Akira’s words seemed to spark renewed hope in the room. All eyes fixed on him, waiting for the first command from the leader they had placed their faith in during this moment of crisis.

“The key to this plan is Mirelle,” Akira began, pointing at the holographic map spread across the table. “We’ll position oil drums at these critical points.” He traced his finger over marked locations on the display. “Then we lie in wait at safe vantage points. When the enemy passes through, we’ll toss the oil drums directly at them, turning those drums into bait that will provoke an attack—and ultimately trigger an explosion.”

He paused, giving the team a moment to absorb the plan, then continued. “Flames will spread fast in the heat, wiping out the weaker ones and inflicting residual damage on the rest. Meanwhile, we’ll pull back at the right moment, luring them into a controlled area.”

“But be careful,” Akira added, his tone grave. “We can’t let ourselves get caught in the fires we start. Keep your distance, and watch your step.”

He turned to indicate a specific spot on the map. “We’ll prepare this area as a maze. It’ll slow their advance, reduce their speed, and throw off their timing. We’ll draw them into our traps bit by bit.”

Glancing around the group, he saw their unwavering attention. “Most importantly, don’t get lost in our own maze. This is a game of control, and we need to keep the upper hand.”

“When we’ve led them here,” he went on, pointing to a sloping section on the holographic map, “we’ll gain a terrain advantage. There are deep pits along the slope and very few escape routes. If we handle our timing just right, it becomes a perfect trap.”

Finally, he looked straight at Mirelle. “At this spot, you’ll need to use wind magic to pull them into the center. The flames from the explosions will be drawn in too, forming a column of fire from which there’s no escape.”

“And then?” Mirelle asked, her eyes still locked on the spot Akira had pointed to.

“That’s where Draco will fuel the flames with Ignis’s unending fire,” Akira answered, turning to Draco, who responded with a broad grin.

“Piece of cake!” Draco said, rapping his gauntlets together in a motion that sparked a small burst of fire. His confident smile heartened everyone around him.

“Finally,” Akira went on, his gaze shifting back to Mirelle, “you’ll cast a torrent of cold water to extinguish the flames immediately, turning that entire area into a perfect trap. Think you can handle it?”

Mirelle hesitated for a split second before flashing a self-assured smirk. “Do you even know who you’re talking to? I’m Undine’s number-one mage.”

Yue giggled softly. “Mirelle’s magic really is the best. But sis…why use cold water at all? Couldn’t we just let the fire burn hotter and stronger?”

Akira chuckled and nodded at Osiris, prompting him to explain in Akira’s stead. “Using fire alone might destroy them more slowly than we’d like. But once superheated metal is suddenly cooled, it becomes brittle and breaks more easily. Most of them rely on metal armor, so your power would make this plan seamless.”

Yue bobbed her head in understanding, though her voice turned faint. “I still feel sorry for them, even if we have to fight.”

“Me too,” Akira said quietly, yet his voice carried weight. “I’d prefer peace as well. But if they choose violence, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect everyone.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Elina, who had been listening silently, finally spoke up, her uncertainty evident. “What if Zekhtau manages to get past this plan? Can something so basic really stop him?”

Akira offered a slight smile, his voice filled with unwavering confidence. “It won’t stop him outright, no. It’s designed to thin out their numbers and create an opening for us, nothing more.”

He turned to Elina with a resolute tone. “The final stand will be right at our camp’s gates. We’ll use every resource we have. And you, Elina…you’re the key. You must defend those gates at all costs.”

All eyes fell on Elina, hope mingling with concern. She drew a deep breath before replying in a steady voice, “My duty is to serve as Guardian, and I’ll hold this line until my last breath—Zekhtau or no.”

The conviction in her words stirred a new boldness in everyone. The once-tense atmosphere grew calmer, as though her unwavering resolve cast out the fear gripping their hearts.

Akira studied the holographic battlefield map before speaking again, this time with solemn emphasis. “When we’re defending the gates, we’ll use the terrain to our advantage, setting up obstacles to slow them down. High-speed enemies rely on agility over armor; if we hamper their movement, our chances of victory go way up.”

He glanced over at Mirelle, who was listening intently. “From here on, use water and ice magic as your focus. You won’t need to attack them directly.”

