Chapter 7: The Grand Duke Takes Command

(Marcus's PoV)

The cold wind swept across the northern plains as Marcus stood atop the walls of the duchy's fortress, his red hair whipping in the icy gusts. Below him, the soldiers of the Aurelius army were assembling, preparing for battle. The monster incursions had grown more frequent, and the creatures had begun advancing toward the **border towns**.

Marcus couldn't wait any longer. If they didn't act now, thousands of innocent people would die, and the duchy would lose even more ground to the relentless tide of beasts.

"Commander Reinhardt," Marcus called over his shoulder, his voice steady despite the urgency pulsing through him.

The commander stepped forward, his imposing figure casting a long shadow in the cold light of the overcast sky. "Your Grace?"

"How many soldiers are we mobilizing?" Marcus asked, eyes fixed on the distant horizon where dark shapes could be seen moving—monsters, prowling just out of sight.

Reinhardt's face was grim. "We've gathered around **2,000 men**. The majority of them are **Tier 1 to Tier 2 Adepts**, with only a handful at **Tier 3**. Most are trained in basic combat with Essentia-enhanced weapons, but they're no match for the stronger beasts we've been seeing lately. We're stretched thin."

Marcus absorbed the information, calculating the odds. His mind, sharpened by his past life's modern education, quickly began formulating a strategy. He knew they were outnumbered and outclassed by the monsters, but there were ways to even the playing field. They didn't need brute strength to win; they needed **strategy**.

"We can't rely solely on brute force," Marcus said, his voice quiet but resolute. "We need to use the terrain to our advantage, and we have to be smarter than the monsters."

Reinhardt nodded, but there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "What do you propose, Your Grace?"

---

Marcus turned, pointing to the map spread out on the table beside him. It detailed the terrain between the fortress and the border towns. "We'll evacuate the townsfolk to the **western valley**. It's narrow, defensible, and gives us time to regroup."

The council members, gathered around the map, exchanged uncertain glances. "But that valley is too far from the fortress," one of the older lords said. "We won't be able to retreat in time if the monsters follow us."

"They won't have a chance," Marcus replied. "We'll lure them in. We know the monsters are following predictable paths—they're moving toward the towns in a straight line, driven by instinct. They're not strategic thinkers. We'll use that against them."

He gestured to the mountains that flanked the western valley. "We'll set up **trap points** along these ridges. We'll hide small groups of our best soldiers—archers and Tier 2 Elementalists. Once the monsters funnel into the valley, we'll collapse parts of the cliffs on them, bottlenecking their forces."

One of the younger council members, a man named **Lord Falrin**, frowned. "And what about the stronger monsters? Some of them have already breached our outer defenses. We've seen reports of **Tier 3 beasts**."

"I'll lead a strike force," Marcus said without hesitation. "We'll target the most dangerous creatures first. By keeping them isolated from the main force, we can take them down before they become a threat to the larger group."

Reinhardt watched Marcus closely, his expression hard to read. "You'll lead the strike force?"

"Yes. We'll take a squad of our best Sentinels, combined with a small team of **Arcanists** to provide support from the rear. With their abilities to reinforce our defenses and control the flow of Essentia, we can neutralize the Tier 3 threats before they tear through our lines."

Marcus paused, glancing at the soldiers below. He could see the tension in their movements, the fear in their eyes. They knew the odds were against them, but he also knew that they needed to see their leader on the battlefield, not just commanding from behind a wall. He was determined to be more than just a figurehead.

---

"Prepare the evacuation," Marcus ordered, his voice cutting through the cold air. "I want everyone in the nearby towns moved to the valley within the next day. The soldiers will move out immediately."

"Your Grace," Reinhardt said, hesitating. "This plan… it's bold. If it fails, we'll be trapped in the valley with the monsters."

"It won't fail," Marcus replied, his eyes hard. "We're not just fighting with brute force anymore. We'll fight with precision, with tactics. The monsters are strong, but they're disorganized. They won't expect us to outmaneuver them."

Reinhardt gave a firm nod, though Marcus could sense the lingering doubt. Still, the commander trusted him enough to follow through. And that trust was everything right now.

---

As the soldiers began to move out, Marcus took a deep breath, steadying himself. His mind flashed back to his previous life, to the days of reading military history and modern warfare. This world was different, with its Essentia and Adept disciplines, but many principles of war remained the same. You didn't always need the largest army or the strongest soldiers. **You needed the smartest strategy**.

He felt a strange sense of calm settle over him as he watched the preparations unfold. The plan was risky, but it was their best shot at saving the border towns. If they could trap the monsters, they would have a chance.

The first phase was already in motion. Soldiers moved with purpose, some leading the townsfolk into evacuation caravans, others positioning themselves in the valley where they'd lay in wait for the beasts. The air was thick with tension, but also with hope. This was the first real chance they had to strike back, and Marcus could see the determination in his men's faces.

---

Later, as the army moved out, Marcus rode at the front, Reinhardt by his side. They led the strike force toward the heart of the monster horde, where the most dangerous creatures would be waiting. Marcus's thoughts were sharp, focused entirely on the task ahead. His heart, however, beat with a mix of anticipation and fear.

They reached the edge of the valley just as dusk began to fall. Marcus's eyes scanned the horizon, where the dark shapes of the monsters loomed. There were hundreds of them—massive beasts with twisted forms, claws glinting in the fading light. He could see some of the stronger creatures among them, their glowing eyes marking them as Tier 3 threats.

"Steady," Marcus whispered to himself, feeling the weight of command settle on his shoulders.

He had come from a world where wars were fought with tanks and missiles, but here, it was magic and monsters. Still, war was war, and if there was one thing Marcus knew, it was that even the strongest opponent could be brought down with the right plan.

---

"Positions!" Marcus called, his voice carrying over the wind.

His men moved like clockwork, spreading out along the ridge. The Arcanists began casting their **Essentia barriers**, reinforcing the soldiers' defenses. The Elementalists readied their arrows, imbued with Essentia to pierce even the thickest monster hide.

The monsters charged forward, their roars shaking the earth.

Marcus's heart raced, but he kept his mind clear. This was it. The moment they'd prepared for.

"Now!" Marcus shouted.

The archers loosed their arrows, the Elementalists unleashed their power, and with a rumble, the mountainside collapsed, trapping the monsters in the valley.

And as the beasts howled in rage, Marcus led the charge, sword in hand, ready to face the darkness head-on.