Sam got out of bed and jumped to start the work.
He sat at his loom at the center of the core formation and started weaving. The subordinates didn't know what to do. But they saw an energy blanket covering the already existing one and it started extending outwards gradually into different sections.
"I want you guys to go on the bird-type beasts. Take flight at the highest altitude possible and I want you to drop down these flags randomly in other territories.
You don't have to follow any particular pattern, but make sure that they are not too far away from each other. Don't let them clubbed together. But drop at least a hundred of them at different spots in other territories.
Leave the one that we visited last night to the last. Do the rest first. Do it fast, do it precisely and stay the fuck alive.
Do you understand?"
"Yes."
They didn't ask any questions, they didn't project any doubts. For some reason, they felt that Sam is in no mood to answer any questions or clear any of their doubts. They started following his instructions as they took the spears that are now flags with a fabric hanging around them.
The teammates dropped one flag after another in other territories and since everyone is holed up back in Kumar's territory leaving behind only a small number of troops to defend themselves, the work has been easy.
Of course, not all flags landed the way Sam wanted them to, but enough of them did. He did take the margin of error into consideration when he made them throw those flags.
Meanwhile, he started working on something else. He sat on the core of the main formation and kept on weaving. The new energy blanket extended out of the first formation and it spread to different directions uniformly.
It connected itself with the other energy blankets and formations Sam had set up and kept on extending to the all sides out of his territory. Soon, the blankets started reaching the flags that were nailed in different territories.
When the energy thread reached the flag pole, the flag started glowing as if it is triggered by the presence of this energy, it let out a small formation from the fabric.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe threads intertwined with the formation and used it as a node to spread farther.
Sam had his eyes closed as he used the spreading threads and the energy gathered through these nodes and formations from the surroundings, to spread the threads farther along with his spiritual sense.
This is an idea that he came up with on a whim. In fact, this is actually one of the first ideas that he came up with.
Using the nature of the threads and fabric to spread as far as he can. And the following chain of ideas are not exactly his first choice even though they are his first thoughts.
He had to tone them down a bit to create the formations that he created. But now as he mentioned before that he lost his patience like never before, he didn't care. He decided to go with his first thoughts and he is doing exactly that right now.
Sam didn't even open his eyes until afternoon and he only did that for a few minutes, before closing them again.
In the middle, he gave a little jolt to the energy blankets which made them glow a bit and at that moment, the subordinates who are flying around saw a large part of the valley light up. It is mesmerizing for them, but also dangerous.
They couldn't even think of something that they could compare this to. They couldn't wrap their head around it.
Sam only stopped by evening.
He got back in his wheelchair for a while and he moved to different corners of the core formation.
He added a few flags there before he went back to the core of the formation.
The healer came to him at that time.
"It is already evening, are you sure you are up for what you said? By tomorrow morning? From what I can see, you spent so much time preparing, it will be hard to finish it off by morning."
"You wouldn't say that if you understand exactly what I prepared. I suggest that you stay back in the main tent along with the subordinates. Things are going to be chaotic."
After that, Sam called for his subordinates.
"I want you guys to go to that camp and throw the spears down with these scrolls attached to them. I want these messages delivered. And make sure that you stay alive."
"Yes Sir."
"What is the most important thing?"
"Staying Alive sir."
"That's right. If one of your dies, I will capture your soul and torment it for as long as I live. Remember that."
He went back to make the preparations and the subordinates went to deliver the letters. Since all camps are within Kumar's area, they dropped the spears with scrolls there randomly and went back.
When the players got the scrolls, they are already in a tense situation. In fact it could be considered a very tense situation. Dayus after sending the soldiers after Sam and dealing that blow, he immediately holed up in a defense.
Turns out the inscriptions are not the only ones that were given to Dayus, he also got an impeccable formation that works with using soldiers as nodes. Not like a battle formation, instead the vitality and spiritual cores of the soldiers as nodes.
The defensive formation destroys people on both sides. Dayus didn't have to worry about destroying his own subordinates and he also doesn't worry about destroying other soldiers, but the rest of the players don't feel the same way.
They have a conscience unlike Dayus.
So, they are in a very tense stalemate. A fight could break out any moment.
At that moment, they received the scrolls from Sam. It is a message.
"I have been patient my fellow players. As you all know, I have been dealt the wrong hand since the start of these stupid games and I was okay with it most of the time. Because, it only effected me, but now Zeus and Hel have crossed a line.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmSo, I need to make an example out of it.
Obviously, I cannot go against those gods at the moment directly. All I can do is take some measures that would teach them a lesson indirectly.
And the gods that are sponsoring you are the only way I could think of.
As of this moment, consider this round of competition be over. A few minutes after you read the letter, I am about make my move. The valley will go through a large scale change that will make staying here a living hell to you and your soldiers.
I am warning you out of courtesy. Take your troops and leave this place. Because within no time, I cannot guarantee anyone's lives.
Also, I don't know what kind of deal you have made with Dayus, but I suggest that you do something about it. I want Dayus and his soldiers to be trapped inside the valley. I don't want you guys to give him a clear escape.
I would appreciate it if you do that, but I won't mind if you decide otherwise. Just keep that in mind, that I am the one who is asking."
The letter ended right there.
The players didn't know what is happening, but a few of them got together. Arkiv, Akhil, Kumar, and Noah.
"So, what do you guys think about this situation? Do you guys think that Sam finally lost it?"
"He might have. But I don't think I am going to take the chance. I will retreat from my side." Akhil is the first to make the decision followed by Arkiv.
Both of them left.
Noah and Kumar on the other hand are thinking what might have happened with Sam and since Sam mentioned about this little help, they decided to take it up on themselves to help out the friend.
So, they went to meet Dayus, who is actually desperate to meet them. Donner left the place without a second thought. But he didn't retreat entirely, he went back to his previous base camp and he saw the flags on his way out.
He had half a mind to remove them on the way back, but he didn't. He went back to the camp and got ready to retreat back into the tunnel at the first sight of Sam's actions.
Dayus, Noah, and Kumar met up.
"So, what are you guys doing? I know Sam mentioned something about not letting me leave, but we cut a deal in this round. Even if you cannot work together with me, you can at least let me go through it.
I will not attack, you will not attack me. Just let me walk away."