"If the circumstances allow it, we're going with your idea of shepherding our targets towards the monolith," said Corinne, filling Jay in on their plans.

During their journey along the road that led to the stone pillar, she'd informed Jay about the situation in Navaras and back at the Full Moon Sanctuary—neither of which were faring too well.

Randiel had finally taken the city out of lockdown, but was menacing the local populace in his search for Jay and Marko, describing them as 'Terrorists who attempted to burn Navaras to ashes'. Jay found Randiel's description especially amusing considering he'd specifically tried not to burn anything, and that it was Tara, Yandiel's bodyguard, that had attempted to set the neighbourhood aflame.

"What do you mean by 'if circumstances allow it'?" Jay replied. After one attack already scuppered by a lack of information, he was determined to learn everything he could about this next one.

"Yagao's in charge of this ambush. Since he's the strongest, the plan of attack needs to revolve around him. According to the people on this island, there's significance to the monolith. Some say it's an artifact of the Titan itself. If the monolith is protected by some strange magic and Yagao can't use it with his Harmony then we need to re-plan the mission."

"Understood."

Although it had been over a month since he'd seen Yagao fight, Jay couldn't forget how easily the Limitless Ascent gladiator had demolished Vega. Jay considered himself to be stronger now than Vega was back then, but he still didn't think he could match up against Yagao.

Although it stung his pride, Jay agreed with centering their strategy around the earth harmoniser, especially in a battlefield containing a tower of rock as ammunition for him.

"We're almost there," Marko called out from in front of them. After one too many barbs from Carla, the young gladiator had tired of her snide remarks and switched his attention onto Felix. The other member of team Scorpion was hardly better company however, and had barely spoken to Marko. The tight-lipped gladiator rarely graced him with a two sentence reply and constantly scanned his surroundings instead of engaging in any conversation.

What lovely allies we're spending our time with…

As the trees thinned and all other vegetation grew sparser, Jay looked up at the monolith once again. A snaking scarf of lush green life crept up the spear of stone, almost as if it had fled the dust-strewn dirt Jay stood on. The vibrant vegetation swayed in the wind, unshielded by any surrounding canopy. Rubbery stems whipped back and forth, but refused to break under the pressure and continued to cling onto their home in the sky.

Every member of their party stopped talking to stare at the towering stone pillar.

Jay's gaze climbed even higher.

The shimmering flock that had captivated him previously was nowhere to be seen. Jay saw only a single bird this time. It perched on one of the swinging branches that jutted out from near the top of the stone, sitting close to the monolith so as not to get flung off by the wind. It leaned forward, bending its head and nipping its beak at the very branch it stood on.

"I thought you were supposed to be scouts?" said Carla, her nasal voice not just questioning Kestrel, but mocking them too. "What kind of an ambush location is this? It's the only clearing for miles, they'll have so many sight-lines here, where will we hide? We could've attacked from the treetops literally anywhere else but here. Why give up the high ground so easily?"

Jay stared at Carla as she regurgitated more knowledge she'd surely gained from a book and not experience. This wasn't the perfect spot for an ambush, but the perfect spot didn't exist. And even if it did, it'd be too obvious to catch anyone off-guard.

"Wait for them in the trees?" Jay responded, "Have you forgotten where we are? A bad gust of wind'll fold them and fling us into the road. There goes your surprise and your high ground.

"Have you ever ambushed anyone before, Carla? Sight-lines are only important because they control where your opponent is looking. It doesn't matter if they have sight-lines, since they'll all be looking up at the monolith."

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"You really think the loggers who've walked this route hundreds of times will get distracted by some stupid stone?" Carla shot back.

"No, but do you really need to worry about them? A bunch of lumberjacks aren't the threat here. The gladiators guarding them are. As long as we keep their eyes away we're fine. Plus, if they're disguised, it'll be an easy way to tell the gladiators apart."

Jay's lip curled as Carla began to pout, she'd taken his bait once which made it all the more likely she'd bite a second time.

"And what do you mean give up the high ground? We've got a bunch of high ground right there," said Jay, pointing up at the monolith.

