GoTWiC [SoW] S18R3 "Time for revange?"

The new match brought Stanko and his alliance an opponent they knew very well. It was UTB, one of the strongest and most active alliances they had already faced twice, and both previous encounters had ended in defeat.

For that reason, this match was not just another battle for Stanko. In his mind, this was a chance for revenge. Twice they had to watch their opponent take the victory, twice they had tried to find a way to counter them, and both times they were left with no answer. This time, Stanko wanted things to change.

However, as he looked at the deployment of forces on the battlefield, he knew it would be very difficult. UTB was not an opponent you could just attack. Their activity, number of players, and the way they reacted to every change in the situation made them very dangerous. Stanko knew this, which is why he decided to ask for help from a few very strong players. If they couldn't rely on numbers, they had to rely on quality and good coordination. “If we're ever going to beat them, this is the time to give it our all,” Stanko said to his teammates. Inside, however, he had a much quieter thought: I just hope this will be enough.

When the match began, Stanko didn't want to waste time. He immediately formed two powerful armies, while leaving the third as support that could be deployed where it was needed most. His first target was Armory Castle. The plan was clear, take the left flank, solidify their position, and try to bring the dragon to their base. If they could manage to control that part of the map, it would open up the possibility of scoring important points and perhaps creating an advantage they could later maintain.

Stanko led his units forward. However, as soon as the battle began, it became clear how chaotic this match would be. There was a huge number of players on both sides, and the armies were clashing with one another on almost every part of the battlefield.

Stanko tried to focus on the opposing cavalry, but in the chaos, he no longer knew exactly who he was attacking. He looked at the screen and just muttered, “Whatever, who they are... just stop them.” His original plan was starting to fall apart before his eyes, but he didn't have time to think about it. He had to keep going.

The goal was no longer a perfect attack. The goal was to neutralize as many enemy units as possible and create enough space for his teammates.

Stanko continued to press the enemy lines, and after a great battle, something finally happened that restored his hope. The opponents began to retreat toward their base. Stanko immediately noticed the change and thought to himself: This is it. Just keep going. If we push hard enough now, maybe we can break them.

But as he advanced, he realized the retreat didn't mean UTB was defeated. On the contrary, the opponents had simply regrouped. More and more of their players began to arrive on the battlefield, and what had looked like their chance for a comeback just moments before was starting to turn into a new fight for survival. Stanko looked around and saw that the enemy was closing in again. “How are there so many of them?” he grumbled through his teeth.

Although he didn't like the situation, he didn't want to pull his troops back. He didn't give up even when it became clear the odds were against them.

The fight continued, and Stanko began to realize what he had been trying to ignore from the very beginning. UTB was stronger. Their numbers and activity allowed them to appear almost everywhere Stanko tried to make a breakthrough. Even the reinforcements he called in failed to change the balance of power. Key choke points remained under the enemy's control, and every attempt to capture them ended in a new conflict.

Stanko, however, did not want to attack their strongest positions. If they couldn't break through the wall where it was strongest, they had to find a place where it was weaker. “We're not going to keep hitting them where they're waiting for us,” he said. “Look for the less-defended objectives. If we can't go through the front door, we'll get in another way.” It was his new strategy. He wasn't thinking just about the big win anymore. He was thinking about how to get the most out of every situation.

He soon found a poorly defended building and launched an attack.

After a fierce battle, he managed to capture it. For a few moments, it seemed he had finally done something that would give his team an advantage. Stanko looked at the captured fortress and smiled. “We've got him!” However, that smile didn't last long. None of his teammates came to help him.

Stanko waited. He looked around, hoping to see reinforcements. But instead, opponents appeared. One by one, and then in ever-increasing numbers. Stanko knew immediately what was coming. I'm alone. I'm against them alone again. He tried to hold his position, but UTB quickly surrounded his army. His units couldn't hold out for long. The castle he had managed to capture soon fell back into enemy hands, and Stanko's troops were neutralized.

