Chapter 292: Chapter 264:

Having an aerial force was incredibly beneficial.

In a world where airborne forces are so unheard of and the notion of gaining air superiority is almost nonexistent.

In such a situation, the strategic and tactical advantages of the Kingdom of Lota, which possessed aerial forces consisting of wyverns, proved to be immense.

Under Qasim's command, the Wyvern Knight Corps of Lota continually monitored the movements of Erzsebet's forces, reporting back to Otto in real time.

If there had only been one wyvern, it would have been impossible. However, with around fifty wyverns carrying out their missions in shifts at regular intervals, it became feasible.

Thanks to this, Otto was able to receive real-time reports on the Erzsebet forces' current location, marching speed, and movement route, allowing him to develop strategies and tactics.

Shortly after receiving the report.

“Kyaa~~”

Otto looked at the map and admired it.

“This is what map hacks are. What else could be a map hack?”

“What's a map hack?”

Camille asked curiously.

“It's a fraudulent thing.”

“Huh…?”

“If you know, you'll get hurt.”

"….."

"Hehehe."

Otto laughed at that, then focused on the map, racking his brain intensely.

Thinking about how to win this war effortlessly, how to minimize his own losses while maximizing the enemy’s damage.

“For now….”

Otto moved the pieces positioned on the map back and forth.

“We'll do this like this. That like that. And if we handle this part like this…”

“Oh, my God.”

Camille watched Otto devise strategies and tactics, amazed at his meticulous process.

‘If I were the commander of the Erzsebet forces…'

*Shudder*

Just the thought of it was so horrifying that it sent chills all over his body.

Just by watching Otto move the pieces around, it was clear how much devastation the Erzsebet forces and the Raging Wolf Clan would suffer.

If Otto’s strategies and tactics are implemented…

‘No one will come back alive.'

Camille was convinced that the Erzsebet forces would not return to their homeland and would end up leaving their bones in the Uruk Plains.

The antlion trap Otto was designing was so ruthless that it was hard to tell if it was a human-made strategy or something crafted by a demon.

“How could you come up with such ideas?"

“Huh?”

“To be honest… it's just too vicious.”

“Isn't it? Hehehe!”

Otto smirked in amusement.

“…Do you like it?”

"Yes, of course."

Otto said to Camille, who looked bewildered.

"Who wouldn’t like being praised to the extreme?"

"Well, it’s not extreme praise."

"It's not? It’s vicious, after all. That’s extreme praise. War is about putting your lives on the line. The more vicious, the better for us and worse for the enemy. It’s the basics of war."

"Of course, that’s true, but…"

"Camille actively agreed with Otto's opinion."

However, he couldn’t shake the lingering discomfort.

It was because Otto’s cunning strategy and tactics were so outstanding that it almost seemed pitiable for the Erzsebet Kingdom’s army and the Raging Wolf Clan who would have to face them.

"To be honest, it wasn’t supposed to be this easy."

Otto said out loud.

"What can I do when the enemy's movements are so clear? I can't pretend I don’t see them."

“Are you referring to the reconnaissance and surveillance using the Wyvern Knight Corps?”

“Yes.”

Otto nodded.

“We're looking down from the sky and in real time.”

“Right.”

"That’s why strategies and tactics come so easily. We know all of the enemy's movements."

“Shouldn't you be giving some reward to Sir Qasim?”

True to Otto's word, the war was never meant to be this easy.

If the Wyvern Knight Order led by Qasim hadn’t been there, Otto would have had to move his forces while considering dozens of different scenarios.

This ease in devising strategies and tactics was thanks to the reconnaissance provided by Qasim’s Wyvern Knight Order.

"Right, a reward should be given."

Otto nodded in agreement.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I’m thinking of granting him a fief, promoting him to the rank of Marquis, and adding another star to his title."

“That's a good call.”

Camille smiled.

Achievements weren’t established merely through military power.

One could make contributions through diplomacy and connections like Wazir.

One could predict the climate like Sullivan.

Or, like Qasim, one could utilize aerial assets for reconnaissance to monitor the enemy's movements in real time.

In that sense, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that Qasim had already made a significant contribution and achieved great success in this war.

Thanks to Qasim’s reconnaissance abilities, the damage to their forces would be greatly reduced.

"I can’t grant the reward immediately. We need to finish this war first."

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

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"Well then… shall we begin? Hehehe."

Otto gave an utterly wicked smile.

That afternoon.

“Skreeee!”

“Kaaaaaaah!”

Several wyverns took to the sky at once from the joint camp of the Lota Kingdom's army and the Thunderhoof Clan.

Magic swordsmen on wyverns.

In other words, the Wyvern Knights left the Uruk Plains with the letter from Otto and scattered in all directions.

Carrying news that would drive the Erzsebet Kingdom’s army to ruin.

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A few days later.

The Erzsebet Kingdom’s army, or more precisely, King Bathory, who was nearing the Uruk Plains, was unexpectedly forced to halt their march, caught off guard.

The reason was simple.

"Your Majesty! We’ve received news that the Arad Empire's forces are attacking the border fortresses!"

“Our borders are under attack! From the east, Lota Kingdom troops are said to be sweeping through our minor territories!”

“There's a report that the Kuntachi Duchy's forces are attacking from the north!”

Bathory was completely dumbfounded by the reports that came in almost simultaneously.

