( That same afternoon )
Luke, Cervantez, and Jerome gathered in Cervantez's office at the DarkSky guild headquarters to celebrate their triumph over the demons.
"SkyLion you are a genius….. I've never seen anyone deploy such a weird wall strategy before, but it was flawless!" Jerome complimented as he seemed to be over the moon with this victory.
"Indeed, recruiting him to my guild was the best decision I've ever made. Today's fight was exemplary" Cervantez added, as he toasted a glass to Luke.
In his heart, Cervantez was indeed very content with how the fight progressed today, as after witnessing how many levels his guild members gained, Cervantez truly felt that every penny that he invested into building those archer towers and walls was worth it.
On average, an archer from the Dark-Sky guild killed anywhere between 10-20 demons each, while a mage killed about 30-40.
This helped the average archer gain 7-14 levels from this fight, while the average mage gained 18-24.
It was an astronomical gain, everything considered, as with just 1.5 hours worth of shooting, they gained more levels than they would have otherwise in a couple months.
A lot of this could be accredited to Luke's strategy of funneling them into kill zones which made killing them fast and easy, however, while the strategy deserved most of the credit, the execution could also not be ignored, as the execution was also top-notch for first time war fighters.
"How are your men faring? Jerome? Mine are begging me to let them kill more demons…. The victory has got into their heads" Luke said, chuckling, as Jerome began laughing too at the comment.
"Mine are the same, they tell me 'Let us kill more of them demon bastards'. But I had to restrain them from giving the retreating demon forces a chase.
Our advantage is our high ground and fortified positions. If we enter a dog-fight with the demons we will be slaughtered like pigs.
These men don't understand just how terrifying the enemy really is" Jerome replied, as he let out a mirthless sigh.
Although the three of them were celebrating their victory today, they knew the war was far from over.
While the demons had fallen into their trap this time, the three of them knew the demons would surely return stronger.
While their current strategy worked wonders today, the next time, it would likely be less effective, as the demons, despite not being as intelligent as humans, were capable of rational thought and would undoubtedly adapt to human tactics.
"Well, what is going to happen will surely happen….. Let's not fret about it now. Cheers" Cervantez said, raising a toast to Jerome as the three men clicked glasses and gulped their drinks.
*********
( Meanwhile on the global forums )
Videos recorded of the demon war by the DarkSky guild members went viral on the global forums, providing the first glimpse of players engaging against the demon army.
The footage, capturing the battle in stunning detail, showcased the precision and efficiency with which the DarkSky guild repelled the demonic assault, causing many netizens to feel excited about the prospect of fighting demons.
"Did you see how they funneled the demons? Brilliant strategy!" one player commented, clearly impressed.
"The mages were on fire! Literally!" another added, referencing the powerful spells unleashed during the fight.
"That was some serious teamwork. DarkSky just set the bar," someone else noted, acknowledging the guild's coordinated effort.
As players continued to dissect the battle, many focused on the astonishing leveling increases experienced by the DarkSky members.
The guild's archers and mages had gained multiple levels in a single battle, a feat that usually took months to achieve.
"Those level gains are insane! How do I get in on that action?" someone asked, echoing a sentiment shared by many others who wished they could share in the rewards of the battle.
The desire to join the fight was palpable, but so was the frustration that DarkSky did not allow outsiders to participate.
Players expressed their eagerness to help repel the next demon wave, longing for the opportunity to gain experience and levels.
"I wish we could join in and help repel the next wave. Imagine the experience points!" one player lamented, his excitement tempered by the reality of DarkSky's exclusivity.
"It's frustrating that DarkSky won't let outsiders participate. We want a piece of the action too!" another voiced, highlighting the common sentiment among those watching from the sidelines.
Amidst the admiration and envy, discussions about recruitment in the DarkSky guild surfaced.
Many players were curious if the guild was still accepting new members, eager to join what they perceived as a fast ticket to gain tonnes of levels.
"Does anyone know if DarkSky is still recruiting? I'd love to join them," one hopeful player inquired, sparking a thread of speculation and interest.
"I've heard they're not taking new members right now, but it wouldn't hurt to try. Joining them is a sure shot express train to the top," someone replied, reflecting the widespread recognition of DarkSky's prowess.
While some skeptics doubted the sustainability of such tactics, predicting that the demons would soon adapt, and that the leveling gains would not remain so exaggerated.
The DarkSky guild's triumph still served as a beacon of hope for many, proving that the demon army could be beaten and that too quite comprehensively if the conditions were right.
Players across the forums hence began eagerly planning their own strategies, clearly inspired by the DarkSky guilds victory, seeming determined to emulate their success.
Unfortunately for them however, most of their planning was for naught.
This miracle win was not a result of a single days preparation or planning, but rather a result of months of constant efforts.
The walls and the archer towers did not build themselves overnight or without spending significant money and this was a point that many missed when dissecting the war.
What the DarkSky guild achieved was a result of Luke's strategic genius, the high quality of guild members and Cervantez's future insight, and without all three of these components, repeating this success was impossible.