As Adrian looked at the option of [Set Up Stance], he noticed three options.
Guerrilla Stance.
A quick tooltip popped up. The stance would allow his army to shadow enemy movements and strike at their flanks automatically, cutting down their numbers through surprise attacks and ambushes. Efficient. Ruthless. But the cost was steep — increased attrition. His troops would wear down with each passing turn, their stamina and morale bleeding out with every skirmish.
"Hmm…" Adrian's thumb hovered over the button, but he hesitated. Attrition could be a death sentence if things dragged on.
He scrolled down.
Camp Stance.
The tooltip shifted. In this stance, Kael's forces would set up camp, replenishing troops and restoring morale. It would let them regroup and recover — a solid defensive play. But there was a catch. If the enemy found them while they were in camp mode, they'd be vulnerable to a devastating ambush.
"Safe… but risky if they get the drop on me." Adrian sighed, his eyes narrowing. "Not great."
His gaze shifted to the last option.
Charging Stance.
The text glowed faintly. This stance would throw Kael's army into full attack mode, boosting their damage and morale. It was the stance for decisive battles — no turning back once it was chosen. Victory or disaster. All or nothing.
Adrian leaned back slightly, thumb tapping the side of the controller as he analyzed the situation. Three choices — and Guerrilla Stance had been the most logical. Softening the enemy forces before a direct engagement? That was strategy 101. He figured it would tilt the odds in his favor when the real battle started.
So, he committed. End turn.
The screen shifted as the other factions began their movements. Their symbols — all represented by cryptic question marks — flickered across the top of the map. Most factions moved without incident, cycling through their turns quickly. Then it came — the rebel army's turn.
Adrian leaned forward, eyes narrowing. The rebel forces adjusted their position, pulling further back along the mountain pass. Kael's army followed automatically, shadowing their movements like vultures. A thin red line connected the two forces, marking the tension between predator and prey.
Then, Adrian's turn again. A notification flashed on the side of the screen.
[Attrition +1]
A crimson mist curled around Kael's model, dimming the once-bright silver glow of his armor. Adrian's gaze flicked toward the rebel forces. Another pop-up followed.
[Losses of Enemy Army → +10]
Ten soldiers down. Not a major dent — the enemy still had around 700 troops — but it was something. A win through inches rather than leaps. Adrian shrugged and selected to disengage from Guerrilla Stance. Time to fall back and regroup.
That's when the screen flickered.
Adrian's eyes narrowed as he traced the screen with his gaze. The movement bar beneath Kael's model was barely half-full, pulsing a dim red. He hadn't paid attention to it before — why would he? Guerrilla Stance triggered automatic movement, so the consumption of the movement bar had happened silently in the background. But now that he'd switched out of the stance, the consequences were crystal clear.
His retreat had stopped midway.
That was bad.
The attrition effect was still ticking. His troops were marked with thin red outlines, their morale steadily degrading. Exhausted, wounded — they were in no shape to fight. And now, Kael's army was stranded in hostile territory with no way to reposition.
Adrian's gaze flicked toward the enemy's model. The rebel forces were massing along the mountain pass, closing the gap.
"I'm essentially handing them over on a silver platter," Adrian muttered under his breath.
His thumb hovered over the controller. Options were limited. Charging stance would boost morale and strength — but with his troops already weakened, that was practically suicide. Setting up camp would restore strength but leave him vulnerable to an attack. Retreating wasn't even an option anymore.
His eyes narrowed. The rebel army's model pulsed dark red, signaling their next move. A soft, rhythmic drumbeat echoed through his headphones — the game's war theme intensifying as the enemy prepared to strike.
"Trapped…" Adrian whispered, his grip on the controller tightening. "Alright then. If I can't run…"
His thumb slid toward the charging stance icon. A sharp metallic sound echoed as Kael's model straightened, sword drawn.
"…guess we fight."
Adrian's eyes narrowed as the rebel army's stance shifted into charging mode. A faint crimson glow settled around their model, and a sharp, metallic hum echoed through his headphones. Their strength and movement range had just shot up.
"Of course they'd go for a charge now," Adrian muttered. He clicked his tongue in irritation. Getting outsmarted by an AI was one thing — but getting punished for it was another.
The enemy's model surged forward, and the screen transitioned in a seamless blur of red and black. The top-down strategic map was gone, replaced by an expansive battlefield. Adrian's breath hitched.
He could see them. All of them.
Kael stood at the front of his battered troops, silver armor glinting beneath a heavy gray sky. His face was carved from stone — solemn and unreadable. His cape, trimmed in deep crimson, fluttered against the cold wind. Behind him, the ranks of tired and wounded soldiers held their spears and swords with shaky hands.
The level of detail was staggering. The individual links of Kael's chainmail shifted with his breath. A bead of sweat rolled down his brow. Even the expressions of his men — fear, exhaustion, quiet determination — were lifelike.
"These graphics are insane…" Adrian whispered. He could almost feel the weight of the battlefield pressing down on him.
And then the enemy charged.
A sea of steel and crimson surged toward them. The pounding of hooves, the clash of metal, the war cries of the rebel soldiers — it all blended into a cacophony of chaos.
Kael's head lifted slightly. His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. Adrian didn't need a prompt. His thumb pressed down hard on the joystick.
The battle had started, and that was the moment he had learned that there were more mechanisms that Adrian had to learn.