Mirelle raised a puzzled brow. “Why not? Wouldn’t blasting them head-on take them out faster?”

Akira’s faint smile returned as he clarified. “First, you’ll drench the area in water, then freeze it. If you pull it off, you can snag some of their legs. And even those that jump in will land on slick ice, losing their footing—giving us a better shot at finishing them.”

Mirelle couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, now I get it…you’re making me use mana quality over quantity, huh?”

Akira smiled, clearly pleased. “Exactly—you’ve got it.”

Something in that triumphant smile of his made Mirelle flush with a sudden wave of self-consciousness. She turned away quickly, but not fast enough to hide the faint red creeping over her ears.

Draco, who had been quietly listening all this time, raised his hand with a playful air. “What about me? What do you want me to do?”

Akira turned to him. “You’ll stay at my side to deal with Zekhtau head-on. Use your gravitational powers to keep adding weight to him, slowing him down step by step. Meanwhile, I’ll attack his blind spots whenever I can. It’s going to be dangerous, so we’ll have to work in sync.”

A broad grin spread across Draco’s face. He slammed his gauntlets together, releasing a light shockwave that shook the floor. “See? Piece of cake!”

Yue shot her hand into the air like an eager student. “What about me, big brother? How can I help?”

Smiling, Akira crouched slightly to ruffle her hair. “Yue, I need you to focus on assisting Elina. If the gates fall, our entire defense comes crashing down. You’re crucial to reinforcing that line.”

She nodded with fierce determination. “I’ll do my best! But…if someone else gets hurt, does that mean I won’t be helping them?”

Akira shook his head slowly. “Keeping the Chaos Fog’s effects at bay for everyone is already a heavy burden. I don’t want you to overexert yourself—I’m worried about you.”

His words brought a bright smile to Yue’s face, her eyes brimming with renewed confidence.

Just then, Uncle Pong raised his hand in a mock salute. “And me, Commander? What do I do?”

Akira let out a small laugh. “You and your siblings will transport the oil drums to the designated spots, coordinate intel with Osiris for everyone, and shoot down any drones overhead before they can interfere with the plan.”

Uncle Pong smartly clicked his heels. “Roger that, Commander!”

A soft ripple of laughter passed through the team, cutting the tension. Then Akira, grin widening, raised his voice. “Alright—let’s get this plan rolling!”

Their unified cheer boomed through the chamber. “Yeah!”

After receiving Akira’s orders, the five Pong siblings swiftly dispersed to relay the plan to the robot members of the team, their enthusiasm palpable. Their mission was to transport oil drums to various strategic positions without wasting so much as a second. At the same time, Akira’s core team hurried to set up obstacles and maze-like passageways across the battlefield, preparing for the imminent clash. The sounds of tools and machinery echoed intermittently within their stronghold—like the rapid heartbeat of an army awaiting a great war.

Yet those sounds weren’t confined to their base alone. From the distance came the heavy, rhythmic stomp of a cyborg legion marching ever closer. The hush that had settled over the land gave way to a suffocating pressure everyone could feel. It was as though some unseen force swept in like a whirlwind, impossible to ignore.

Before long, the roar of the cyborg army drew near. The first silhouettes of the enemy came into view: a seemingly endless column of robots moved forward in perfect formation, metal-armored soldiers whose shining plates reflected the dim light. They carried energy weapons at the ready, prepared to attack without a flicker of hesitation.

Then a towering metal centaur, the army’s leader, slowly emerged from the Chaos Fog. Its glowing red eyes gleamed like an eternal flame. An energy halberd, cold and deadly in appearance, rested in its hand, as though forged for the sole purpose of taking lives. Each ponderous step thundered so powerfully that it seemed to shake the very ground beneath it.

The clang of metal hooves striking the earth echoed again and again—a grim herald of the monumental battle that had finally arrived. The chill that radiated from the Chaos Fog sent a shiver through every onlooker behind the lines.

Once the fog fully dispersed, Zekhtau’s forces became clear. Every breath seemed to catch in their throats. The silence in the air was shattered completely, replaced by an undercurrent of dread. But no one retreated. They all knew this was the start of a colossal conflict where there was no room for mistakes.

This was the war that would determine the future of Drafft. Every life here was on the line. There would be no retreat—and no forgiveness for failure.