Crackle... crackle...
The military flags snapped in the wind and rain, while the downpour hammered against the command tent with a series of crackling sounds.
Enkō sat inside the command tent, studying the latest intelligence report on the desk with tightly furrowed brows.
Another three days had passed, yet there was still no sign of Lightning Country reinforcements at Thunderwind City. Even stranger, according to the latest news from Uzuki Riten, there was likewise no trace of them within fifty miles of Thundercloud City.
They had neither gone to Thundercloud City nor Thunderwind City. It was as though the army stationed at Thunderlight City had no concern whatsoever for the war here.
Something was clearly wrong. Enkō knew there was a problem, yet he could not figure out what it was. The feeling drove him nearly mad, and he had not been able to calm himself for days.
"Could you be overthinking it?"
Within the mindscape, Mad Fang had curled his massive body into a ball and lazily swished his tail. "You're suspicious of everything every day. Even I'm getting annoyed watching you."
"If you're bored, just come out and take a walk. It's not like I'm stopping you."
"You think I don't want to?" Mad Fang said irritably. "I'm already a wanted snake in Ryūchi Cave. If they spot me while I'm out, that'll be trouble."
Enkō grinned and teased, "Didn't you call yourself the second strongest in Ryūchi Cave? You're afraid of them?"
"Bullshit. I can indeed call myself second in a one-on-one fight, but they're not going to line up and duel me one at a time."
"Uh... that actually makes some sense."
To distract himself from his irritation, Enkō casually chatted with Mad Fang. "I remember you said you fought the White Snake Sage because you