The two-minute timer ticked down like a heartbeat through the arena speakers.
All the kids from both clans started running around following the orders of Rayden and Lexi. The chosen 3 for each clan found their place in the bases.
Rayden chose the three survivors from the recent attack. They bolted the captured turret to the command balcony, making sure it could swivel and aim in a 180-degree direction, its double barrels ready to unless a stream of rounds to eliminate more kids.
Lexi's ten defenders fanned out below her tower, stun blasters in hand and jetpacks ready. Her chosen three took up sniping positions while the rest made their way out of the base.
"Go time!" Elyse's voice boomed as the timer reached zero. The perimeter devices hissed, unleashing a large amount of knockout gas; curtains rose around the battlefield that funneled fighters towards each other.
Lexi pounced first, leading her squad in three prongs: one member moved left through the ruins, stealthily making his way to the rear. Four others went right, navigating through the swamp pools and covering each other's backs as they advanced.
In the center, two team members acted as bait to draw fire. "Flank and flag—now!" Lexi ordered over the comm as she joined the four-man team.
"You two make your way to our rear. Stay out of the base and provide overwatch in case we get flanked." Rayden orders two of his troops, one wielding a sniper rifle and the other a normal blaster.
The two nodded and took off to find a position to set up.
"The rest of us are going to break up into two teams of four. We are going through the middle but keep the distance between each team. Remember watch the sides in case of ambushes." Everyone else nodded to his orders.
Both teams started moving through the center. Lexi and he team cut their jetpack to walk through the foliage slowly. "Over there," One of her team members found Rayden and his team.
"Perfect, come in team 2 you have Rayden right in front of you. Start firing to draw them in while we attack from the side."
"Copy"
Team 2 began to blind fire, inadvertently revealing their location, but it served its purpose as both Knight teams advanced.
As they closed in, they swiftly took out one member of the bait duo. Just as they were about to eliminate the last one, Lexi and her team launched their attack.
Dave and Ashley were taken out, forcing Rayden and Jacob to dive for cover. George and Robert led the other team in to provide support.
Rayden's voice cut sharply through the chaos: "Smoke!" Robert and George lobbed smoke canisters, causing white fog to bloom. One of the canisters accidentally struck a hidden sleep mine that had been deployed during the two-minute countdown. The mine released a small burst of gas that stunned a Serdran flanker mid-fight.
Lexi and her team had a good vantage point, using their jetpacks to pin Rayden and the others down while the last member of the bait duo fought to keep them from retreating.
To alter the situation, Rayden called for support. "Adam, use the turret and blind fire in our direction, but slightly to the north. See if you can disrupt them."
"On it!" Adam, one of the base defenders, grabbed the mounted turret and adjusted it just north of Rayden's position. He could see the fighting in the distance, as well as three figures hovering in the air.
The turret roared to life, unleashing a stream of stun bolts that stitched the sky. The shots zipped around Lexi and the others, forcing them to stop firing and evade.
One lucky shot hit one of them, knocking him down. Fortunately, each jetpack used in this competition has a height restriction, so while falling from a few feet in the air could hurt, it wasn't life-threatening.
Lexi and the last member dropped to the ground near the other Serdran kid, all three seeking cover as they reloaded and strategized against six opponents.
"Come out, Lexi! Just call it—you lost," Rayden taunted, raising his GALAAR-15 blaster carbine to aim at the tree where the three were hiding.
"It's not over yet, Ray!" Lexi shouted defiantly.
The six continued to move forward while spreading out. Just as they got into position, Robert's foot hit something. Looking down, he noticed a metal device. "Shit!"
'Boom!' He became engulfed in gas and dropped to the ground.
"Robert, damn!" Rayden yelled, then heard Lexi shout, "Now!"
Smoke canisters flew through the air, obscuring the area.
===
Back at the base, Adam was on the turret, observing the smoke filling the area while communicating with the other two defenders.
Out of nowhere, a well-placed shot hit Adam in the chest, causing him to slump over the turret and accidentally trigger it, shooting one of the other defenders.
"Nice! Got two with one shot!"
Just as he was celebrating and getting up, a shot flew from behind, striking him dead center in the back. His last thought was that they were going to lose.
"Nice shot! I think that's the only one. It seems most of them went for a frontal assault."
"I agree. Let's go back to the base and take over for the other two."
After meeting with the last defender, the two took up positions to prepare in case any other Serdran attacked.
====
Jumping from cover and using her jetpack for a boost, Lexi flew to Rayden.
She touched down like a hawk, dual WESTAR-35s blazing. From the smoke, she took down another one of Ray's troops while her two companions engaged the remaining three.
Rayden hurled a flashbang; the world went white. As vision cleared, Lexi lunged, her knife reversed. He caught her wrist, twisting her hold and causing her knife to drop. They grappled, boots grinding against the dirt, breaths heavy behind their visors.
