Rona clicked her tongue, but still answered the boy.

"Things have changed, now that a new group has joined us. Don't you think so too, Roland?"

Roland didn't seem convinced. Still, his gaze traveled over every member of Zeke's team. His eyes wandered from Lena to Edmund, pausing a moment on the Earth Mage before traveling to Leo's figure. He locked eyes with Leo for a moment. Soon he grimaced and finally swept his gaze over Zeke.

Upon locking eyes with Zeke, the Earth mage's face grew even uglier. Zeke had fought against Roland several times in the past. He liked his chances against the Earth Mage. Roland seemed to come to some kind of internal decision.

"Fine, you are right, they are a pretty strong team in their own right. I think we should include them in the plan."

Leo, with a gleam in his eyes, looked between Rona and Roland.

"Can you guys please explain what is going on here?" he asked.

"The situation is like this. Our two teams combined have a total of 10 members. Then there is your team with another 4." Rona started to explain.

"You guys probably saw the mountain team as well as the lake team on your way over here, right? That makes another 10 members between those two teams. So if my calculations are correct and there are no more people hiding in the swamp, that would put us at a total of 24 remaining contestants."

Zeke knew where she was going with this and continued in her stead.

"If my guess is correct, then you had planned to combine your two groups to take out one of the two other teams?"

Rona was slightly surprised by Zeke's quick deduction. Even so, she nodded in response, indicating that he was right.

Leo turned to look at Zeke in surprise and asked, "How can you tell?"

Zeke smiled at the innocent wonder in Leo's voice and started to explain.

"It's pretty clear that the two teams that have fortified their positions are not going to budge. That leaves the two roaming teams with only two real options. Option 1: Rona and Roland can fight it out between themselves. Option 2: They can combine their strengths to attack one of the fortified positions."

"From what I can see," Zeke continued. "Their two groups are about even in strength. If they were to fight, it is likely that most of their members would get wiped out. That makes their choice pretty obvious. If it were me, I would definitely choose the second option as well. It just rubs me the wrong way for those two teams to get a free pass just because they turtled up. And by fighting among ourselves, we would be playing right into their hands."

Roland barked a short laugh before saying, "You at least have some guts. But if you are so smart, egghead, why don't you take a guess? Which of the two teams were we planning on attacking?"

Zeke didn't hesitate before responding, "The mountain team, no doubt."

Roland was visibly startled by the quick reply and the certainty in Zeke's voice. After a second, he hid his surprise.

"Why do you think so?" he asked.

Zeke looked at him with a smirk. He was letting the boy know that he had caught on to what he was doing. Roland was obviously just trying to play off his surprise by diverting attention. Nonetheless, Zeke still answered.

"You only have two Water Mages between the two of you," Zeke explained. "If my guess is right, those four in the pond would just flee underwater. They can always take cover if they really felt like they could not win a fight. That would pretty much kill your chances at taking them out."

Roland reluctantly nodded in agreement with Zeke's explanation. Though the look on his face made it clear that he wasn't thrilled about being seen through so easily. He still seemed wary of Zeke, his stance growing more confrontational.

"You're awfully calm, standing here between our two groups. How can you be so sure that we won't turn on you instead?"

Zeke stood confidently, nodding in agreement.

"I have two reasons," he stated, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "First, even if you guys managed to take us out with no casualties, you would still not be any closer to an end to this event."

He paused, a challenging gleam in his eyes as he waited for someone to ask about his second reason.

When no one else spoke up, Rona impatiently prompted, "And the second reason is...?"

Zeke favored her with an appreciative nod. His posture also turned more confrontational. He stepped forward until he was almost nose-to-nose with Roland.

"You don't dare face us," he challenged, his smirk growing into a grin. "Defensive position or not, we are by far the strongest remaining team in this tournament. You, personally, would not last a second with me being this close already."

Roland's hand twitched, his anger simmering just below the surface. But before he could lash out, Rona stepped in, her voice cutting through the tension.

"Let's not turn this into a dick-measuring contest, alright? Ezekiel is right, even if we were to eliminate you, we won't be any closer to ending this contest."

Roland's anger dissipated slightly, replaced by a reluctant agreement. He didn't want to start a fight at the moment, either. Rona then pivoted her attention back to Zeke.

