The Valkyries' scrim will be against StormBlitz. Following the annou, the club shifted its focus toward training for this difficult challenge.

  To kick it off, they held multiple review sessions in order to extensively study StormBlitz's lineup. In each session, they focused on one pyer from StormBlitz and analyzed them ih: their pystyle, habits, strengths, weaknesses, preferred csses, and so forth.

  For most of the members, there were less than ten official games to study. Especially, there was very little data on Adapting and Venus due to how often they switched around.

  However, Aegis and Athena were different. These two pyed on StormBlitz’s first-string in the previous year, so lots of data was readily avaible.

  As such, a rge portion of the reviews focused on this dynamic duo. It to Karen and Lua to hahese powerful adversaries in Bot.

  "Heh, bring it on!" Karen excimed. "I'mma beat the shit outta these Greek myth bozos!"

  "Karen, nguage."

  "Yeah, yeah." Karen rolled her eyes and smiled mischievously.

  "Um, actually," Lua started. "My nick is alsreek mythology..."

  "Huh? You mean 'Nike'?" Karen asked. "I thought it was a refereo the shoe brand."

  Lua narrowed her eyes. "Why would I name myself after a shoe brand..?"

  "Pft, I dunno. I figured it’s because you like them or something? Haha.” Karen burst out ughing. “So, who's this 'Nike', anyway?"

  Before Lua got to answer, Andria had already takeage. “Nike is her than the goddess of victory!” Andria spread her arms theatrically as she spoke. “She is closely associated with Athena, as both of them promise t victory in war!”

  “Wait, so the Greeks made up not o TWO gods for winning wars?” Karen asked. “Damn, they sure want to stay winning, huh. I like that attitude.”

  “Athena is associated with other subjects as well, such as wisdom and handicraft,” Andria expined. “Oher hand, Nike is all about the raw cept of victory, regardless of the field. It be war, it be arts, and it be games. She would bring victory in just about anything.”

  “Heh. And here I thought Aegis and Athena were pompous names.” Karen smirked. “Turns out our Lua over here has the most holier-than-thou nick, haha!”

  Lua pouted in respo-That wasn’t really the idea behind this name…”

  “Oh?” Karen raised an eyebrow. “It’s not for asserting dominance?”

  “No, it’s just that I was inspired by the way Athena pyed st year, so...”

  “Oh, so it’s like a decration of war.” Karen nodded in uanding. “I see, I see.”

  “Eh, not quite…” Lua was getting tired to expin it at this point. A part of her was willing to just let Karen weave whatever fi the girl wanted, just so they could move on from this topic.

  Thankfully, Andira came to the rescue. “Allow me to crify. You see, it is a well-known fact that many a gods trace their ins back to other, ods. Over time, myths and traditions evolve, and so do the gods the people worship.”

  “Huh.” Karen tilted her head. “Okay?”

  “While sard Nike as her own separate entity, others believe her ins trace back to Athena. In other words, they believe Nike is merely a facet of Athena herself.”

  “I’ll be real, I almost wanna say this sounds like a spiracy theory… except her of these gods is real in the first pce so it’s kinda dumb lmao.”

  “Yes.” Andria nodded. “To the modern person, it may seem silly to debate the ins of two fial gods. However, the subtle historical es add uoo stories, and even to niames.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Karen merely shrugged in respo was unclear whether she actually grasped the entire picture behind Andria’s expnation.

  “Gotta say,” Karen tinued. “You sure like this kind of fi, huh.”

  “But of course!” Andria asserted. “Theatre inates from Greed many of the early pys were reted to the gods. So, it’d be bsphemy for an actor like myself to not be well-versed in the history of my own craft.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Karen shrugged. “So Lua, why did you piike anyway?”

  “Um, well…” Lua gnced aside, her cheeks tinted pink. It was clear by now that Karen pletely missed the mem Andria’s expnation, which surprised absolutely nobody. But, maybe it was for the best. “I-I just thought it was a reassuring name.”

  “Reassuring?”

  “Um, you know, the goddess of ‘victory’ and all…”

  “Oh, I see.” Karen nodded in uanding. “So basically, you wanhe goddess of GG EZ GAME.”

  “Um, ly like that...” Lua made a face. “But yes, I wanted a nick that radiates fidence. I actually came up with the er watg Athena in st year’s regionals.”

  “Oh, so you’ve been following the petitive se for a while now?”

  “Just a little,” Lua said. “Back then, I only checked out the finals between Leo and Storm. I was curious about the skill level of other middle schoolers around here.”

  “Heh, I bet you were disappointed, right?” Karen shook her head. “I mean, this region’s level is pretty meh apparently.”

  “Not at all!” Lua said. “I thought it was amazing!”

  “Oh? Really?”

  “Yes!” Lua insisted. “It was amazing to see that other pyers my age py so well! Before, I’ve always thought only adult pros py at that level.”

  “Yeah, I guess Leo and Storm did put on a det performahat year,” Karen agreed. “I didn’t watch the whole thing, but there were some nice rounds there.”

  “That’s where I came across the hena’,” Lua expined. “Just the name alone already made the pyer seem strong, and her pystyle fit like a glove.”

