After we emerged from the second door, it closed shut behind us, sealing off the passage we had just traversed. We stood there for a moment, surveying our new surroundings. The landscape was vastly different from the verdant forests we had encountered on our previous journey. Instead, the terrain was characterized by arid, barren land with sporadic shrubs dotting the landscape.

Our destination lay in the east, and we knew that the journey would be fraught with danger. We had already encountered the ferocious beasts that roamed these lands, and the memory of those encounters still sent shivers down our spines. Nevertheless, we were determined to complete our mission.

As we rode towards our first destination, a small forest near the twin cities, we could feel the oppressive heat of the sun bearing down on us. The parched earth beneath our horses' hooves kicked up small clouds of dust, leaving us coughing and gasping for air. The distant mountains loomed on the horizon, a testament to the formidable journey that lay ahead of us.

Reaching the forest, we dismounted and set about laying our trap. It was a tense moment, as we knew that the slightest mistake could have dire consequences. But we worked with precision and efficiency, each member of our team performing their designated role flawlessly. We were all on edge, the memory of the beasts' blood-curdling roars still ringing in our ears.

As we waited for our prey to fall into our trap, Chloe rode up beside me on her horse. "Why didn't we bring the chariots?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration. "Chariots would have worked perfectly on plains like these."

I turned to her and smiled reassuringly. "I know they would have, but we can't afford to take any chances. These beasts are unpredictable, and we need to be able to move quickly if the situation demands it."

Chloe nodded, impressed by my reasoning. "You think everything through before taking any steps. I like it. So, how much time is it going to take before we reach the cities?""We're not going to the cities directly," I replied. "We'll stop at the forest near the city first, and then plan our next move."

"I know, I am also talking about the forest. When are we going to reach there?" My voice was tinged with a note of impatience. I was eager to get to the forest, where we would make our plans and chart our course.

"It's a five-hour ride, so it is going to take time. We will reach that forest soon, and after that, our fate will be decided." Noah's voice was calm and reassuring, as always. I knew I could count on him to keep his cool in any situation.

We had a total of three horses with us, one of which was from the army of Noah. One of his messengers had this horse, and we were going to use it to deliver a message to the new king of the twin cities. The other horses were ours, and they were strong and sturdy, capable of carrying us through rough terrain and difficult conditions. If everything went right, we would be victorious soon.

After that, we almost traveled in silence. The wind whistled past us, and the only sounds were the clip-clop of hooves on the ground and the occasional bird call. I was lost in thought, contemplating new strategies to attack the city and kill the enemies. I ran through different scenarios in my mind, trying to anticipate their moves and plan our counter-attacks. However, I was rejecting each new strategy myself because nothing was working. I was getting frustrated, and when I started getting angry, I completely stopped thinking about it.

We kept traveling, and near the evening, we reached the forest. The forest loomed before us, its canopy of trees stretching up to the sky. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and a sense of peace settled over me. Most of the time, kingdoms have people outside the wall. They keep the kingdoms informed about the armies approaching their kingdoms. However, the forest we chose was pretty distant from the cities and was a little out of the way from the twin cities. So, there was no intention of attacking the cities were shown.

We camped at the forest, a small camp was installed for me and Chloe. Intelligence minions took it off from the horse and planted it inside the forest. The campfire crackled and popped, casting flickering shadows across the trees. The stars twinkled above us, and I felt a sense of belonging in this wild and untamed place. There was still time, but I didn't want to fight my enemies in the dark. I thought about sending the messenger earlier in the morning, and as soon as the army reaches within the range, we will attack them.

As I settled down for the night, I felt a sense of excitement and apprehension. Tomorrow would be a new day, and with it would come new challenges and new opportunities. I closed my eyes and let the sounds of the forest lull me to sleep, my mind already racing ahead to the battles that lay ahead.

This was the plan we had been focusing on the entire time. As the sun began to set and its orange glow dimmed into darkness, we quietly made our way back to camp. The night was eerily silent, and the stars shone brightly above us. We didn't want to draw any attention to ourselves, so we refrained from lighting any fires. However, one of our minions was standing near our camp, providing us with a dim light to see by.

The magic minion was strategically placed to keep the light at a minimum, and he glowed softly, like a mystical creature. No one had seen us yet, and I wanted to keep it that way until our second phase of the plan began.

We rested for the night, taking turns keeping watch. The moon was full, casting an ethereal glow over the camp. It was an eerie feeling, knowing that danger was lurking somewhere in the shadows.

The next morning, I sent the intelligence minion with the worst condition to the city. His skin was pale, and his eyes were sunken, as if he had not slept in days. It was done deliberately to show the condition of the army and how much help they desperately needed. I gave him the horse, and with a heavy heart, I told him everything he had to say.

I instructed him to go to Alexander, the king in command, and tell him that the army had been attacked, and the king needed 3500 soldiers to join the fight. I gave him the gold piece that was found in the messenger's dress, hoping it would lend credibility to his message.

Alexander was a wise man, and I knew he would be able to see through any lies or deceit. So, I also instructed the minion on what to say if he asked about the old messenger. I told him to ask for a heavy amount of gold for the message, as promised by the king, because he was a local resident, and the king had promised him 100 pieces of gold just to deliver the news.

I had taught him this story because messengers were often known to high officials, and if they encountered a new face, they might suspect him of being an impostor. So, I hoped this elaborate story would clear any doubts about his identity.

As the minion rode away, my heart was heavy with worry. We had played our part, but now it was up to fate to decide the outcome of our plan.

After carefully instructing him, my pupil mounted his horse and galloped off towards the city. I dispatched five of my most trusted intelligence minions, each positioned a kilometer away from one another, strategically placed to provide me with ample warning of the enemy's arrival.

With the fate of my army hanging in the balance, I entrusted the command to five of my most skilled and reliable commanders. As the enemy was coming through a treacherous mountain pass, one of my intelligence minions, who had achieved stage two status, was tasked with leading the magic minions in a devastating attack from above. Meanwhile, another commander was in charge of the brute force minions, who would charge straight into the fray.

For added support, a separate commander was tasked with leading the archers, who would be stationed on the mountainside alongside the magic minions. Meanwhile, the stealthy technique variants and silent killers were under the command of a different leader, while the remaining soldiers were all under the guidance of a single commander.

As the small enemy army approached, my troops mobilized with swift and decisive action. Each group, coordinated by their respective leaders, fought valiantly, working together to decimate the enemy's forces. Once the small army had been vanquished, it was time to shift our focus to the main city.

With the intelligence gleaned from my minions and the detailed plans my commanders had created, we were more than prepared to take on the larger enemy forces. We were resolute in our determination to emerge victorious and reclaim what was rightfully ours. And so, with swords drawn and hearts pumping with adrenaline, we marched forward into battle.