammates are in the same area, sneak attacks are out of the equation against them," Pointed out Tacitus.

"Yeah, it’d actually work out better if they were scattered instead of in the same spot. Defeating Captain Raven would be a hell of a tall order, so the best way to take his team down would be to eliminate everyone else," Added Zina thoughtfully.

"But that won’t be easy either. Unless Ravella and Cleaza managed to take another of them down before they got eliminated, their team has four members left," Spoke up Nile.

"I still say go after Raven’s flag. Don’t forget, capturing or destroying another team’s flag also eliminates them, you don’t actually have to eliminate anyone. With Tacitus’s Nullification Magic, you can at least ensure that Raven won’t be at full power," Reasoned Aster objectively.

"That’ll only stop him from using his Recovery Magic. My Nullification has no effect on his flames, lightning and beams, I doubt it can prevent his transformation either," Replied Tacitus with a sigh.

"Like I said, you don’t actually need to defeat Raven or his teammates, you just need to create an opening to attack their flag. And if it doesn’t work out, and one or two of you end up getting eliminated, those of you that are left can just retreat and head back here. It’s not like Raven can chase you without getting too far from his flag," Pointed out Aster.

"I get what you’re saying, Captain, but this still feels risky. Aren’t we better off just staying put?"

"Possibly, yes. But don’t forget, this contest is ultimately a training exercise. It’d be a waste to only use one tactic, there may be times where you have choice but to opt for more risky strategies, and it’ll be important to train yourself to be able to keep you cool in such high-pressure situations. Of course, that doesn’t mean we’re just going to throw the win away, just that we’re switching to a more high risk-high reward approach," Stated Aster prudently.

"Well, when you put it that way..."

"Yeah, it’s hard to argue against that."

"Ugh, this sounds like it’ll be exhausting. Come on, you two, let’s go," Grumbled Tacitus, dragging his feet in the direction Ravella and Cleaza had chased Laiza in, Nile and Zina following after him.

As they headed forward, they looked around for any signs of a trail left behind by Ravella, keeping their eyes peeled as they scanned the area.

"So, uh...what exactly are we looking for? What kind of trail did she leave for us to follow?" Inquired Zina, as her gaze darted around.

"No clue," Shrugged Tacitus in response.

"Come on, Vice-Captain, at least pretend to put some thought into-...hm? Hey, could this be it?" Suddenly pointed Nile, as he caught sight of a damaged spot on the ground.

"Let’s see...yeah, that looks like Light Magic damage. And there, there’s another one over there. I see, she fired small light blasts at the ground at regular intervals," Surmised Tacitus, before the trio began following Ravella’s trail.

Tacitus led the way, keeping an eye out to stay on track, the three of them steadily making their way through the playing field, guided by the trail.

"So, we won’t be able to get near Captain Raven unnoticed, right? Just how close can we get without being noticed?" Nile asked Tacitus.

"Let’s see...I think he said his ability to sense Mana spans across a radius of two hundred meters or so. As for his sense, particularly his sense of smell, I think it’s more or less the same, though it can vary based on conditions. Like, if we’re upwind, his sense of smell won’t pick up our scents as easily," Explained Tacitus.

"Two hundred meters? Seriously?" Frowned Zina warily.

"Yeah, he’s absolutely not to be taken lightly. Alright...we’ve covered a fair bit of ground, we could arrive any minute now. So, would you guys prefer this to be a fight with Magic or without?" Tacitus asked them.

"Hm...that’s a tough one. Captain Raven won’t be affected all that much by your Nullification, but if the others are there too, we’ll probably stand a better chance if Magic is taken out of the equation...at least, I think," Responded Nile uncertainly.

"Well, if I can be blunt...assuming two of Celia, Colt or Lexia are still in play, then frankly, you two don’t stand a chance against any of them in physical combat. I think your chances will be slightly higher with Magic, but it’s still pretty slim."

"Okay, Magic it is, then."

"Yeah, not like we have much of a choice."

As the three of them continued forth, it wasn’t long before the cave where Raven’s team’s flag was in came into sight. Raven was standing guard outside the entrance, with no one else in sight.

"Huh? It doesn’t look like his guard is up, I don’t think he’s noticed us y-...," Began Zina.

"There’s no way that’s possible, he’s putting on an act to get our guards down. Rush out and scatter, now!" Exclaimed Tacitus, as Raven turned in their direction and opened his mouth, flames swirling in his jaws.

Tacitus and the other two zipped out of the bushes and spread out as fast as they could, right as Raven unleashed the charged up flames, which roared forward and slammed onto the rows of bushes where the trio had just been.

Suddenly, Colt, Lexia and Laiza dropped down from the trees, zipping towards each of the enemy teams’ members before they could regroup.

Zina tensed as Colt sprang up behind her, quickly spinning around and driving her spear towards him, which he swiftly evaded by twisting his body across, before chanting...

"[Blood Zone]!"

Zina leapt back and began to charge up a wind blast, before she stiffened as several blood tendrils zipped out towards her, grabbing her wrists, ankles, torso and wrapping around her mouth, a muffled cry ringing out as Colt thoroughly restrained her, a dark, sadistic gleam in his eyes as he approached her with a smirk.

"I had this fail once today already, so I need to make up for it. I’d like to take my time here, but with Tacitus around, guess I’ll have to be quicker than usual. Oh, well...if nothing else, I’ll make it as painful as possible before I eliminate you," He chuckled, extending out several tendrils with razor-sharp edges.

"Ohh, fuck this," Zina thought to herself, charging wind inside her mouth before shooting it straight towards the back of her throat, triggering the barrier herself and getting teleported out, Colt’s eyes widening in bewilderment as she vanished from sight, a burst of wind erupting around the spot where her head had been.

"Did she just-...?" Began Colt in surprise, before he was cut off as his blood dome suddenly fell apart, quickly turning around as Tacitus charged in towards him and leapt forward, driving his sword forth with immense force.

Colt sprang back, just barely evading the strike before letting out a slight gasp as Tacitus swiftly expanded the blade, striking Colt square in the middle of his stomach, not enough to do any serious damage, but more than enough to knock him off-balance.

Tacitus was quick to take advantage, bringing out an axe from his Storage Ring and flinging it straight at Colt’s head with a rapid spin.

"Yeah...no way I’m dodging that," Sighed Colt with a wry smile, right as he got teleported out, a crash ringing out as the axe slammed against the ground with immense force.

Tacitus looked around, spotting Nile fighting Lexia. He shot towards them, in an attempt to support Nile, who was on the defensive.

He came to an abrupt halt and sprang back as Raven fired out his beams at him, right as Lexia evaded the swing of one of Nile’s axes before firing out a rapid bone needle at his eye from her elbow, the barrier teleporting him out before the needle could pierce through his eye.

"Well, shit...," Tacitus sighed, as Raven and Lexia locked their attention onto him...

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