Thick mist hung over the ruins of Duyin City. Black smoke still rose from the burning buildings, and the stench of death lingered heavily in the air. Atop a small hill outside the city, the Command Pavilion of the Alliance Sect had been erected. At its center, Mo Tian gazed toward the city, his eyes calm yet sharp like a hawk locking onto prey.
"Latest report?" asked Mo Tian without turning.
A scout bowed. "Enemy troops spotted moving west of the city. They're building barricades near the logistics warehouse. Their movements appear disorganized."
Mo Tian narrowed his eyes. "It's deliberate. They want us to see the chaos."
So Lin He and Lu Zhou stood behind him, their faces tense with vigilance. Mo Tian stepped into the strategy tent, where a large map of Duyin was spread across a stone table.
"This man doesn't strike me as someone who would let us read his moves so easily," said Mo Tian, pointing to the southern side of the city. "But we can turn the tables."
"How?" asked Lu Zhou.
"We'll create the illusion that our main force will attack from the east. Lin He, you and your troops will handle that illusion. Zhou, create an artificial lightning storm in the west to disrupt their vision and communications. Meanwhile, we dig a tunnel from the south into the city center. Once they're distracted, we strike their command hub."
So Lin He nodded. "Leave it to me. A grand illusion like that will definitely catch their attention."
Three days passed. The plan proceeded smoothly. The Dark Blood forces, led by Xuan Di, moved most of their troops eastward. On the fourth night, the Alliance troops snuck in from the south through the tunnel. They destroyed the enemy's logistics center with little resistance.
"Outstanding," praised Lu Zhou as the enemy warehouse exploded in the distance. "A flawless victory!"
But the triumph was short-lived.
The following night, as the alliance forces expanded control into the city center, hidden traps activated. Explosions rocked the main streets. Buildings collapsed, trapping dozens of soldiers.
"This isn't a spontaneous reaction... this is a scenario," Mo Tian muttered. "Who is this man…"
In a hidden base beneath the ruins of an old temple, Xuan Di sat with a cold smile. His red eyes gleamed in the dark.
"They took the bait," he whispered. "Now, it's time to destroy their heart."
Xuan Di had been manipulating the flow of information from the start. He leaked false maps, planted intentional intel leaks, and even faked troop movements. He knew Mo Tian would read his steps—so he gave him exactly the moves he wanted to see.
At midnight, the counterattack began. The Dark Blood forces struck the Alliance's main post from underground—through secret tunnels they had dug years before, back when Duyin was just a trading post. The Alliance's command tent was destroyed. Five commanders perished. Mo Tian himself nearly died.
Yet he did not panic.
"We still have one move," he told So Lin He and Lu Zhou amidst the ruins of the command center. "We lure them into the Northern District, where the old gunpowder depot is."
"You want to blow it up?" Lu Zhou asked, eyes wide.
Mo Tian nodded. "If we can't win outright, we'll make them pay dearly for their victory."
A grand illusion was cast. The Northern District was made to appear as the final defense base. The Dark Blood forces entered with fervor—only to be greeted by a massive trap. Explosions tore through the district, obliterating most of Xuan Di's strength.
But when the dust settled, Xuan Di still stood—his body soaked in blood, yet his smile remained.
"Impressive strategy, Mo Tian," he whispered, staring from afar. "But this game isn't over."
Mo Tian, gravely wounded, sat slumped against a large stone. Breathing heavily, he looked up at the crimson night sky.
"This battle... has only just begun."
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