Defensive Tactics

The scent of war was drawing near, yet for the Cecil Empire as it now stood, this truly was not the best time to wage one.

Longwind Fortress. Its towering walls rose between hills and plains, bastion fortifications stretching for dozens of kilometers into the increasingly chilly autumn wind. Beneath the brilliant sunlight cast by the giant sun, they gleamed with a faint golden radiance. Magical halos flickered softly within the Rune Stone bricks embedded in the walls, wrapping the entire fortress in a barely perceptible Energy Shield. Alert soldiers stood upon the walls and watchtowers, watching the Typhon Empire's direction intently.

Inside the fortress, a newly stationed group of soldiers marched loosely between the barracks. The Cecil Legion instructor responsible for training these recruits stood by the roadside with a stern expression, but an old fortress soldier on the nearby wall, noticing the recruits' formation, could not help shaking his head. "These soldiers can't fight at all... They might manage against bandits back home, but fighting Typhonians here? Tie seven or eight of them together and they still wouldn't be enough to die."

"The Cecil Legion's drill manuals can get these recruits into service quickly—at least teach them how to follow orders," another veteran said beside him.

"That still takes training time. These conscript soldiers were probably holding hoes and pitchforks the day before yesterday..."

Maryland, clad in military uniform and carrying a sword at his side, walked along the wall. The veterans' conversation entered his ears, and the recruits' performance entered his eyes.

After completing his inspection, the fortress commander returned to the command post in the castle district. His adjutant—a capable young man with black hair and brown eyes—was already waiting there.

"General," the adjutant stepped forward and saluted, "the scouts have sent back intelligence."

"Mm." Maryland