Just the former is likely enough over a 6 month span, even without great genetics. That's only a 1.6lb/week loss. Noob gains can be huge.

A caloric deficit that allows a continuous weight loss of 1.6 lbs a week for 6 months is significant enough to completely wreck your hormonal profile and put you in constant catabolic state, I doubt you would be able to put on any noticeable amount of muscle mass even during your noob gains phase in that context.