After completing our reconnaissance of the other teams' Crest Mark distribution patterns, I turned to Elen with specific instructions.

"Elen, you need to leave this area and find a secure hiding place. No matter what happens, you are not allowed to show yourself or leave that position. After the examination has passed, you're permitted to move - but even if you hear my voice telling you to come out before then, don't do it. Understood?"

She looked confused by the seemingly paranoid instructions but nodded her agreement. "I understand, but why?"

I explained the tactical reasoning to my assembled team. "With you hidden safely away from the battlefield, we won't have to worry about losing our accumulated Crest Marks during the fighting. The other teams have been too desperate for additional firepower, or they simply didn't consider this approach. We don't need to risk our existing resources while simultaneously fighting for new ones."

The logic was straightforward, by securing our current advantage, we could focus entirely on offensive operations without defensive concerns.

"This way we can steal other teams' Crest Marks without worrying about ours being taken in return," I continued.

My team members nodded in understanding, their expressions brightening as they grasped the implications. They began whispering among themselves with obvious approval.

"This is a really good plan," one of them muttered with satisfaction.

I turned to Marcus with another specific request. "Marcus, can you help her find an optimal hiding location while using your earth manipulation talent to create a more natural concealment? Perhaps closing off cave entrances or creating camouflaged shelters?"

Marcus nodded without hesitation. His earth-based abilities would allow him to modify terrain features like sealing cave openings or creating underground hideouts that would make Elen's concealment significantly more effective than simple camouflage.

"I can create a temporary earth shelter that blends with the natural rock formations," he confirmed.

These were all precautionary measures, but I wanted nothing left to chance. Kyle might notice our reduced numbers, or he might be too focused on his current predicament to pay attention. Regardless of whether he detected our strategy, I refused to leave our victory dependent on luck or enemy oversight.

The time restriction would prevent any potential shapeshifting or impersonation attempts that might try to trick Elen into revealing herself prematurely.

After watching Elen and Marcus disappear into the forest to establish her hiding position, I turned to address Emmet and the remaining team members with our tactical objectives. Emmet had broken my words last time, and he couldn't do that again.

"Our target is clear - we're taking Crest Marks from the weaker teams engaged in that chaotic battle. We don't need to engage with Kyle's Elite team directly at all," I began, gesturing toward the ongoing conflict in the special zone.

The team gathered closer to hear the specific operational details.

"When the moment is right, we attack the vulnerable teams and take their accumulated Crest Marks. After securing the resources, we immediately withdraw, no one stays to fight prolonged engagements. You all scatter in different directions and regroup at the predetermined rally point."

I paused to ensure everyone understood the strategic reasoning behind this approach.

"This creates a tactical dilemma for our opponents. They'll be forced to choose between pursuing us to recover their stolen Crest Marks or maintaining control of the passive generation circles. Either choice they make works in our favour if we execute this correctly."

Emmet nodded with obvious satisfaction at the direct action plan. "Hit and run tactics while they're distracted by their own conflicts."

"Exactly. The key is speed and coordination. We strike when they're most vulnerable, take what we need, and disappear before they can mount an effective response. Their desperation for circle control becomes our tactical advantage."

The plan leveraged our superior mobility and numbers while avoiding unnecessary risks. By targeting the weaker teams first, we could accumulate additional resources while avoiding the strength of Kyle's group until the optimal moment.

"Any questions about the execution?" I asked, scanning their faces for understanding.

They shook their heads, indicating no questions about the plan.

With the briefing complete, I took a deep breath and observed the chaotic battlefield below. The fighting had intensified as teams desperately competed for circle control, their formations becoming increasingly disorganized as fatigue and desperation set in.

I waited for the optimal moment, when the non-Elite teams were most engaged with each other and Kyle's group was stretched thin defending multiple positions.

The moment arrived when two lower-ranked teams launched simultaneous attacks on different flanks of Kyle's formation, forcing his people to spread their defensive efforts.

I raised my hand and gave the signal.

CRASH! THUNDER!

We erupted from the tree line like a devastating avalanche, our entire class charging into the melee with overwhelming force. The sound of our assault echoed across the battlefield as dozens of Elite-rank students descended upon the unsuspecting combatants.

The reaction was immediate and electric.

SHOCK!

"What the hell?!" shouted a student from the green-banner team as he spun around to face our charging formation.

"Where did they come from?!" screamed another fighter, his voice cracking with terror as he realized the true scope of what was bearing down on them.

The non-Elite teams that had been locked in desperate combat suddenly found themselves facing an entirely new threat - one that dwarfed their previous concerns about circle control.

"It's the second Elite class!" someone yelled in panic. "They brought everyone!"

CLASH!

Emmet smashed into the red-banner team's formation like a battering ram, his strength scattering their defensive line instantly. His target - the injured-looking student who was actually carrying their Crest Marks - tried to flee but found himself surrounded by three of our hunters.

SCRAMBLE! DESPERATION!

The lower-ranked teams' carefully planned resource distribution became a liability as our coordinated assault targeted their actual carriers. They had no time to adapt their strategy or redistribute their valuable items.

"Protect the carriers!" someone shouted, but the command came too late. Our intelligence gathering had given us decisive advantages that couldn't be overcome through last-minute adjustments.

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