  “Fit how, exactly?” Karen asked. “Was the Athena from mythology also a me zoner who ran away from oppos 24/7?”

  “She wasn’t ‘running away’, these were ‘tactical retreats’.”

  “Uh-huh. That’s eople in denial always say.” Karen rolled her eyes. “All I saw was the girl running away like a pussy.”

  “Karen, nguage.”

  “Whoopsie, heh.” Karne pyfully stuck out her tongue. “Anyway, I don’t see it. If being a hardcore turtle matches the image of ‘Athena’ for you, then I’m sorry to say that Athena must’ve been a hel me goddess, haha.”

  “Them’s fighting words.” Lua pouted. “I'm sorry to say, Karen, but it seems you don’t uand the finesse of it.”

  “Oh? I see somebody suddenly got defensive.” Karen smiled fidently. “Okay, then expin to me like I’m five. What’s so cool about running away 24/7?”

  "She didn’t run away," Lua insisted. "Athena has a defensive pystyle despite being a Carry. It's an atypical approach that requires a lot of game knowledge and adaptation to execute."

  "More like, it's just straight-up bad," Karen argued. "A defensive Carry? How’s that even supposed to work? It’s all backward! The Carty's job is to carry, it's literally in the name. You 't carry when you py passive."

  "Except, Athena make it work. That's why it's impressive."

  "That kinda thing only work when the rest of the team does all the legwork,” Karen cimed. “I mean, if the Carry isn’t the one pushing things forward, then somebody else is gotta do it instead, right? I wouldn’t call that kind ement something that ‘works’.”

  "To remind you," Fiona said. "One of the Leopards' Carries pys in a simir fashion. Though, you did not get the ce to py against him in that role in the scrimmage."

  "You mean that Merlin guy, right?" Karen recalled. "Yeah, he also reeks of the same meness as Athena. I looked over some of the games he was in and all I say is B."

  "You just don't uand." Lua puffed her cheeks and turned away. This was a surprise. The girl was usually fragile as a leaf, but she showed some bae when it ed things she cared deeply about.

  “Heh, somebody’s gettiional here I see.” Karen smiled wryly. “But, you’re right. I really don’t get how it works. The entire idea of that pystyle cshes with the fuals of carrying the game.”

  "Fortunately, you will have the honor of pying Athena soon," Fiona said. " That will be your ce to show us just how 'bad' her pystyle really is."

  "Bring it on!" Karen puffed her chest. "I'll show you how a REAL Carry should be pying!"

  "I am looking forward to it."

  "Also, Lua," Karen called out. "It’s fihat you're fangirling Athena and all, but make sure you help me beat her iual match, okay?"

  "Of course." Lua nodded. "It'll be a great honor to py against her, and I’ll respect the occasion by giving it my all!"

  "Good, that's what I wao hear."

  "In fact, I have dos and lots of resear her pystyle and quirks!" Lua's eyes lit up. "So, I'm sure I know everything about her! Maybe I even know her better than she knows herself!"

  "Eh, cool...?" Karen was taken aback by that explosion of passion.

  "I definitely know her strong points, oints, her preferences, etc. I teach you eeeeeverything!" Lua's glittering eyes were turning crazier by the moment. The girl was legit obsessed. Talk about a big yikes.

  "Alright, alright, I get it already." Karen nodded repeatedly to get that obsessed fangirl off her. “I don’t hat mufo. I already know the gist of her pystyle, so it’s all about crag her turtly defense!”

  “It isn’t that simple,” Nakajima said. "Make sure you study your oppo well, Karen. I suspect Athena will prove to be a difficult oppo for you in particur."

  "Huh? Why's that?"

  "Because you have a bad habit of pig fights,” Nakajima expined. “No matter how many times I point it out, you refuse to learn."

  "Well, if there’s a good opportunity to fight then I fight, you know?" Karen said. “It’s impossible to get anything going until I it to an attack at some point, right?”

  "That’s exactly the kind of mentality Athena likes exploiting the most," Nakajima said. "She will make you believe there’s a good opportunity to fight her, only to lead you into a trap. Or, she will run away from you to make you believe you're in trol of the situation, only to turables on you the moment you carelessly give chase."

  "So, what you’re saying is that she pys dirty.”

  "Call it what you wish,” Nakajima said. “The fact remains you must be vigint against her at all times. Lua, make sure to supplement Karen with private lessons on this topic.”

  "Gdly!" Lua smiled from ear to ear.

  “Ugh…” Karen groaned. Lua’s obsessed smile scared her for real. This fangirl was more than ready to preach about her lord and savior for days in a row.

  "In general," Nakajima tinued. "Lua and Fiona spent the st couple of weeks looking into everythied to StormBlitz together with me, so make sure to discuss all the importaails with them. If there’s something they don’t know, that’s where I’ll step in."

  As a rule of thumb, Nakajima preferred to let the kids figure things out on their own. Analyzing oppos was an important skill that every pyer should be aced to, and there wasn’t a better opportunity to practice it than the regions.

