Chapter 1238: Make Your Choice
Chapter 1238: Make Your Choice
No matter what choice the Composting Team made, they would lose something valuable. There were severe disagreements within the team.
Two of the members wanted to push their advantage and keep fighting.
Two of the members wanted to retreat.
The last member wanted to go a middle way, but even going the middle way would cost them something.
The Leader wanted to keep attacking, but he couldn't just ignore his members. During battle, everyone was supposed to follow the Leader's orders without question, but right now, there was a short moment of pause.
Voice transmissions were insanely fast, allowing them to have an entire conversation within just a tiny instant.
One side kept saying that they couldn't afford to lose an Avatar. Losing some Momentum was horrible, but Momentum could be regained. An Avatar could not be regained.
The other side kept saying that losing too much Momentum would lead to a downward spiral. Comprehending Laws would be harder, which meant they needed to use more resources, which meant they needed to earn more money, which would become even harder with a weaker Momentum. They argued that losing so much Momentum and Karmic Luck could cripple their futures.
The last side said that they didn't need to fight nor flee. They would still lose some Karmic Luck, but that wouldn't be so bad. They had lost nothing yet. They just had to cut their losses and try again.
In the end, the Leader decided to go with the middle way for one primary reason. If he ordered them to attack, some of the more passive members might desert and flee. This would lead to the entire team losing.
"The Composting Team is willing to consider this battle a stalemate," the Leader transmitted to the other team.
This was the middle way. If both teams agreed that their powers were about equal, they could stop the fight without losing any Momentum. However, they also wouldn't gain any Momentum. The only thing that would change was Karmic Luck. Both teams had invoked the Natural Mandate, and if they didn't go through with enforcing it, it would be like they had lied.
"We're at a disadvantage," the Leader of Team Wooly Sheep transmitted to the others. "We might take some of them down, but the chances are higher that we will all lose an Avatar. We've already killed the three traitors. As members of Team Wooly Sheep, their wealth belongs to us. This is a substantial gain. If we push further, we will overextend."
Abyssal Depths didn't comment. She believed that accepting the stalemate was the correct move.
"There's another danger," Spring of Joy added after a short moment of silence. "They have seen our powers, and when the Avatars of the traitors lose control of their Soul Spaces, they will also see how much wealth they have. If we push them, they will tell the teams lurking around Wild's Summit about our location, wealth, and power."
Sebastian didn't comment. That was because he knew how things would develop.
"Are you against initiating combat, though?" Kyle asked the others with a transmitted laugh.
"Yes," the Leader of Team Wooly Sheep transmitted.
"Not entirely, no," Spring of Joy replied. "I was just highlighting the dangers."
Abyssal Depths wanted to say that she was against battling the Composting Team. It was the smartest thing to do. They had already gained so much.
Yet, once again, she was reminded of all the times she had doubted Kyle before being proven wrong. The only time she hadn't been proven wrong was when she had simply agreed with Kyle.
"If you decide to fight, I will follow you," she transmitted. This was the most support she could give Kyle. Completely agreeing with him just felt wrong, but she also wouldn't disagree with him.
Sebastian didn't make any comments. He just showed a small smirk.
"Life is a constant battle for resources and survival," Kyle transmitted to the others. "Life procreates without end. Living beings multiply much faster than the resources living beings need to stay alive. Running from an irresistible threat is smart, but running from a winnable battle is dumb."
"This is not about life and death," the Leader of Team Wooly Sheep countered with annoyance. "We are not animals in forests. We are Immortals! We are not of the same team, but we are still working together. There are no eternal enemies, only eternal benefits. A hard sword breaks while a flexible sword endures. Resisting avoidable danger easily leads to a confrontation with unavoidable danger."
"Giving your enemy leeway will surely make them give you leeway as well," Kyle transmitted with a snort. "They surely just made a mistake. If we give them another chance, they are sure to thank and support us in the future. I always gave food to the rats in my house. After all, I'm certain that they will thank me, see that I'm a good person, and move to a different house."
Kyle's Energy intensified as his voice grew darker. "What a load of absolute bullshit. If there were a lion in my house, I would run away or give it some food, hoping that it doesn't attack me, but these are not lions. They are fucking rats. They followed us, snuck up on us, made use of our traitors, only fought us with a number and Realm advantage, and as soon as the battle looked a slight bit dangerous, they're trying to fuck off."
"Leave or stay," Kyle transmitted. "I am offering a dissolution of the alliance. If you're willing to accept, you may wish to do whatever you want."
"Are you insane?!" the Leader shouted via voice transmission. "Do you even notice your boundless arrogance?! Rats?! They are five Adept Immortals with an Energy advantage! You're consumed by unending greed and ambition! You jump on anything that you believe is valuable! If you were a fish, you would be the first one in the pond that dies to the fisherman!"
"Stay or leave," Kyle transmitted, not commenting on her voice transmission at all. "You may even keep all of the valuables of your teammates. Isn't that what you want?"
The Leader's Energy fell into chaos as a bonfire of rage ignited inside her. "I am not after the resources! I'm trying to save your life!"
"And I'm trying to save your life!" Kyle transmitted back. "What is it that you want?! Do you want to go on hundreds of Excursions until you're merely a Medium Immortal? I've heard a bunch of metaphors from you during this conversation. Here's one of mine: Rip the fucking band-aid off instead of slowly pulling on it!"
"Last chance! Team Ankylosaurus will fight! I am offering a dissolution of the alliance. You may keep the loot of your traitorous teammates. If you do not accept right now, the alliance will remain, and you will be forced to help us in the battle!"
"Make your choice!"
"Now!"
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