Sadril's private office was decorated with dark walls and luxurious furniture. A detailed war map of the continent of Celesta hung on one wall, and around a table sat Darkroth and several high-ranking generals. Sadril was pointing at the map, discussing his strategic plans. His expression showed a mix of determination and tension.
Sadril: "Our next step is clear. We will attack the High Elves and Altechna simultaneously to exhaust their resources and exclude the Gnomes and Dwarves from the defense. However, for this operation to succeed, a cautious approach is necessary. Specifically, we must weaken the defenses of the High Elves and Altechna and make them waste their resources."
Darkroth spoke slowly.
Darkroth: "Commander, last time, Noktus agents caused a conflict in the High Elf Forest, pretending to want the ancient giant golem, and then feigned defeat to lure them into protecting it. And they never knew. That golem contained a secret spell to control the mechanical soldiers and statues of the Gnomes and Dwarves. The High Elves did not realize the true meaning of that magic."
Sadril looked at Darkroth with a heavy gaze and nodded.
Sadril: "That is correct. The High Elves' mistake was that they too easily trusted a spell that looked similar to their own. Because our Blood Elves and Blight Elves succeeded in concealing the spell, the High Elves moved the giant golem into their forest, knowing nothing. This opportunity is our path to victory."
Darkroth continued.
Darkroth: "We must now effectively break the defenses of the High Elves and Altechna while avoiding a direct attack on the Gnome and Dwarf Kingdoms. The High Elves' giant golem will begin its attack from deep within their forest. It is also important to weaken their defense by exploiting the internal chaos in Altechna."
Sadril was lost in deep thought. His eyes showed the tension and resolve of battle.
Sadril: "Altechna is internally unstable, so it would be advantageous to disrupt their military power. We will attack the High Elves and Altechna simultaneously, but our main force will concentrate on the Gnome Kingdom. Since the High Elves and Altechna have strong defenses, we need a deception operation to divert their attention."
Darkroth asked carefully.
Darkroth: "In that case, what will be the scale of the forces sent to the High Elves and Altechna, and what are the specific operational plans?"
Sadril thought for a moment, then gave clear instructions.
Sadril: "We will send a relatively small force to the High Elves and Altechna to divert their attention, and concentrate our main force on the Gnome Kingdom. We will make them waste their resources through a deception operation to break their defenses. They are our key offensive power, and our goal is to destroy the Gnomes' ancient Crystal Core and their defenses."
Darkroth agreed with the plan and made a few additional suggestions.
Darkroth: "The force sent to the High Elves and Altechna must confuse the enemy through a deception operation. Since their defenses are already strong, it is crucial to draw their attention. In particular, we must exploit the internal division in Altechna to disrupt their military power as much as possible."
Sadril nodded at Darkroth's suggestion and began to adjust the plan in greater detail.
Sadril: "Precisely. The force sent to the High Elves and Altechna will appear powerful on the surface, but in reality, we will use it as part of a tactical deception to trick the enemy. Let's concentrate our main force on the Gnome Kingdom to achieve a decisive victory."
After the strategy meeting, Sadril decided to meet with Mericis personally. Mericis was one of the two leaders of the Noktus, Sadril's long-time companion and a trusted tactician. The two shared a deep understanding of battle and strategy and held each other's abilities in high regard.
Sadril cleared the ancient maps and strategy documents from the large table to greet Mericis, and waited for her arrival. When Mericis opened the door and entered, Sadril nodded to her.
Sadril: "Mericis, it has been a while. The operation we have planned is about to begin."
Mericis read the tense expression on Sadril's face and replied in a calm voice.
Mericis: "Sadril, the situation is not bad. Our preparations to conquer the continent of Celesta are complete. The success of this operation will be our defining moment. In addition to attacking the High Elves and Altechna simultaneously, our strategy for how to disperse their defenses and create chaos is crucial."
Sadril looked at Mericis and nodded.
Sadril: "That is right. Our strategy is already established. We will exhaust their resources through a deception operation against the High Elves and Altechna, and concentrate our main force on the Gnome Kingdom. All preparations are complete."
Mericis looked at the map with a serious expression.
Mericis: "The defenses of the High Elves and Altechna will not be easy to break. However, our tactics and deception strategy will be a great help in diverting their attention. Also, the attack on the Gnome Kingdom will be effective in striking their core. We must carefully adjust our tactics and clarify the role of each unit."
Sadril agreed with Mericis's words and recalled the battle plan he had prepared.
Sadril: "Precisely. If our prepared combat power and deception operation succeed, we will be able to quickly secure control of the continent of Celesta. We must clarify the role of each unit and carry out a tactically effective attack."
Mericis was impressed by Sadril's decisiveness and supported his plan.
Mericis: "In that case, it is our turn to give the signal for this war and to announce that we are ready to commence the attack. We must send a message to the kingdoms of the continent of Celesta that we will never back down."
Sadril accepted Mericis's words and hardened his resolve.
Sadril: "Very well. We will now announce that our army and strategy are ready to take the field and commence the final attack on the continent of Celesta. I believe this war will end in our victory."
Mericis, confirming Sadril's resolve, replied with a grim face in the tense moment.
Mericis: "Then, let us review the tactical details once more and prepare the signal for battle. The fate of the continent of Celesta rests in our hands."
