Is this really a Game?!

Sounds of battle suddenly reverberated through the area as the Elais forces who were further up ahead and had reached the temporary camp from which they attacked the base, tensed up and glanced at one another.

"Sir, the otherworlders are fighting against the enemy forces, and by the looks of it, they are being heavily pressured by the enemy forces who outnumber them by quite a bit!" A scout reported as the commander stared while clenching his fists.

"Dammit, all forces prepare to defend, the enemy has followed us all the way here, our comrades are incapable of dealing with them alone, be prepared to help them!"

"Sir, the enemy, there's too many of them, we are looking at one hundred Tier V combatants!" Another scout reported, which made all the people present freeze for a moment and gulp in fear.

"Over a hundred?!" The commander yelled out in shock.

"Impossible, it's impossible that they have so many of them, where the hell have they been before?!"

"I don't know sir, but our comrades are running away from them, they're using everything they have to just slow the enemy down, including the traps and barriers we placed around the camp."

"Dammit, dammit!" The commander yelled before glancing at the rest of his team.

"Get out, we are retreating, we cannot hold this place any longer, the enemy has too many men with them!"

The men all nodded before getting ready and leaving the camp before joining up with Nayle and her team, who were still running away.

"What the hell happened?!"

"We thought only the other team would follow, so we initiated a battle with them, only for these guys to show up, I'm sorry we brought them over here, but that was the only way we could inform you of what has happened, and for us to survive, the traps and barriers should give us enough time to escape them," Nayle said as the commander nodded his head with slight difficulty.

"Dammit, to think they fooled us so good, where the hell did so many of them come from, what the hell are our informants doing, not noticing such a large number of Tier Vs arriving here.?!"

Unbeknownst to the commander, Nayle, as well as the rest of her team, were all smiling inwardly.

The plan had worked.

The Irason forces didn't truly have 100 Tier Vs who were fighting alongside Reign and his team, they were all puppets, puppets who were merely Tier IV combatants, but thanks to both teams working together, they were able to make their auras appear stronger thanks to some arrays, as well as illusions that were placed on them.

That was their plan.

They knew that it would be impossible to make the Irason forces retreat. They had taken over the base, and they already placed defenses in it and were ready to sacrifice lives to keep it. Thus, the only way they could end this battle was by making the Elais forces retreat, and they managed to do just that with their plan.

Start a fake battle, cause both sides to get some injuries, and destroy the area around them before Nayle and her team start to run away and join the Elais forces. Upon seeing the large number of enemies, the Elais forces would naturally retreat as well and it wouldn't be possible for them to go up against over a hundred Tier V combatants.

It was a simple plan, but one that had worked flawlessly.

Soon, Nayle's team and the Elais forces were far away from Reign and the fake Irason troops that were charging together with his team. The two teams were now again alone with the respective kingdoms they had joined from the start.

With the operation to take the base back failed, the Elais kingdom would definitely be wrecking their brains in order to plan their next step and do the best possible job of either retaking it, or taking over another base of the Irason kingdom, thus evening the situation out.

Nayle and the rest of her team would be back in the kingdom, from where they would start looking for information and slowly gaining the trust of the nobles, and most importantly, the heirs of the royal family.

As for Reign and his team, well, they would be doing the same.

The Irason kingdom will definitely try to press forward after they had managed to take over the base, and they would probably stay here for a bit before being asked to go to the capital. After all, with such an important contribution, the king would definitely wish to talk to them, and perhaps to even give them a reward.

They would then start searching for information and getting closer to the important individuals of the kingdom as well.

As the two teams parted ways, each embarking on their separate missions, a new chapter unfolded in their intertwined destinies. Reign and his team, now perceived as heroes by the Irason kingdom, were met with accolades upon their return. The king himself expressed gratitude for their valor and strategic brilliance in claiming the base from the enemy forces.

In the days that followed, Reign and his team played their roles diligently. They attended court gatherings, interacted with the nobility, and subtly sought opportunities to approach the younger members of the royal family. The goal was to establish connections, build trust, and gather information that would aid in their mission to uncover the truth and broker peace.

Meanwhile, Nayle and her team navigated the political landscape of Elais with finesse. Having returned from the apparent defeat at the hands of the overwhelming Irason forces, they became subjects of sympathy and concern thanks to their previous victories and the overwhelming odds they suddenly faced.

This provided them with an opportunity to discreetly probe into the royal court's affairs, seeking any hints or clues about the events that transpired twenty years ago.

As both teams delved deeper into their respective missions, they faced challenges and discovered unexpected allies. Theron and Venica's magical communication played a crucial role, allowing the teams to share insights and coordinate their efforts without raising suspicion. The Royal Insight sub-mission proved valuable, guiding them in understanding the personalities and motivations of the royal heirs.

Reign found himself interacting with Prince Adrian, the elder son of the king of Irason. Adrian and Reign met during one of the many banquets that were held in the kingdom. The prince was one who disliked such social gatherings and was more interested in being in the war room and talking to others about tactics and battles.

Reign was able to hit it off with the prince quite quickly, after all, he was younger than the prince by about a decade, and yet, he was already so powerful and managed to lead his team to victory seemingly easily.

Talking about the battle at the base and then the plan they had hatched to defend the base from the Elais forces made the two grow a bit closer, and in the following days, Reign, as well as some others from his team, managed to get to know Adrian more.

With how close they were becoming, Reign knew that they had to strike while the iron was hot, so they got Adrian a bit drunk one night before talking to him about the war, and how hard it was. Adrian, to their surprise, agreed right away.

He spoke of the toll the prolonged war had taken on both kingdoms and the fact that the war was not bringing either kingdom anywhere. When talking about his father, however, he grew angry as he spoke of what he was accused of.

"As if my father would ever do such a thing, I have mingled with plenty of nobles, and I have never found even one person that is in love with his wife as my father is with my mother."

"It's simply not possible for him to do such a thing, not to mention that although I was only about 10 when that happened, I was with my father and mother, I know he did no such thing."

"That bastard king has to pay for the accusations and slander he threw at my father."

It was there that Reign seized the opportunity to plant the seed of cooperation, emphasizing their shared goal of discovering the truth. He talked only about that, he told the prince that he had managed to get in touch with some people in Elais, and that he was trying to find out what exactly happened twenty years ago.

Simultaneously, Nayle focused her efforts on Princess Elara of Elais. The princess, known for her intelligence and compassion, proved to be a potential ally. Nayle approached her with tales of valor, spinning a narrative that painted Reign's team as honorable and difficult enemies to battle, as well as one that made her team look valiant to the princess.

She had done the same as Reign had and was slowly fostering a relationship with the princess and would begin to gather information soon.