As the night air settled, Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy tended to his wound after the fight with Ren and reflected on the night's events with General Cedric' and Priestess Isabella. "Lord Gareth is cunning and his tactics are unconventional. I fear we will face a formidable challenge tomorrow during the siege."
General Cedric asks Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy about Lord Gareth's strength. "So, how strong is he?"
Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy, still recovering from the encounter with Ren, assessed the situation with a thoughtful expression. "He can match me after he uses his skill, but before he uses his skill, I feel I can dominate him."
General Cedric nodded, taking in the information. "That means he's already at Lance Knight level, it's very impressive to be able to fight at Master Knight level even if he uses dirty skills like Blood Pact."
The three leaders exchanged a solemn glance, realizing the gravity of the challenge they faced. Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy continued, "His Blood Pact skill gives him a temporary boost in strength and agility, it's a dangerous ability, and we should be cautious."
"Did you ever think that he could use this ability more than once in a short period of time?" Priestess Isabella shares her thoughts about Ren's ability, something about the Blood Pact technique.
Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy, pondering the question, shook his head. "It's unlikely. The Blood Pact seems to require a significant amount of energy, and the toll it takes on the user's body is evident. Using it multiple times in quick succession would be highly demanding and risky."
General Cedric nodded he agree with Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy. "Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy is right such ability like Blood Pact often have drawback to use such a technique, if the user uses it within short period of time would that be suicide? first user mind will get control by the mana or should I say chaotic energy, second mana required a vessel to manifest its strength if the vessel didn't meet requirement, the user body would be exploded due to the overwhelming chaotic energy."
Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy acknowledged General Cedric's insights. "Indeed, the risks associated with such dark arts are considerable. If he were to push the limits recklessly, it might indeed lead to dire consequences. However, we cannot underestimate Lord Gareth's cunning. He may have more surprises in store for us."
Priestess Isabella is still wary of Ren's abilities, not only his skill, but also his strategy. "We should also be wary of the psychological effects of his tactics; the chaos he showed tonight was a deliberate attempt to lower our army's morale and tire them out before the siege of the city even began, they can't even sleep tonight because of his attack, and tomorrow we will have a short food shortage."
Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy nodded in agreement with Priestess Isabella's assessment. "You're right, Priestess. Lord Gareth understands the importance of psychological warfare, the siege will be challenging, but we cannot let his tactics undermine our resolve."
Priestess Isabella asks Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy and General Cedric how to deal with Lord Gareth's army. "So how do you resolve this? Do we throw out an early plan to send some cannon fodder to deal with Oscara's army? and send the entire army to siege the city?"
Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy and General Cedric exchanged a knowing glance, understanding the gravity of the situation. In response to Priestess Isabella's question, Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy spoke with a measured tone.
"We cannot abandon our strategic plan, but we must adapt. General Cedric, prepare a contingent of elite soldiers to handle Lord Gareth's forces. We need skilled individuals who can navigate the unconventional tactics he employs. Additionally, strengthen the defensive spells around the camp to mitigate further disruptions."
Priestess Isabella and General Cedric are stunned by his answer, Priestess Isabella does not agree with this plan. "Are we going to send our elite to deal with Lord Gareth's army without any knowledge of their true power? this is suicide, besides we cannot hold this siege for more than two days before we run out of food."
Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy, understanding the concerns of Priestess Isabella, addressed her with a calm demeanor. "I share your concern, Priestess. We cannot afford to underestimate Lord Gareth's forces, and sending our elite soldiers blindly may indeed lead to unnecessary casualties."
"However, is there any plan to deal with the immediate threat?" Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy ask her how to deal with them, even he didn't know what to do.
Priestess Isabella stunned cannot speak, if she wants to get another supply from Emberwood County cannot meet up with this coalition army that has 19012 soldiers, its only bring chaos to the county people, even if they had another supplier, they would probably meet a resistance from Oscana army that will block the road or raid their supply.
Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy's question hung in the air, the urgency of the situation pressing down on them. General Cedric, after a moment of contemplation, spoke up.
