To maximize their learning, the two had developed an unspoken understanding: stretch out the match as long as possible. Both focused on strategic maneuvering, refusing to rush into a decisive confrontation. From Charlotte and Sunny Finch's gameplay, Erwin sensed significant evolution in their skills.
He turned to Pansy beside him. "How many rounds have they played?"
"Sir," Pansy replied promptly, "since they started, this is the seventh round. Three wins, three losses, and one draw."
Erwin nodded. That explained it. Their improvement was palpable. Charlotte was employing guerrilla tactics, a classic strategy from ancient magical warfare. Clearly, Sunny had used this technique before, and Charlotte had learned it through observation.
Sunny, for her part, was operating with considerable skill. Every move was methodical, far from what a novice might display. The two continued their maneuvers for another half-hour, clashing several times through tactical positioning rather than direct confrontation.
Finally, at the forty-minute mark, both moved simultaneously toward the center of the battlefield.
The spectators held their breath. The endgame had begun.
Meeting in the middle lane, there was no courtesy. They went all out. Sunny stomped her foot, and array plates erupted from the ground, rotating and unfolding to envelop Charlotte and her squad. The surrounding young witches and wizards gasped.
"When did she set up that formation? She hasn't even touched the mid-lane!"
Erwin's voice cut through the murmurs. "I told you to study the mechanics, not just play for fun. Heroic Glory isn't a simple game. It requires understanding the core systems. Pansy, Hermione—what's your analysis?"
The two exchanged a glance. Pansy spoke first. "It's a game mechanic, sir. The spawning of minions can be manipulated. Most people just summon them when the cooldown ends, but Sunny Finch pre-placed the formation plates on the minions. By controlling their spawn time and movement speed, she synchronized their arrival."
"Exactly," Hermione added. "She pre-positioned minions in the jungle to control the fog of war. Charlotte didn't know how many were hidden there, all carrying formation plates."
The others finally understood. They had treated the minion spawns as a passive timer, never realizing it could be used to orchestrate an ambush.
"War isn't just about raw strength," Erwin said, his voice carrying clearly. "It's about utilizing every factor, including the environment. You must practice observation. Only those who understand the rules can master them. Otherwise, you remain bound by them."
The Slytherins bowed their heads. "Yes, Head Prefect."
"Keep watching," Erwin ordered. "Charlotte is about to teach you the second principle: once you have the power to transcend the rules, use it. Convention is only binding for those who cannot escape it."
As he finished speaking, the screen flashed.
From the shadows on either side of Charlotte, a wave of minions surged forth. They cast a single spell simultaneously—Lumos. A blinding flash illuminated the battlefield, turning night into day. Sunny squinted, her vision compromised.
Sensing the danger, Sunny crossed her twin hammers in front of her. Instantly, her feet sank into the earth, carving a trench as she was physically blasted backward by a spell from Charlotte.
Sunny reacted instantly. She threw her hammers to the ground and formed hand seals.
A deafening chain reaction erupted. The formation plates exploded in a raging inferno, shattering the blinding light. As the dust settled, Erwin nodded. Both actions were flawless. Charlotte had used overwhelming brightness to disrupt Sunny's rhythm, but Sunny had countered by self-destructing her own formation to clear the field.
Neither cared about the scorched earth or the damage to their units. They pressed the attack.
Sunny ordered her soldiers to surround her, standing in specific positions. Streams of magical energy flowed from their bodies, converging on Sunny to strengthen her—a formation designed to share power. Charlotte, lacking such ancient techniques, responded with pure magical suppression. She dispersed her forces, encircling Sunny's group.
Sunny let out a shout. A massive formation plate rose beneath her, expanding rapidly into two layers. At its center, streaks of sword energy—manifested magic—began to rage.
Charlotte plunged her wand into the ground, her soldiers following suit. She roared, "Finite Incantatem!"
Golden beams shot from the ground, converging at the center. The expansion of Sunny's formation halted, locked in a stalemate with the counterspell. The energy drain was immense. Soldiers on both sides began to collapse, their magical reserves exhausted.
Charlotte and Sunny gritted their teeth, pushing their magic to the limit. The stalemate lasted for ten agonizing minutes until their energy hit rock bottom. The golden light and the formation dissipated simultaneously, leaving both young women pale and trembling.
They locked eyes. No words were exchanged.
The real battle was about to begin.