Chapter 570: Act 317 – The Battle of Saintly White I
Above the blue sky, the element known as ‘Tiamat’ was resonating with the artifact, four pillars of light piercing through the heavens and supporting the skyline around Ampere Seale.
The heavens resonated with the sea as white birds soared from the ocean, circling around the light columns beneath the clear sky, forming a magnificent painting.
On that day, countless people witnessed this miracle from Ampere Seale to Soao, from Greywind Harbor to Kanach.
However, not everyone beneath this miracle was in the mood to appreciate the beautiful sight in the sky. In the district near the northern gate of Ampere Seale, the officer knights of the Royal Knight Academy were organizedly penetrating and breaking through the last line of defense of the Harbor Guard Army.
But the situation was quietly changing—
As one of the few outstanding graduates of the first class of the Royal Knight Academy, Orlande was leading several officer knights of similar background to break through a temporary street barricade set up by the Harbor Guard Army. Now, all he needed to do was to push forward, opening a breach in the Harbor Guard’s position before they had a chance to retreat and construct a new defensive line.
Behind him, the 13th squad of Kammer, which had previously joined him in a combined attack, along with Aiden’s 14th squad, would continue to flank and execute a side ambush on other defensive lines. The responsibilities of each tactical group were clear. The owner of the wind spirit spider sitting on their shoulders was clearly coordinating the situation on the battlefield through these spiders, relaying commands back to each of them.
Orlande had never fought such a battle and had never studied such cases, but without a doubt, this was exactly what he had dreamed of. He could clearly see his opponents helplessly caught in shock and panic, and they just needed to advance, to keep advancing—the victory was within reach.
Like an extension of his own body.
Orlande had always thought it was just a figure of speech, but now he understood that such command and execution truly existed. The officer knights on the battlefield had come together to form a sharp sword, and the one wielding that sword was an unparalleled swordsman.
It was exhilarating!
But suddenly, several wind spirit spiders materialized around him. As soon as Orlande saw these cyan, translucent insects in the wind, he immediately realized they were scouts in several directions.
Something was wrong—
“The Crusian have already acted,” Brendel replied with a grave expression, as if he had seen it with his own eyes, “At least three armies are moving to flank us on our northeast and northwest, rapidly approaching. They’ve passed through Golden Fleece Street and Twelfth Street…”
He suddenly lifted his head. “Ah, I think I recognize them—it’s the White Lion army. This is their old trick of attacking on both flanks.”
Brendel suddenly found it somewhat amusing. It was them after all.
“They want to encircle us,” Nemeses answered coldly. “It’s a trap.”
“Those Northerners really have some guts, drawing everyone’s attention to the Black Blade army while secretly mobilizing the White Lion army,” Brendel sneered, looking at the bizarre celestial phenomenon resonating with the artifact in the sky. “It’s just to satisfy the Crusian’s demands; he doesn’t feel any pain cutting this piece of flesh.”
Everyone present fell silent; the current situation was already quite clear. The royal heir must have used the Lionheart Sword as leverage to persuade the Temple of Fire; otherwise, there was no way the White Lion army could have been moved so stealthily into Ampere Seale under the watch of the Crusians.
Moreover, Westphah had openly moved to request the Crusian to come personally; in fact, no matter whether the Lionheart Sword appeared in Ampere Seale or not, this sword would probably belong to the Temple of Fire in the future. With the manpower and resources of the Temple of Fire, it would be quite easy to find a sword within the small region of Erluin.
Not to mention that they also held several other components that could resonate with the Lionheart Sword.
However, perhaps the other side did not expect that the soul of Odrefice was still within the White Lion army. Perhaps this is what is known as fate trumps human planning. This sudden resonance of the artifact had indeed alerted Brendel.
Wood, oh Wood, Brendel couldn’t help shaking his head. He still relied too heavily on the judgments from his previous life. Wood, that old fellow, was indeed a close friend of Turiman and a staunch neutral, but besides that, he had forgotten that he was also a senior figure of the Temple of Fire and a Crusian.
The flame blade Odrefice’s importance to the Temple of Fire was self-evident; more critically, the holy war was as important to him as it was to Merros.
Those Northerners were indeed quite patient.
But unfortunately, they had left him with one last opportunity.
The resonance of the artifact revealed his position but also exposed the other’s intentions. Brendel couldn’t help but feel a bit sarcastic; the Temple of Fire still did not understand that this battlefield was already under his control.
Soon they would regret it. He turned around:
“Nemeses, please order the entire army to turn back; this is our last chance.”
The Lady Knight lifted her head and glanced at him.
She silently nodded.
The mournful sound of horns echoed.
Orlande tightened the reins; he had already heard the sounds of the horns ringing in the air. This was not a call for attack, but a signal for retreat. But there was no choice left for him; he saw soldiers clad in grayish-white armor surging from the alleys both in front and behind him.
