Ch.1256Everyone Has a Plan

King Geirrod, the ruler of the largest tribe among existing giants, was a mighty giant who could defeat ancient dragons with his bare fists, known as “Piercing Fist.”

And the hundred giant warriors under Geirrod’s command.

Though often disparaged as a declining race, well past their prime, they remained a force that could not be taken lightly.

Even Caliburn, whose strength had greatly increased after recruiting two dragons, could not guarantee victory without scraping together all available forces.

In other words, just a few miscalculations or variables could reverse the outcome. So they needed to fight well.

‘When and how should we fight? What strategy? What tactics?’

Most of the Werebeasts under his command were guided more by instinct than intellect, and the dragons he had recruited were naturally ferocious creatures.

Relying on their minds would clearly lead to defeat even in winnable battles, so Caliburn had to devise all strategies and tactics himself, as usual.

‘First, the worst-case scenario I can imagine… is being stabbed in the back by Garmerlic during battle.’

The worst-case scenario—being attacked simultaneously by giants and the undead—had to be avoided at all costs.

If Geirrod were the only enemy, he could somehow defeat him, but if attacked from both front and back, even he couldn’t hold out.

‘However…’

However, Garmerlic had not taken the front line even once recently.

He had delegated everything to his closest aide, Arthur—from suppressing those who refused to submit, to discussions and negotiations with allied forces.

In fact, rumors circulated that he might already be dead after being defeated by someone, or unable to move due to fatal injuries.

If Garmerlic truly couldn’t move as the rumors suggested, Caliburn would have nothing to worry about.

‘…But rumors are just rumors. Trusting such baseless gossip would be foolish gambling.’

Of course, Caliburn wasn’t reckless enough to trust rumors without evidence.

So he formulated his overall operation plan with the threat of Garmerlic in mind.

—-

If you can’t handle it, pass it on.

After careful consideration, Caliburn’s strategy was to deliberately slow down his advance to focus Garmerlic’s attention on Haschal.

When faced with multiple urgent matters, human psychology tends to deal with the first crisis first.

If he waited until Garmerlic went to help Erzsebet and then launched his attack, Caliburn himself wouldn’t need to worry about enemy reinforcements.

Too simple to be called a strategy?

Of course, Caliburn didn’t think merely slowing down the march would be sufficient.

That’s why he added various other operations.

“Great Chief, as you ordered, we’ve subtly spread stories about that human goddess near the undead territory.”

“Good work. You weren’t followed, were you?”

First, he leaked confidential information near the undead army’s reconnaissance base that Haschal would soon target Erzsebet.

“That mosquito we kept as prisoner, we released him naturally as you said. He flew away in quite a hurry!”

“Understandable. His master’s life is at stake.”

He also leaked the same information to a captured vampire prisoner before naturally helping him escape.

Both actions were intended to alert the enemy about Haschal’s surprise attack, allowing them to prepare a swift response.

“Bergelmir rejected our proposal. He asked what we take him for.”

“Hmm… surprising. I thought for sure he would have no loyalty, having been subjugated by force.”

Of course, not all operations bore fruit.

While some operations were surprisingly easy, others failed before they even began or fell apart midway.

From a broader perspective, each individual failure was insignificant and not worth dwelling on.

—-

After deciding the strategy—what kind of battlefield to create—the next issue was how to fight within it—in other words, it was time to consider tactics.

“Surprise is always best for hunting.”

This was a much simpler concern than formulating strategy.

“Is a surprise attack possible against giants? Their size gives them an incredibly wide field of vision.”

“Difficult for us.”

It was impossible for Werebeasts to surprise the giant forces.

The giants would spot them before they could get within effective range.

Of course, they could charge at full speed once detected and begin battle before the giants completed their preparations, but that wouldn’t be very meaningful.

By the time they killed three or four giants, the enemies would have finished their preparations and respond properly.

“…But this war isn’t just our fight, is it?”

However, Caliburn had a method.

A way to inflict serious damage by surprise and begin the battle from a distance that even the giants’ vision couldn’t detect.

—-

After completing all preliminary preparations, he led his forces toward the giants’ territory for several days.

