The Crescent Empire thrived. Western provinces, once rebellious, now swore loyalty under Eugene's careful diplomacy. Markets flourished, trade routes remained secure, and minor lords obeyed Crescent law—or at least appeared to. Yet beneath this fragile calm, shadows moved.
**[System Alert]:] Enemy consolidation detected. Covert forces forming in western territories. Estimated troop strength: 4,000–6,000. Probability of future engagement: high. Recommended action: reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, preemptive countermeasures.
Eugene stood atop the northern wall of Crescent Keep, his eyes narrowed. "Diplomacy has worked—for now. But appearances can be deceiving. Ryunosuke is patient, and patience often hides danger."
Aiko, standing beside him, tapped her chin. "Reports confirm unusual troop movements. Hidden camps, night marches, and secret communication lines. These are not provincial militias; this is a coordinated force preparing for future conflict."
Hiroshi cracked his knuckles. "Finally! Some real enemies to smash!"
Eugene shook his head. "Not yet, Hiroshi. First, we must understand them. Rushing into the shadows blindly is how empires fall."
Intelligence gathered from scouts and spies revealed a growing force in the western valleys: Ryunosuke's Shadow Army. Unlike typical troops, they moved stealthily, avoiding open roads, training in secrecy, and stockpiling weapons.
**[System Advisory]:] Enemy force specialization: guerrilla tactics, ambushes, rapid raids. Terrain advantage: high. Probability of undetected approach to Crescent borders: moderate.
Eugene studied the intelligence carefully. "They do not seek a frontal battle—they will strike when least expected. Their advantage is secrecy, mobility, and fear. To defeat them, we must turn their shadows into open fields where our strategy dominates."
Aiko nodded. "We can predict their patterns using scouts and intelligence networks. Once we understand their routes and habits, we can neutralize their advantage."
Masanori interjected. "We have the cavalry and Spears for rapid response, but their knowledge of terrain is superior. We need both reconnaissance and deception."
Eugene deployed small, highly mobile units into the valleys and forests where the Shadow Army trained. Scouts disguised as hunters and traders gathered information, noting camp locations, supply lines, and nightly patrols.
**[System Log]:] Enemy logistics partially mapped. Probability of accurate intelligence: 73%.
Meanwhile, the AI system simulated multiple scenarios:
Direct engagement: High risk of ambush, casualties moderate to high.
Psychological manipulation: Moderate risk, high chance of surrender or dispersal.
Feigned weakness: Lures enemy into controlled environment, high probability of decisive victory.
**[System Advisory]:] Recommended strategy: feigned weakness + intelligence ambush. Probability of success: 82%.
Eugene's eyes glinted. "We will let them believe they have advantage. When they strike, they will meet a battlefield they cannot control. This is not just war—it is calculation."
Hiroshi's grin widened. "I like the sound of making them fall into our trap!"
The Shadow Army had dispersed camps, each hidden among ridges and forests. Supply wagons moved along concealed paths, avoiding main roads. Intelligence indicated night drills and coordinated signaling using lanterns.
Eugene marked key locations on the map. "We cannot attack blindly. Every camp, every path, every signal is data. Turn that data into advantage, and their shadows become open terrain."
Aiko nodded. "We should also monitor local villages for secret support. Loyalty can be enforced subtly. If villagers report unusual activity, we can act preemptively."
**[System Update]:] Enemy activity monitored. Probability of detecting major troop movements: increasing.
The First Test
One night, a small unit of Ryunosuke's Shadow Army attempted to raid a minor Crescent village along a western river. Scouts immediately detected their movements and relayed the information to Crescent command.
**[System Advisory]:] Enemy detected. Suggested action: containment, ambush, minimal civilian casualties.
Eugene directed a rapid-response force, combining Spears, Cavalry, and archers. Cavalry flanked the riverbanks while Spears secured exits, and archers concealed in tree lines prepared to strike.
**[System Log]:] Probability of successful ambush: 87%.
As the Shadow Army entered the trap, Eugene's forces struck. Arrows rained down, Cavalry charged to cut escape routes, and Spears formed impenetrable lines. Within minutes, the raiding party was neutralized, captured, or fleeing in disarray.