"Great planning, Jay. You're really showing your experience of… one failed assassination and a scouting mission turned bar brawl. Have you forgotten that your whole plan was to make the gladiators look at the monolith? What a surprise it'll be when we attack from where they're looking towards."

"That's why we attack from somewhere else first, then make a second attack from the monolith while they're distracted. Come on, Carla. I thought you guys spoke about strategy before the mission!"

Jay looked towards the rest of the group for support. None of them were smiling.

"You would do well not to antagonise your allies, Jay," Yagao said sternly. "Carla may hesitate to protect you in battle because of your words. Is that a price you're willing to pay in order to satisfy a smidgen of your anger? Perhaps you believe that it's worth it. I do not. Die on your own time—not when it leaves your alliance at a disadvantage."

Yagao's eyes flicked between Jay and Carla, making it abundantly clear that the message was for both of them before he silently walked over to the pillar. Jack and Corinne followed him forward and Marko shrugged before joining them.

Thanks for the help, guys…

By the time Jay turned around, Yagao had already reached the monolith. He raised his palm up to its surface and closed his eyes. After meditating for several seconds he looked back at both squads.

"It's resisting my commands, but I can still control it. We will move forward with the original plan, however the monolith will not be as large a boon as we had originally hoped."

"Well, we can't expect everything to go smoothly," Jack replied. "Who do you want with you in the pillar team?"

"You would be the ideal candidate as you have the best defensive and ranged capabilities. However, I think it's best if you coordinate the initial attack. I have no other preferences, do you?"

"Not really. Let's keep it simple then—Kestrel hides with me for the initial strike while Scorpion waits with you. Once we engage, you attack from above. Sound good?"

Yagao nodded. "Very well. Search for a location and prepare your strategy. Scorpion will wait within the monolith inside the chamber I shall carve. I will also prepare several traps in the ground surrounding the monolith, watch and remember where I place them so you do not fall foul to them during the ambush.

"With the exact timing of the supply run unclear, we shall prepare for an attack at nightfall as agreed previously. Corrine, you shall scout ahead as planned. When our targets leave, you race them here and inform us, that should give us at least an hour for our final preparations. Is everything clear?"

Kestrel and Scorpion both agreed. Jay felt tempted to give a mock salute, but decided against it.

No point in antagonising his allies any further…

Jay pressed his knuckles into a swaying rubber tree, forcing his mind onto the task at hand.

"What do you think about using the trees as some sort of slingshot, guys? It's a good way to close the distance."

"Well, slingshot didn't exactly work out for you last time you tried it, Jay," replied Marko, his smug grin revealing exactly how much he enjoyed his joke.

"You too?" Jay exclaimed. "That Carla arsehole's bad enough, you don't need to join in mate."

"Apologies, apologies. Although with skin that thin you might have to reconsider your career as a gladiator, Jay. I've heard the two don't mesh well."

"Enough, Marko," said Jack, scratching his chin while looking towards the tree Jay pointed at. "We considered something like that, the trees could probably take it but the forest is too sparse here. It would be too obvious. I think our best bet is to get reasonably close to the road but opposite the monolith. There's no need to over-complicate things."

While Jay knew the value in a simple strategy, he couldn't help but doubt their plan. Had Jack, Corinne, and Samira really spent three days thinking of a plan for this attack just for it to devolve into hide and then jump into a surprise attack? That had been their plan last time, and the time before that too.

Granted, Yagao being on the battlefield made their ambush little more than a distraction, but it still felt wrong.

Barely contained nerves bounced through Jay's mind. The claws of nausea churned his stomach, filling him with the creeping dread that he was in for a full-on fight, not a simple ambush. He tried to squash his apprehension but didn't get very far. Jay trusted Jack and Yagao to do what was best for the alliance. Since a successful ambush was far more desirable than a failed one, he shouldn't need to worry about it.

Jay's flawed logic didn't do much about the nerves.

The pressure of cold metal against his spine did, however. Ping's senses soothed him as the sounds of the forest drowned out the doubts in his mind. Even locked into an alliance that valued only itself, it was nice to have someone on his side.

If their information was correct, It would be quite a while before Corinne returned with information on their target's arrival. Jay, Jack, and Marko took their time walking around the monolith until they found a spot that they all liked.

Then, they waited.

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