Rebooting the Arena

Chapter 72: Beast Management Tactics

Phoenix Reborn had taken their training to a new level, focusing specifically on how to counter the summoned creatures that had overwhelmed them in their last match against the Crimson Reapers. Their new goal was mastering beast management tactics—learning to control the battlefield by using crowd control and AoE (Area of Effect) spells to neutralize large waves of creatures before they could wreak havoc on their formation. With the National PvP Circuit Qualifiers approaching, and a rematch with the Reapers likely, they needed to ensure they could handle any beast-heavy team with precision and efficiency.

In the training hall, the air crackled with energy as the team ran through their newest drills. The holographic projectors had been set to simulate the exact kind of fight they'd face against the Reapers—wave after wave of beasts flooding the battlefield, while summoners in the back kept the creatures coming.

Kai, standing at the center of the hall, called out commands as they watched their team carefully. "We need to move faster! Don't let the beasts get through to the backline! Tariq, hold the center, and Lena, lock them down as soon as they start charging. Nina, make sure the summoners don't have time to bring in more."

Tariq stood firm at the front, his massive Sunforged Bulwark glowing as he braced for the incoming wave of summoned wolves and bears. His shield slammed into the ground, activating Ironclad Resolve, reinforcing his defenses. "I'm holding them here!" Tariq shouted over the noise of the charging beasts. "Lena, hit them now!"

Lena, standing just behind Tariq, raised her staff, summoning the chilling power of her Glacial Prison. Frost and ice exploded outward from her hands, encasing several of the wolves in thick ice, freezing them in place before they could reach the team. "They're locked down!" Lena called out, her voice calm but urgent. "Now's the time to hit them with everything we've got!"

With the beasts momentarily frozen, Lena followed up with a devastating Chain Lightning, bolts of electricity leaping between the frozen creatures, stunning them further. But as they defeated one wave, more creatures emerged from the forest, summoned by the hidden summoners in the back.

Kai scanned the battlefield, their sharp eyes catching the movement of the summoners. "We've got more incoming! Nina, they're trying to bring in another wave. We need to cut them off before they overrun us again."

In a flash, Nina disappeared into the shadows, using Spectral Step to phase through the chaos undetected. She moved silently through the forest, her eyes locked on the summoners as they began to summon another wave of beasts. With a quick, precise strike, she unleashed Venom Wraith, her daggers dripping with poison as she took out the first summoner before they could summon any more creatures.

"First summoner down," Nina reported, her voice calm but focused. "Moving to the next one."

Back on the frontline, Tariq was dealing with another wave of creatures, this time a mix of wild boars and bears that charged straight at him with terrifying speed. He braced his shield again, but there were too many of them to block at once. "I'm getting swarmed here!" Tariq shouted, pushing back against the tide of creatures. "I need more crowd control!"

Lena, already anticipating the call, activated Elemental Cataclysm, summoning a massive storm of lightning, fire, and ice that engulfed the battlefield in front of her. The storm ripped through the charging beasts, slowing their advance and weakening them as they tried to push past Tariq.

"They won't get through this," Lena said, watching as the creatures struggled to move through the elemental chaos. "Focus them down while they're slowed!"

Alex, positioned safely at the back, kept the team alive with well-timed healing bursts. His Guardian's Grace flowed over the team, restoring health as they took damage from the beasts' attacks. But he knew that this training session was about more than just survival—they needed to perfect their timing and positioning to ensure that the creatures never got a chance to disrupt their strategy.

"Stay within the healing zones," Alex reminded the team, his voice steady. "We can't afford to spread out too much, or we'll get overwhelmed again."

As the battle raged on, Phoenix Reborn refined their beast management tactics. They focused on using crowd control and AoE abilities not just to deal damage, but to create space and buy time for Kai and Nina to eliminate the summoners, cutting off the source of the beasts before the waves became unmanageable.

Tariq worked on positioning himself in ways that funneled the creatures into choke points, reducing the number of beasts that could attack at once. He activated Earthshaker at critical moments, sending shockwaves through the ground that stunned the creatures in a wide area, giving Lena and the others time to unleash their devastating spells.

"They're stuck in the choke point," Tariq said as he held the line. "Lena, hit them hard."

Lena, now fully in control of her storm magic, unleashed Glacial Prison once again, freezing the remaining wolves and boars in place. She followed up with Arcane Surge, rapidly casting Chain Lightning and Ice Barrage to deal massive AoE damage to the trapped creatures.

"They won't get past us now," Lena said, her eyes focused. "We've got them locked down."

As the final wave of creatures fell, Nina appeared from the shadows, having taken out the last of the summoners. "Summoners are all down. No more beasts coming."

Kai, breathing hard but smiling with satisfaction, gathered the team together. "That's exactly what we need to do in the real match. Tariq, you hold the line and keep the beasts funneled into those choke points. Lena, you freeze and lock them down as soon as they charge, and Nina and I will take out the summoners. Alex, keep us together and make sure we don't get spread too thin."

The team had made clear progress. Every training session brought them closer to mastering their beast management tactics. They were faster, more coordinated, and able to counter the chaotic onslaught of creatures that had once overwhelmed them. The mistakes of their past match against the Reapers were being erased with every successful drill.

But Kai knew they couldn't afford to relax. The Crimson Reapers would come at them with everything they had in the rematch, and they needed to be ready for whatever new strategies their opponents might throw at them.

"We're getting stronger," Kai said, their voice filled with determination. "Next time, those creatures won't even touch us. We'll control the battlefield, take out their summoners, and overwhelm them before they can even react."

Tariq grinned, still holding his shield high. "Let them come. I'll hold the line."

Lena nodded, her staff still crackling with residual arcane energy. "We'll lock them down before they have a chance to overwhelm us."

Alex, calm and focused, added, "We're in sync now. We stay together, and we'll win."

Nina, always quiet but filled with determination, simply said, "They won't see us coming."

With their beast management tactics perfected, Phoenix Reborn was ready. They had turned their weakness into a strength, learning to neutralize summoned creatures with precision and coordination. The Crimson Reapers may have overwhelmed them once, but this time, Phoenix Reborn would be ready.

Phoenix Reborn trained tirelessly to master their beast management tactics, using crowd control and AoE spells to neutralize summoned creatures. With their new strategies and refined teamwork, they were prepared for the rematch against the Crimson Reapers, confident they could turn the tide in their favor.