Coalitions never marched as one.
They pretended to.
In reality, they moved like nervous animals sharing a cage. Each power watched the others. Each feared being the one to bleed first.
Blendi understood this better than any general alive.
The system chimed before dawn, its tone layered, heavy, almost impatient.
[Coalition War Phase Initiated]
Participants
Ottoman Empire
Hungarian Crown
Papal Military Orders
War Type
Multi Front Containment War
Objective
Cripple Albania's Growth
Destroy Gunpowder Capacity
Break Dynasty Continuity
Blendi stood over the great map table as markers ignited across borders.
Three directions.
Three enemies.
One state.
Lady Mira's voice was steady but tight.
"They think numbers will do what fear could not."
Blendi nodded.
"And they think at the same time," he replied. "That is the mistake."
War Council Declarations
The system registered a cascade of new commands.
Captain Arben Kelmendi
Title Updated: High Marshal of Albania
Lord Mark Lleshi
Title Updated: Shield Warden of the North
Vesa Kodra
Title Updated: Mistress of Silent Roads
[National War Authority Increased]
Emergency Command Protocols Active
Unit Movement Speed Increased
Logistics Efficiency Boosted
Strategic Split
Blendi spoke calmly.
"Against Hungary, we hold."
"Against the Papal forces, we bleed them slowly."
"And against the Ottomans…"
He paused.
"We annihilate memory."
The system confirmed.
[Grand Strategy Selected]
Asymmetric Multi Front Domination
Effects
Enemy coordination reduced
Independent victories stack rewards
Coalition trust degrades over time
Front One: Hungary Crashes and Breaks
Hungarian heavy cavalry thundered into the northern valleys.
They expected panic.
They met Stonewall Cohorts.
Shields locked.
Ground held.
[Engagement: Valley of Broken Spurs]
Hungarian Casualties: 2,300
Albanian Casualties: 540
Outcome: Defensive Victory
[Reward]
Gold Looted: 1,400
Stonewall Cohorts +80 Veterans
Front Two: Papal Forces Fade
The Papal banners moved carefully.
Too carefully.
Ambushes swallowed them whole.
No bodies displayed.
No banners returned.
Only survivors.
[Engagement Type: Attrition Warfare]
Enemy Desertion Rate: Extreme
Enemy Morale: Collapsing
[Reward]
Gold from Captured Tithes: 2,100
Black Flame Teams +40
Espionage Network Expansion
Front Three: The Ottoman Catastrophe
The Ottomans committed everything.
Janissaries.
Cavalry.
Artillery prototypes.
They marched in force toward Krujë.
Blendi waited.
Then spoke one word.
"Now."
Era Mixed Annihilation
Smoke rolled first.
Then shields.
Then iron.
Eagle Reapers moved between explosions.
Black Flame Teams broke formations.
Iron Mantle Infantry crushed what remained.
[Battle: Fields of Ash]
Enemy Casualties
Killed: 18,600
Captured: 6,400
Albanian Casualties
Killed: 2,300
Enemy Command Structure: Destroyed
The Coalition Shatters
The system exploded with light.
[Major World Event]
Coalition Integrity Collapsed
Members Enter Blame Phase
War Momentum Reversed
Rewards Beyond Expectation
[Grand Victory Rewards]
Gold Seized from Camps: 9,800
Captured Weapons Melted into Reserves
Supply Wagons Converted to Infrastructure
Gold Reserves
17,180 → 26,980
Era Reward Surge
[Cross Era Mastery Achieved]
You commanded forces from incompatible eras successfully.
Rewards
Unit adaptation speed increased permanently
Future era penalties reduced
Doctrine flexibility unlocked
New Units Unlocked
Ash Guard
Elite mixed era veterans
Unit Size: 300
Bonus: Immune to shock and fear
Siegebreaker Companies
Gunpowder enhanced infantry
Unit Size: 200
Bonus: Destroys fortifications rapidly
Elite Units
1,100 → 1,600
Standing Army
13,440 → 14,900
Titles and Authority
[Title Acquired]
Breaker of Coalitions
Effects
Multi nation wars easier to manage
Enemy alliances decay faster
Global intimidation increased
[Hidden Title]
Architect of Unending War
Effects
War fatigue reduced
Veteran units retain experience
Gold generation from conflict increased
The World Reacts
Reports arrived from everywhere.
Venice delayed decisions.
Rome issued silence instead of condemnation.
Hungary recalled its nobles.
And in the Ottoman capital, executions followed.
[Global Status Update]
Albania
Status: Regional Power
Era Influence: Anomalous
Fear Index: Dominant
Eternal State Route Progress
62 percent
That night, Blendi stood with Ardian again.
"You see," Blendi said, gesturing toward the darkened valleys, "they came together to end us."
"And failed," Ardian replied.
Blendi shook his head.
"No," he corrected gently. "They taught the world how not to try again."
The system pulsed one final time.
[Next Chapter]
Chapter Thirteen
The Map Is Redrawn Without Asking
Upcoming
Territory expansion
Client states
Permanent world changes
Rewards that alter history itself