Win or die.

These were the two words that would accompany the fearless warriors who would face off today in Act Five of the Alliance Conquest season. After the victory in the previous match against NDP, qualification, which had seemed almost hopeless after the defeat against WxC, was now within reach.

The courageous fighters, amidst the countless challenges of this season, have faced very difficult trials without the advantage of being the favored team, as was the norm in previous seasons. Yet, they have found new strength in moments of adversity, something that was unknown to them because it was never needed before.

Today's opponent also came from a successful season so far, with a record of three wins and one loss, just like FDH's team. It was...

BBS

Led by the formidable warriors QueenOfCups and Aegon VII, they were another opponent well-known to them. They had faced each other several times, securing almost effortless victories in the past. However, as was the case in the previous round, in this season, nothing was guaranteed. If they found themselves in the fifth match with only one loss, it meant that they, too, had improved over time and were rivals to be watched closely and feared.

The last rays of summer sun beat down on the ground, warming the surrounding air. At the end of the march to reach the battlefield, the 56 warriors in FDH's ranks, determined to give their all to win this match, saw their 66 rivals ready for battle. The numbers of both alliances were not far apart, differing by only 10. It was a good sign for Neik and his companions who were willing to give their all to secure victory today.

"We absolutely must give it our all. Winning this match could mean securing a spot among the top 16 even without a favorable result in the sixth round. I ask for your maximum commitment," were the first words from leader Steel96. The three decisive victories they had achieved had earned them a significant number of points to qualify among the top alliances. With today's rivals within their reach, it was crucial not to lose this match because they didn't know who they would face in the next round.

The beginning of hostilities was imminent. Few words were spoken; the fighters knew exactly what they had to do, and their well-practiced roles were no different from previous matches. Neik's role was to defeat as many enemy troops as possible with swift raids into the enemy defenses as soon as possible, and he couldn't wait for the match to begin.

The warriors were ready, and when the match started...

...The beginning was highly balanced. 

Both alliances managed to secure two buildings each. 

The decision to wait for the Ports to open seemed to be the same strategy for both FDH and BBS. The start was cautious to avoid risking troops unnecessarily in what promised to be a long encounter.

As the Ports opened...

...it was Steel96's alliance that came out on top!

They managed to capture both Lannister and Targaryen Ports and executed two swift swaps, placing Harlod and Napoleon Z in their defense.

After failing to secure any Ports themselves, BBS decided to switch to the offensive. They couldn't afford to wait any longer because these last two buildings promised a significant score per minute. Under the command of Aegon VII, who couldn't be in charge himself as he was defending a position under their control, they rallied eight forces and targeted Lannister Port, defended by Napoleon Z, which was the easier target between the two.

They saw the enemies approaching rapidly in the distance, and when they began to besiege the walls...

...the defense couldn't hold! 

Their timing was remarkable, and they were incredibly well-organized in their attack. FDH's reinforcements couldn't replace the ones being defeated in time, and the final decisive blow was delivered by JoeSomething.

"They were very skilled," Neik thought as he was one of those defeated and returning to the base. He wanted to immediately launch a counterattack, but Steel96 interrupted him, understanding his intentions, and said to the comrades, "The opening of Casterly Rock is imminent; let's focus on capturing that last one first. We'll deal with the lost position later!"

...once again, it was Log1c!

He was undoubtedly the fastest racer in the alliance, and having him on their side was a significant advantage for them.

After capturing Casterly Rock, FDH immediately organized attacks to reclaim Lannister Port, which had fallen earlier. The rally leaders gathered their troops, and in no time, they set out to recapture it, and...

...the attack was a success!

The defenses didn't hold up well against the relentless blows delivered by the opponents, and the hit suffered by The Knull was the decisive one that recaptured the building.

Everything was going according to their plan. They had 6 buildings on their side compared to just 1 for BBS, and they had an 8k point advantage.

And it was at that very moment that FDH's leaders put their plan into action: Attack the enemies at their base. Since they only had one position in their possession and couldn't send troops for reinforcement to defend against enemy attacks, it was the perfect time to do so. "The designated members, launch the attack!" Steel exclaimed. Neik, ready for this, set out to eliminate as many enemy troops as possible...!

...the blows he dealt were incredible. After a series of brutal attacks where he emerged victorious against all the enemies he challenged, and with no more enemy troops to eliminate, Neik decided to go and capture the last remaining building possessed by BBS. Meanwhile, BBS couldn't organize rallies due to their lack of soldiers. Everything had gone perfectly!

The advantage after this phase was so significant that not even the Mines would be able to make up for it with opponents at the mercy of FDH's strategy, which once again worked wonders. "We just need to maintain control and score as many points as possible to secure our spot in the Ultimate Conquest," were the words that continued to motivate the members. At this point, they could do as they pleased on the battlefield, with the absent rivals who had accepted defeat against opponents who were simply stronger and more organized!

The standout fighters of the match were:

For FDH, Steel96: He annihilated as many enemy troops as possible, hitting his opponents hard and leading his alliance to victory as a true leader.

For BBS, Vorchamaster: During the phases when they managed to capture various buildings like Lannister Port, it was his rally that inflicted the most damage to the enemy defenses.

At the end of the match and the day, they celebrated their victory and... their qualification for the Ultimate Conquest! The points they obtained, as hoped, were enough to secure a place among the top sixteen alliances in the regular season of the super league.

"Congratulations to everyone; I'm really proud of the result we achieved despite everything that happened to our group," Steel said to the members of his alliance. "We will face the upcoming matches with confidence and give our best, knowing that we have already achieved our set goal!" he concluded.

Qualifying with a match to spare was truly remarkable. Will they manage to secure some victories in the Ultimate Conquest against the strong opponents awaiting them? We will find out...