Chapter 209: Do You Really Think You

"What's going on? The left and center routes are already retreating toward the summit—why aren't Duke Vex and Anthony panicking?!"

"Exactly! Where are their other four thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry? Why haven't they moved? Are they all deployed on the extreme right path?!"

"Impossible! The right path is the steepest—it only needs minimal troops to hold. There's no reason to commit four thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry there!"

"Then what are they planning? Hurry and send troops to block them, or if they break through to the summit, the situation will be dire!"

The watching nobles buzzed with discussion.

Mainly because the defenders were letting the attackers advance unimpeded toward the summit—this struck everyone as recklessly negligent.

Fortunately, Duke Vex and Anthony weren't truly intent on losing; the next moment, another thousand troops surged forth from both the left and center paths.

With their emergence, the attackers' momentum immediately halted.

Though the troop compositions differed, both sides had been meticulously calculated.

If the attackers relied solely on brute force, victory was impossible.

Thus, if the attackers had no further tricks, what followed would be a war of attrition.

Once the allotted hour and a half expired, the defenders would naturally win.

Of course.

The attackers clearly weren't limited to such crude tactics!

Whoop-whoop-whoop!

The horn sounded again, and suddenly, the cavalry in the center path broke away from the main force, wheeling sharply toward the base of the mountain, then joining the left path.

Thanks to their superior mobility, the seven hundred fifty cavalry quickly linked up with the left path's attacking force.

Now, the left path's attacking force consisted of fifteen hundred cavalry and fifteen hundred infantry.

Opposing them were three thousand defenders on foot.

The advantage was obvious—the previously deadlocked situation collapsed instantly.

Whoa!

"So that's their plan—to use mobility for a surprise strike! If the fifteen hundred infantry in the center can hold the three thousand defenders for just a moment, the left path might break through!"

The nobles erupted in shock—they hadn't expected the attackers to execute such a brilliant feint.

And now, the left path's advance accelerated rapidly; it was clear they would reach the summit step by step.

"Defenders, where are your cavalry? Send them now—support the left path!"

Many nobles, seeing the attackers drawing closer to the summit, shouted in agitation.

They had all placed bets on the outcome and naturally didn't want the defenders to lose.

Yet no matter how urgently they urged, the defenders' five hundred cavalry remained nowhere to be seen.

"Damn it, what's going on? Are those five hundred cavalry also deployed on the right path?!"

"Even if they are on the right path, they could still emerge now—after all, the attackers have committed all their forces!"

"And cavalry are fast—they can still retreat in time!"

Hearing the nobles' frantic questions, even Mithos and Adley turned to look at Duke Vex and Anthony in confusion.

After all, if the cavalry didn't move now, their own troops would reach the summit.

Time ticked away second by second; the armies drew ever closer to the summit.

Five hundred meters, three hundred meters, two hundred meters, one hundred meters…

"Kill!"

Just as the left path was about to be breached, a sudden change occurred.

From the forest atop the left path, another fifteen hundred infantry surged forth.

With their arrival, the attackers' once unstoppable advance was instantly halted.

Fifteen hundred cavalry and fifteen hundred infantry against four thousand five hundred infantry—though not at a disadvantage, their edge was drastically diminished.

Especially here at the summit, the slope had reached its steepest angle.

Thus, cavalry charges required longer run-ups—more time, more effort.

"Good heavens! The left path had fifteen hundred infantry hidden? And the center had three thousand? That means the defenders' right path had only five hundred infantry? How could they dare this?!"

"Exactly! No wonder they weren't rushing to reinforce—they were waiting for this critical moment to strike! After all, the summit is the steepest point—it nullifies cavalry advantages!"

Boom! Boom!

As the nobles clamored, the battle wasn't over.

Amid the thundering noise, five hundred cavalry burst forth from halfway up the center path.

These were the defenders' cavalry—they'd been hiding all along on the center path's mid-slope.

Even when the attackers passed right by them, they hadn't moved.

Now, after emerging from the trees, they charged straight toward the fifteen hundred attacking infantry, who were already retreating down the slope.

After just a few swift charges, all the center path infantry—those tasked with holding back the three thousand defenders—were wiped out.

Having swiftly eliminated them, the cavalry resumed maneuvering.

They headed down toward the mountain base, then circled around to the left path.

Meanwhile, the three thousand infantry freed from the center path also plunged into the forest and circled toward the left path.

Whoa!

"It's a pincer attack!"

"Good heavens! So that's the plan—I thought the defenders were foolish, but they didn't just want to hold the flag—they wanted to swallow the entire attacking force whole!"

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

At this sight, the nobles finally understood why the defenders' reinforcements had been so delayed.

They'd deliberately let the enemy dig deeper, exhausting their horses' stamina, leaving not a single inch of room to retreat.

Now, with this pincer closing in, they could swallow the attackers whole.

Even the last five hundred infantry on the far right path no longer hesitated—they began marching from the right base toward the left base.

"Mithos, Adley, don't be too disheartened. Though you lost this time, perhaps you'll earn more battlefield merits in the future—the King may still reward you with rabbit-girl servants!"

"And as for those two rabbit-girl servants this time, my lord and I, Deputy Commander Anthony, won't be modest—we'll take them! Hahaha!"

Duke Vex and Deputy Commander Anthony laughed triumphantly.

The attackers were now helpless—the center infantry had been easily crushed, and the left path's cavalry were exhausted.

Once the encircling forces arrived, they'd dispatch the attackers as easily as they had the center infantry.

Mithos and Adley lowered their viewing tubes, their expressions unreadable.

After a long pause, Mithos clapped slowly and praised: "Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."

"Vex, Anthony—your deployment was flawlessly layered."

"First, you stationed your first line at the base to confirm our attack direction."

"Then, you waited until our troops reached mid-slope before reinforcing to meet the threat."

"This forced us to keep committing more troops to advance."

"And you weren't in a hurry, because if we split our cavalry, we'd never break your line."

"So you waited for our next move—like when our center cavalry suddenly broke off and headed left."

"At that moment, your most critical plan—the turning point—kicked in."

"That extra fifteen hundred infantry? They weren't pre-positioned atop the left path."

"Though the right path was steepest, you wouldn't dare leave it defended by only five hundred infantry."

"If we'd shifted toward the right path, you'd have sent those fifteen hundred through pre-cleared forest trails to reinforce it."

"Likewise, when you saw our main thrust was the left path, those fifteen hundred infantry used the same pre-cleared forest paths to reach the left summit."

"So no matter which path we attacked today, you could defend effortlessly."

Clap. Clap.

"I never expected! I truly never expected you'd see through it! But… Mithos, the rules didn't forbid carving forest paths! So even if you've figured it out now, it's too late!"

"Your army is finished—you've lost today! Hahaha!" Duke Vex laughed triumphantly. Mithos had guessed right, but it changed nothing.

He had indeed spent three hours before the battle, carving simple paths through the forest.

But was Duke Mithos truly only realizing this now, in hindsight?

Mithos and Deputy Commander Adley exchanged a glance—and both broke into radiant smiles.

"Vex, you really think you've won?"