173. War Strategy

Some wars erupted suddenly, catching everyone off guard. Others simmered, giving you time to prepare—weeks, months, even years. But Kai often wondered, could one truly prepare for war, no matter how much time they were given?

It was a question he'd mulled over countless times in recent days. Now, as news of victory from Verdis arrived, his answer tilted toward "yes." Feroy's detailed reports confirmed it: not only had they subdued the enemy forces with minimal casualties, but they'd also captured Baron Idrin. A man Kai was very eager to meet.

But before that, there was much to do. Being the central figure in a war meant being everyone's go-to for answers—whether it was about weapons, supplies, the well-being of their soldiers, or calming the common folk to avoid an uproar. And those were just the major tasks. A thousand other matters tugged at his attention, each one demanding resolution.

Francis was a steady hand in all of this, yet even the seasoned administrator had no experience with war. For both of them, it was a constant learning process. Right now, they moved side by side toward the main meeting room, where the next set of plans would take shape.

Kai walked with purpose, his boots in sync with Francis's quieter steps. The long hallway was lit with sconces. And at the end of the corridor, a pair of double doors stood.

As Kai approached, one of the waiting servants stepped forward, bowing respectfully before pulling the heavy door open. Inside, familiar faces turned toward him: Killian, Gareth, Ansel, and a handful of others, including Francis's assistants. They all stood as Kai entered.

He raised a hand, gesturing for them to sit. "Let's not waste time. Take your seats."

The men complied, shuffling back into their chairs as Kai took his seat at the head of the table. Francis lowered himself into the chair beside him, smoothing out a piece of parchment before nodding at Kai, ready to assist.

Kai began without a preamble. "I'm sure everyone here knows that the first major battle of this fief war ended yesterday in our victory. And that victory has confirmed a few things for us."

He gestured toward Francis, who immediately picked up the thread.

"First of all, the blood drinkers. We've confirmed their involvement. All of them were killed in the battle, so we weren't able to interrogate any of them. Even Baron Idrin had no idea about their numbers—he only dealt with the three sent to him. But if they're deploying three to support one baron, we suspect there's an entire force of them in play."

The murmurs began immediately, rippling across the room. Kai raised a hand, silencing the chatter with a sharp look. Francis, undeterred, continued.

"Secondly, Baron Idrin confirmed that four out of the other five major nobles—barons and viscounts—have sworn allegiance to Lucian. The exception is House Redmont," he said, tapping a finger on the parchment. "They've chosen to remain neutral for now. Their lands are on the eastern border, far from the heart of the conflict. It seems they're content to watch and wait."

The room fell into a tense silence.

Kai nodded thoughtfully. "What else did he say?"

Francis adjusted his glasses, glancing at the report in front of him. "According to Feroy's interrogation, not much beyond his own forces and territory. Baron Idrin's knowledge about Lucian's larger plans is… limited. He was too terrified of us killing him to lie."

He paused before adding, "Apparently, the battle at Verdis wasn't supposed to happen the way it did. Idrin had originally planned to converge with Lucian's forces. But after receiving support from the blood drinkers, he grew overconfident and rushed into the conflict, severely underestimating us. His plan was to take Verdis and hold it until Lucian's forces arrived."

Francis offered a dry smile. "As we all know, that didn't go well for him."

"He was a fool, which worked in our favor. But we can't assume all our enemies will be that stupid," Kai said as a matter of fact.

His gaze shifted to the map sprawled across the table, every corner marked with the positions of noble houses, cities, villages, and fortresses. The Sylvan Enclave was large—larger than he'd imagined. Seeing its vastness laid out before him, dotted with critical locations and choke points, reminded him of the immense challenge ahead.

He straightened, raising his head to address Ansel. "What do you have on House Redmont? Are they really going to stay neutral? We can't afford any wild cards right now."

Ansel met his gaze. "From what my men have gathered, Viscount Redmont is a cautious man. Paranoid, even. He hates taking risks unless he's forced to. For now, he seems content to stay on the sidelines."

Kai nodded slowly. "Keep an eye on him, though. Even if he doesn't join Lucian, we'll still have four noble houses to deal with. That's more than enough trouble as it is."

The men around the table nodded, and Kai's brow furrowed in thought. Before he could say more, Killian leaned forward, gesturing toward two castles on the map.