Hiroshi laughed, swinging his axe at retreating enemies. "That's what I'm talking about! Shadows can't hide from us!"
Eugene calmly observed the aftermath. "This is only a fraction of their strength. Each encounter teaches us patterns, habits, and weaknesses. Treat every skirmish as intelligence gathering first, victory second."
Aiko added, "And the villagers now trust Crescent authority more. Psychological victory achieved alongside tactical success."
Eugene realized the Shadow Army relied heavily on fear and uncertainty. He ordered lanterns placed along trails, signaling false troop movements. Rumors of additional reinforcements spread, suggesting Crescent strength far exceeded reality.
**[System Advisory]:] Enemy morale decreasing. Probability of voluntary desertion: 35%. Probability of surprise attack success: diminished.
Eugene's AI analyzed enemy command structures, predicting stress points. "Disrupt communication, exaggerate strength, create uncertainty. If they doubt their own strategy, they will falter before even striking."
Hiroshi tilted his head. "So… we scare them into stumbling before we even fight?"
Eugene's eyes glinted. "Exactly. Strategy is the greatest weapon before steel is drawn."
Over the next week, Crescent forces launched a series of carefully coordinated strikes against isolated Shadow camps. Each engagement was precise: no unnecessary casualties, every skirmish designed to gather intelligence, weaken enemy cohesion, and bolster Crescent control.
**[System Update]:] Enemy camps disrupted. Probability of coordinated resistance: decreasing. Casualties (Crescent): minimal.
Masanori reported, "Enemy units are starting to fragment. Their command structure is strained, and deserters increase daily."
Eugene's gaze remained steady. "Good. Fragmentation is the precursor to surrender or decisive defeat. We must maintain pressure without overextending. The Shadow Army will collapse when they realize they cannot unify against us."
Aiko added, "We also maintain public confidence. Villagers now see Crescent forces as protection, not oppressors. Loyalty is reinforced alongside military pressure."
Even as the Shadow Army faltered, Ryunosuke remained elusive. Intelligence suggested he was personally directing operations from a concealed fortress, observing Crescent movements and adapting constantly.
**[System Advisory]:] Enemy commander (Ryunosuke) location: partially detected. Probability of exposure: low. Tactical approach: feigned weakness, intelligence traps.
Eugene traced potential paths to the fortress, planning a strategy that combined psychological manipulation, rapid cavalry strikes, and feigned vulnerabilities to lure Ryunosuke into a decisive engagement.
Hiroshi's excitement grew. "So… the big fight is coming. I can feel it!"
Eugene's lips curved into a faint smile. "Yes, Hiroshi. But preparation will make victory inevitable. The Shadow Army is merely a test—a prelude to confronting its master. Patience, foresight, and precision will turn their shadows into our battlefield."
Aiko added, "And once Ryunosuke engages under our terms, we will neutralize him and consolidate the western provinces completely. Every step reinforces the Rising Sun Empire."
**[System Log]:] Shadow Army monitored. Enemy cohesion decreasing. Probability of decisive engagement with Ryunosuke within 2–3 weeks: high. Recommended action: controlled pressure, intelligence gathering, strategic ambush.
Eugene returned to Crescent Keep's command hall. Maps, scout reports, and AI simulations filled every table. He studied terrain, river crossings, ridges, and forested valleys—every potential battlefield.
**[System Advisory]:] Optimal ambush locations identified. Probability of decisive victory: 86%.
"Every movement they make," Eugene said, "is predictable if we understand their psychology, supply lines, and terrain use. The Shadow Army thrives in secrecy, but secrecy is fragile. One misstep, one misinterpreted path, and they crumble."
Hiroshi smirked. "And then I get to swing my axe?"
Eugene's eyes gleamed with strategic intensity. "Yes. But only when the time is right. The Rising Sun Empire does not rush. Every strike is calculated, every move deliberate, every victory inevitable."
The sun set behind the western ridges, casting long shadows over Crescent lands. The Shadow Army hid among forests and valleys, unaware that their every move was being tracked, analyzed, and turned against them.
Eugene stood atop the walls, calm, calculating, and ready. The Rising Sun Empire had begun its campaign against the shadows, and soon, Ryunosuke's forces would face a strategy they could not escape.
The age of shadows was ending. The era of the Rising Sun had begun.