The mountains of Kokuyou Hills trembled beneath the thunder of marching feet.
Across the sprawling battlefield, over one hundred eighty-five thousand Zhao soldiers advanced in disciplined columns. Banners bearing the crest of Zhao fluttered violently against the cold mountain wind, while endless ranks of infantry disappeared into the thick forests surrounding the central hill.
The sounds of war drums and war horns echoed through every valley.
The battle had only begun, yet blood had already stained the earth of Kokuyou.
On the left battlefield, Duke Hyou Ren's one hundred thousand men were locked in a savage struggle against the armies of Batei and Ryuutou. Steel clashed without pause as the Qin left wing desperately sought to break through before Zhao could complete its plans.
On the right battlefield, another monster had begun to bare its fangs.
And standing at the very center of it all...
...was the man whom Zhao called The Spider.
Zhao Headquarters
At the foot of the towering central hill, the Zhao headquarters stood firm.
Thousands of elite guards surrounded the command platform in perfect formation. Signal towers had been erected, messenger riders constantly arrived with fresh reports, and officers hurried across the headquarters updating enormous maps depicting every movement upon the battlefield.
Upon the highest platform stood Great General Keisha, calmly overlooking the entirety of Kokuyou Hills.
His expression never changed.
His eyes quietly followed every movement made by friend and foe alike.
Unlike other generals who relied upon overwhelming strength...
Keisha relied upon patience.
Every hill...
Every forest...
Every army...
Every commander...
...was merely another thread in the web he had carefully woven.
Standing beside him were Lord Kisui of Rigan, General Gakuei, General Kinmou and numerous senior Zhao officers.
One scout knelt.
"Report!"
"Our vanguard has reached the lower slopes of the central hill."
Another immediately followed.
"The left battlefield remains heavily engaged."
"General Batei and Lord Ryuutou have successfully occupied Duke Hyou Ren's forces."
A third messenger spoke.
"No unusual movement has been detected from the Qin center."
Keisha quietly listened to each report.
After several moments...
He finally spoke.
"...The main force will not be climbing the hill just yet."
The headquarters fell silent.
Several officers exchanged puzzled looks.
General Gakuei was the first to understand.
"...I see."
"As our soldiers spread themselves across the slopes while occupying the hill..."
"...our formation becomes its most vulnerable."
"The enemy could strike us before proper defensive positions are established."
General Kinmou continued.
"If we simply allow the vanguard to secure the summit first..."
"...they can establish defensive lines, deploy the archers, construct barricades, and secure the surrounding forests."
"Only after the summit is firmly under our control..."
"...should headquarters advance."
Lord Kisui of Rigan nodded in agreement.
"It will cost us very little time."
"And our losses will be greatly reduced."
Many officers nodded.
It was the safest and most logical decision.
However...
Keisha slowly shook his head.
"...No."
The command platform instantly became quiet.
"I do not make this decision..."
"...out of caution."
The officers looked toward him.
Keisha slowly turned his gaze toward Kisui.
"...It is because of you, Kisui."
Kisui frowned slightly.
"...Me?"
Keisha nodded.
"By dispatching your trusted commanders..."
"...Batei..."
"...and Ryuutou..."
"...to the left battlefield..."
His hand slowly pointed toward the distant forests where the black-crimson banners of Duke Hyou Ren continued to advance amidst fierce fighting.
"...you have separated the most troublesome of our opponents."
The officers remained silent.
"Duke Hyou Ren is not an opponent that can be ignored."
"He possesses overwhelming martial might, exceptional battlefield instinct, and the intellect to completely overturn the flow of battle."
"As long as he remains free..."
"...he is capable of reinforcing any battlefield at any moment."
His eyes narrowed.
"But thanks to Batei and Ryuutou..."
"...he has been isolated."
Keisha shifted his gaze toward the eastern battlefield.
"Kanki and Hyou Ren are two entirely different beasts."
"Hyou Ren crushes his enemies through overwhelming force."
"Kanki devours them through deception."
"But together..."
"...they become a force that even I would find troublesome."
A faint smile appeared across Keisha's face.
"Now..."
"...they have been separated."
"The greatest threat has been removed from Kanki's side."
His voice remained calm.
"This gives me the opportunity..."
"...to commit my full attention..."
"...to General Kanki."
Kisui finally understood.
"So that was your objective from the beginning..."
Keisha gave a slight nod.
"The central battlefield belongs to me."
"Kanki has entered my web."
"And I have no intention..."
