Timeless Assassin

(Juxta Military Base, Forward Simulation Deck)

After exiting the Destroyer Craft, Charles led Leo towards the forward simulation deck, which was a holographic training ground where soldiers learnt the basics of urban warfare.

The floor of the forward simulation deck was made purely of glass, and once they took the designated starting spot, a massive holographic city soon rose in layers before them.

Towering structures, cracked streets, half-demolished infrastructure, and flickering mana barricades flickered into place one district at a time, until the entire projected metropolis stood fully formed.

"Alright boy," Charles began, his voice steady and stripped of any theatrics. "Now that you understand how air superiority is established and maintained, it's time to learn about the most bloody part of any war, where the most lives are lost."

He pointed toward the central district of the hologram where red markers indicated enemy strongholds.

"The air force does one thing and does it well. It levels enemy infrastructure. Destroys radar stations. Dismantles forward command posts. It pushes the opposition army into the cities where they're harder to root out... but easier to trap."

Charles circled a finger above the projection.

"As per universal treaty on war, we cannot bomb, nor can we indiscriminately neutralize cities in war through aerial assault. Which is one of the reasons behind why, this step must be done on foot and why the aircrafts can't help us–"

He explained, as Leo nodded in understanding.

In theory it would be far easier to neutralize a whole city via bombing it to ash, but that could lead to extreme loss of civilian life and Leo could see why such a practice had to be outlawed.

"Never break the rules of war boy…. Because remember, although you may break it once and save a few hundred thousand lives on your side, somewhere down the line that decision will come back and bite you, costing you hundreds of millions more lives than it would have otherwise." Charles warned, as Leo replied by nodding solemnly.

"So….. Once the skies are ours, the real work begins.

Ground forces move in. Block by block. Street by street. Their job is simple on paper: seize the hostile city, secure every main road and supply route, and impose curfew. You cut off the enemy's escape. You cut off food for the commoners, You make it so they can't breathe without your say-so." Charles said as his tone sharpened.

"But this is also the most dangerous part of war. Inside cities, there's no such thing as safe ground. The enemy could be anywhere—sewers, high-rises, hidden tunnels, collapsed buildings, even within crowds of civilians. One second of hesitation? And your men are gone."

The simulation shifted again, highlighting clusters of red units hidden inside buildings and underground tunnels.

"Urban warfare is never clean. Which is why the key to it isn't brute force, but rather information and real-time awareness—-

To win urban warfare your average battle group needs to be modular."

He brought up a tactical display of a typical squad.

"You always have your lookout or scout up front. Someone with sharp perception, possibly even enhanced vision. Behind them, you've got your sniper or archer class— anyone who can provide long-range cover.

They're not just backup. They're your angels. They make sure that the whole unit is always protected against unexpected threats."

Charles tapped on another set of blue figures.

"Next come your shield-bearers. Tank types. They take the brunt of the ambush if things go wrong. Behind them, your berserkers and swordsmen…. your actual offense.

And of course, a few specialists tucked in, whether that means medics, saboteurs, or a mana engineer who can defuse mines and traps laid on the streets."

He looked Leo straight in the eye.

"No unit moves farther than what the scout can clearly see, and no one crosses a zone the sniper can't cover. That's the doctrine of urban warfare. And those who break it…. die."

Leo nodded slowly, taking it all in, but Charles wasn't done.

"And as a commander, your role is not to fight on the frontlines.

You're not their scout, and you're sure as hell not their shield. You need to be above the ground game, seeing the broader board."

He walked forward, placing both hands behind his back.

"Look at this city map. Where are the chokepoints? Where are we losing the most men? Where are our medics getting targeted on repeat? You need to find those areas, dissect why they're failing, and if needed— send your elite men to clear them silently, and open the path for the rest to move through cleanly."

The hologram pulsed red in three different districts.

"That's where your skills as an Assassin come in. Not to play soldier, but to be the silent blade that cuts out the cancer while the army moves forward."

He paused, then gave a humorless chuckle.

"You and Veyr… you're not foot soldiers. You're morale symbols. Weapons of myth. Your presence isn't meant to solve every skirmish. It's meant to inspire fear in the enemy and hope in the men who follow you."

He jabbed a finger toward the towering projection of a shadowy figure labeled 'Pointbreak.'

"This is the part of war where you let Dupravel and your top generals do the dirty work. You waltz in after the sector's cleared, strike a heroic pose, and the soldiers believe it was the Shadow Dragon who carved them a path."

Leo remained silent, watching as the simulation detailed enemy reinforcements slipping through collapsed highways and sewer access points.

Charles turned back.

"Urban warfare is never about speed. It's about control. You divide the city into sectors. You secure one, set up a mana relay post, then move to the next. Never overextend. Never leave your flank exposed. Every soldier should know where they came from and where they're retreating to if things go south."

He motioned toward a blinking blue node.

"Always have fallback zones with emergency rations, medical supplies, and spare ammunition. You don't win a city by storming it. You suffocate it until it begs to surrender."

Leo raised a brow.

"And how exactly do you suffocate it?"

Charles shrugged.

"Food and water…."

"There's only so much that the commoners can handle. So much food and fresh water stocked in their homes that they can survive 7 days? 30? at best 40.

After which, they'll be the ones to turn on their army.

You set up a system that rewards civilians that turn in enemy soldiers and by day 30, they'll be the ones hunting their own men.

And that's how you win this war—"

Silence settled between them again, the projection humming quietly as Leo stared at the urban jungle before him.

He saw the possibilities. The risks. The blood.

But most importantly, he understood the road to victory.

"Alright son, that's the last of the steps to winning a war. Once the commoners surrender, the planet is yours.

Congratulations, you have become a Cult legend.

But your duty doesn't end there.

As Commander you have to make sure that your men behave.

That they don't heckle the innocent or commit abhorrent acts like rape or murder.

A collapsed city is lawless, and it's your job to ensure that you swiftly bring law and order to it and that you keep the backend army operations running smoothly.

Food, Logistics, ammunition, setting up fresh planetary defences.

Those are the problems you need to deal with on a personal level.

Understand?" Charles asked, as although overwhelmed, Leo nodded in acknowledgement.

"Good, now that you understand the broader picture, we can get into the more detailed stuff.

Don't worry…. I'll cram into you the basics of leading an army in the next ten days." Charles said, as Leo let out a long breath of exhaustion.

Being a Commander was undoubtedly very complicated, but he had no choice other than to learn it fast.