GoTWiC [AoH] S5R12 "Teammate"

After yet another painful defeat, Stanko couldn't stop thinking about the previous match. His mind kept replaying the moments when his team could have reacted better, faster, or smarter. He didn't like to make excuses or blame his teammates. As the team leader, he believed the responsibility was his first and foremost. However, as much as the loss stung, he knew there was no time for regret. A new match was on the horizon, representing a fresh opportunity to finally prove their worth.

This time, the atmosphere was significantly different. The team received a major boost with the addition of the experienced player Qczol, who was known for his excellent clan control and timely support. Alongside him, JOKER, their strongest player, also returned to the lineup, whose experience had many times tipped the scales in the toughest situations. However, Stanko knew that every advantage also brought a new obstacle.

The system matched them against extremely strong opponents, and the biggest favorite to win was House Lannister, composed mostly of experienced NBe players,

while the Starks were made up of players from different alliances and, in Stanko's opinion, looked like a team that had just been assembled.

As the countdown to the match's start entered its final seconds, Stanko took a deep breath and looked at the map. “This is it. We have a team that can win. We just have to stay calm and not repeat the mistakes from last time,” he thought as the countdown finished.

As soon as the match started, there was no time to wait.

“Send the troops now! Let's finish off the Strongholds!” he said over the voice chat, and everyone immediately began executing the plan. Their team opted for Spear camps, just like the Lannisters, while the Starks tried to counter them.

The first minutes were spent continuously sending armies and coordinating precisely, and thanks to the excellent organization, they managed to complete the initial objectives much faster than they had expected. However, what worried Stanko and the other teammates the most was conquering the neighboring clan. “Follow the troops; if we capture one, someone must immediately send the main forces,” Stanko said, but after the first attack, they failed to capture the clan. Fortunately, the other opponents didn't succeed either, which made things easier for Stanko.

Shortly after, they conquered the neighboring clan as well.

A smile appeared on Stanko's face.

“Excellent... this is exactly what we needed. Now everything will be much easier.”

Without much hesitation, he ordered a new attack.

"Focus on the Dragon Pits! I'll take one, JOKER, you take the other! The rest of you, be ready to provide support!"

The battles were fierce, but thanks to good coordination, they managed to capture both Dragon Pits.

As the icing on the cake, the catapults fell shortly after, earning them additional points. Everything was going almost perfectly.

“EXCELLENT! NOW WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE GLORY! IF WE CAPTURE THAT, WE'LL BE VERY CLOSE TO FIRST PLACE!” said Stanko with a big smile.

For the first time in a long time, he felt that his team was truly in control of the entire match. Qczol held his clan without any problem, JOKER dominated the fights, and the other players flawlessly followed every command.

“This is what real teamwork looks like. Let's just not lose our focus.”

The attack on Glory was the next great challenge.

“JOKER, IT'S THE TWO OF US! WHOEVER WINS, EVERYONE ELSE SEND SUPPORT IMMEDIATELY!” he shouted.

Thousands of soldiers clashed in front of Glory.

However, despite their best efforts, Glory remained in enemy hands. It was a powerful infantryman from the Lannister horde. 

A moment of silence fell.

“It's a shame... but it's not over. We're still ahead. We just keep to the plan.”

“Alright, never mind! Focus on the other buildings! We can't stop now!”

The team listened to him. They still had a great position and enough time to hold their advantage.

But then everything changed.

While watching the map, Stanko noticed that one of our clans had started to change color.

He looked more closely.

It was the clan defending Qczol.

He felt a knot in his stomach.

“No... why now?”

Dozens of enemy marches appeared on the map. The Lannisters organized a massive attack and sent reinforcements from all directions. Qczol was trying to hold out, but the number of opposing armies kept growing.

“QUICK! EVERYONE ATTACK! WE CAN'T LOSE THE CLAN!” Stanko shouted.

Without a second thought, they all sent their armies to try and take it. Stanko sent his own army at the same time, nervously watching the situation. Every second felt like an eternity.

“Come on... hurry up Joker, start the rally...”

But every time they attacked, the Lannisters would respond with even more troops. Their organization was impeccable.

Stanko gripped the mouse tighter and tighter.

“We can't lose now... not after everything we've done...”

The only hope was JOKER's rally. However, even though he won that fight, the Lannisters remained to hold the clan.

At one point, a message appeared that the clan was lost.

Stanko was speechless.

As if time had stood still.

Everything they had built throughout the entire match disappeared in just a few moments.

First place was slowly slipping through their fingers.

“I CAN'T BELIEVE IT... THE SAME STORY AGAIN... WE HAD A HUGE LEAD...” he said through gritted teeth, trying to hide his disappointment.

For a moment, the thought crossed his mind that it was all over.

“Maybe it just wasn't meant to be. We were so close...”

But the very next moment, he dismissed that thought.

The captain couldn't give up.

"COME ON! IT'S NOT OVER! CAPTURE AS MANY MINE SHAFTS AS POSSIBLE! WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE!"

His words brought a little hope back to the team. Everyone immediately launched new attacks. Stanko attacked with one army, supported the other, and at the same time watched which Mine Shafts they could quickly take over.

Time was mercilessly running out.

With just over ten minutes left, they managed to capture the most Mine Shafts and close the score gap.

Stanko looked at the leaderboard.

The gap was no longer huge.

“Maybe we can still do it... just one more good move.”

However, it quickly became clear that the Mine Shafts wouldn't be enough.

The only hope was Glory.

“LET'S GO! THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE! JOKER, WE'RE GOING WITH TWO RALLIES! IF WE GET IN, EVERYONE ELSE, SEND SUPPORT IMMEDIATELY!”

Three massive armies advanced on Glory. The entire team watched the battle, holding their breath. Every percentage point gained filled them with new hope.

Stanko didn't take his eyes off the screen.

“Please... just this once...”

But the Lannisters responded perfectly again. Their reinforcements arrived before theirs, and the final attempt failed.

When the clock signaled the end of the match, the final score appeared on the screen.

Second place.

Stanko was silent for a few moments.

He was disappointed, but not because of the loss itself. What hurt the most was that they had been so close again. One lost clan had changed the entire course of the match.

“If we had managed to save Qczol's clan, we would be celebrating a victory today. It was so close...” he thought.

However, when the emotions had calmed down a bit, he looked at his teammates and realized that this match didn't just bring a loss. It also brought them experience. Qczol showed what a real organization looks like, JOKER once again proved how much he means to the team, and together they played a great match.

Stanko smiled slightly.

“Next time, we won't just be close. Next time, we'll win.”

He was sure that day would come. This time, first place had slipped through their fingers by a single moment, one lost clan, and a few seconds of delayed support. But because of that very thing, he knew they would come back even stronger, more prepared, and more determined to finally win Glory and prove they belonged at the very top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKKl7yKOm94