"It seems the only way we can do this is to push our army into the city within 2 days, otherwise we will all die of starvation, Lord Gareth is only a baron, probably they had 1000 solder or even less."
Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy, considering the limited options and the urgency of the situation, nodded in agreement with General Cedric's assessment. "Agreed. We cannot afford to let the siege linger for too long. The longer we wait, the more vulnerable we become. We'll advance our timeline and push the army into the city within the next two days."
Priestess Isabella, though hesitant, acknowledged the necessity of the decision. "We must act swiftly. I will continue reinforcing the protective spells and provide support where needed. We cannot allow Lord Gareth to dictate the pace of this siege."
As the leaders of the Royal Army discussed their revised strategy, the challenges posed by Lord Gareth's cunning tactics and the impending siege weighed heavily on their shoulders. The urgency of the situation demanded decisive action and strategic adaptability.
___
Oscana Camp.
Ren, having retreated into the shadows after the encounter with Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy, moved swiftly through the night. The eerie red glow in his eyes still lingered, a manifestation of the chaotic energy coursing through him.
As he reached Oscana Camp, he found his subordinates waiting anxiously. Elara and the others looked at him with a mixture of concern and anticipation.
"Milord, are you alright?" Elara asked, her worry evident in her voice.
Ren, with a casual wave of his hand, reassured them. "I'm fine, just a scratch. The real battle begins tomorrow."
His subordinates exchanged glances, aware that Ren rarely downplayed the severity of a situation. They sensed the gravity of the upcoming confrontation.
"They cannot fight us within a week probably, we must hold the city tomorrow morning we will send our solder to ambush them in the woods with an arrow, do not engage directly just run hold your position led them into trenches to slow them down and all of you will shoot them down from the city wall".
Ren's strategic instructions resonated with a sense of confidence and calculated cunning. Elara and the others nodded in understanding, recognizing the importance of executing the plan with precision.
"Milord, we will carry out your orders," Elara affirmed, her determination matching Ren's resolve.
Ren continued outlining the plan. "Make use of the terrain advantage. Lead them into the traps we've set, and when they're vulnerable, strike from a distance. Tomorrow's battle is crucial; we must weaken them before the siege."
The night air was filled with a tense anticipation as Ren's subordinates prepared for the upcoming engagement. The clash with Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy had revealed the formidable strength of the Royal Army, and Ren understood the need for a strategic approach.
"Remember, our goal is to create chaos and disrupt their formation, Make every arrow count and stay vigilant for any unexpected moves from their side," Ren emphasized, his eyes reflecting the intensity of the moment.
As the night progressed, Ren's forces meticulously prepared for the impending confrontation. Scouts were dispatched to gather intelligence on the Royal Army's movements, and the camp underwent final preparations for the strategic ambush.
___
Royal Army and Inquisitor Camp.
The night had not offered respite to the Royal Army and the Inquisitor's camp. Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy, General Cedric, and Priestess Isabella worked tirelessly to fortify defenses, reinforce protective spells, and address the immediate challenges posed by Lord Gareth's cunning tactics.
The decision to advance the timeline and push the army into the city within the next two days added a sense of urgency to their preparations. The leaders understood that time was of the essence, and the impending siege required a coordinated and strategic response.
The soldiers, tired from the night's chaos, the broken corral had been repaired, but few horses were actually being caught.
Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy, though physically weary, maintained his focus on the task at hand. He knew that the challenges they faced were not just physical but also psychological. Lord Gareth's calculated disruptions aimed to unsettle the Royal Army, and the leaders needed to bolster morale.
"Soldiers, listen! Tonight was a test of our resilience, and tomorrow will be a test of our strength. Lord Gareth may try to break our spirit, but we stand united against the darkness. Prepare yourselves for the upcoming siege. We will face challenges, but we will emerge victorious!" Inquisitor Ardian Kennedy's authoritative voice echoed through the camp, rallying the soldiers.