Apocalypse Gachapon

Chapter 2015: Battle of attrition

At this moment, the scene had fallen silent.

Within the Bronze Camp, the strength of the First Thousand-person Team was publicly recognized as the strongest, and they were also the team most likely to obtain first place in this assessment.

This first match gripped the hearts of many.

Because this was not a one-match-decides-all confrontation. Even if the First Thousand-person Team obtained the bye qualification for the second round, they would still face the next two battles. If they slipped up once, first place might be out of reach.

Preserving their strength as much as possible while achieving victory was the most crucial point.

Of course, there was another approach: going all out without reservation in every match, aiming for total victory to secure first place.

The map randomly selected for the first match was ʼRuined City.ʼ

This map involved fighting within an abandoned city. There were ruins and broken walls everywhere, collapsed high-rises could be seen all around, and fierce steel bars stabbed towards the sky, together with the ruins on the ground, forming a complex terrain.

Here, there were both streets suitable for urban warfare and squares suited to large-scale conflict. One could either launch surprise attacks or engage in head-on clashes. The specific choice depended on each sideʼs tactics.

”The First Thousand-person Teamʼs reputation is indeed well-deserved. Look at their equipment, their average strength, their logistical support; they are all the best in the Bronze Camp.”
”Thatʼs natural. Just look at how long Thousand-person Leader Zhong Hongke has sat in that position. He has spared no effort for the sake of his one thousand subordinates.”

”Iʼve heard his Deputy Thousand-person Leaders and Hundred-Person Leaders were all personally supervised and trained by him; they are very strong.”

”And thereʼs more. He is very protective of his subordinates. Even if they make mistakes, as long as theyʼre not major, he will shield them. Over the years, his remuneration has basically been spent on solving problems and difficulties for his subordinates.”

”Thatʼs not quite right from what Iʼve heard. I heard that Zhong Hongkeʼs money is mostly used to compensate the families of his Thousand-person teamʼs fallen soldiers. Now, every so often, he gives money to the families of the sacrificed warriors.”

”After all this talk, the point is Zhong Hongke has high prestige, and his subordinates have strong cohesion. In my opinion, the other Thousand-person teams are no match for him.”

”Hmm, I agree with that point. But I think it depends on how they perform in the first match. If they achieve a perfect victory, obtaining the best score and getting a direct bye into the top three, then I think basically getting first place is not a problem. But if they get bogged down by the Seventh Thousand-person Team and fail to achieve the best score, they will have to fight another match. In this fully realistic simulation where status and everything are factored in, whether they can take the crown is really hard to say.”

The spectators, besides the Bronze Camp warriors, were Silver and Gold Camp warriors. Most of them, though just ordinary soldiers in their respective teams, were stronger than Zhong Hongke, at least with higher Furelai, so they didnʼt see Zhong Hongke as some unattainable figure. They were examining this Thousand-person Leader with a top-down gaze.

Among them, some had even mentored Zhong Hongke; this current protagonist on the battlefield was once their junior.

The battle began quickly. Probably because the Seventh Thousand-person Team also felt they could not confront the First Thousand-person Team head-on, they adopted a strategy of splitting forces. In the direction they entered, they divided into four squads and patrolled continuously within the area, waiting for Zhong Hongkeʼs arrival.

”This Seventh Team has really presented Zhong Hongke with a challenge. If they attack with all forces, they will risk being surrounded. If they also split into four parts, they will have to chase the enemy as the attacking side, easily getting lured, ultimately leading to situations where they are outnumbered.”

Jikesu said with a laugh.

Although the map was a ruined city with a considerable area, it was precisely because of the ruins that many places here were separated into small, isolated zones. Unless they blasted the ruins flat, they had no choice but to detour.

If the First Thousand-person Team carelessly fell into an encirclement while pursuing, even if they ultimately emerged victorious, their losses would not be small.

”Zhongming, what do you think?” Leader Eye asked.

Ye Zhongming smiled. ”I think it depends on the choice.”

His words piqued everyoneʼs interest, and they asked Ye Zhongming to elaborate.

”If Zhong Hongke wants to maintain sharp momentum, finishing this assessment with a perfect victory and seizing first place, then splitting forces or not doesnʼt matter. Just charge straight in, seize one of the Seventh Thousand-person Teamʼs squads, and fight. Donʼt worry about losses or the like. With equal numbers, how easy is it to be surrounded anyway?”

White Robe and Cheng Liujin, who led troops year-round, nodded. That was indeed true. The Seventh Thousand-person Teamʼs tactics were actually more suitable for when they held a numerical advantage.

”If he wants to achieve the best score and directly enter the top three, then he needs to use his brains; it depends on on-the-spot command.”

Leader Star suddenly pointed at the battlefield. ”It seems Zhong Hongke chose a more conservative approach.”

Everyone looked over. Indeed, they saw Zhong Hongke splitting his forces. However, he did not also divide into four squads; instead, he split into two forces, one left and one right, charging towards the Seventh Thousand-person Teamʼs direction.

The Seventh Thousand-person Team began to respond. The squads on the left and right closest to Zhong Hongkeʼs forces moved to meet them. The other two squads, however, both moved towards the left-side force.

Clearly, their plan was to use one squad to engage the right-side force and use the remaining three to besiege the left-side force.

”Zhong Hongke is on the right. The Seventh Thousand-person Teamʼs Thousand-person Leader went to the left, and the Deputy Thousand-person Leader is also on the left. The right side only has a Hundred-Person Leader left. It seems they are determined to sacrifice a quarter of their team in exchange for annihilating half of the enemy with the other three-quarters.”

Cheng Liujin shook his head, though it was unclear what his original meaning was.

”The First Thousand-person Team is also splitting forces.” White Robe, watching from above, keenly noticed this.

Indeed, the First Thousand-person Team, originally with only two forces, began to split. The five-hundred-person force led by Zhong Hongke on the right suddenly detached four hundred people, rushing at full speed towards the left. Zhong Hongke personally led 100 people, charging into the enemy squad of 250.

On the left, the First Thousand-person Team split into two. One force met the squad that had already moved closer, while the other advanced towards the force that had detached from the right, seemingly intending to join together.

”They are not trying to join.” Several people on the rostrum understood. These two forces, one with two hundred and fifty people, the other with four hundred, were merely making a gesture of joining to lure the enemy forces into changing direction.

Sure enough, the Seventh Thousand-person Team immediately adjusted. The squad with their Thousand-person Leader and Deputy Thousand-person Leader continued charging towards the far left side, while the other squad met the four-hundred-person force.

The Seventh Thousand-person Team still wanted to use superior numbers first to eliminate part of the First Thousand-person Team, their method surprisingly identical to the First Thousand-person Teamʼs approach!