Chapter 120: How The Game Is Played.

She took out two gloves of hers and then took out a large ball that was like a watermelon in size. It had a deep groove along its surface and two small wings on its side that started to flap in the next instant and even vanished from the sight of everyone.

And as she took it out, the ball seemed to hate her hands so much that it didn't even rest there for one second.

Armed with her deep experience as an ex-pro player, she skillfully controlled the ball while letting it jump from one glove to another in a very smooth way. "This is the right and professional way to control the ball," she said.

"But we have only one free hand," Pat said while glancing at the nearby Lan who had to hold the hammer with two hands, "and some even had none."

"That's why some of you will have to sacrifice their weapons when we have the ball," she said before adding, "and the game won't be won by just obtaining the ball for the longest time, but through throwing it."

She took out a sword of her own all of sudden before she turned over herself and hit the ball towards Lan.

She chose him because he was the only one finding trouble dealing with his weapon. The ball moved fast, very fast towards him yet the next moment he moved the hammer in hand in reflex and managed to hit the ball, sending it towards her direction again.

And this time she ran to the front, creating more space with the fast running ball while covering more space. When the ball reached her, she simply received it using her gloves and skillfully controlled it to reach her other hand.

Swiftly enough she let the sword fall to the other hand before she received the ball with the second hand. She kept doing that while running before turning around again and hit the ball back to Lan.

And Lan was much prepared for her action this time as he perfectly hit the ball with his hammer, sending it accurately towards her again.

"See?" she didn't continue this as she stored away her sword and returned in wide steps towards them while perfectly controlling the ball, "this is how the game is played. It's a teamwork, not just some hitters aim for the ace and decoys and some tanks defend the final line. It's a flexible game where you must be ready to play at any time and save your team from any hard situations and prevent the ball from being lost."

Her words left a deep impact inside every one of those standing in front of her or beside the field. Her performance just now was an eye opener for those who knew nothing about the game and its normal tactics.

"You need to learn how to control the ball even when you are off balance, how to perfectly send it towards the other team members, best to select someone in free position and having clear and wider vision over the field, and of course to act and intercept the opponent team and prevent them from scoring."

"This…" Pat couldn't help but suck a cold breath of air.

"I know… quite challenging and very hard," she nodded, "why did you think no disciple team could even compete in the ace league? It's not an easy game, but a real fight. Hell, even some fights inside the outer battlefield are even determined by this game!"

They could only nod before she retreated to the side, "now we'll start with trying to control the ball and pass it," she said before adding, "the hitters will work against the defenders; five against five. One team will have one decoy each."

"But we have three," Rick muttered.

"One has to wait his turn for the next test then," Rana simply said, "after all the number of them is very few and they'll have time to play to their heart's content."

She turned to Jim who just was standing up from a brutal fall. "Come here for a second please," she shouted and he didn't decline a moment of rest from this torture.

"Now all the shapeshifters come and touch him," she ordered and Jim had to step outside the pitch for the shapeshifters to use their ability. "Before even leaving your house you need to perform this so no team scout would see through the trick."

"Can they see through our camouflage?" one of the shapeshifters couldn't help but wonder in amazement.

"They won't," she shook her head, "but they can put tracking spells over you so they'll determine which one of you is decoy and which one is the real ace even before stepping inside the pitch."

"Amazing," Jim muttered, "this is some serious preparation!"

"Indeed," she laughed, "c'mon, let them touch you and turn into your shape."

The next minute there were six of Jim standing next to each other. The shapeshifters even mimicked his gears as well but she warned. "You can mimic his outer appearance but not his true potential. So don't show off your true gear powers early in the game and leave it until the right moment to score a goal."

"Oh," Jim found her words logical, "I'll try to remember that," he muttered before she glanced at the other five and added, "your role is to act as his decoy. Try all the time to show great speed and be in great positions to score. This way you'll take the hype off his shoulders."

"Yes ma'am," they all said in unison while they already were aware of the game and its tactics and secrets.

So they all knew what she was referring to.

"Now go and resume training," she said to Jim before turning to others, "one for each team, and the other three Jims can stand here waiting for their turn."

Jim didn't hurry to move on as he watched the two identical copies of him entering the field. Unlike any spell he tried to use and failed, their camouflage was warmly accepted by the enchanted game field and didn't cancel their abilities.

"Interesting," he couldn't help but sigh, "this game is really interesting."

And Rana only laughed from the side while being amused by his newbie reactions.