The first confirmation arrived at dawn.
A rider from Watchtower Four, his horse lathered with sweat, didn't even dismount before shouting to the gate guards.
"Movement beyond the eastern ridge! Armed formations!"
Liang Chen was awake within minutes.
By the time he entered the war room, the system had already updated the tactical display.
Red markers bloomed across the eastern borderlands.
[Military Presence Confirmed: Blackthorn Territory.]
Estimated Force Size: 320 Units
Formation Type: Forward Recon Battalion
Movement Speed: Controlled
Distance to Trade Road: 11 Kilometers
Not raiders.
Not scouts.
Soldiers.
Disciplined and deliberate.
Captain Wei stood beside the war table, already armored.
"They're not marching fast enough for an invasion," he observed.
"No," Liang replied quietly. "They're marching to be seen."
The battalion had advanced just far enough to establish presence—but not far enough to cross into Shattered County territory.
A message without words.
[New Mission Available: Respond to Military Posturing.]
Objectives:
Prevent territorial encroachment
Avoid escalation into open conflict
Maintain trade route stability
Reward:
Unit Command Level 2
Diplomatic Leverage +8%
Penalty for Failure:
Border Confidence -15%
Increased Hostile Activity
Accepted.
"They want us to react first," Wei said.
"Yes," Liang agreed.
Because whoever moved first—
Looked guilty.
Liang studied the terrain between the advancing battalion and Shattered County's eastern watch line.
Narrow valleys.
Forested slopes.
Two shallow river crossings.
Defensible—
But only if used correctly.
"Deploy the eastern garrison," Liang ordered.
"Two hundred militia along the ridge road. Elite units at the river crossing. Archers in the treeline—concealed, but visible if they advance further."
Wei nodded.
"A show of force."
"Exactly."
By midday, Shattered County's response was in place.
Militia stood in disciplined ranks along the border ridge, shields planted firmly into the soil. Archers lined the forest edge, their silhouettes just visible through the leaves.
And at the center—
Liang himself.
Mounted.
Watching.
The Blackthorn battalion halted just beyond the shallow river separating the two territories.
Their commander—a broad-shouldered man in dark iron armor—rode forward slightly.
Not crossing.
But close enough to matter.
[Engagement Range Approaching.]
Combat Probability if Initiated:
Victory Chance: 64%
Casualty Estimate: High
Liang's grip tightened on the reins.
This wasn't a battle.
It was a test of nerve.
The Blackthorn commander raised a hand.
His battalion shifted formation.
Shield wall forward.
Spears angled.
Militia beside Liang shifted uneasily.
"They're preparing," one soldier whispered.
Yes.
They were.
Captain Wei stepped closer.
"If they cross—?"
"We hold," Liang said.
"And if they charge?"
"We still hold."
Minutes passed.
Neither side moved.
Wind stirred dust between the two forces, the shallow river glinting beneath the midday sun.
Then—
The Blackthorn commander urged his horse forward again.
Closer.
Stopping just short of the water's edge.
"You stand on contested ground," he called across the distance.
Liang didn't respond.
"Blackthorn territory extends to the eastern trade road," the man continued. "Withdraw your forces and this misunderstanding can be resolved peacefully."
Misunderstanding.
Liang nudged his horse forward until he reached the front of his own formation.
"This ground is under Shattered County protection," he replied evenly.
Silence followed.
The Blackthorn commander's gaze swept across the militia ranks.
Counting.
Measuring.
[System Analysis: Enemy Commander assessing response discipline.]
Good.
Let him see.
Let him understand that Shattered County was no longer undefended farmland.
Another long pause.
Then—
The commander raised his hand again.
His shield wall shifted.
One step forward.
A collective intake of breath rippled through Liang's ranks.
[Territorial Encroachment Detected.]
Distance to Border: 3 Meters
Archers behind Liang adjusted their aim.
Spears lowered.
Shields locked.
"If they cross," Wei murmured, "there's no turning back."
Liang knew.
One more step—
And diplomacy would die here.
The Blackthorn line advanced again.
Two meters.
[Engagement Threshold Approaching.]
Liang raised his hand.
Militia held.
Didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
One meter.
Then—
The Blackthorn commander lowered his own hand.
His battalion stopped.
Seconds passed.
Then slowly—
Deliberately—
They stepped back.
The tension broke like a snapped bowstring.
Blackthorn's formation withdrew in perfect order, retreating beyond the ridge from which they had first appeared.
[Mission Complete: Military Standoff Resolved.]
Border Confidence: +18%
Unit Discipline: +11%
Skill Unlocked: Unit Command Level 2
Back in the war room that evening, Wei allowed himself a rare smile.
"They blinked."
Liang shook his head.
"No."
He turned toward the eastern map.
"They learned."
Because today—
Shattered County hadn't fought a war.
But it had survived the moment that started one.
And next time—
Blackthorn might not stop at the river.