“W-what are you saying! Are you telling me the entire realm is under attack?”

Bathory was so dumbfounded that she doubted what she was hearing.

“Even if enemies surround us from all sides, how can it be that they all attack at once as if they had made a deal?

Their timing was too synchronized.

In addition, she wondered how the news could have traveled so quickly.

No matter how many messengers they had, the speed of the information was unbelievable.

At this point, it was almost believable that the surrounding forces had allied with each other, waited for Bathory to mobilize her army, and then launched a coordinated attack.

“Your Majesty! You must recall the army! If we don't return immediately, we won't be able to defend the Kingdom!”

“Th…. This…!!!"

Bathory trembled with rage.

Given the journey they had endured, Bathory's rage was entirely understandable.

She had endured a rough time after falling into a trap in Crow’s Canyon and even faced mockery from Otto.

Afterwards, she had managed to stabilize the situation, reorganize her army, and make the long journey back.

Even enduring a grueling march through fierce snowstorms.

And now they have to turn back?

If they don't return now, they may not be able to defend the Kingdom?

"Otto… Otto de Scuderia… You’ve made me fall into the mud… You’ll pay for this…"

Bathory finally realized that the entire damned situation was Otto's machinations and became enraged.

If not, the chances of any of these ludicrous events unfolding would be practically unimaginable.

"I’ll kill you… I’ll make sure of it… Ugh!"

In an instant, Bathory’s face turned red as her blood pressure shot up.

“Cough!”

Bathory spat blood from her mouth and fell backward.

She was so enraged that she clutched the back of her neck and collapsed.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

"Your Majesty! Are you all right? Your Majesty!"

“Your Majesty!”

“What is the royal physician doing? Hurry and attend to His Majesty! Quickly!"

It was not a common sight for a powerful person like Bathory to collapse from high blood pressure.

It was an exceedingly rare event and very difficult to actually occur.

It wasn’t easy for a powerful figure like Bathory to collapse from high blood pressure.

Nevertheless, the fact that she fell backward while vomiting blood meant that the shock and rage Bathory experienced were immensely intense.

"Im…. Immediately…"

Bathory, who had barely managed to lift herself with the help of her attendants, wiped the blood from her mouth and gave orders through gritted teeth.

"Turn back… right now… return to the Kingdom… immediately."

Ultimately, Bathory had to lead the Erzsebet Kingdom's army back to the homeland.

While the Uruk Plains were important, it wasn't worth protecting to the extent of being ransacked and pillaged in the process.

In a situation where the Kingdom is being torn apart in real-time, it would be unacceptable to waste time defending the Uruk Plains.

Thus, the Erzsebet Kingdom's army had to turn back and return to the homeland after reaching the outskirts of the Uruk Plains.

As a result, the dissatisfaction among the soldiers of the Erzsebet Kingdom's army was at an all-time high

"This fucking bullshit!"

“You've got to be kidding me!”

"Are they telling us to freeze to death on the road instead of dying in battle? What the hell?"

In this cold winter, marching through the heavy snowfall is no easy task.

Furthermore, it was only natural for the soldiers' complaints to pile up when they were ordered to march back the way they came without proper rest time.

The situation was so bad that Bathory couldn't even give them a breather.

A few days later.

The Erzsebet Kingdom's army could not return to the Capital Kingdom.

"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"

"What… is the matter?"

"I-It seems you should come and see for yourself."

“……?”

"Please…. see it for yourself."

Bathory got out of the carriage at the words of the Knight Commander.

“What… the…”

Bathory could not believe her own eyes.

It was clearly the same path.

By the time they reached the Uruk Plain, the path that had been a simple hill was now occupied by a variety of armies, each with their own set up camp.

The allied forces of the small kingdoms located to the south of the Erzsebet Kingdom had already built fortifications and blocked the path.

"These damned bastards!!!"

Bathory erupted in fury.

"How dare they try to hold me back? Very well, I will quench this rage with your blood…"

Just then.

*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*

Suddenly, the earth shook.

*Flash!*

*Rumbles!*

*Bang!* *Bang!*

*Boom!*

Thunder and lightning crashed down, casting a dark cloud over the already dark sky, and the world turned into a pitch-black expanse.

And….

“Your Majesty! The allied forces of the Lota Kingdom and the Thunderhoof Clan are approaching from all directions!”

Bathory froze on the spot as soon as she heard the report.

She realized that she had fallen into Otto's scheme once again, and the thought that they would be wiped out without a way out crossed her mind.

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At the same time.

Before long, the allied forces of the Lota Kingdom and the Thunderhoof Clan, which had surrounded the army of the Erzsebet Kingdom, gradually tightened their encirclement and then halted their movements.

Having sufficiently closed the distance, they waited for the signal to attack from Supreme Commander Otto.

A short pause.

“All troops.”

A low but resonant voice flowed from Otto's lips, reaching everyone's ears.

“Charge.”

The next moment.

“WAAAAAAAAAH!!!”

"CHHWIIIIIIIIIIIK!!!!"

The soldiers of the Lota Kingdom and the Thunderhoof Clan charged toward the Erzsebet Kingdom army all at once.

“Let's go!”

"Let's crush them!"

“Kill them all!”

At the same time, the coalition of minor kingdoms also charged towards the Erzsebet Kingdom’s army.

It was a perfect encirclement and a perfect surprise attack that took place in a tactically advantageous terrain.