For a moment, he just remained silent. He was disappointed, but he wasn't ready to give up. He quickly rallied his troops and headed for the second objective. However, this time he no longer had any illusions that they could defeat UTB in a direct confrontation. As he watched the opposing armies move across the map, he finally accepted what had been clear to him for some time. We're not going to beat them today. As much as he wanted revenge, he had to be realistic. They were simply stronger than us at the moment.

The thought hit him, but at the same time, it helped him change his approach. At the start of the match, his only goal was victory. Then he wanted revenge for previous defeats. Now he knew they had to find another way to not leave this match empty-handed. He looked at the score and noticed they were very close to 30k points. In that moment, everything took on a new meaning.

“Guys, forget about having to beat them,” Stanko said. “If we can't knock them off, then let's take what we can get. We're close to 30k points. That's our goal now.”

For him, it was a difficult moment, as he had to accept that the original plan hadn't worked out. But the fight wasn't over. If they couldn't take the win, they could fight for the best possible score and better rewards. And for that, they needed one more thing, a dragon.

Stanko knew this was their last big chance. He looked at his teammates and issued an order: “Everyone on one dragon! Don't split up. If we go together, we can get it to our base. Those are the key points for us.”

His teammates complied. The entire situation on the battlefield changed again. The Dragon became the center of attention, and Stanko knew that UTB would do everything it could to take it from them. As soon as they tried to lead him toward their base, the opponents launched an attack. Stanko saw their units approaching from all sides. “Hold formation! Don't split up!” he shouted.

The battle exploded again. The opponents tried to steal the dragon, but this time Stanko and his teammates had the numbers advantage at that particular point. The dragon was slowly moving toward their base. Every step was important. Stanko knew they couldn't afford a mistake. Just a little more. We can't lose it now.

One of the opposing attacks nearly disrupted their formation. Several of their players were pushed back, and the dragon was in danger for a moment. Stanko reacted immediately. “Don't let them take it! Everyone, advance!” His units launched another attack. This time, they weren't trying to capture the castle or destroy the enemy. They all had only one goal, to get the dragon to the base.

After another great battle, they succeeded. The dragon reached their base, and their score increased significantly.

Stanko looked at the score and knew they had achieved what they had been fighting for to the very end. They didn't beat UTB, but they reached 30k points and secured better rewards.

When the match ended, Stanko just stared at the score for a few moments. Another loss to UTB. Another game where they hadn't managed to find a way to beat this alliance. This time, however, he saw the situation differently. He was disappointed, but he wasn't broken.

“We have to be honest with ourselves,” he said to his teammates. “They were better today. Even with the reinforcements, we weren't close enough to beat them. But now we know what we're missing.”

Stanko knew the biggest problem wasn't just one mistake or one bad attack. UTB was more active, had more players in key positions, and used its numbers much better. His alliance wasn't at that level yet. But that's precisely why this defeat didn't have to be the end of the story.

As he thought about the entire match, he realized how much his goal had changed. He entered the fight wanting revenge. Then he tried to find a way to win. When it became clear that UTB was currently stronger, he had to change his plan. In the end, their goal was no longer to win at all costs, but to score 30k points and get the best rewards they could from a match they couldn't win.

Stanko looked at his teammates and smiled. “One day we'll be ready for them. Just not today.”

A loss was still a loss, but they had taken something much more important from it than the win itself. Now they knew how far they still had to go. They had to be more active, more organized, and more numerous. They had to learn how to counter alliances like UTB and not rely on just a few strong players.

Their next goal was clear, to break into the top 30. And Stanko knew the road to that goal would be tough. However, he no longer thought of the previous two losses as proof that they couldn't win. He saw them as lessons.

“We lost today,” he thought as the match ended, “but if we learn from this, maybe next time the story will be different.”

Revenge against UTB would have to wait. This time, they took away 30k points, better rewards, and one very important experience. And sometimes, it's the loss that shows you just how much more you have to improve before you become strong enough to defeat your greatest opponent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE8j6GW-lpg