Rhett stepped forward, gave a firm pat on the shoulder of the knight in front of him, and then silently passed by, heading toward the mountains ahead.
Accompanying him were Laurence, Vidas, Tucker, Tadel, Kurls, and a few others—his personal guard.
As they neared the mountain range, Rhett sensed the presence of knights and mages within a dozen or so small mountains nearby. Each one held a significant number of them.
The central mountain, hollowed out by earth mages to create a spacious interior, was where Rhett headed. Along the way, he was stopped several times by guards, but once he presented his appointment letter, no one dared to obstruct him further. However, out of respect, Rhett halted at the entrance of the central mountain and had one of the knights at the door relay his arrival.
Shortly after, hearty laughter echoed from the passage ahead.
"Hahaha, I requested a new deputy legion commander from Bomir two months ago, and finally, Rhett Green has arrived! An earth Grand Magus, just in time!"
The dim light at the cave entrance revealed a burly middle-aged man about 2.2 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a muscular frame. He had golden curls, deep blue eyes that appeared even more profound in the dim light, and fair skin that gave him a soft, handsome appearance. However, the stubble on his chin and his rough voice added a rugged edge to his demeanor.
Rhett gave a sharp military salute and spoke in a strong, clear voice:
"Commander Ledros, good evening. I am Rhett Green, appointed by Vice Commander Bomir as the new deputy legion commander of the Sixth Legion. I look forward to working with you!"
"Haha, it's about working together," Ledros said, pleased as he approached Rhett and exchanged a few words. Then he gestured toward the passage deeper into the mountain. "Come in, please. This is likely your first time at the Coldstream Front, and there's much to discuss about the situation here. Time is of the essence, and the battlefield is ever-changing. We may be called to action soon, but first, I must brief you on the state of the battlefield."
"Thank you," Rhett replied, nodding solemnly, knowing the importance of getting down to business.
The two walked deeper into the cave, which felt more like a well-furnished hall or room rather than a cave due to the well-planned layout. Numerous ventilation openings ensured the space remained dry and temperate, with fresh air circulating throughout.
Magical crystal lamps lined the stone walls, illuminating the interior brightly. After a turn, they arrived at a hall where Ledros led Rhett to a roughly ten-square-meter sand table. Rhett's attention was immediately drawn to it as he focused intently.
While the sand table itself was not particularly novel, the tactical details on it, specific to the Sixth Legion, were more intricate than those Rhett had seen at Frost Fortress, emphasizing local strategies and maneuvers.
Rhett noticed pieces representing Nightclaw and Shadow Tiger units positioned along the battlefield's edge, while their own scouts and patrol units were strategically placed, indicating an ongoing hidden struggle.
Ledros paced around the sand table, deep in thought, before finally speaking, "Deputy Commander Rhett, as you can see, our primary area of responsibility is along the battlefield's edge. To the east lies a vast chasm—anyone sending troops there would be out of their mind."
He extended his long arm upward, pushing some pieces forward as he continued, "Our main tasks involve launching assaults from this position, bypassing the front line to support or reinforce other units, or intercepting enemy reinforcements. We mainly focus on blocking Nightclaw and Shadow Tiger units, who are the primary strike forces here at the Coldstream Front. You must have heard of them."
"How many Shadow Tigers are there currently?" Rhett asked, his tone serious.
As another royal bloodline, the Shadow Tigers possessed unique abilities different from those of human superhumans or beasts. Not only were they exceptionally fast and powerful, but they could also briefly enter a shadow state, amplifying their speed to an extreme—making them almost unbeatable within their ranks.
"There aren't many Shadow Tigers, probably just a few hundred. The main assault units here at the Coldstream Front are still the Nightclaws," Ledros explained. "Shadow Tigers are primarily deployed by the orcs against the Grayrune Kingdom. There aren't many here."
"So... the main force at the Coldstream Front is still the Dragonkin?"
"Yes. Ever since we brought in Master Essad to increase the production of the extinction poison, the Dragonkin have been attacking us relentlessly, almost as if they're desperate.
But what good does it do them? No matter how many they send, we can handle them! As long as we hold out, it's only a matter of time before they face extinction."
The Dragonkin, known for their viciousness, were still a force to be reckoned with. Among all the orcs, they were known for their balanced abilities in strength, speed, and defense. Their scales were not only incredibly tough but also had barbs that turned into deadly weapons during battle, taking countless lives.
Though they lacked the venom of the Venomous Serpentkin, the bloodlust of the Bloodmoon Wolves, or the roaring power of the Berserker Bears, their sheer combat prowess made them the top close-quarters fighters among the orcs.
Ledros stared at the silver piece representing the Dragonkin on the sand table, his face solemn as he said, "Rhett, I must warn you: Dragonkin are incredibly dangerous in close combat. You may have encountered the Bloodmoon Wolves and Venomous Serpentkin at the Canyon Defense Line, both of which have their own unique and deadly abilities. But neither can match the sheer power of the Dragonkin in close combat. You must be careful!"
"Especially as an earth mage, you're more vulnerable than a Sky Knight. Keep your distance from high-level Dragonkin. Once they close in, there's little chance of escape—unless you have other Sky Knights protecting you.
My previous deputy commander... he died at the hands of a Dragonkin..."