“This should be far enough. Are you ready?”

Caliburn and his forces finally stopped at the maximum distance where a surprise attack was possible.

– Kuuuung!

The dragon that had joined them midway walked slowly behind them, shaking the earth.

「Ready? Krrrr… Do your kind need preparation even to breathe? Truly inferior…」

The dragon with a fearsome appearance—a body made of flame and lava instead of flesh and blood, covered with black scales reminiscent of basalt—snorted, exhaling faint flames.

– Chiiiii!

Just from that, the surrounding air boiled and distorted, twisting like a heat haze.

Blazing Volcano, Dragon Krackbabel.

This dragon was Caliburn’s trump card, the hidden weapon that would make the impossible surprise attack possible.

With his breath, he could attack the giants’ fortress from a distance beyond even their vision.

If caught unprepared by such an attack, even the oldest giant would suffer critical damage.

– Kuooooo!

As the dragon of fire and lava opened its mouth wide, gathering immense power, Caliburn glanced at it with a satisfied smile.

‘Everything’s going well so far. That woman should have already begun her battle. If we launch this surprise attack and then charge, things should go smoothly.’

It was a perfect plan.

“—You worms, how dare you covet our territory!!”

At least until right before execution, as with most military plans.

—-

After the ultra-long-range surprise attack using the dragon’s breath, the core forces would ride on the dragon’s back and charge, descending from the air.

Caliburn’s chosen tactic was an excellent strategy by Werebeast standards, and a reasonably sound idea by other races’ standards as well.

Unfortunately, for reasons he failed to predict, it had already fallen apart from the beginning.

“Gwoeeeeeee!”

Something impossibly huge approaching rapidly from beyond the horizon, roaring like thunder.

It was a monstrous creature as tall as a tower, with nine horn-like crowns and long stalactite-like beards.

– Kuuuung!

The full-body armor it wore was so thick and heavy that the earth screamed with each step, and instead of weapons, it wore horrifically large gauntlets on both hands.

“Geirrod?! Impossible, how so quickly…!”

Caliburn groaned in shock as he recognized the opponent.

Piercing Fist, Geirrod.

The leader of the giant forces who had joined hands with Garmerlic was charging forward before Caliburn could launch his surprise attack.

“I, Hrungrir, will stop the dragon! You crush these beasts to death!”

“Grooooo!”

“Uwoeeeee!”

Dozens of giant warriors charged behind him.

‘He knew…? Impossible, if their scouts had detected us, I would have noticed!’

Caliburn was momentarily confused.

For the enemy to arrive fully prepared before he could even attempt his surprise attack—what was happening?

This response speed went beyond simply detecting signs of a surprise attack and reacting immediately; they must have known about the surprise plan itself in advance.

“How on earth…!”

How could Caliburn have known?

Just as he had leaked information about Haschal to the undead to focus Garmerlic’s attention on Haschal, Haschal had also stirred up the giants to prepare them for the attack in advance.

Should we say that birds of a feather flock together, doing the same things? Or that Caliburn, who made the first move, was reaping what he sowed?

‘Damn, this won’t be easy…!’

In any case, Caliburn’s tactical plan had gone awry, and he was forced into a head-on battle of strength against the fully prepared giant horde.

「KRRRRR… Pathetic. For all your boasting, when your plans go wrong, they go spectacularly wrong, Black Dog.」

“Tch…”

「But I forgive you. From the beginning, I had no expectations whatsoever for your strategies.」

Krackbabel, who had been about to unleash his breath, half-closed his mouth and mockingly flew up.

Firing breath from this distance would only miss and invite counterattacks.

With the giants so close, it was now more advantageous to unleash wide-area techniques from the air instead of breath.

「Now, let us begin. You cursed, castrated, doomed, ridiculous and pitiful worms.」

Blazing Volcano, Dragon Krackbabel spread his wings wide, emitting fierce flames through the gaps between the scales covering his body.

– Kwaoooo…!

Those flames swirled up, carving into the ceiling of Naraka like a blade—

「Kneel down, tremble like insects and writhe! I, Krackbabel, have come to hasten your destruction!」

Burning rocks rained down like a meteor shower.