Gerhardt had recently come to terms with the fact that his body was aging.

He had been on the battlefield for over forty years, and the time to retire had long passed. Though his enthusiasm and drive remained, his worn-out body and mind could no longer keep up.

The Dragonia Empire was surrounded by hostile nations, barely maintaining balance amidst its many foes. While strong, the Empire was not stronger than all its surrounding nations combined.

Gerhardt believed that change was necessary to break free from this precarious situation. Yet he also knew that with senior generals like himself holding the military’s core, such change was difficult to achieve.

This was why he saw Viktor’s strategic and tactical prowess as a beacon of hope. The more Gerhardt studied Viktor’s tactics, the clearer Viktor’s abilities became, convincing him that Viktor could bring about the change the Empire needed.

The noble faction’s army had been swift in their early victories, advancing with the belief that they could end the war quickly. They minimized conscription in occupied territories, focusing on quick victories and efficient management. General Paul, who led them, was certainly not incompetent and adhered strictly to Imperial doctrine.

However, Viktor’s ruthlessly efficient tactics exposed the noble faction’s weaknesses.

He launched daring maneuvers that targeted temporarily separated enemy forces, deftly used terrain to his advantage, and continually disrupted supply lines. Viktor’s movements seemed to predict the Imperial forces’ every step, making their struggles inevitable.

The Imperial staff predicted that had the ceasefire negotiations not been reached, the Empire would have suffered significant losses from Viktor’s counterattacks.

Now, Viktor was in the Empire’s fold and had even earned the trust of the Emperor, known for his discerning eye when it came to talent. Gerhardt was convinced that Viktor was destined to hold a prominent position within the Empire, much like himself.

“Commander,” one of his officers interrupted.
“Hm?”
“Wouldn’t it be wise to propose a full integration of the legion now? If Viktor’s skills are genuine, it’s a waste to have him lead just that small force.”

While some officers doubted Viktor’s First Provisional Legion, Gerhardt, unlike them, held a different view.

“Let’s observe first. Those soldiers also went through two years of war. It would be a mistake to dismiss them as mere conscripts.”
“...Understood.”

Gerhardt believed that the First Provisional Legion held hidden potential.

Concerns about cooperation were familiar excuses, often used to mask distrust towards surrendered enemies, something the Empire had frequently dealt with.

While his subordinates might acknowledge Viktor’s competence, they dismissed his legion as a mere collection of conscripted defectors, particularly since they had witnessed the noble faction’s deficiencies in joint exercises.

However, contrary to these views, Gerhardt saw the disciplined response of Viktor’s soldiers as clear evidence they were far from ordinary conscripts. Troops that followed orders flawlessly in battle were, by definition, elite.

"Has the training for large-scale movement and formation transitions been properly communicated?”
“Yes, Commander.”

This was why Gerhardt supported Viktor’s desire to use the joint exercise as a stage for proof—specifically, proof of the First Provisional Legion’s strength.

Large-scale movement and formation transitions, especially on the level of a full legion, demanded more than what was typically expected of even elite soldiers.

“The joint training between the Tenth Legion and the First Provisional Legion will now commence.”

Viktor’s legion had one week to prepare.

It was a short time, but Gerhardt was confident that the First Provisional Legion would show its true abilities.

---

With nearly 15,000 soldiers involved, conducting training all at once was impractical. The joint exercise was divided into brigade-sized units of about 4,000 soldiers, observed by officers from both the Tenth and First Provisional Legions.

Each day, a single brigade-sized unit trained, with officers from both legions watching from high observation towers. Around fifty officers from the Tenth Legion climbed up, while less than ten from the First Provisional Legion, including Viktor, Anna, and Alexandrov, joined them.

“First Infantry Brigade, as expected, is exceptional.”
“General Klaus has worked hard with them.”

The Tenth Legion’s First Infantry Brigade completed their tasks without any major issues on the first day. They spent the morning refining formation and transition drills, then demonstrated various formations such as the crane-wing, fish-scale, and circular formations in the afternoon.

The First Infantry Brigade used flags, trumpets, whistles, and other signals to coordinate movements, with General Klaus directly overseeing adjustments through messengers.

Formation changes took between 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the complexity of the formation. Soldiers moved in waves, starting from those closest to the headquarters. Occasionally, companies or battalions deviated slightly, a natural outcome given the delay in signal transmission. Even elite troops would find it challenging to react more swiftly.

The First Infantry Brigade wrapped up their training in the late afternoon, with a small contingent staying behind to continue working on deficiencies until evening.

“Switching from column to line formation in 15 minutes is impressive.”
“It seems they focused on this scenario, likely due to its frequency in battle.”

The Tenth Legion’s officers exchanged observations throughout the training, expressing admiration for the First Infantry Brigade’s elite status, while some from the Second Infantry Brigade took notes on Klaus’s command methods.

However, the members of the First Provisional Legion watched with a peculiar look, refraining from engaging in conversation.

