Episode 63 – Significant Threat (3)
“By now, it’s time to fully commit to the strategy we’ve planned out.”
When playing a game, if there’s a predefined strategy, you usually start pushing harder in that direction around this stage as missing this timing makes it difficult to pivot elsewhere.
If you’re planning to conquer the continent via war, this is the time to escalate conflicts and significantly expand your influence.
Our strategy was determined from the beginning: there’s no room for peaceful diplomacy or cultural victories in our approach.
Adversely challenging the world and upturning the existing power structures is what we know well.
“The stabilization of our occupied territories is almost complete, and the number of troops produced from these areas will be several times greater. Meanwhile, with Agor leading the charge, the lords are uniting their forces, so… we have to fight them all simultaneously.”
“Given our current forces, defeating any one of them wouldn’t be difficult. However, if they all join hands and attack us from all sides, according to my calculations, it’s uncertain what might happen.”
Syla, who was receiving the same information in real time, could come to her own conclusions. And judging by her perspective, the battle ahead did not seem easy.
Her judgment wasn’t entirely wrong. Despite having taken over multiple border regions and converted them all into nests, our disadvantage remains as we move toward the central region of the continent due to the increasing strength of the Demon Realm factions.
Even if we continuously produce more troops, their numbers united in coalition are likely to outnumber ours by a significant margin.
“Worse yet, if the Superior Lords show interest and intervene, our lives could be in danger, like when the vampire Marcela came looking for us.”
“That…”
Syla flinched at the mention of vampires. Though her family was exiled, the Vampire Territory remains her homeland.
If things had taken a different course, Syla might still have been part of the ruling class there, implying another timeline where she could’ve ended up as our adversary.
Moreover, her original home is destined to be devastated and consumed by us as well.
“I am now completely one with the Legion, without any regrets.”
“Very well. My concern for you was purely out of worry.”
I know Syla is fully integrated with us, but my real concern lies with the involvement of Superior Lords.
In games, powerful entities rarely interfere early on to allow gradual growth, giving players the chance to build strength from the fringe and defeat stronger factions step by step.
This world, however, is unpredictable.
If the Superior Lords, stronger than our current forces, start to interfere, everything could go awry.
“As far as I know, the stronger lords have a habit of checking each other’s actions, which prevents them from moving easily. But if they do, how should we prepare?”
“That’s…”
Syla’s serious question left me momentarily speechless.
Honestly, I have no effective plan yet to actively address such an entity’s involvement.
“It can’t be helped. We’re still lacking strength.”
We have much more to consume, many more enemies to face.
The only reassurances we have are that one of my avatars has successfully infiltrated their ranks, and that powerful beings tend to be cautious about moving, as Syla mentioned.
“In that case, how much further must we grow so we can defy their constraints and become powerful enough?”
“That’s an easy question to answer. Half the continent. Within the scope I can currently calculate, once we control half of the continent, we’ll be powerful enough to take on the remainder by sheer size alone.”
And this is not all.
It’s not just about adding more numbers. As we accumulate experience and more genetic samples, we can naturally produce stronger and larger soldiers.
Knights like Syla and Rozalyn will also increase in number.
When we reach this level, even with fewer numbers, we should be able to contend with the entire world.
“Half of the world… That’s enormous, but I don’t think it’s impossible.”
Syla smiled faintly upon hearing my answer, acknowledging the feasibility of our goal.
She has developed her own standards and experiences independently, viewing our growth realistically.
We’ve come far from being just a group originating in a single cavern.
“Now, the enemies who’ve formed the coalition are planning to launch an attack divided into four battalions. How should we handle them?”
My rapidly growing, giant auxiliary brain immediately began to process.
We’re getting real-time updates. My avatars have not only become part of the core forces but our scouts are also watching the enemies’ movements closely.
Just as the Count Agor said, the lords of this region have not only united to defend their land but are also planning to invade mine.
“Attack is likely coming from Agor’s forces, including orcs, which are closest and appear to be the strongest. Syla, I’ll need you to take this one.”
It’s unnecessary to leave my newest nests undisturbed by the enemies who are still potential nourishment.
We planned to strike them first on their own territory.
Among the four enemy divisions, Cruiger’s mercenaries and Marcela’s vampires from Agor’s forces were most noticeable.
“Let’s start the revenge directly.”
“As ordered.”
I instructed Syla to lead her forces to hold them back. The first contingent I assigned to her consisted of approximately 100,000 troops, about equal in numbers to Agor’s deployed forces.
But numbers are less important than the count of alpha-level creatures with magical power and the presence of special large combat units. Given the number of monsters with magic power who can individually take down over a hundred opponents, the calculation becomes complex.
“We need to make a strong impression from the start. What if we send five thousand alphas and five hundred large combat soldiers?”
“It seems sufficient to me.”
I assigned all the forces I could initially mobilize to her.
The same forces that defeated tens of thousands of Ludras’ well-trained soldiers with just a few hundred were now in her command.
“But… isn’t a manifestation of the Queen accompanying Agor’s army?”
“Great accomplishments often come from moments of crisis.”
I grinned at Syla’s worried concern about my avatar moving alongside Cruiger’s mercenaries.
Engaging in a straightforward power struggle would obviously put Cruiger’s mercenaries at risk.
But with everything under my control, it’s possible to craft an unexpected and brilliant turn of events.
“*
“They haven’t wasted the advice you’ve given them. They seem to be preparing earnestly.”
“They should. Their lives depend on it. Ours too.”
A smile played on Rogr’s lips, the half-human warrior, responding to Cruiger’s comment.
Indeed, according to his statement, the preparation of Agor’s warriors ready for the campaign was in its final inspection.
There’s a lot to check. They have much to prepare, most of which is aimed at countering the ‘demons’ we warned them about.
“What are your thoughts? Do you think we stand a chance?”
“The lords are talking about simultaneously striking from four directions, but everyone knows that only a very few people can manage such complex military operations while commanding countless soldiers.”
I smirked at Cruiger’s question.
Coordinating vast numbers of troops as if they were a single entity is hard even in modern Earth’s highly developed communication systems. In this world, there’s only one that can achieve this.
Me, thanks to the Legion’s Hive Mind.
Naturally, it’s unsurprising that the joint operation prepared by the lords seems trivial to me.
“I don’t highly regard their coordination strategy. So, we’ll have to fight to the best of our ability.”
“As for our fight? The reconnaissance troops have reported that already about 100,000 enemies have gathered.”
“Are there big ones among them?”
“Yes. Quite a few.”
Cruiger nodded. The others nearby seemed to be holding their breath, focused on us.
In reality, survival is more important for mercenaries than achieving glory, though glory might follow.
“Everyone knows that large combat units, despite their powerful frontal charge, have weak turning capabilities… Thus, we need to position them strategically on the flanks using some tactical maneuver.”
I taught Cruiger a way to survive the approaching battle and achieve merit.
My advice won’t fail.
After all, everything will unfold according to the table I set.
