Drenvar raised his hand and used some of his remaining strength to power his voice so it shook like the loud cry of thunder. "High Commander Rhydian Vorrakyn, I charge you, destroy the Red Leaves!"
When Drenvar said he could destroy the Red Leaves with the full might of the Vorrakyn, there were no lies told.
The High Commander and his men used the underground tunnel under the wilderness to cross it while giving the impression that he was still in Standpoint fortress.
When the observers saw what was happening, they realized that the battle was already won.
Rhydian turned to the battlefield below. He raised his hand to the Dragon construct.
The construct opened its mouth and a formation that spanned three hundred and twenty meters appeared in front of it. The formation pulsed with powerful shockwaves and only grew more intense with each beat.
From the formation, war constructs with Dragon heads began to drop down, their massive leathery wings unfolding behind them as they immediately began to engage the Soulbearers below.
But the Dragon war construct was not done. The formation began to shoot out beams of devastating energy, and once the pulsing shockwave reached its climax, another formation would appear!
With more than three formations in place, the Dragon flew down into the battlefield, crushing Soulbearers as it landed. Then the belly of the construct split open and from inside, hundreds of Soulbearers and their Commanders directly from the wilderness outpost poured out, their bodies covered with savage auras as they took to the battlefield.
The battle... just started.
It was much later when the heat of the sun was weakening that Vacuse finally moved away from his position. He went to sit on the chair that was provided to him and took a cold wine with a thoughtful look on his face.
They had won the battle.
It was certain once the High Commander arrived. But they also lost a lot and it was not just Soulbearers and soldiers.
They lost a hidden card.
Now the fact that there were tunnels under the wilderness would soon be discovered, as well as the fact that the Vorrakyn hid the numbers of Soulbearers stationed at Standpoint fortress.
But they also gained a lot of rewards as well.
Already, there was a massive stripping of corpses on the battlefield. Each Soulbearer could take about half of whatever they found. The Commander's tent had been taken control of and all the treasures brought along now belonged to the Vorrakyn.
The arrival of the High Commander at their back line and the fall of Duke Frexon and his Elders together with his heir made it possible for the tide to quickly turn in their favor.
The Red Leaves lost their spirits when faced with the full might of the Vorrakyn and the slaughter started before they broke ranks and ran.
Things turned even more chaotic than ever.
There was also a standing order to detain any Red Leaves soldiers and Soulbearers that chose to surrender. Lots of energy-restraining shackles had been provided.
But Vacuse felt conflicted with that. Left to him, he would have liked to wipe out everything that belonged to the Red Leaves, especially their Soulbearers and soldiers.
But he also had to think of what came after.
The Vorrakyn held the title of the Grand Duke of the Western Region after all, and they must not let the Region they wanted to rule become weaker than it should be.
Vacuse grunted, his eyes dark. Ruling was more difficult than he liked, but still, it was something he enjoyed. "Give me your reports, Kagerou."
Kagerou nodded. As Vacuse's messenger, he had been keeping intelligence on what was happening underneath. His eyes shone as he looked at Vacuse. "First, Vacuse. There was really a tunnel underneath the wilderness? It is what everyone is saying! To think you were able to pull this off, that was why you were not bothered at all and did not run when things were not in our favor."
Vacuse did not say anything. He merely looked at him.
Kagerou cleared his throat. "Alright. Alright. This is my report.
"There is no reaction from the Imperial capital. And none of the other Regions have made any moves. Everyone seems to be watching closely at what will happen next.
"But the two remaining Dukes are beginning to make their move. When they heard that we attacked the Red Leaves, they slowed down their rushing and instead waited to see what would happen.
"Once they realized that the Vorrakyn were going to win, they instead turned their focus on the Red Leaves' territory and began looting.
"Right now, they have settled down and seem to be working well together, but from the looks of it, they would likely move here tomorrow with their combined strength to crush... us."
Vacuse nodded calmly after he heard that. "So they have left the borders of the Western Region unguarded."
Kagerou nodded. "Yes. Although it is unlikely that any other Region would try to interfere."
Vacuse sighed. "I guess it cannot be helped. What about the Lords of the Western Region?"
Kagerou shook his head. "As always, they are waiting for what is going to happen and who they will start paying tax to."
The Lords are nobility that manage territories no larger than towns. They are territories that do not fall in any particular Duke's territories.
Technically, they should be under the Grand Duke. But well.
"Do you know why I am asking about the Lords, Kagerou?"
His assassin and messenger shook his head.
"Because I want to know which Lords I should destroy or elevate. Things are going to change after this war and the Western Region will start to rebuild.
"I guess they are smart. They serve whoever comes out on top."
Kagerou looked at Vacuse strangely and then he glanced at Harkon. They both understood Vacuse enough by now to know that he liked to talk like that when he had a lot in his mind that he was thinking and planning.
Kagerou nodded and then stepped back.
Vacuse continued to drink the cold wine while he looked at the distant fleeing sun. He sighed. "I really thought I would take my vengeance this week."