The two leaders left the office, deciding to proceed steadily with the preparations for the final attack on the continent of Celesta. Their plan was now on the verge of being realized, and it was time for the prelude to war to begin.
**
Episode : The Pirates' Disguise and the Counterattack
Rian's party did their best to survive on the island where the airship had crashed. The island was surrounded by a wide tropical forest and rugged cliffs, and the distance to the sea was not insignificant. Rian, Ria, Marielle, Eris, and Brunok made the most of the surrounding resources to build a temporary shelter and secure drinking water.
Rian: "We need to use our resources efficiently to survive. Let's make a fire so it can be seen from far away and signal for help."
Marielle: "A fire will be easily visible from a distance. We should conserve our resources while we wait for rescue."
Not long after they had lit a fire and sent a signal, a ship was spotted in the distance. Ria used her magic to send a signal to the vessel, and it gradually approached the island. The ship looked ordinary, and the party, relieved to see they were merchants, boarded it.
Captain: "Welcome aboard. We will help you sail safely. The sea is calm, and we will take you safely to the port we are heading to."
Rian: "Thank you. We are so glad for your help."
Marielle: "A divine blessing. We ask for a safe voyage."
The crew treated Rian's party kindly, and the group, feeling at ease, rested comfortably on the ship. However, the gazes of some of the crew members felt suspicious, and it was unnerving to see men with many scars examining every corner of the ship.
One of the pirates whispered.
Pirate 1: "Look at that gear. Must be worth a pretty penny. We can't miss this chance."
Pirate 2: "The captain said to keep it quiet, but we can't just leave that stuff alone."
Pirate 3: "So what's the plan? We quietly take their things, toss them in the sea, and escape on a lifeboat."
The pirates made their plan, intending to use a sleeping potion to put Rian's party to sleep while they were asleep and steal their belongings. However, the power that had awakened within Rian stirred him. The power that had awoken in the previous battle was hidden deep inside him, and that power roused him, allowing him to sense the situation. Even in his incomplete consciousness, Rian realized he had fallen into someone's plot.
Even with his blurred vision, Rian sensed the pirates' movements and shouted.
Rian: "What is this! Everyone, wake up! We're being robbed!"
Startled by Rian's shout, the pirates began to flee. However, Rian's party had already caught on to their scheme and began to fight back. The pirates faced a stronger resistance than they had expected, and Rian's party disarmed them and launched a counterattack.
Rian: "Show us who you really are! Give us back our things!"
The pirates fought desperately but were ultimately defeated and thrown into the sea. They lost their chance to escape and were punished on the open water.
Pirate Captain: "I apologize. Some of the crew disobeyed the captain's orders and committed a crime. The rest of us will do our best to assist you."
Rian's party retrieved their stolen belongings and dealt with the situation safely until the ship reached the port, taking this incident as a lesson to prepare for their journey ahead.
**
Episode : Sneaking into the Cave in Hope Cape
Rian quietly asked the pirates if there was a way to enter Celesta unnoticed. The pirates replied that there was a secret place formerly used by the Black Pirate Crew and agreed to take them there.
Rian couldn't trust them, but the pirates had set a condition: if they took him to the location, he would have to return their ship and set them free. After discussing it with his companions, Rian decided to make a deal with them.
The cave they were taken to was in a remote location, allowing them to avoid prying eyes, and it provided an optimal environment for obtaining various resources and essential materials, as there was a secret passage connected to a residential area of the city.
The entrance to the cave, as guided by the pirates, was located in a hidden part of Hope Cape, a secret place difficult to spot from the outside. Upon entering the cave, Rian and his companions immediately checked their surroundings for safety. The cave was a wide and open space, and the party could explore its interior at their leisure to find the resources they needed.
Rian: "This is a safe place where we can avoid being seen. Let's finish scouting the area quickly and secure the resources we need."
Ria: "It's a relief that there are resources we need inside the cave. We'll gather supplies here, and once we're ready, we should head back to the city."
Marielle: "According to the information the pirates provided, this cave is rich with various resources. We should be able to get everything we need here."
Eris examined the interior of the cave, checking how the various resources were distributed. The cave was filled with rare plants, medicinal herbs, and other necessary materials, which would be a great help in their preparations for the next stage.
Eris: "I see a lot of the essential materials we need here. This cave will provide a good environment for us to head out into the city."
Brunok inspected the cave's resources and began to formulate a plan for resource management. He organized the materials he found in the cave and made a plan for how to utilize them.
Brunok: "If we use these resources well, it'll be a great help on our journey ahead. We should be able to get plenty of the supplies and equipment we need to prepare here."
The party began to secure the necessary resources in the cave and plan their next steps. Thanks to the cave's safe environment, they could carry out all the necessary work efficiently without worrying about prying eyes.
Once their preparations in the cave were complete, Rian and his party finished getting ready to leave the cave of Hope Cape and head for the city. This cave had become more than a simple hideout for them; it was now an important base where they could secure resources and prepare for new battles.
Rian: "Thanks to our being able to prepare sufficiently here, we should now be able to go into the city and handle what needs to be done. Let's make the most of the resources and information we've gained from the cave."
Based on the resources and information they had obtained in the cave of Hope Cape, Rian and his party devised a new strategy and finished their preparations to head into the city. This cave had provided them with the resources they needed and played an important role in preparing them for the journey ahead.