"House Dorn," he said, pointing to a location midway between Verdis and Lucian's stronghold, Veyrin. "This castle here sits right in the middle of a straight line between us and Lucian's territory. If they plan to make a stand, this would be the ideal location. It's defensible and provides a perfect staging ground for the other noble houses to converge before launching an assault on Verdis—and then Veralt."

Killian's hand trailed west, to another castle. "If we move on Dorn quickly and take it, they'll likely regroup here, at Cragfort. The distance would slow them down, forcing the other houses to take time gathering their forces."

Kai stared at the map, Killian's words sparking an idea. Slowly, the outline of a plan began to take shape in his mind.

"We could use that delay," Kai said. "Instead of waiting for them to unite, we hit the other noble houses separately. Take them down piece by piece before they can combine their forces."

"Would it be wise to split our forces like that, Lord Arzan?" Ansel asked.

Kai shook his head. "We wouldn't split the core of our army. The main force stays intact. But smaller units—led by Enforcers—would move to harass the noble houses, disrupt their supply lines, and seize their territories before they could rally together."

His confidence made the men pause, though their faces remained uncertain.

"Even with Enforcers, a small unit against thousands of men?" one of them finally asked. "How is that feasible?" It was Gareth.

"I know not all of you know the latest innovations Balen and his men have been working on." Kai smiled faintly. "But trust me, there are many ways to achieve victory, even when we're outnumbered."

He glanced briefly at Balen, who nodded in acknowledgment, a proud smile tugging at his lips. The blacksmith's workshop had been buzzing with activity–nonstop as he created weapons, armour and golems.

"Smaller forces would mean our enemies underestimate us, and when they do…" He let the silence stretch, a knowing smile crossing his face. "…we strike."

The air seemed to shift, the weight of his words sinking in. He continued, "Moreover, golems and drones will move alongside us. We've already started to make a good number of them. None as big as Sentinel, but they'll serve us well."

"Other than that, we now have access to druidic magic. I've already sent it to the Mages under our command. Some have formed bonds with birds to keep an eye out on everything, reporting back to us. Coupled with Ansel and his sources…"

Ansel, seated near the back, couldn't help but smile at that. His reputation as the head of Watchers was slowly spreading and his eyes gleamed with the satisfaction of being acknowledged.

Kai raised his hand, emphasizing his point. "With Ansel's intel, we'll have as much information as we need. Intel is key in any war. And I haven't even mentioned our friends, the Lombards yet…"

At that, a murmur of interest rippled through the room. Many of them here knew what they were up to and had a hint about their fighting prowess.

"I've heard quite a few of them have the potential to be Enforcers," Kai added with a grin. "And that will be a surprise for our enemies when they least expect it. With all of this on our side, we can't lose."

He allowed a moment of silence to pass, watching as his men absorbed the information. They had seen his strategies work before, but this time, it would be different. This time, they were not just fighting for survival—they were fighting to subdue and capture their enemies.

"Any questions or better advice?" Kai asked.

None of them spoke. One thing was clear from their silence—they trusted him.

"Very well then," Kai said with a nod. "Let's move onto the next topic."

He leaned forward, spreading a new set of parchments across the table.

"The numbers we'll be fighting against…"

***

The war council stretched on for hours, the kind of grueling meeting that weighed heavily on both mind and spirit. Kai found himself alternating between pouring over maps, discussing logistics, and strategizing troop movements. Every aspect of their defense and offense had to be analyzed in painstaking detail, from supply chains to potential vulnerabilities in their own ranks. By the end, his men left with clearer directions, though Kai knew one truth: no amount of planning could account for every variable.

And variables, he mused, were the bane of every tactician's existence.

Of all the uncertainties, the blood drinkers were the most troubling. They were the only faction whose numbers remained a mystery. Ansel was still working on gathering intel, but Lucian—damn him—had hidden their existence well.

Kai stepped out of the war room, the weight of the meeting lingering on his shoulders as he walked down the dimly lit hallway. The sound of his boots against the stone floor echoed faintly, and Kiliian fell into step beside him, silent at first. Kai's thoughts remained elsewhere, circling back to the biggest threat—the one overseeing the blood drinkers.

Feroy's report had made it clear: the blood drinkers weren't mere pawns. Their power put them at least on the level of knights, and the one leading them would undoubtedly be a lord. A creature like that wasn't just a strong opponent—it was a nightmare. Blood manipulation, enhanced strength, and a resilience that made even his most powerful spells feel insufficient. If their leader closed the distance, Kai wasn't sure his enchanted armor would hold against even a single blow.

He needed a solution.

