Chapter 872 The Night’s Gambit: Baiting the Enemy

Chapter 872 The Night's Gambit: Baiting the Enemy

The terrain became rougher as they distanced themselves from the original path. Reign's guidance, coupled with Athlaston's strategic expertise, ensured a smooth evasion of the enemy forces. The Elais Kingdom, frustrated by the turn of events, scrambled to regroup and pursue the Irason forces.

As the group reached a temporary safe zone, Athlaston signaled his men to take defensive positions. Reign emerged from the shadows, his figure materializing amidst the group. Athlaston, his gaze fixed on Reign, acknowledged the timely intervention. n--OveLBIn

"Reign, you've proven yourself a valuable ally. How did you come by this information, and why did you choose to help us?" Athlaston inquired his tone a mix of gratitude and curiosity.

Reign briefly recounted the events at the outpost, including the discovery of the traitors and the plan to ambush Athlaston's group. "I had to intervene, I was luckily able to notice that the two were acting weirdly during our conversation, so I was able to fool them and then listen in to their conversation before taking them down."

Athlaston nodded, appreciating the gravity of the situation. "We owe you our thanks, Reign. But the Elais Kingdom won't give up so easily. What's our next move?"

"The outpost has been reclaimed, I have killed two of their Tier V combatants, and the leader, as well as two more Tier Vs, have been imprisoned, as were over 200 soldiers."

"The outpost is no longer a problem for you guys, but the guys that were about to ambush you are." Reign's words made Athlaston, as well as the others with him, all nod in agreement.

"From what I sensed when I arrived, they have more Tier V combatants than we do, which is also more than what was said in that report I read, there could be two reasons for that."

"One, the battalion in the outpost was never given the real number of fighters the party has in case they were compromised, and the information was taken by you guys, which would allow them to survive even if ambushed thanks to their numbers."

"I hope that's the case because the second reason is that they have more people present here, and after those two notified them that we know of their plan, they called more people over to help them ambush you."

"That would mean that there are more traitors in this area and that the enemy has also infiltrated it more deeply than what we initially believed."

Athlaston's expression hardened at the revelation. The intricacies of the unfolding situation weighed heavily on his shoulders. "If there are more traitors among us, we need to root them out. We can't afford to have internal threats while facing an external one."

Reign nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We need to act swiftly and decisively. First, we need to secure a defensible position while we assess the situation. Once we've established a stronghold, we can plan our next moves and identify any potential infiltrators."

As they waited for the enemy to take the bait, Reign couldn't shake the feeling that there was more at play than just a strategic ambush. The traitors' betrayal had revealed a deeper infiltration, and he couldn't discount the possibility of a more significant plot unfolding.

A sudden rustle in the bushes alerted the group. Athlaston signaled for silence as everyone tensed, ready for action. Shadows emerged from the darkness, and the figures of Elais Kingdom soldiers became visible.

Reign observed their movements, noting their numbers and positions. He whispered to Athlaston, "Wait for my signal. We need to strike when they least expect it."

The tension in the air reached its peak as the Elais Kingdom forces closed in, believing they had the advantage. Little did they know that the tables were about to turn.

Reign, utilizing his mastery over lightning, sent a subtle signal to Athlaston. It was time to spring the trap. The diversionary tactics had lured the enemy into a carefully prepared battleground.

As the first clash erupted, Reign moved with unparalleled speed and precision. His dual blades cut through the darkness, striking with deadly accuracy. Athlaston and his men followed suit, engaging the enemy in a coordinated assault.

The element of surprise worked in their favor. The Elais Kingdom forces, expecting an unprepared target, found themselves caught off guard. The night echoed with the clash of weapons, magical incantations, and the fierce determination of warriors.

Athlaston, inspired by Reign's prowess, led his men with renewed vigor. The tide of battle turned, and the Irason Kingdom forces gained the upper hand. The traitors within their ranks had underestimated the unity and resilience of their people.

As the last echoes of battle faded, the surviving Elais Kingdom forces retreated into the darkness, defeated and demoralized. Athlaston's group stood victorious, a testament to their strength and the unexpected alliance forged with Reign.

The night, once filled with uncertainty, now carried the weight of a hard-fought triumph. The Irason Kingdom, though scarred by internal betrayal, had proven its resilience. Reign, standing amidst the aftermath of the battle, felt a sense of accomplishment.

Athlaston approached Reign, gratitude in his eyes. "Reign, you've proven yourself more than an ally. You're a true friend to the Irason Kingdom. We will not forget your deeds this night."

"Thank you, but you should save that for later, this was not all of them ... this group, they were simply too weak."

"How many men did you lose?" Reign asked Athlaston who glanced back and did a quick check.

"Two guys."

"Dammit, they used our own bait to bait us, get ready to battle!" Reign suddenly shouted as he sensed multiple mana signatures, as well as souls around them.

"Defensive positions, we have already been surrounded!"