"...of allowing him to escape."
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Even Gakuei remained silent.
Everyone present understood what Keisha was declaring.
This battle would become a duel between two of Qin and Zhao's great armies.
The Spider...
Against the Bandit.
Suddenly….
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
A deafening war horn echoed across the eastern forests.
The mountain itself seemed to shake.
Every officer immediately turned toward the right battlefield.
Another horn answered.
Then another.
Countless savage cries erupted from the forest.
"CHAAARRGGEEE!!"
"What was that?!"
"Those aren't our signals!"
A massive cloud of dust rose into the sky.
Moments later, a messenger galloped toward headquarters at full speed, his horse covered in blood and foam.
He leapt from the saddle before collapsing onto one knee.
"REPORT!!"
The entire headquarters fell silent.
"Urgent report from the right battlefield!"
Keisha calmly looked down.
"Speak."
The messenger swallowed heavily.
"The Qin right wing has launched a full-scale assault!"
General Gakuei stepped forward.
"Whose army?"
The messenger replied without hesitation.
"It is Raido..."
"...and the Zenou Clan!"
The headquarters erupted.
"What?!"
"They've moved already?!"
Another messenger soon arrived.
"Our outer defensive line has been broken!"
"Raido's cavalry smashed through our formations and created multiple breaches!"
"The Zenou Clan is charging directly through the center of our right wing!"
"They are slaughtering everyone in their path!"
"The right battlefield has been broken through!"
Shock spread across the command platform.
Kisui looked toward the central hill.
His expression darkened.
"So..."
"They intend to strike our flank while we are climbing the hill."
General Gakuei clenched his fist.
"If they reach us while our army is spread across the slopes..."
"...our casualties will be enormous."
The officers quickly began discussing possible responses.
Kisui immediately stepped forward.
"Lord Keisha."
"We should slow our advance."
"Or dispatch a detachment to intercept Kanki's attack."
"Even five thousand men would be enough to delay Raido and Zenou until the hill is secured."
Many officers immediately agreed.
"It is too dangerous to ignore them."
"Our right flank is exposed."
"If they strike while the main force is ascending..."
"...our formations could collapse."
Silence followed.
Keisha slowly closed his eyes.
Then...
He spoke.
"...You are wasting your breath, Kisui."
The Lord of Rigan looked toward him.
Keisha's expression never changed.
"Do not attempt..."
"...to interfere..."
"...in this battle..."
"...between Kanki..."
"...and myself."
The officers froze.
Keisha slowly unfolded his hands.
"Kanki wishes for me to react."
"He wishes for me to divert my forces."
"He wishes to lure me away from my strategy."
A faint smile appeared upon his face.
"That..."
"...is exactly how General Kanki wins."
"He creates disorder."
"He forces his opponent to abandon the battlefield they have chosen."
"And once they do..."
"...he devours them."
Keisha lowered his hand.
"I will not make that mistake."
"The central hill is the heart of Kokuyou."
"Whoever possesses it..."
"...controls this battlefield."
His voice carried absolute confidence.
"No matter what diversion Kanki creates..."
"...I shall not abandon my web."
He raised his hand high.
At once, command flags shot into the air.
Signal drums thundered across the battlefield.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
"HQ ORDER!!"
"THE VANGUARD SHALL CONTINUE THE ASCENT!"
"MAINTAIN YOUR FORMATIONS!"
"DO NOT RESPOND TO THE ENEMY'S DIVERSION!"
"BEGIN CONSTRUCTING FORTIFICATIONS THE MOMENT THE SUMMIT IS SECURED!"
The Zhao signal corps immediately relayed the orders.
War horns echoed from hill to hill.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!!"
Like an endless black tide, tens of thousands of Zhao soldiers continued climbing the steep slopes.
Shield walls locked together.
Spearmen advanced in disciplined ranks.
Archers followed close behind.
Engineers hauled timber, sharpened stakes, ropes, and heavy logs toward the summit, already preparing to transform the hill into an impregnable fortress.
The earth trembled beneath the weight of Zhao's advance.
Far across the battlefield...
Hidden within the dense forests...
Pairs of cold eyes silently observed Zhao's movements.
The struggle for the heart of Kokuyou had entered its next stage.
Yet while Keisha devoted his entire attention to defeating Kanki...
The fierce battle on the left continued to rage, where Duke Hyou Ren relentlessly clashed against Batei and Ryuutou, a battle whose outcome could determine the fate of the entire campaign.