🔥 Chapter 56 — The King Walks into the Trap
Dawn broke over the eastern plains, casting a hazy golden light across the fortified hubs. Kael and Rhyne stood on the ridge, Ember threads coiling like serpents around Kael's arms, watching the King's main force march toward the forest.
Rhyne smirked, scanning the enemy lines. "He's walking right into it. The elite units we tracked have guided him perfectly into the choke points and illusions. He doesn't even realize it."
Kael's eyes glowed, Ember flames flickering with anticipation. "Exactly. Every misstep, every adjustment he's made has been anticipated. The battlefield is ours—not because of numbers, but because we control every move."
The King's army entered the forest cautiously, formations tight but unnervingly slow. Subtle illusions twisted paths, forcing units into bottlenecks. Wards triggered controlled pulses, disorienting soldiers without alerting the full force.
Rhyne whispered, "Phase one begins now. Isolate the command units. Once their leaders falter, the rest will crumble."
Kael extended Ember threads through the trees, subtly manipulating magical currents. Minor wards triggered harmlessly, drawing the King's mages into misfires that wasted energy and sowed panic among soldiers.
The first commander stumbled into a narrow ravine, trapped by illusions that made the path appear open. Rhyne struck silently from the shadows, neutralizing him without leaving evidence of an ambush. Panic rippled outward, spreading confusion like wildfire.
Kael's flames flared, Ember threads pulsing in rhythm with the battlefield. "Keep the funnels precise. Every unit should move exactly where we want. Let fear do the rest."
The army, large and disciplined, was now divided, funneled through narrow forest paths and manipulated by subtle magic. Soldiers collided, formations collapsed, and officers struggled to maintain control.
Rhyne grinned, watching the chaos unfold. "The King has no idea. Every move has been ours to guide. By the time he realizes, it will be too late."
From the ridge, Kael and Rhyne observed, the eastern front under their complete manipulation. The King had stepped into their trap, and the decisive phase of control—and eventual victory—had begun.