“Everyone, don’t panic. We still have 300, 000 soldiers here and another 100, 000 to the south. We can still win this fight even though our troops are exhausted. The enemy only has 200, 000 men,” a strategist said as he examined the map.
He pointed at the map and continued, “Also, the enemy is trying to surround us. As long as we stick together, their plan will fail.”
“No,” Walton Myers suddenly interjected. “Haven’t you noticed that Kisia Primus is still missing? And look at this map – the position of the Northland Iron Cavalry, the Ghost Wolf Iron Cavalry, and our troops. This is a dragon locking formation. We’re surrounded,” he said gravely.
“With this formation, the most notable feature is that three sides stage false attacks while one side is the main attacker. If we can defend against the main attack, we can win this.”
“But if we cannot defend against it, I will be killed by the enemy,” he added.
With those words, Myers was able to deduce the current situation.
“Robin’s goal was never the southern borderlands. He knows how difficult it would be to breach them. His target has always been me from the very beginning. What I didn’t expect was that he would use a four sided dragon locking formation, thinking we wouldn’t be able to guess the main direction of attack,” Myers said heavily as he examined the map.
He had also reached the most difficult point.
He had to judge which side was the main attack force. If he guessed correctly and sent Benson Laydon’s Destruction Cavalry to intercept, they could break the formation and win. But if he guessed wrong, the enemy would kill him and it would be disastrous.
The strategists and generals debated loudly.
“General Myers, I believe the Ghost Wolf Iron Cavalry in the east is the main force. After all, they are Kisia Primus’ most elite troops. With Robin leading them, the Ghost Wolf Iron Cavalry can exert maximum combat power. And Jeff Reczek is there too. Wherever Robin is, Jeff Reczek will be there as well.”
“I think it’s the north side. Our soldiers there are the weakest so it’s the most likely breakthrough point. Plus there are 100, 000 Lynix Legion troops there. Don’t forget the Lynix Legion is also under Kisia Primus.”
“Don’t you think it could be Max Berry’s cavalry in the west? They appeared too mysteriously. I feel it’s more likely them.”
Myers stared at the map silently then pointed and said, “Have none of you considered the Red Flames? The weakest army?”
His words silenced everyone. No one had thought of that army. Because it was too weak.
“In this situation, the most unexpected place is often the deadliest. Send orders for Ron and Dillon James to destroy the Red Flames,” Myers commanded.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief when the Destruction Cavalry did not move. As long as they stayed put, Myers had not committed to this gamble.
In the southern battle, Ron was still in a stalemate with Reese Daniels’ army when he suddenly received orders to destroy the Red Flames. His expression turned strange but he obeyed and withdrew, catching Reese Daniels completely off guard.
Herman immediately said, “They must be drawn away by the Red Flames. We need to go there quickly. Fighting has started ahead, I can feel different auras.”
Not wasting this opportunity, Reese Daniels also rushed towards the enemy main camp without hesitation, carving a bloody path with his remaining 40, 000 troops.
At this moment, the 300, 000 South Land main camp troops found themselves surrounded on four sides – 100, 000 Lynix Legion to the north, 5, 000 Northland Iron Cavalry to the west, 5, 000 Ghost Wolf Iron Cavalry to the east, and 40, 000 of Reese Daniels’ army from the south.
A ten sided ambush.
Yet the South Land camp still clung to hope – the gamble that only one side was the main attacker. A one in four chance. If they gambled right, South Land could still win this battle.
Meanwhile, the Red Flames were being relentlessly hunted. Ron led 60, 000 men to chase and slaughter them under Myers’ orders to destroy them as quickly as possible.
“Not good, there are enemies ahead, blocking our path,” the Red Flames fled to a hill only to find their way blocked.
The one blocking their path was Lang.
“I don’t know why General Myers sent us to deal with you trash. It’s a waste of time. But since those are his orders, I will slaughter all of you today,” Lang licked his claws as a bloody glint flashed in his eyes.
“Kill!”
Like a wolf pouncing into a field of lambs, Lang and his men began the unrestrained slaughter as the Red Flames fled for their lives. Those who surrendered were also killed. One after another died.
They tried to fight back but could only choose death or flight. Even five or six of them together could not defeat a single South Land soldier. They could only flee until they were trapped at a river’s edge, surrounded by South Land troops.
“So weak,” Ron said as he circled them. He still did not understand why command had ordered them to encircle this small force. He sent word asking if they should continue surrounding the remaining 3, 000 Red Flames soldiers.
He asked because the situation at the main camp was dire. Reese Daniels’ army, which should have been held off by his troops, had smashed through to the main camp gates, carving a bloody path. Things did not bode well.
Upon receiving this news, everyone in the main camp looked to Walton Myers. “General Myers, the Red Flames are clearly not the rear guard. They are reduced to so few yet Reese Daniels’ army is almost at our gates. Also, word from the north – a mysterious figure leads the Lynix Legion, likely Kisia Primus himself, and they are nearly upon us.”
“We must decide now – north, west, or east. We cannot defend all directions.”
The soldiers clamored.
Just then the Iron Eagles returned with a report: “Our scouts have spotted a man among the Ghost Wolf Iron Cavalry that commands the obedience of all, including Jeff Reczek himself.”
“The northern assault is the fiercest, but the more likely a spot seems, the less probable it is the main attack. We believe it is the east, the Ghost Wolf Iron Cavalry.”
The generals pleaded, “Request General Myers dispatch Destruction Cavalry eastward.”
Speed was paramount. They could not hold out much longer. With the south tested and Myers’ gamble wrong, they collectively pleaded to try a different direction. It could not be the south anymore.