The Sage Rat, with sharp eyes and a mind full of intricate thoughts, had ventured through dense forests on a quest to uncover the talents hidden within ancient lands. Listening to the sound of the wind, analyzing every trembling branch, it halted upon reaching a cold and desolate battlefield. Before its gaze lay a barren war-torn land, where remnants of destruction still lingered on the ground. Broken plants, deep claw marks in the earth, and the heavy air, tainted with the dry scent of old blood, all painted a vivid picture of the violence that had once unfolded. Not everyone could grasp the full extent of what had occurred, but with its extraordinary intellect, the Sage Rat quickly deduced that this had once been a fierce battleground.
It tread carefully through the remnants left behind, each step activating its mind, assembling the clues like pieces in a complex puzzle. The Sage Rat bent down, gently skimming over uneven footprints, analyzing their depth, direction, and even the force exerted in creating them. From this, it deduced that the battle had ended not too long ago, and the participants varied greatly in size and strength. The large, deep footprints belonged to the greater predators, while the smaller, more delicate ones were from swift and agile creatures.
But the Sage Rat did not rely solely on logical deduction; it used its acute sensitivity to feel the space around it. It noticed broken branches leaning against the wind's direction—proof that a large creature had launched a surprise attack from the opposite side, completely shifting the tide of battle. Its ears picked up the faint whispers of the earth and the leaves, as if they were recounting the ancient tale of conflict. Even the color of the soil and the moisture in the air allowed the Sage Rat to predict the exact time of the battle, deducing that it had occurred during the late afternoon, just before dusk.
However, the intellect of the Sage Rat went far beyond simple observation and deduction. It had the ability to visualize and connect all the information. Through its deep analysis, it realized that this was not merely a random conflict. This battlefield was the outcome of a meticulously planned strategic assault, with each side carefully preparing for battle. The armies had been positioned to maximize the geographical advantage, leveraging the surrounding hills to gain an upper hand. The Sage Rat understood that this land was no coincidence—it had been chosen for its tactical significance, offering natural exits and defensive points.
After some thoughtful reflection, the Sage Rat concluded that this skirmish could be the precursor to a much larger war in the animal world. This battlefield was merely a small indicator of a much broader shift in the balance of power among species.
With a knowing nod, the Sage Rat resumed its journey, carrying with it the knowledge and reasoning it had accumulated, aware that its wisdom would always serve as a guiding light through the darkest and most uncertain lands.
In a moment of silence, the Sage Rat quietly understood after a hint from the Encyclopedia Ball. The cause, the future outcome, the signs of upcoming developments—it seemed the Sage Rat had grasped it all.
The forest where the animals live begins to experience a depletion of food and water resources due to a prolonged drought. Small animals face food shortages, while larger animals increase their incursions to seize scarce resources.
Different groups of animals fight for control over areas rich in resources. This conflict begins with a small skirmish between two species and quickly escalates into a full-scale war between alliances.
Long-dominant species face resistance from smaller species, who wish to change the power system and secure their rights. This creates significant discord in the natural governance system.
Aside from the aforementioned causes, the Sage Rat likely also knew about the warring factions early on. However, to put its extraordinary intellect to good use, it would try to prevent the fierce battles that were about to unfold.
The recent deductions at that desolate battlefield revealed that this war had only just entered its first phase. A phase where, perhaps, the birds were dominating the skies, while the predators were occupying the ground below.
The war begins with small skirmishes between opposing factions. The birds take control of tall trees to protect their food sources. Meanwhile, the large predators attack smaller animals on the ground, leading to a clear division of territories. Skirmishes take place around water sources and areas rich in prey.
Setting aside the current developments, the battle strategies of the warring factions cannot be ignored. Although their strategies might be highly complex, the Sage Rat could still quickly synthesize them. The reason the Sage Rat needed to study the tactics of its opponents was to devise plans and counter them, so that peace could eventually be brought about.
The Aerial Faction: This faction uses their advantage of height to observe enemy movements and employs aerial weapons such as rocks, branches, and sharp thorns. Hawks and ravens deploy quick hit-and-run tactics, striking weak points and retreating before the enemy can respond.
The Large Predator Faction: They use brute strength and speed to launch frontal assaults. Species like tigers and leopards use sharp claws and powerful jaws to tear down their enemies. Meanwhile, wolves lead pack attacks, surrounding and weakening opponents before delivering the final blow.
The Small Animals Faction: They adopt guerrilla tactics and psychological warfare, wearing down their opponents and lowering morale. Species like rabbits and rats construct intricate underground bases and use ambushes to surprise their enemies. Dragonflies and small insects act as spies, gathering information and quickly relaying it to their faction.
These were the strategies and capabilities that the factions might employ, as the Sage Rat thought. However, after traveling further through the forests, the rat truly began to grasp the ferocity of this conflict and the potential outcomes of the war.
It stopped after hearing a warning from its companion hovering ahead, a cautionary message from the Encyclopedia Ball. It sensed that danger lay ahead and was alerting its master. Therefore, the Sage Rat paused to assess the situation.
Before its eyes lay a new battlefield, and there was indeed a threat emanating from that battlefield directly towards the Sage Rat.
The Sage Rat hid along with the Encyclopedia Ball, then contemplated ways to respond in the event of the worst-case scenario.
A loud roar tore through the other sounds, unleashed by a vicious wolf. It was an enormous roar.