Published: February 12, 2025
The scene had fallen completely silent.
In the Bronze Camp, the First Thousand-Person Team was recognized as the strongest and was the most likely team to secure first place in this assessment.
The outcome of the first match had captured the attention of many.
This was not merely a battle to determine a victor; even if the First Thousand-Person Team secured a bye for the second round, they would still face two more battles. A single misstep could dash their hopes for first place. The key was how to achieve victory while preserving their strength as much as possible.
Of course, there was another strategy: to go all out every time and secure first place through a complete victory.
The randomly selected map for the first match was the "Ruined City."
This map required combat within an abandoned city filled with ruins. Crumbled walls and collapsed skyscrapers were everywhere, with jagged steel bars jutting into the sky, creating a complex landscape along with the debris on the ground.
Here, there were neighborhoods suitable for street fighting as well as squares for large-scale conflicts. Both ambushes and direct confrontations were possible; the specific choices depended on each team's tactics.
"The First Thousand-Person Team really lives up to its reputation. Just look at their equipment, their average strength, and their logistical support – they are the best in the Bronze Camp," someone remarked.
"Of course! Just look at how long Zhong Hongke has held his position as a commander. He has invested a lot of effort for his thousand subordinates," another added.
"I heard that both the deputy commander and the hundred-man leaders under him were personally trained by him, and they are quite strong," someone else chimed in.
"Moreover, he is very protective of his subordinates. Even if they make mistakes, as long as they aren't major blunders, he protects them. Over the years, most of his rewards have been spent on relieving their burdens," another comment came.
"You’re mistaken. I heard that most of Zhong Hongke’s funds are used for compensating the families of fallen soldiers. He sends money to the families of the sacrificed warriors every so often," someone corrected.
"Regardless of what’s said, Zhong Hongke has high prestige and strong cohesion among his men. I don't think any other thousand-person teams can compete," another person stated.
"I agree, but I feel it depends on how they perform in the first match. If they achieve a complete victory and secure the best result, getting a bye directly into the top three, then I believe there won’t be much issue in securing first. However, if they get dragged down by the Seventh Thousand-Person Team and fail to secure the best result, they will have to fight again. In such a real combat simulation, the actual outcome is hard to predict," another person analyzed.
The spectators, besides the soldiers of the Bronze Camp, were also from the Silver and Gold Camps. Most of them, although ordinary soldiers in their respective teams, were stronger than Zhong Hongke, particularly Fuleira, so they did not perceive Zhong Hongke as someone unattainable; they viewed him from a condescending perspective.
Some of them had even trained with Zhong Hongke, who was now the focal point of the battlefield but had once been their junior.
The battle soon commenced. It seemed the Seventh Thousand-Person Team believed they could not compete head-on with the First Thousand-Person Team, so they adopted a strategy of splitting up to advance. They divided into four small teams as they entered, moving around a certain area and waiting for Zhong Hongke's arrival.
"The Seventh Team has presented Zhong Hongke with a dilemma. If they all advance together, they risk being surrounded. If they split into four parts, they will be the attacking side and could easily be lured into a trap, resulting in a situation of fewer against more," Jikesu remarked with a smile.
Despite the map being a ruined city with a considerable area, it was the existence of ruins that divided many places into small, isolated areas. Unless the ruins were cleared, they had to detour.