Is this really a Game?!

He could sense the presence of skilled warriors, mages, and even a few commanders among the enemy forces. It was a formidable defense that would pose a significant challenge, even for someone of Reign's abilities.

As Reign observed, he noticed the patterns of guard rotations, identified potential weak points in the outpost's defenses, and estimated the overall strength of the enemy battalion. It became clear that a direct assault, even for someone as powerful as him, would be risky.

'A total of 5 Tier V combatants, one of them being a high-grade of possibly a peak Tier V combatant.' Reign told himself as he sat down and stared at the sky.

'What do you think, how should I proceed?'

"They probably gave you this task as a test." Aethion's voice echoed in his head.

"Those guys were acting a bit weird, they did a good job, but I was able to notice some weird actions that they did during their little 'argument'."

"I doubt that old man sent you here to truly fight them by yourself and claim the outpost back."

"He probably wanted to test you, see how you would respond, and probably help you in the end to take this over."

"Their argument was most likely fake, I could see that some of them flinched and winced when talking badly about their king, which means they are truly loyal to him and don't think badly of him in any way."

"Everything that happened in that room was most likely just an act they prepared for you."

'And you waited until now to tell me all of this?!' Reign asked with a shocked face as Aethion scoffed.

"Of course, I wanted to see if you would pick up on it as well, you can't always be relying on me, you have to notice such things by yourself as well, that is the only way you will improve, otherwise, once you become older and even reach a level of power that was above mine at my peak, you will find yourself in a lot of trouble since I won't be able to offer much help."

'You're right.' Reign said as he sighed before staring at the outpost.

Reign contemplated his next move. The information provided by Aethion added a new layer of complexity to the situation. It seemed that the council had orchestrated a test to gauge his reactions and loyalty. The staged dispute about the king's actions was a means to assess Reign's temperament and judgment.

Aethion's guidance was a reminder that Reign needed to develop his observational skills and intuition. The challenges in Aetheria were not just physical; they extended to the realm of politics and intrigue. The complex dynamics within the council and the kingdom were now part of the puzzle he had to navigate.

As he continued to observe the outpost, Reign formulated a plan. Charging in headfirst might not be the wisest approach, considering the potential power of the Tier V combatants within. Instead, he decided to approach the situation strategically.

"I need to gather more information and assess the internal dynamics of the outpost," Reign muttered to himself.

Using his enhanced senses, Reign decided to eavesdrop on conversations within the outpost. He stealthily moved closer, relying on his agility to navigate the rough terrain without attracting attention and using his darkness and light to make himself nearly invisible. As he neared the walls, he overheard snippets of conversations among the enemy soldiers.

The soldiers were discussing their recent victories, the tactics they used, and their plans for future engagements. Reign picked up valuable insights into their strategies, weaknesses, and the overall morale of the battalion. It became apparent that while they were confident, there was an underlying tension and uncertainty about their mission.

Unfortunately, the soldiers were not privy to the true objective of this mission, nor what the plan in place was. One thing was obvious to Reign, however, they were not here on a suicidal mission.

He knew now that this part of the kingdom was far away from the kingdom of Elais and that they were here to draw attention, but that was seemingly not the only thing they were supposed to do.

Reign also made sure to sense mana, detecting the presence of powerful mages among the enemy forces. The magical defenses and wards around the outpost were formidable, indicating a level of expertise that demanded caution.

Returning to his vantage point, Reign took a moment to analyze the gathered information. He had to devise a multi-faceted strategy that involved exploiting any weakness the battalion had, creating diversions, and hitting them before they knew what was going on.

The number of enemy combatants present was quite high, and this was definitely not going to be easy.

Of course, Reign could just opt to transform and slaughter them all with his full power, but there was no need to do such a thing right now.

[ Side Mission received! ]

The high council member, Athlaston, has decided to give you a test and see how you respond. Surprise the council member by taking down the outpost by yourself and figure out what the true objective of the enemy force is.

"Well, I should have seen this coming." Reign said with a smirk.

Reign spent the next few hours carefully planning his approach. He noted the patrol routes, identified blind spots in the magical defenses, and considered the best timing for a coordinated assault. As he meticulously crafted his strategy, he felt a growing sense of responsibility, the mission relied on him, on his ability to neutralize the threat posed by the enemy battalion.

When darkness shrouded the outpost, Reign set his plan into motion. Using his control over shadows, he infiltrated the outskirts of the enemy camp. The guards, unaware of his presence, patrolled diligently. The sound of hushed whispers among the soldiers painted a picture of an uneasy night.

Reign decided to focus on disabling the magical defenses first. Utilizing his proficiency with both light and darkness, he manipulated the darkness to cloak his movements.

As he approached the perimeter, Reign encountered the first layer of magical wards. These barriers were woven with intricate patterns, each pulsating with energy. With the help of Aethion and his knowledge of magic, Reign carefully unraveled the enchantments without triggering alarms.

The process was slow and required immense concentration, but Reign's mastery over the mana allowed him to dismantle the magical defenses one by one. With each ward neutralized, the path to the heart of the outpost became clearer.

Entering the inner sanctum of the enemy camp, Reign moved with purpose. His agility allowed him to slip through the gaps in the patrol routes, and his control over darkness made him virtually invisible. He overheard conversations among the soldiers, confirming their unease and the lack of concrete information about their mission.

Reign reached the central command tent, where the highest-ranking officers were likely stationed. Using his ability to merge with shadows, he infiltrated the tent undetected. Within, he discovered maps, scrolls, and letters detailing the battalion's orders

The true objective sent a chill down Reign's spine. The enemy battalion was a diversion, a calculated move to draw the kingdom's attention away from a more significant threat. A secondary force, comprising elite warriors and powerful mages, was planning to strike a critical location within the kingdom.

Realizing the urgency, Reign swiftly withdrew from the command tent, his mind racing to formulate a new plan. He needed to neutralize the immediate threat posed by the outpost, but he couldn't ignore the impending danger from the secondary force.

'I'm going back, they definitely won't make a move tonight, I need to notify Athlaston and the other council members present of what is going on.' Reign told himself before making his way back to the city.

He didn't conserve his mana and cloaked himself in lightning before running toward the city with his top speed. He arrived about 30 minutes later and immediately called for a meeting with the council members, who were a bit grumpy that he had come so late.

"So, did you take the outpost back?" Athlaston asked him as he entered the chamber, to which they all stared at Reign who stared back at them with a serious expression.

"Listen, let's stop with the games, at least for now."

"I didn't take it back, and I doubt you expected me to do so, but don't worry, I will take the outpost back for you, but I needed to give you information that I found in the outpost first."

The people present all glanced at Reign with slight confusion before he told them what the enemy was planning.

"And how certain are you?"

"I saw it with my own two eyes."

"Perhaps the enemy noticed you and planted it there?" A council member said as Reign shook his head.

"Trust me, nobody noticed me, nobody so much as speculated somebody would be able to pass by them so easily and see their plans."

"You guys need to get as many powerful warriors as possible and ambush the enemy force, as for me, I will go back to the outpost, and before morning comes, it will once more be under the control of the Irason kingdom."