The first day of the Battle of Kokuyou Hills had finally begun.
The dense forests stretching across the battlefield were unlike anything the Qin army had encountered before. Countless hills rose above the sea of trees, their peaks disappearing beneath thick morning mist. Hidden ravines, twisting rivers, and narrow forest paths made the battlefield a nightmare for any commander.
War horns echoed across the valley.
On one side stood the combined Qin force of Duke Hyou Ren and General Kanki.
Opposing them were the armies of Zhao's silent strategist, Keisha, together with the mysterious Lord of Rigan.
From atop a rocky ridge, Hyou Ren silently observed the battlefield.
His crimson-black cape fluttered violently in the morning wind as his sharp eyes followed the movements of Kanki's army.
General Ma Ron and General Koku Ou had already begun leading their soldiers toward the Central Hill.
"So Kanki intends to seize the center immediately..."
Without hesitation Hyou Ren raised his hand.
"Lu Shen."
"My lord."
"Mo Yun."
"Present."
"The Kanki Army is advancing toward the central hill."
Both generals looked toward the battlefield.
"Take your armies and march with all haste."
"The central hill must not fall through Kanki's efforts alone."
"Support Ma Ron and Koku Ou."
"If the center is secured, the entire battlefield becomes easier to control."
Lu Shen smiled confidently.
"As expected of my lord."
Mo Yun nodded.
"We shall capture it before Zhao even realizes what has happened."
The two generals saluted before galloping away.
Soon nearly forty thousand men disappeared into the forests toward the central battlefield.
Hyou Ren then turned toward another section of the map.
"The left battlefield..."
Standing beside him were Tian Hao and Bao Jun.
"You two will accompany me for today's first assault."
Both generals bowed.
"Our objective is simple."
Hyou Ren pointed toward the river separating Qin from Zhao.
"Advance."
"No matter what happens..."
"Push forward."
"I want as many men across that river as possible before the first day ends."
"No unnecessary heroics."
"No prolonged engagements."
"Cross the river."
Tian Hao nodded immediately.
"We understand."
Bao Jun grinned.
"So we're simply smashing through?"
"Exactly."
Hyou Ren's expression, however, remained unusually serious.
"I..."
"...will remain behind as the second wave."
The officers nearby looked surprised.
Bao Jun frowned.
"My lord?"
Hyou Ren continued staring into the forest ahead.
"...Something feels wrong."
"I sensed it the moment we arrived at Kokuyou."
"The battlefield is...too quiet."
"The enemy has shown almost nothing."
"There is something waiting for us."
Silence fell.
Ri Yue stepped beside him.
"I'll remain in the rear."
Hyou Ren nodded.
"You will command our rapid reaction force."
"If any battlefield begins collapsing..."
"...ride immediately."
Ri Yue smiled confidently.
"Leave it to me."
Hyou Ren folded his arms.
"Everyone focuses on Keisha..."
"...but intelligence tells us another army has arrived."
Ri Yue answered calmly.
"The Lord of Rigan."
"The commanding general..."
"...is Kisui."
"The information we possess on him is almost nonexistent."
Hyou Ren narrowed his eyes.
"...Unknown commanders are often the most dangerous."
Moments later…
The horns of Qin thundered across the forests.
"ADVANCE!!"
Thousands upon thousands of Qin soldiers surged toward the left battlefield.
Leading them were Tian Hao and Bao Jun.
Their armies smashed through the forests before charging toward the river separating both forces.
The ground trembled beneath countless footsteps.
Everything appeared to be proceeding exactly as planned...
Until…
"ENEMY!!"
"They're in the forest!!"
"What?!"
Without warning...
Thousands of Zhao soldiers erupted from the flanks.
They emerged not from Zhao's side...
...but from one of the forested hills located on Qin's own side of the battlefield.
Arrows rained down.
Spears lunged from hidden brush.
Entire Qin formations were thrown into confusion.
Tian Hao's eyes widened.
"What the….?!"
Bao Jun looked around in disbelief.
"Why the hell are enemy soldiers lying in ambush on OUR side of the forest?!"
Before anyone could react….
A monstrous roar exploded across the battlefield.
"RAAAAAAHHHH!!"
A gigantic warrior burst through the trees like a charging beast.
His enormous glaive tore apart several Qin soldiers in a single swing.
Blood sprayed into the air.
The Zhao soldiers erupted with cheers.
"It's General Batei!"
"General Batei has arrived!"
Bao Jun laughed fiercely.
"So you're the one making all this noise!"
Batei pointed his glaive directly at him.
"You'll do!"
The two monsters collided.
CLANG!!
The impact alone shook nearby trees.
Shockwaves blasted soldiers backward.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Their weapons crashed with terrifying force.
Neither yielded even a single step.
Meanwhile Tian Hao quickly assessed the battlefield.
"So that's it..."
"Their objective isn't to destroy us."
"They're trying to delay our advance."
He immediately turned toward his officers.
"Ignore the fighting!"
"Continue advancing!"
"Cross that river as quickly as possible!"
Bao Jun held Batei in place with another violent clash.
"Go!"
"I'll hold this bastard off until my lord arrives with the second wave!"
Tian Hao grinned.
"Good fortune to you, old friend."
He raised his sword.
"ALL UNITS!"
"ADVANCE!!"
Thousands of Qin soldiers ignored the fierce duel and continued rushing toward the river.
Batei clicked his tongue.
"This guy's strong."
Their weapons collided once more.
CLAAAANG!!
Batei laughed.
"It's actually a relief."
"The other fellow didn't stay to fight alongside you."
He grinned savagely.
"Looks like our ambush to slow them down is falling apart."
"...Huh."
"But..."
His smile widened.
"We still have another card in our sleeve."
"So it's not over yet."
Just then….
The thunder of another army echoed through the valley.
Boom...
Boom...
Boom...
Countless crimson banners emerged from the forest.
The second wave.
At its head rode Duke Hyou Ren.
Batei narrowed his eyes.
"...He's here already."
"Faster than we thought."
Hyou Ren's cold gaze swept across the battlefield in a single instant.
His instincts screamed.
Something was still wrong.
Batei suddenly raised his glaive high before shouting loudly enough for both armies to hear.
"Listen well, you Qin morons!"
"There was one thing Lord Kisui told us before we began our march!"
He pointed toward the forests surrounding Kokuyou.
"Here at Kokuyou..."
"...the side that can deceive its enemy..."
"...and make them dance like puppets on strings..."
"...will be the one that wins!"
The words echoed across the battlefield.
Suddenly….
Tian Hao instinctively looked back toward the forested hill on Qin's side.
His face froze.
"...Impossible..."
Flying on top of the hill.
In its place are...
The blue banner of Zhao fluttered proudly in the wind.
Standing upon the summit was a calm young commander wearing the armor of Rigan.
General Ryuuto.
Without Qin realizing it...
The hill overlooking their entire left battlefield...
...had already fallen into Zhao's hands.
From atop the captured hill, Ryuuto calmly looked down upon the advancing Qin army.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"The dance..."
"...has only just begun."