"You seem to have a good head on your shoulders, Ezekiel. What's your suggestion for our three groups?"

Zeke pondered the situation for a moment, before presenting his strategy.

"If the goal is to have our three groups cooperate, then the choice is obvious. Our best option would be to launch a three-pronged assault on the hill. There are six opponents stationed atop it. This way, each team would only have to confront the firepower of two adversaries at a time."

"What if they decide to direct more attention toward a single team?" somebody asked.

"Good question," Zeke praised. "In that case, the team will have to adopt a defensive position and wait for the other two teams to seal the deal. If they decide to focus three or more people on one of our groups, then the others will have an even easier time."

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The crowd nodded in agreement, impressed by Zeke's plan. It might seem simple, but there were almost no countermeasures. It was Peter who posed the next query.

"Assuming we successfully eliminate all six opponents without suffering any casualties. That would reduce the overall number to 18. What would be our next move?"

Zeke nodded in response to Peter's inquiry. He was aware that this stage of the plan would be especially perilous. There was the very real possibility of their fragile alliance crumbling. The weighty pressure could easily lead to treachery.

With unwavering determination, Zeke answered confidently. He was trying to banish any hint of uncertainty from his voice.

"Our next move should be to target the pond team. With Lena in our ranks, we now have three Water Mages among our three groups. Although they may have the advantage in the water, I have faith in our superior Water Mages. We can also provide support from the shore. It should be a relatively straightforward task to eliminate two of their members."

Lena flashed a playful smirk at Zeke as she quipped.

"Your boundless trust in my abilities is music to my ears, Zeke."

Her jovial remark lifted some of the heavy atmospheres that had settled over the groups. This allowed everyone to take a breath of relief. With a clear plan in sight, the mages relaxed their rigid postures. They unconsciously adopted a more comfortable stance.

Roland and Rona locked eyes in a private exchange, silently communicating. But it didn't take long for both to give a discreet nod, indicating their agreement.

Zeke finally released the pent-up tension that had been weighing him down. He was feeling relieved that the fragile alliance was on solid ground. He observed the relaxed expression on the faces of the two leaders. In combination with their open posture, this spoke volumes about their genuine desire for a successful alliance.

Zeke then cast a quick look over his own team members, exchanging silent nods of assurance. The leaders of the two other teams went over the details of their plan with Zeke. Soon after, all three groups set off.

Zeke felt his hands getting sweaty and his mouth going dry as he anticipated the outcome of the plan. He had never devised a strategy of such magnitude and complexity before. He knew that with multiple, separate groups working together for the first time, there was ample room for things to go awry.

When Zeke and his team reached their destination, they immediately began their preparations. They discussed their internal tactics and arranged their formation. After everything was ready, they awaited the signal from the other groups. It was obvious that Zeke was not the only one who was nervous. Zeke kept a keen eye on the horizon, determined not to miss the signal for the start of their mission.

To distract himself, Zeke studied his surroundings. When he entered the arena for the first time, he had been shocked by the environment. From the outside, the field appeared to be of impressive size, but unremarkable otherwise. Upon stepping inside, he realized that the environment was vastly different.

Everywhere he looked, he was surrounded by an artful imitation of nature. The area was clearly created through the use of magic. He couldn't even see the spectators above him, even though he knew they were only a few hundred meters away. Instead, he gazed up at a clear blue sky, as if he were in the great outdoors.

As he waited for the other groups to arrive, Zeke couldn't help but marvel at the feat of magical engineering. Truly a wonder to have created such a convincing illusion of nature. He wondered how the Mages had managed to bring the seemingly impossible to life.

Zeke was starting to get impatient when they could finally see the signal of Rona's group. She had taken the position farthest away from their initial meeting place. They had decided to wait for her signal for the start of the assault. Zeke and his team could see the fireball rising into the sky in the distance.

Moments later, there was a second fireball, rising from the approximate location where Roland's team should be. Without missing a beat, Leo also sent a fiery beacon into the sky. This was the signal that all three groups were ready to commence the ambush. The team exchanged one last gaze before starting to ascend the hill in front of them. Their nerves were coiled tight as they prepared to spring into action.

