🔥 Chapter 48 — Picking Off the Leaders
The King's forces were in disarray, funneled into the traps and illusions Kael and Rhyne had meticulously laid. Confusion reigned, and fear rippled through every rank. From their vantage point, Kael could see the commanders struggling to maintain control.
Rhyne whispered, "Their leaders are exposed. If we take them out, the rest of the army will collapse entirely."
Kael nodded, Ember threads coiling around his arms like a living net of fire. "Exactly. Focus on precision strikes. Eliminate command without triggering unnecessary alarm."
Using the Ember's sensing ability, Kael identified the magical auras of the enemy officers. Subtle pulses guided him through the shadows as he and Rhyne moved silently along the forest ridge. Each step brought them closer to the key figures orchestrating the chaotic march below.
Rhyne drew his sigil blade, eyes fixed on the nearest officer. "He won't see me coming."
In swift, fluid movements, Rhyne disabled the first commander. A precise strike to a warded sigil left the officer unconscious but unharmed by lethal force. Kael's Ember threads redirected the magical feedback harmlessly, preventing any alarms from triggering.
Kael whispered, "One down. Keep moving. The second officer is near the ravine's bottleneck—perfect for another strike."
They worked like shadows, disabling wards, neutralizing command sigils, and rendering officers powerless. Each elimination spread more chaos, as the King's soldiers struggled to understand why orders were ignored and formations were breaking apart.
Rhyne grinned, "It's working. They're falling apart without realizing we're even here."
Kael's flames flickered, Ember coiling tightly. "Yes. The King thinks he can respond with force, but his army is blind. Remove the leadership, and the eastern front is effectively neutralized without a full battle."
From above, they observed the army's collapse, officers unconscious or retreating, and troops scrambling in confusion. The eastern forces were broken, and the King's control slipped further from his grasp.
Kael whispered, eyes glowing, "The battlefield is ours. Now we dictate the terms—he can only react, never lead."