The next day. Saisha Goren's office in the Layos army base at the border.
As Saisha received the news of Isen's death through his spectral screen, accompanied by images of the desecrated bodies of Layos soldiers hanging from trees, Saisha couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
While he understood that Edinburgh intended to send a message to the traitors like Isen and Reva, the lack of respect for the fallen from Layos' side stirred a deep sense of indignation within him. Saisha knew that the sight of such a gruesome display would have a profound impact on Layos, fueling further hostility towards Edinburgh.
Isen's demise struck Saisha on a personal level, as he had shared a roof and discussions about the initial plans of war with him. It was Saisha who had first engaged in conversations with Isen, finding merit in his arguments and involving other influential individuals from Layos in their deliberations.
"Farewell, my friend. At least the war has come to an end for you," Saisha murmured with a bitter smile, raising his glass of army-blended scotch in a silent toast. He had to let his anger go because his position in the army didn't allow him to be hotheaded.
Aware that dwelling on the post-battle scenes would only dampen his spirits, Siasha closed the spectral screen and focused on contemplating the repercussions of Isen's death and its multifaceted implications.
Saisha couldn't help but suspect Grimdawn's involvement in the mocking display orchestrated against Layos. After all, Grimdawn had established Grim Pillar Town, employing a similar tactic to taunt his adversaries. This time, Eren's enemies encompassed an entire kingdom.
It was undeniable that Layos had become overly fixated on Grimdawn, going to great lengths to devise traps to capture him. Lysa's team had been part of this scheme. In response, Eren had chosen to mock Layos for its inability to contain him despite their elaborate tricks and attempts to neutralize him.
Notably absent from the report were any details about Lysa's team. This omission suggested that Eren had dealt with them in such a thorough manner that no traces of their existence remained on the battlefield. It became apparent to Saisha that even a battle formation alone was insufficient to hinder Eren.
If Layos truly sought to eliminate one of Edinburgh's esteemed title holders, they would have to devise a much more formidable strategy than their previous failed attempt.
Saisha's shock grew when he discovered that Reva was missing in action, despite being dispatched alongside Isen. With her unique AoE Ability and talent as a healer, Reva had the highest chances of surviving the battle among Isen's company. The last communication Layos received from her indicated that she was part of the team assigned to take down Eren. Her disappearance could only mean that Eren had successfully dealt with her as well.
Leaning back in his chair, Saisha gazed out the window, murmuring to himself, "Isen, Lysa, and Reva. It's difficult to believe that they all perished in a single battle. They were perhaps the last remnants of Layos' middle order. The war is steadily progressing towards its climax."
Layos had known that a war against Edinburgh would be challenging, but the extent of casualties on their side was unexpected. It seemed as though Layos' key figures were systematically being eliminated while Edinburgh's losses remained minimal.
For instance, Layos wouldn't have felt the bitterness of Isen and Reva Rain's deaths if Isen's company had managed to kill either Sebastian or Eren in their battle. After all, they were not true citizens of Layos anyway. However, the news of Lysa's team being entirely wiped out without any reports of fatal injuries inflicted on Eren was disheartening for Layos to hear.
With the deaths of Isen, Lysa, and Reva, Layos was compelled to send more Master and Grandmaster Rankers to the battlefield. Meanwhile, Edinburgh still enjoyed a comfortable position, minimizing their casualties while ensuring their key players remained unharmed.
This loss of Layos' middle order Rankers would subtly impact the long-term war, as well as the morale of those fighting on Layos' side.
"I suppose Layos will need to carefully consider Demonmir's offer if it wants to deliver a major blow to Edinburgh. We cannot afford to become complacent now that the war has reached this stage," Saisha concluded in his mind as he sipped the army-issued scotch from his glass.
Immersed in his thoughts, Saisha got up from his seat. Walking up to the window, he observed the soldiers' daily training taking place in the expansive grounds before the building he was in.
As Saisha prepared to head downstairs for the evening briefing with his soldiers and guild members from Layos' side, he was interrupted by yet another prompt. Annoyed at the interruption during his moment of relaxation, he begrudgingly opened the message to see its contents.
"Arthur's forces becoming active on the battlefield? Is he returning after his two-year absence?" Saisha's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he read the report. Duke Arthur of Edinburgh commanded a formidable private army, not to be taken lightly.
However, at the start of the battle as well as the past two years, Arthur had shifted his focus to dealing with the half-blood forces within Edinburgh's borders, effectively disappearing from the frontlines. It seemed that the half-blood forces had suffered significant losses despite their access to Hex artifacts.
"If that crazy bastard Arthur Renar joins the battlefield, the loss of life on our side will be catastrophic," Saisha muttered to himself, deep in thought. He narrowed his eyes and surveyed the horizon, coming to a resolute decision. "I suppose I'll have to intercept him. They're about to start deploying companies led by Grandmasters anyway. I've been yearning for a battle like this. I better start planning ahead."
With his glass now empty, Saisha gulped down the last remnants of scotch in a single motion. He activated the array disk on his table, summoning a large spectral screen. Navigating to a specific section at his disposal, he meticulously reviewed a lengthy roster, carefully selecting the experienced veterans and contracted guild members available to join his company.