Edmund and Leo stepped up to the front, both of them fully armored in [Earthen Armor]. Zeke and Lena were ready to follow behind them, bracing for any unexpected turns. As the group reached halfway up the hill, they encountered the first sign of resistance.

They had already climbed a significant distance before anything happened. However, when they were finally attacked, it was with an overwhelming intensity. At least two of the four Earth mages and both Fire Mages were focused on their position.

Zeke was taken aback, but he quickly realized that it was actually a well-calculated move. They were trying to prevent him and Leo from approaching. They were two of the best close combat specialists.

The defensive team was well-prepared for an assault, with a diverse range of attacks. Chunks of stone came hurtling down the steep side of the hill. At the last moment, they were diverted by an earthen construct that Leo and Edmund managed to raise in time.

The first wave was followed by a barrage of fire spells. This left the team with no choice but to seek cover behind Leo's [Earth Pillars].

The team had been stalled in their progress, but Zeke was fine with the situation. Their three groups outnumbered their enemies by more than two to one. His team had managed to occupy the attention of four enemies. That meant that the rest of their alliance would have an easier time advancing.

The opposing team seemed to have realized their disadvantage as well. Whenever they tried to shift their members, Zeke and his team would make another push up the hill. They would gain a few meters of ground and bunker down against the renewed spellfire.

This pattern continued for another ten minutes, with both sides holding true to their chosen strategy.

Suddenly, Zeke heard screams coming from up the hill. He knew that this was a good sign and that their allies were making progress. He and his team redoubled their efforts. They were determined to hold the front and help their allies secure a victory.

Zeke and his team were ready for the final push to the top of the hill. Edmund and Leo led the charge, with Zeke and Lena following closely behind. They encountered no resistance anymore and made their way to the top at a fast but careful pace.

As they reached the summit, Zeke could see that Rona and Roland's teams were already present. They were in the midst of a heated argument. Stepping closer, Zeke realized that the attack had not gone smoothly for everyone.

One member of Roland's team was missing, and Roland himself was injured. His right arm was broken, and his clothing was torn. He had obviously faced the opposing Fire Mages, and the signs of burns on his robe confirmed this.

Despite his injuries, Roland was still passionately arguing with Rona and her team. Zeke could see the fury in Roland's eyes. He immediately understood that this was not a simple disagreement. Something serious had gone wrong during the attack. He was worried to find out what had happened.

As Zeke approached, he heard Roland scream.

"If your team hadn't held back, we wouldn't have lost a man. And I wouldn't be in this position right now."

Rona, however, was not taking his criticism lying down. She replied with a calm but firm voice.

"Nobody told your group to charge recklessly. We could have taken out the enemy safely if your guy wasn't so impulsive. Don't blame me for your own shortcomings."

Zeke was faced with a difficult situation. He couldn't take sides without the risk of alienating one of the two groups. The timing couldn't be worse.

As he struggled to find the right words, he noticed the expression on Roland's face change. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes, and Zeke realized immediately what was going to happen.

He grabbed Leo and Edmund's shoulders with an iron grip, bringing his team members to a stop. His team was still a couple of meters away from the arguing crowd. The members of Rona and Roland's teams now also joining in with their own opinions.

Zeke's two teammates turned to look at him, surprised by his actions. He could see the question in Leos's eyes, and the confusion in Edmund's, they wanted to know why Zeke had stopped them.

He didn't answer verbally. Instead, he pulled them both back a couple of steps. Lena also followed. She had come to a stop upon noticing Zeke's actions.

Zeke nodded towards Roland, indicating him as the reason for his actions. Before the two could even turn their head back in the direction Zeke had motioned to, there was a loud crash.

The members of Zeke's team were the only ones that were outside the affected area. A massive dust cloud had suddenly emerged out of nowhere. His teammates were clearly shocked by the development. They stared with wide eyes and open mouths at the position their allies had just been in.

From amidst the dust cloud, panicked screams could be heard. This only added further confusion to the scene. Three heads turned to Zeke, waiting for an explanation. He was the only one that was visibly unsurprised by this turn of events.

Zeke, however, shook his head and sighed. He knew that the situation would become clear to them soon enough. It was only a moment later that they could hear an excited voice coming from the sky. It was Jorgel, the announcer.

"Congratulation! Everyone still in the competition has managed to advance to the Finals!"