“What do you think, Commander Viktor?” Gerhardt asked.
“…It was an impressive display. The Tenth Legion’s reputation for excellence is well deserved.”
“Is that so? Thank you.”

Though Viktor offered praise, his subordinates’ reserved reaction did not sit well with the proud officers of the Tenth Legion.

The following day, when the Second Infantry Brigade conducted their exercises, the same dynamic persisted. While the Tenth Legion’s officers engaged in lively discussion, the First Provisional Legion members observed silently, then quickly departed.

“…Ha.”

After the day’s training ended, the Tenth Legion’s officers gathered to discuss the First Provisional Legion’s aloof demeanor.

“Seems Viktor’s pride is strong, considering his background as a surrendering general.”
“Hmph. Inside, he must have been amazed.”
“He’s used to dealing with a ragtag bunch of conscripts; perhaps he can’t fully appreciate our level.”
“Hahaha!”

Though they refrained from expressing these sentiments in Gerhardt’s presence, the officers were certain Viktor’s legion would falter during the exercise.

And so, the next day arrived.

“Where’s Commander Viktor?”
“He said he would be personally directing his soldiers.”
“…Hmm.”

While most Tenth Legion officers gathered on the observation tower, only a single messenger from the First Provisional Legion was present.

“Ha, perhaps they lack sufficient officers.”
“Come to think of it, there were only a few yesterday as well.”
“Not all his men surrendered, so that may be part of it.”

The officers murmured quietly.

Even if the First Provisional Legion was smaller, having the legion commander personally direct tactical maneuvers was unusual. During the Tenth Legion’s training, Commander Gerhardt had observed from the tower over the past two days.

The officers approached Gerhardt, who watched intently as Viktor’s troops assembled on the training grounds.

“What do you think, Commander?”
“Assessments can wait until after the training. For now, let’s watch quietly.”
“…Understood.”

Following Gerhardt’s orders, the officers sat in silence, observing the First Provisional Legion’s exercise.

“Lacking officers will certainly make things difficult.”
“Indeed. Though Commander Viktor is exceptional, he’s only one man.”

Initially skeptical, the officers’ attitudes shifted as they observed Viktor’s soldiers.

“…Huh?”
“What…?”

They gaped in astonishment at the First Provisional Legion’s movements.

“Is that even possible?”

The 5,000 soldiers of the First Provisional Legion displayed seamless formation shifts and maneuvers with minimal preparation.

“Oh my…”
“How long did that take?”
“…About five minutes, I think.”

Within five minutes of the signal, the 5,000 troops had transitioned from a marching formation to a battle-ready line.

“They must have only practiced linear formations…”

Their speed in transitioning to more complex formations far surpassed that of the Tenth Legion’s soldiers.

“How is that even…”

But what truly impressed the observers was the synchrony.

“All soldiers moving in unison? Is that even possible?”
“…You’re seeing it with your own eyes.”
“…”

Without any delays or additional messengers, the entire 5,000 troops moved simultaneously to their designated positions.

The officers exchanged speechless glances.

“Could we even do that?”
“…Apologies.”
“No need to apologize. It’s clear that level of control is beyond us.”

With a smile, Gerhardt acknowledged this, prompting the officers to silently watch the First Provisional Legion’s display.

Training solely on large-scale movements could, in theory, achieve this, but not with the fluidity, speed, and versatility they witnessed.

“Oh, incredible.”
“…Indeed.”

Even the previously skeptical brigade commanders could not hide their amazement.

By late morning, the First Provisional Legion had completed their formation displays. They showcased their flexibility by moving archers and spearmen in perfect coordination, particularly impressing the officers with how the archers weaved through the infantry’s formations.

As formations shifted, paths opened smoothly, allowing archers and elite swordsmen to move unhindered. They executed these maneuvers with only a few signals, without any missteps.

“Could they have trained these tactics on a soldier-by-soldier basis?”
“That’s impossible.”
“…”

By lunchtime, the First Provisional Legion had completed all formation and movement demonstrations.

The Tenth Legion’s officers descended from the tower and followed Gerhardt, who walked briskly toward Viktor’s command tent, his expression bright.

“Commander Gerhardt?”
“May I come in

?”
“…Yes.”

Without hesitation, Gerhardt opened the tent flap, followed by dozens of Tenth Legion officers.

“Ahem. Ahem! Commander Gerhardt.”
“…Could you explain how this is even possible?”

Gerhardt approached Viktor, who stood by the map, and asked directly.

“Ahem…”

“Did you…use magic, perhaps?” Gerhardt teased, though some officers seriously considered the possibility.

The Dragonia Empire’s magic was limited to simple offensive spells and Phlegethon, making Viktor’s tactics seem almost supernatural.

“Ahem! Something similar, perhaps,” Viktor replied.

Gerhardt, taking Viktor’s vague response as confirmation, chuckled and nodded in understanding.