Ledros's voice grew somber, tinged with sadness.
"Was he also a Grand Magus?" Rhett asked, sighing.
"Yes, a fire Grand Magus. The image of him being torn apart by the Dragonkin is still fresh in my mind. I don't want such a tragedy to happen again!" Ledros said, looking directly at Rhett with grave seriousness.
Rhett appreciated the concern but remained unfazed. He lightly coughed and said, "Thank you, Commander Ledros, but perhaps... you don't need to worry too much about me. I have a powerful trump card."
"A powerful trump card? Some special armor? That won't help..." Ledros dismissed the idea, shaking his head. He assumed Rhett was referring to specially crafted armor, which could offer some protection but would eventually wear down. If surrounded by multiple Dragonkin, even the sturdiest armor would eventually fail, like a thicker turtle shell breaking under repeated blows.
But suddenly, Ledros sensed a unique flow of earth elements. He watched as sand grains began to drift off Rhett's body, and his expression froze.
Rhett had activated the Principle of Dispersal, his body transforming into loose yellow sand that gently flowed before returning to its solid form. The display lasted only a brief moment but was enough for Ledros to see clearly.
He gulped and spoke with a dry throat, "Principle... Principle? Did you just use a Principle?"
"Yes, earth-based—Principle of Dispersal," Rhett confirmed with a nod. Since they were on the battlefield and frequent combat was inevitable, there was no point in hiding his power. He would need to reveal his strength sooner or later, so it was better to do so now to facilitate communication.
"The Principle of Dispersal... No wonder. It's perfect for survival, especially against Dragonkin, who rely on physical combat..." Ledros muttered.
After his initial shock, Ledros snapped back to attention and quickly moved over to the sand table, his tone urgent. "In that case, given your recent arrival, I believe we can use your mastery of the Principle of Dispersal to set up a tactical trap—using you as bait to lure high-level orcs into a kill zone, where we can wipe them out!"
Seeing the seriousness in Ledros's expression, Rhett couldn't help but admire his dedication. Despite just meeting, they were already discussing war strategies. After considering it, Rhett saw no harm in the plan and, confident in his abilities, agreed.
"Sure, what's your plan?"
Ledros pulled Rhett to the other side of the sand table, moving pieces around as he pointed to a towering mountain peak. "This peak was occupied by the orcs two months ago. It's relatively close to our position. Our scouts report that at least two high-level orcs are stationed here, along with over a thousand mid- and low-level orcs. They seem to be preparing for a new offensive, and it won't be long before they strike."
Hearing this, Rhett's expression grew serious as he gazed at the small mountain flag representing the orcs. He recalled the simulation where Ledros would be injured in a few days, possibly from this very group of orcs. This meant the attack could happen at any moment.
This was not good news... He needed to find a way to prevent it!
Furrowing his brow, Rhett studied the towering mountain peak, estimating it to be over a thousand kilometers away—not too far, but not close either.
"This needs to be dealt with, and the sooner, the better," Rhett said, narrowing his eyes. "Let's strike now. Speed is crucial. We should attack this peak immediately and drive the orcs out. If we don't, this position will become a perfect launching pad for them to bypass our lines and support their forces at the front."
"Now?" Ledros was surprised by Rhett's decisiveness, reassessing him with newfound respect. He hadn't expected Rhett to be so straightforward, but considering his mastery of the Principle, it made sense. With such confidence, Ledros felt bolstered as well.
"Alright, if you're that determined, then I'm all in! I'll gather the troops now. We meet in ten minutes at the assembly point."
"Agreed," Rhett replied calmly, still focused on the sand table.
A long, deep horn suddenly blared through the camp, jolting knights awake from their sleep.
They hurriedly donned their armor, instinctively preparing for action, even though they were unsure of what had happened. Then, they rushed out of their quarters, racing toward the assembly point.
Under the moonlight, the Sixth Legion's encampment was alive with movement, dark figures quickly converging like a black tide from all directions.
Soon, the once-empty assembly area was filled with soldiers, standing silently on the flat ground, awaiting orders.
Ledros stood on a high platform, holding a horn. He blew it once, the sound echoing across the camp, drawing everyone's attention.
He glanced over the gathered troops, satisfied that the numbers matched, and began to speak:
"Listen up, everyone! Tonight, we have an urgent mission—an assault on Poz Peak!"
"Standing beside me is your newly appointed deputy legion commander, Rhett Green. From now on, he will oversee the Sixth to Tenth Squads."
"Here's our strategy for tonight: the First to Fifth Squads will stay with me at the rear. Deputy Commander Rhett will lead two squads to approach Poz Peak and act as bait."
"Our job is to wait patiently. When I give the signal, we'll advance quickly to support Deputy Commander Rhett and launch a surprise attack on the orcs!"
Though the orcs were fierce fighters, the Sixth Legion held a significant numerical advantage with over five thousand troops—five times the orcs' numbers—making a surprise attack entirely feasible.
The knights below grew solemn at the prospect of the mission, fully attentive to the plan. Even with a new officer, they knew it was no time for celebration.
After giving additional tactical instructions, Ledros and Rhett led their force of over five thousand soldiers out of the camp, organizing them into two groups as they departed the outpost.