He turned to the entire Clementine's Sword & Magic Academy group and spoke in a calm, clear voice.
"Listen up. We're dividing the academy into groups of seven. Each group will act independently but stay coordinated. I will act alone."
The girls from the Phoenix Class immediately pouted, their voices overlapping with reluctance.
"Leader, why alone? We want to stay with you!"
"We can protect you and fight together!"
The boys, however, looked a little relieved. Although Gray was the leader, he wasn't forcing everyone to follow his every move.
He was giving them autonomy.
Gray continued, not replying to the girl's pouty words.
"I've prepared communication stones for each group. If you need help, use them immediately, and I'll appear as fast as I can. Each squad can choose their own temporary leader to make decisions on the spot. I won't micromanage you. Just capture as many strongholds and tokens as possible. Prioritize survival and coordination."
