Strength in the Shadows: Dae's Quest for Perfection

Under the lit sky of Kingdom 277, Dae stood still and intense. His infantry lineup was set up and aligned, but it lacked two of the most important commanders, namely Latz and Kevin, commanders with two of the most fierce, precise, and coordinated aspects. Dae knew that his strategy would be dangerous to a gamble without them; he just could not help but test the effectiveness of his almost-finished formation.

He studied the targets laid out in the valley below: four huge camps, each with about four million mixed troops-infantry, cavalry, spearmen, and bowmen. A surge of anticipation ran through him, as this was no ordinary army. The opponent was well-organized and strong, only lacking the inexperienced soldiers of Tier 1, and most importantly, they were not expecting him. This was the best trial opportunity anyone could ask for.

The challenge hung in the air with every crackle of the campfires below, Dae felt his pulse race. He thought of Latz's rallying strength, Kevin's strategic acumen-they were crucial, yet this was his chance to see if the formation, as it was now, could stand on its own.

He drew a breath into himself to steady his nerves and raised his sword. The order was given.

With Dae in the lead, the clashing of swords on the quiet night became explosive as they approached their first target. The battle turned rough very soon. Dae hadn't fully prepared his troops; he had forgotten to use the buff that would make them even stronger. In that case, they easily struggled, and Dae lost more Tier 4 soldiers than anticipated. He pulled his forces back in defeat, frustration heavy in his chest.

With the second attack, Dae upgraded his already sharpened battle strategy. This time, his soldiers moved with more skill, and though they still suffered losses, it was much less than before. Dae felt a glimmer of hope as his formation worked more smoothly.

By the third attack, the troops had become sharper and quicker, like some oiled machine. Lines held firm, and they cut into enemy ranks with precision. Dae felt his confidence grow.

Then launched the last attack: furiously energetic, Dae's men stormed the camp. His eyes never left one thing in sight-to capture the enemy's lord. His men broke the final barrier, and Dae watched them seize the lord. The first of the targets had fallen, and pride swelled in Dae's heart.

Soon enough, another problem found Dae: his T3 troops were running out. He knew he would need them in the next attacks, so he ordered more training as soon as possible, trying to keep up the pressure. He moved on with his plan, undeterred by this setback.

The first attack was ok, not perfect, but he did not lose that many troops. The second and third went better. His forces fought with more precision, and by the end of the third, Dae had taken the enemy's lord. Success.

But then, as he was on the way to camp, something caught his attention that he would find disturbing-a march heading toward his castle. Someone had noticed that he was away and was now on the move to strike.

His enemy came hard against his castle, but since Dae had kept it under the protection of being a zero castle, the damage was at a minimum. A few soldiers were lost, none of which was disastrous, but Dae couldn't help the tension rise. This was only the beginning.

But Dae wasn't going to let that stand in his way. Immediately after taking the third castle, his aim was now set on the next. This time around, he tried an even more cautious approach: he attacked from afar, using boots to quicken his march and negate any possibility of surprise. Now he was resolute-he had begun it, and he was going to see it through.

Just as he prepared for the final assault, something quite unexpected occurred. The player who had earlier attacked his castle suddenly decided to port right near him. Dae narrowed his eyes as he watched the move, but to his surprise, the enemy didn't make a move. They just sat right there doing nothing.

The thoughts in his mind started surging, trying to figure out their strategy in this. Was this a trap or was the player merely waiting for the perfect moment? Whichever it might be, he couldn't let himself get distracted; he had a mission to finish.

Unfortunately, just as Dae was preparing for his next move, the enemy target bubbled right where he was about to go, making short work of it. The frustration welled inside of him, but as he watched the shimmering shield form around the castle, a switch clicked in his mind. This wasn't a defeat-it was a lesson.

Yet, Dae knew his formation wasn't perfect, not yet where it was to be. It was the potential for improvement, however, that really thrilled him. The tough challenge facing him showed him where he needed to fine-tune his tactics and where his troops were failing. He had learned much, and with a few changes, he knew his army could then be even stronger.

A smile pulled on his lips as he thought of the future, how he could have more focus on hunts, getting better, finishing faster, gathering more rewards. There was indeed much room for growth. Full of possibilities was the road ahead, and Dae couldn't wait to see just how far he could take his army with a little more time and effort. The next attack would be better, he was certain of it.