"There is no shame in admitting defeat. You're just acknowledging your limitations," he hissed.
"True, but there's no shame in fighting to the very end. Maybe even clutching victory from the jaws of defeat," she laughed, slamming her knee into his thigh.
An elbow clipped his helmet; they broke apart, heaving.
"Look around you, Lexi. It's over. You're the last one standing. After you, we will take your flag." Rayden backed up while catching his breath. Jacob handed him his blaster.
Lexi noticed that everything was quiet. Looking around, she saw her last two companions eliminated on the ground.
*Sigh.* "Rayden, you did beat us; I will give you that." She fell to one knee, breathing heavily as the adrenaline in her system faded.
"But you still have to take our flag to win." She yelled as she grabbed a hidden WESTAR-34 and aimed at Ray. But before she could fire, Rayden shot her, not letting his guard down.
She fell at an awkward angle, so he walked over to lay her on her back properly.
"You won't give up even to the very end. I respect that, Lexi."
"Let's go win this competition." The Jacob, George, and the last Knight kid, Marco, fell in line behind him.
When they got to the Serdran base, they took cover as they came under sniper fire.
"If you have any more smokes use them to block line of sight. Then as fast as possible use your jetpack to get into the base."
"We can do that Rayden but I also have some left over swamp plant that we can use." George spoke up.
"You do? Ok then we will use the smoke to get close the use the plant. The flag should be near the centar of the base."
"Marco, you go left, Jacob you make your way to their command center, George you will go middle while I take the right. Use cover and any consumable you have. We are in the home stretch lets not drop the ball." Rayden told them the game plan for their assault.
"On my mark, Sync."
"Sync" 3x.
"Go."
Using their jetpacks, they each made micro jumps while deploying smoke to cover their advance.
As I was running, I noticed the defenders in a wedge formation, with one in the command center and the other two on the sides.
Through the Force, I reached out to sense when the blaster fire was aimed my way. I made micro jumps to navigate my way up the side of the base.
I managed to reach the side of a defender just as he shot at George, who was throwing a burning swamp plant at the sniper. The sniper was causing us the most trouble.
I kicked the boy in front of me, who couldn't have been older than eight, before shooting him while he was down.
"Jacob, George, take care of that sniper. Marco, I draw fire from your side while you take out the defender."
"Copy," all three replied.
I used some nearby crates as cover and began shooting to suppress a female Serdran. She returned fire after taking cover, but while she was preoccupied with me, Marco shot her in the back.
The sniper was the last one left. How is it going? I wondered while glancing in the command center's direction.
Using their jetpacks, George and Jacob split the kid's attention, each shooting to pin him down before landing near him to finish the job.
"All clear!" George yelled out.
"Finally, this competition is done," I thought as we made our way to the flag room. As I grabbed the flag, a loud alarm sounded, marking the end.
===
Back in the observation area, the five clan leaders, along with Elyse and Torin, watched as Rayden grabbed the flag, signifying the end of this match.
Drenar: "What an excellent final match! Both teams gave it their all."
Camren: "They performed well. They will grow up to be fine warriors."
Ravik: "I agree; they used everything at their disposal."
Torin: "All that nonstop fighting for the past hour must have worn them out."
Varn: "This match alone took the entire morning. We still have the cook-off, the forging event, and a marathon to conclude the day."
Elyse: "My baby is going to be so tired that he will sleep like a log. Veyra, Lexi has a strong will to fight until the end and never give up."
Veyra: "Stubborn, you mean. But yes, that girl doesn't know when to quit at times."
Camren: "It's that kind of determination that makes a real warrior. It's something worth nurturing."
Ravik: "Absolutely. But we should also remind them to pace themselves. There's more than just today; these events can take a toll."
Drenar: "Good point. Perhaps I'll have a word with some of the younger warriors about strategy and endurance."
Torin: "And let's not forget the importance of teamwork. It's great to fight hard as an individual, but working together can turn the tide in any situation."
Elyse: "I agree! They need to learn that strength comes from both within and from those who stand beside them."
Varn: "I believe today's events will teach them valuable lessons. Let's keep an eye on them during the cook-off; they might surprise us with their creativity!"
====
Rayden made his way back to where he had left Lexi and sat nearby, waiting for her to wake up.
All the blasters were set to a level that would knock someone out for around ten minutes, give or take. Some people woke up sooner, while others took longer. Lexi should be waking up in a few minutes, and then they would make their way to the main area to listen to speeches from the clan leaders.
While waiting, he could hear the crowd in the stands around the battlefield showing their admiration and respect for the kids of their clans. Parents were hugging and consoling the children who had been eliminated earlier.
"Man, I'm tired. I want a nap," Rayden muttered to himself as he leaned back and rested next to Lexi.