Shi Lang and the rest geared up and they came to the place where the matches were held. This planet may be man-made, but the people had created sections with greens and woods. They also created small forests. These places will be tended after and focused to maintain their state. That was not all, but even the beasts from all over the galaxy, that could live in this environment could be found.
The Terran team was dropped in the zone from two choppers, they were all carrying their spirit weapons and battle suits, looking valiant and alert. However, they did not radiate any aura from their bodies. The enemy team was also dropped in the same area, but from another location but with a difference of a few minutes.
Shi Lang said, “I want two snipers, and two squads, with four people each, we will follow the diamond formation.”
The rest of the team nodded and they all moved. The snipers had taken out their phaser guns and taken cover in the canopy of the trees. As they lay in their positions, the illusion array on their suits was started and turned invisible to all sensors and probes.
The rest of the team moved through the forest and they quietly hid. The rules of the battle were simple, they had to finish the battle in half an hour, and it was up to them whether they wished to kill the other party or stun them.
Shi Lang had set the primary attack of the rifles to be on stun, but if the enemy used live fire then he will not hesitate either. The first team had Shi Lang, Martha, Krute, and Sophia. They had the ability to control the wooden element slightly, speculation, and recovery respectively.
The other team was led by Steel, and beside him were Ryan, Jack, and Carlos. They had the ability to harden, speed, observe, and sound imitation, respectively. The two snipers were James, and Olivia, they both had optical abilities and while James was able to discern between thermal temperatures, Olivia was able to look past obstacles.
The team was set and they were about to enter battle, their communicator received the commencement notification and the countdown for thirty minutes also began. The teams hid very carefully and they entered a stalemate. Shi Lang waited for five minutes before he relayed a message on his visor comm device.
“Ryan, can you play bait? I will give you cover.”, said Shi Lang.
The young man accepted the task and Shi Lang gave him a direction on how to run and where to run. The area of the battle was limited to save some time for both teams. They had a hundred and twenty-five duels set for today, how can they give them much time and area to occupy? Thus the battle was to be held within the range of ten square kilometers.
Ryan began to run around the designated region and he was leaving after images for the enemy to deal with. What was even more, his path trajectory was not straight or predictable. The opponent was a team with not much confidence, they had lost three members yesterday, and today it seemed to be their time.
Shi Lang had given his team the key already, and at this moment, they all looked nothing less than a mannequin. They all held weapons in their hands and their eyes were trained on the surrounding area. They could all sense the movement of the beasts in the forest. This was their level of understanding of the surroundings.
Just when they were getting lost in thoughts Ryan sent over the news, “Sir, target located, they are hiding, seemingly waiting for our movement.”
Shi Lang replied, “Do not engage the enemy alone, we are moving over to your side.”
That said, the people moved. They were all using illusion arrays on their suits. The movement and the sound were covered by them with ease. Soon, they reached the designated place to commence the attack. Shi Lang said, “They do not seem to have much spirit, just stun and let them sleep.”
The team agreed, and soon they located the targets. Shi Lang and the rest took aim from behind the trees and were about to shoot when the snipers spoke up, “Boss, it is a trap. The actual enemy is still hiding at the location ten meters away, they have used holographic projections and left fakes to lure us.”
Shi Lang and said, “Seems like we are not the only ones thinking about using our brains to win. Well, finish first?”
The team nodded and they took positions after moving in a long roundabout manner and assumed flank positions. Shi Lang had been holding the team back from using their abilities, he did not want to reveal them so early in the competition. He confirmed that the enemy was in sight and they attacked with the phaser stuns.
The opposite side did not put even the slightest bit of struggle, it was as if they were facing corpses. After all the seven people were stunned, Shi Lang and the rest received a notification that the match has ended and they were the winners. The Terrans were not satisfied with this result. Even if they won, it did not bring them joy.
Shi Lang found the opposing team after the match and found them all sitting in the lounge with dazed eyes. He walked over, and said to the humanoid with no hair on his face, “Are you satisfied with this battle?”
The person looked up at Shi Lang’s visage and could not act, the young general said, “I am the leader of the team you just faced. After the match ended I realized that I am not happy with the battle or the result. Do you know why?”
He was using the galactic communicator that everyone uses here, Shashi bought a few for them. Shi Lang noticed that he has captured the attention of the people and said, “You all represented your civilization here, your teammates died trying to get you ahead and your civilization a better future, but you all, disappointing.
Do you think that you would have done a great deed if you were to be killed by us today? Such shameful behavior, I wonder why they allowed you to even come here?”
That said Shi Lang walked away, his purpose was to tell the people that what they have done was not as simple as a suicide attempt but also, shamed the efforts of their entire team. This burden was even greater than the deaths of their comrades. They only realized now that they have let their emotions get the better of them.
Shi Lang moved back to the gathering hall to watch the matches of the other teams. He sat down on a chair, without caring about the guy sitting next to him. The other party noticed him but did not say anything, they were gazing at the screens levitating in the void. From time to time, Shi Lang would make a few expressions, then he would manipulate his communicator.
He was analyzing the matches in front of him, the gathering hall was emptier as all the teams were engaged in matches. Suddenly, he heard a crisp voice, “Leader, would you like to eat something?”
It just so happened that Jane walked over to him, and stood up in front of him. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and said, “I knew you would be here, what is wrong with your communicator, can you not receive messages? The team is going nuts with hunger and here you are analyzing. Come, fill up.”
Shi Lang covered his face with his palm and asked, “Janey, anyhow I am your superior officer, can you not give me some face?”
Jane raised her eyebrow and asked, “Where did you get this desire from? Come.”
Then she came forward held his hand and dragged him to the dining area. Shi Lang was reluctant but he did not say anything. The people next to him were shocked. They did not expect a subordinate to have such behavior toward their leader. The junior could not help but mumble, “That lady sure is gutsy.”
The man on the chair nodded and said, “They can survive till now, meaning they do have some skill. Find out more about them. That man just now, he made me feel uneasy.”
The junior was surprised but he did not know, when Shi Lang had come to sit down on the chair next to his leader, the latter had let out a tint of killing intent and Shi Lang simply let him do it, sitting nonchalantly. The unease was born from the indifference of the Terran. Shi lang knew very well, that he was being targeted, but if he was to react, he would be revealing his level to the person, this indifference would leave some room for ambiguity and the other party will keep thinking about his motive.
Thoughts lead to chaos. This competition was not only being fought on a physical level but on a deeper mental level as well.