In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities-Chapter 174 Reconnaissance and Preparation for Battle

Distrust among the tribes prevented them from committing to a full-scale attack. Instead, they opted for a cautious, defensive approach to assess the situation.

Each tribe withheld its elite warriors, cleverly disguising their intentions. The reconnaissance force, though large in number, consisted mostly of expendable soldiers.

Falcon whispered to his advisor, "Did you make sure to pull out our elites? These people are all schemers; we can’t trust them. It’s enough to keep up appearances. The chance of the vanguard encountering the enemy is slim, anyway."

The advisor replied quietly, "They’ll just scout near the fortress and return. That’s the best we can hope for."

Falcon nodded grimly. His tribe had always borne the brunt of reconnaissance duties due to their wings. As a result, they had suffered heavy losses to enemy magical beasts. He had no intention of letting his tribe continue to be exploited.

Had Oswald been more experienced, he might have inspected the troops more thoroughly. Instead, he naively assumed the tribes had provided their best soldiers and was content with their apparent cooperation.

The distance between the Pamir camp and Orlando Fortress was approximately 50 kilometers. By the time the vanguard returned from their reconnaissance, they would have reached within 10 kilometers of the fortress.

The vanguard comprised 7,000 soldiers from the allied tribes. Their expressions were uniformly grim.

One Black Hawk soldier tightened the straps of his armor, avoiding eye contact with the Fire Boar soldiers nearby.

"Being stuck with those brute pigs… I fear them more than the enemy."

The Fire Boar soldiers, sharpening their axes, sneered in turn.

"What do we do with these cowardly crows? If they don’t flee at the first sight of danger, it’ll be a miracle."

Similar scenes played out across the ranks, mistrust palpable in every interaction. Nevertheless, the vanguard set off.

Oswald watched their departure, a strange unease settling in his chest.

Why did he feel so uneasy?

Michael led a force of 2,000 soldiers composed of the Special Detached Unit, their squires and bodyguards, and the soldiers dispatched by Elonia. Riding atop Bucephalus, Michael relished the wind sweeping across the plains, a refreshing change amidst the war.

However, the sense of freedom was fleeting as his reason reminded him of his responsibility. Leading an inexperienced unit demanded caution.

"Knights, check the armor on yourselves and your horses. If anyone neglects their attire due to heat or discomfort, I’ll personally see to their punishment. Soldiers, group yourselves in units of ten and remain vigilant of your surroundings," he ordered.

Once he confirmed the troops were following his instructions, Michael called for Andrew.

"Sir Andrew, organize the knights into five teams and have them scout the vicinity within a 10-kilometer radius. Be vigilant; we may encounter the vanguard of the Pamir Imperial forces."

Michael believed it was better to over-prepare than to be caught off guard. As soon as he finished speaking, Sir Adam’s cheerful voice broke the seriousness.

"Your Excellency, we haven’t even moved 10 kilometers from the fortress yet. Isn’t it too early to worry?"

Annoyed by the foolish comment, Michael suppressed his irritation. He noticed that many knights seemed to share Adam’s sentiment and decided to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Fixing a sharp gaze on Adam, Michael interrupted him mid-sentence.

"Sir Adam. We are in a state of war. Surely, you’re aware of the consequences of neglecting vigilance in wartime? Remember, you have only one life. Have you not heard what the Lion’s Mane Tribe does to captives?"

Adam’s face turned pale. The Lion’s Mane Tribe, known for their lion-like transformation, had a reputation for roasting and eating their prisoners.

As Michael’s words reverberated through the ranks, the knights gulped nervously, envisioning their grim fates if captured. Determined not to let such a fate befall them, the knights quickly formed teams and began their reconnaissance.

Michael positioned himself atop a nearby hill, making it easy for the scouts to locate him. Time passed before a knight, his face pale with urgency, rode back at full speed.

"Your Excellency! Approximately 15 kilometers ahead, we’ve spotted the vanguard of the Imperial forces. Their exact numbers are uncertain, but they’re at least several thousand strong!"

Michael sighed, his premonition of trouble proving correct yet again. He asked the scout, "Were you detected?"

The knight’s reply was quick and firm.

"Absolutely not, Your Excellency! I observed the dust clouds from afar and approached cautiously."

The clarity and decisiveness of the knight’s response reassured Michael. Turning to Miaomiao, who was lazily licking her paw nearby, he spoke.

"Miaomiao, come with me to assess the enemy’s strength and composition."

The sphinx readily agreed, understanding the potential for extra gold from these special missions.

[Alright. Leave that dumb horse behind and ride on my back.]

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Bucephalus snorted indignantly, pawing at the ground in frustration, but fell silent under Miaomiao’s sharp glare.

"I’ll conduct reconnaissance. Prepare for battle in my absence," Michael instructed.

Before the knights could respond, Miaomiao leaped into action, her speed blurring her form as she vanished from sight with Michael on her back.

As the enemy forces came into view, Michael asked Miaomiao to ascend into the skies. The high vantage point, combined with a concealment spell that enveloped them in mist, allowed them to observe undetected. From below, they would appear as nothing more than a passing cloud.

Enhanced by his innate magic, Michael’s vision surpassed human limits. From above, he could clearly discern the composition and numbers of the enemy forces.

The Imperial forces’ formation was disorganized, their soldiers ill-equipped and mismatched. Though the banners of the Five Great Tribes were scattered among them, the soldiers’ weak builds and unfocused gazes suggested they were far from elite.

Estimating their numbers to be around 7,000, Michael carefully surveyed the area for additional units but found none. It appeared the Empire had deployed a reconnaissance force drawn from various tribes.

’So, they’ve sent these troops to scout the area and establish a foothold,’ Michael mused.

The distance between the Imperial forces and the Special Detached Unit was now approximately 15 kilometers. Reflecting on past victories, such as defeating 3,000 Stone Bear warriors with only 300 soldiers, Michael felt confident in his 2,000-strong force’s chances against this disorganized opposition.

Returning to the waiting knights, Michael prepared to outline his strategy.