  On that he Valkyries started today's review session by talking about her than Athena, the slippery snake of StormBlitz. As the Carry, she was a high-priority target and she was very aware of it. So much so that she used this fact to her advantage, luring enemies into traps.

  Together with her on the same ne was Aegis, the ever-trusty shield that protected her from all threats. He was StormBlitz's captain and shot-caller, which made him Fiona's main rival iactical warfare department.

  Under Aegis's and, StormBlitz boasted a defensive pystyle, simir in some ways to Leo’s. heless, there was a fual differeween their approaches. Cato used deferategies to slowly strangle his oppos, whereas Aegis focused on ensuring his team had no openings.

  On the surface, it looked as if both teams had the same game pn in mind. They both took things slowly as they gradually adapted to their oppos. However, while Leo often dragged the game out to exhaust, StormBlitz was more than willing to take the offeer they’ve finished building up their advantage.

  For Fiona, it was crucial to uand the minute differences in the mentalities of the two shot-callers. By destrug all the details, she could form optimal termeasures against their respective teams.

  Still, there was no question that StormBlitz was also ultimately a hyper-defeeam just like Leo. The match the two teams had a few months ago must have been one of the most drawn-out matches in Cssmancers' history. Merely thinking ba that tedious scrim made Fiona sigh.

  ployed his typical approa that day, hoping to er his oppos and slowly strahem like a snake. However, this time, his oppos were just as good as the Leopards in pying the long game.

  In the end, instead to reihe wheel, both sides stuck to their preferred pystyles. It was essentially a cold war out there.

  Expeg that kind of development, both teams picked te-game ps in advance. As a result, the early-game and mid-game were very uful. Karen was yawning nonstop throughout these segments.

  The only pyers who tried to get things going before the te-game were the Leopards' Bot duo: AbsoluteWinner and AbsoluteChallenger. However, their attempts saw little in the way of success, for they were up against the enemy’s most formidable wall of defense: Aegis and Athena.

  In the end, not much happened during the early phases of any of these games. The ee of a game was usually decided by one or two decisive moments ie-game.

  And so, due to how fatal a sie-game mistake could be, both teams were extremely cautious and pact with their pys. This only dragged out the games that much longer. Admittedly, even Fiona was struggling to maintain her ihe whole time as she watched.

  Of course, she uood that many fiails went into the defeactics of both teams even during the stale parts of the games. Even though both sides refused to it to any big pys, they kept wrestling over resources while prioritizing safety. There was much to learn from that cold war.

  In particur, this tactical warfare showcased the key differences between Cato and Aegis’ shot-calling philosophies. Cato insisted on maintaining an unbreakable defense all the way through, whereas Aegis at least attempted to deliver low-risk attacks every on a while.

  heless, in practice, any csh betweewo defensive forces boiled down to a battle of attrition. Many of the shot-calls were not desigo win, they only tried to “not lose”. So, while there was much to learn from these high-level tactics, the i behind these pys was not Fiona’s cup of tea.

  I would much rather py to win than hole up in a defensive position. Fiona thought. There are surely ways to unch low-to-medium risk attacks that would strike true even against this level of defense.

  But, that was easier said than done, especially for teams that had already polished their defeo su extent. For them, it must have felt most reassuring to rely on what they perceived as their greatest strength, especially in this important csh between titans.

  All in all, StormBlitz and the Leopards were evenly matched on that day. Each game could go either way and was ultimately decided ie-game, either by somebody's blunder or by somebody's masterful strategic decision.

  StormBlitz won the first game. After that, the Leopards adjusted by ging their lineup, repg Winner and Challenger with Rook and Merlin. This wohe sed game.

  For the third game, StormBlitz subbed in a new pyer for the first time this year: Venus. The girl’s performance did not seem very stable, perhaps the nerves were getting to her. heless, her occasional bursts of explosive aggressiveness proved difficult for Theorist to handle.

  Overall, the game was o-neck, but StormBlitz ultimately came on top by having access to better offense. And so, the match was at 2-1 in StormBlitz’s favor.

  Apprentece subbed into the game in respoo this development, probably against Cato’s will. This move was equivalent to gaining supernatural aid, which was going to diminish the achievements of the rest of the team.

  Naturally, with Appretne the team, the Leopards had no trouble winning. They focused Mid in particur, which exposed many fws and instabilities Venus had. This led to her being repced by Adapting for the final game.

  Adapting had a more stable performan Mid, he mao deflect most ining attacks. However, his offense did not paearly as much power as Venus’, so StormBlitz could not find a way to mount any powerful attacks until the very end.

  And so, the scrimmage ended with a 3-2 in the Leopards’ favor. StormBlitz was in the lead early on, but all their ces went out of the window the moment Appretnece subbed in.

  Meanwhile, our team could not even force Appreto take the stage. Fiona thought. But, we have e a long way sihen. I will prove that by defeating StormBlitz.

  That was when the idea of fag StormBlitz sprung to mind for the first time. It was Fiona’s idea to make up for the terrible performance against the Leopards, as the two teams were evenly matched.

  But, will the Valkyries be able to measure up to the 2nd stroeam in the region? With optimal preparation, victory should be possible. At least, that was what Fiona firmly believed.

  DarkestCymore