Oblivion's Throne-Chapter 105: The King’s Gambit

Orion stood at the highest wall of his fortress, watching as his forces settled into their newly assigned roles. The bitter wind howled through the frozen tundra, cutting through even the thickest of uniforms. It would be a battle of endurance as much as warfare.

His Kingdom was an isolated stronghold perched atop a treacherous ridge. The only roads leading up were narrow, easily defensible. Any force attacking them head-on would be slaughtered. But there was one glaring weakness—supplies.

The academy had been merciful—if that word could even be used here. Each kingdom started with five days' worth of rations and medical gear. But after that?

Everything would have to be taken.

The first major supply drop would arrive tomorrow morning, landing in a contested regions between the three warring kingdoms—his supply drop was between him and the river stronghold to the west and the mountain fortress to the north.

A forced conflict. The academy wasn't just testing their tactics; they were starving them into war.

In the main war chamber, Orion, his six strategists, and the three commanders stood around a glowing holographic projection of the battlefield. The supply drop zone pulsed in a blue light, marking the location of the first real battle.

Darius Renzo folded his arms, his expression hard. "We don't have a choice. Either we fight for that drop, or we start starving in less than a week."

"No," Isolde Soren countered, her tone measured, precise. Her gaze was sharp. "We have two choices. Fight for the supplies... or steal them."

Dimitri Sokolov exhaled through his nose, his fingers grazing the scar along his jaw as he mulled over her words. "Stealing assumes someone else gets to the drop first." His voice was even, but there was an undercurrent of skepticism. "If they're smart, they'll secure it properly. If they fortify their position, we'll be walking into a death trap."

Juno Ashford leaned forward, her keen eyes flicking between the supply zone and the enemy fortresses on the holo-map. "And if we fight directly, we're forced into a three-way battle with two other kings. We could end up with nothing."

Orion remained silent, watching. This was the real test—not just of their plan, but of them. He noted who hesitated, who spoke with certainty, who accounted for risk, and who grasped the broader implications.

Darius tapped his fingers against the projection, focusing on the jagged ridges separating their stronghold from the contested ground. His voice was quieter this time, more thoughtful. "There's a way to do both."

All eyes turned to him.

With a swipe, he zoomed in on a narrow ravine—a natural choke point. "This is the only viable route between us and the drop zone. Anyone moving supplies through here will be at their most vulnerable. Instead of fighting for the drop itself, we let someone else bleed for it first... and strike once they're weak."

Isolde's lips parted slightly in realization. "An ambush instead of a direct engagement."

Felix Greaves, the defensive captain, crossed his arms. "We need to ensure they move in that direction, though."

Amon's grin widened, his fingers twitching at the prospect of mischief. "A little push, huh?"

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Isolde's eyes flickered with understanding. "We don't fight to claim the supplies—we fight to ensure that someone else takes them. Then, when they think they've won..."

Juno traced her fingers along the holo-map, completing the thought. "We take the winner. Minimal risk. Maximum reward."

Orion let the silence settle, gauging their conviction. Then, he spoke.

"Then let's make it happen."

Orion turned to Amon first. "You'll take fifty men and harass them. No full engagement—just enough to make them believe we're testing their defenses."

Amon gave a slow nod, his grin sharpening. "Just enough chaos to keep them guessing. Understood."

Next, Orion's gaze landed on Juno. "Your scouts stay hidden. Take out any enemy scouts they send. I want a detailed breakdown of their numbers, formations, and who their king is. The moment you see their first real clash, signal me."

Juno gave a lazy mock salute.

Finally, Orion faced Felix and the defensive unit. "Fallback positions. If things go south, we regroup here." He pointed at a narrow corridor between two ridges, a perfect kill zone. "If either kingdom tries to pursue us, we make them regret it. We bleed them dry in this corridor."

Felix studied the terrain, his fingers tracing potential angles of retreat, then nodded. "They won't get past us."

Felix nodded.

Orion expanded the holo-map, isolating the River Stronghold and its logistical routes. The fortress sat atop a naturally defensible position—flanked by steep cliffs on one side and a fast-moving river on the other.

Unlike the mountain stronghold, which could only be starved out over time, or the plains army, which thrived on open-field combat, the river kingdom's strength was its control over water-based supply lines.

"They have two ways to acquire rations," Orion began, pointing to two highlighted paths.

The supply drop in no-man's land. Like everyone else, they had a stake in the fight over the five-day rations. If they lost, they'd be forced to rely entirely on their other option.

Their own fortress reserves. If their supplies were burned, they'd be left with no choice but to act aggressively.

He looked up at his war council. "Once their stockpiles are gone, they'll be forced into a corner. They'll have to secure food and supplies quickly. And since it's unpractical to fish for 300 persons since it would only leave them vulnerable. "

Darius exhaled sharply. "That means they have two choices—either attack us, or attack one of the other two kingdoms."

Isolde's eyes gleamed. "But they won't come for us."

Orion nodded. "Exactly. Our kingdom is the hardest to assault. They'd incur the heaviest casualties trying to take it from us. And if they waste too many soldiers on an attack, they'll be vulnerable to counterattacks from the others."

Liora leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Which means... they'll go after one of the other two instead."

Juno's smirk widened. "We're not just starving them. We're redirecting them—turning them into a weapon against our enemies."

Orion crossed his arms. "We let them do the heavy lifting. While they fight and weaken each other, we prepare for the real battle."

Amon let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "This is brutal. I love it."

Orion smirked but said nothing, his focus already shifting toward execution. "Then let's get to work, prepare and start training for tomorrow." he said, dismissing the council.

The strategists dispersed, each moving to oversee their respective tasks.

Juno was the first to leave, disappearing into the outer ring where her scouts prepared for deployment. She had already selected her best spotters, each one needed to be good in high-speed reconnaissance and long-range precision.

They would have to be positioned along the ridges, watching for any sign of enemy movement. If anyone made a move toward the supply drop, Orion would know before they had even crossed the halfway mark.

Amon, meanwhile, led his sabotage teams to the armory. His men didn't need to win a fight—just to sow enough disorder to tilt the battle in their favor. As they strapped in their gear, Amon grinned, already envisioning the chaos they would unleash.

Felix remained in the war chamber, finalizing defensive placements with Orion. The retreat corridor had to be perfect—kill zones established, fallback positions reinforced.