Thankfully, he had one. The elder tree concoction he'd acquired from the elves was a game-changer. A gift, it had the power to strengthen his body in ways that bordered on the mythical and pushed him towards getting the power of an Enforcer. But its use came with a cost, one that would leave him vulnerable for hours.

Kiliian's voice broke his train of thought. "Are you sure this is the right time to take it?"

"Yes. I need to be as strong as possible against the blood drinker. I won't be able to reach another circle so soon—it'll take too much time. This is the only way."

Kiliian frowned, his concern evident. "I'm just saying… it'll leave your body vulnerable, right? You said it yourself. Is that a risk you can afford right now?"

Kai nodded. "Twelve hours, that's all. I'll be in meditation until morning. Once it's done, I'll be able to open the vaults within my body. I haven't experienced it before, but based on what I know, it will leave me in a strange state of pain as it remakes my body." He paused. "But I believe I can handle it. And you know it's our best chance to lure in the rat."

"Yes, I know that. I will make the preparation," Kiliian murmured, though his tone carried a hint of unease.

As they approached Kai's room, Kiliian glanced at the guards stationed by the door. "Should I stay here and guard?" he asked.

Kai shook his head. "No need. You should check out the items I brought back for you from Sylvastra. There are a few concoctions in there for you and the Enforcers. Not as potent as the one I'll be using—Elder Caelith wasn't exactly thrilled about parting with mine either." He chuckled at the memory of the elf elder's barely concealed irritation. "I'll see if I can get more over time, though."

Kiliian nodded, though his eyes lingered on Kai for a moment longer. "Alright. Just… don't push yourself too hard, Lord Arzan." With that, he turned and strode away, leaving Kai alone.

Kai stepped into his room, closing the door behind him. His gaze swept over the space, taking in the shelves lined with books, the table scattered with notes and maps, and the familiar bed.

He moved to the center of the room and bent.

He shifted slightly, his legs crossed beneath him as he settled into the exact same spot where he'd awakened as a Mage in this life. It was strange to think about how far he'd come since that day. Back then, he'd just been desperate to get back his power of a Mage. Now, he was about to take a step that would change him forever—giving him the power of an Enforcer.

The thought was both thrilling and unnerving. Every progression in power was accompanied by a mixture of anticipation and fear. But this? This was different. He wasn't simply advancing; he was reinventing himself. After tonight, he wouldn't just be the Kai of old, the man who had already lived one life and died. He would be reborn, stronger than he had ever imagined possible. A faint smile played on his lips at the thought.

Reaching into his satchel, he pulled out the vial. The liquid inside shimmered, catching the light like molten green. It was unnervingly beautiful—an almost hypnotic shade of bright green that seemed alive. Tiny golden flecks swirled within, dancing in lazy spirals as though the concoction had a will of its own.

Kai turned the vial in his hands, watching the liquid shift, the golden flecks glinting. A faint, sharp scent wafted from the uncorked vial—earthy and herbal but with a strange metallic undertone. He didn't let himself hesitate. Whatever doubts lingered had no place here.

"Here goes nothing," he muttered, raising the vial to his lips. With one swift motion, he tilted it back and gulped the liquid down.

For a second, nothing happened. The silence stretched as he sat there, almost wondering if he'd made a mistake. But then his vision began to blur. A strange, cloudy fog seemed to seep into his eyes, shrouding the world around him in a murky haze.

It was subtle at first, but then he felt it—a deep, throbbing energy beginning to stir in his stomach. It wasn't the familiar warmth of mana flowing into his core. The energy spread slowly, creeping through his body, touching his mana organs first before branching outward into every limb, every muscle, every vein.

And then the pain struck. Fuck…

It was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. It was as if his very bones were being shattered and reforged at the same time. His muscles spasmed uncontrollably, and his skin burned like it was being torn apart and stitched back together in an endless loop. The energy coursing through him wasn't gentle or forgiving—it was relentless, surging and roaring.

Kai clenched his jaw, his hands digging into the floor as he tried to keep himself upright. The room around him disappeared; there was only the pain, consuming and overwhelming. He could feel his body breaking, reshaping itself in ways he didn't fully understand. Every cell felt like it was being remade, forced to adapt to something greater, something more.

His vision flickered again, and this time, strange lights danced in the fog—green and gold.

Despite the agony, a part of him clung to one thought, This is what it takes. This is the price of power.

He let the pain wash over him, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as his body continued to break and rebuild itself.

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