The kingdom’s White Lion army!
Orlande felt his heart tighten, but his reaction was quick. “It’s an ambush! Into that alley!” The five officer knights at this moment displayed exquisite cooperation, simultaneously tugging on their reins and making a sharp turn, squeezing their horses’ bellies and leaping into the side alley.
“Accelerate! Accelerate! Don’t stop!” But immediately, Orlande saw several soldiers almost identical to them at the end of the alley, appearing to be heavily armored infantry in two ranks, about ten of them. He immediately shouted, “The White Lion army is infantry! Accelerate, break through them!”
But the White Lion infantry reacted very quickly. Just as they appeared at the alley’s entrance, the front row raised their tower shields, and the rear row readied their long spears.
The longspears they used, entirely white, were a special equipment of the White Lion infantry, modified from the dragon-slaying spear of the wind spirits, class-leading in lethality against cavalry.
Orlande’s heart sank; the tactical proficiency of the other side was too high. At that moment, he only wished he was riding a Crusian iron cavalry’s dragon; only such a beast with armor plates thicker than seven millimeters could withstand a strike from a White Lion spear.
He looked back; the White Lion infantry was already surging in, led by a heavy guard wielding a war axe in one hand and a large shield in the other. The light infantry of the White Lion army was already drawing their longbows—Orlande realized that the rain had stopped, and projectile weapons were coming into play.
This was truly adding insult to injury.
Orlande turned around, narrowing his eyes involuntarily. In his view, the rows of White Lion spears were becoming clearer, closer, the patterns on them distinctly visible, though slightly different from what he had seen before in the North.
Had the White Lion army improved their weapons?
The other side was indeed the kingdom’s top elite. However, they were not lacking; it was just that under such circumstances, the disadvantage was too great.
Make the last push.
Orlande tightened his grip on the cavalry sword; the White Lion light infantry behind him had already released their bowstrings, and a sharp sound of piercing air came from behind, cutting closer. Then he felt his backplate receive several heavy impacts.
There was a bit of pain, but fortunately, it hadn’t pierced through. However, the accuracy was really poor; he couldn’t help but be relieved that the kingdom’s White Lion army was never known for their ranged attack power. Although he had regretted this more than once, now that the other side was standing opposite him, he was a bit grateful he wasn’t a jinx.
But the spear array in front was getting closer.
“One more push, brothers!” He suddenly raised his sword, screaming with the last of his strength.
“For Erluin, forward!” The knights beside him roared in unison.
But at that moment, Orlande seemed to hear a faint voice shouting, “Split! Split!” Split what? He froze for a moment and suddenly saw the White Lion infantry in front squeezing to the sides, revealing a gap in the middle.
Opportunity!
Orlande, like a drowning man grabbing at straws, immediately screamed like the knights charging towards the enemy’s position during the battle of Golan-Elsen, “Rush through! Rush through!”
If one can avoid death, no one wants to die. Officer knights were no different; although they didn’t understand why the enemy was making way for them, there was no choice now.
Five warhorses with their riders instantly rushed past the spear formation formed by the White Lion infantry. Orlande instinctively looked back and saw the opening in the spear formation closing behind them.
Then he saw the White Lion light infantry on the other end of the alley once again drawing their longbows and releasing arrows. As he saw the sharp arrows flying forth, he suddenly realized in that instant:
It turned out the enemy was not inaccurate; they were actually targeting the White Lion infantry beside him.
What was happening? Had the White Lion army split?
Orlande’s mind was a jumble, but he heard a voice calling him, “Orlande!” He turned back to see a large group of officer knights from the Royal Knight Academy gathering together, forming a torrent of cavalry.
The female knight on horseback was staring at him, shouting loudly, “Orlande, quickly regroup! There’s no time to talk, we need to break south!”
“Beth? What’s going on?”
Orlande looked back at the White Lion infantry fighting with their comrades. To his surprise, those previous White Lion infantry were no match for the White Lion infantry that came onto the battlefield later.
Seeing those who were blocking the alley using their spears to unleash waves of sword energy, he couldn’t help but change his expression. “White Crow Swordsmanship? Could these be the royal guard?”
“No, I don’t know either!” Beth shook her head. “They are here to help us, but I don’t know how this happened!”
She tilted her head. “If there’s a problem, you can go ask the commander.”
“The commander?”
Orlande turned back in the saddle and immediately saw a tall figure standing atop a warhorse—he couldn’t help but look at that direction with a bit of reverence. “Is that also the commander’s army?”
“It seems to be.”
“But how can he command the White Lion army?”
“No, Orlande. They aren’t the White Lion army; in fact, they are…”
“Eh?”
“The White Lion Guard…”
The Half-Elf Princess froze, watching as the army walked out from the mist after the heavy rain, then passed through their ranks, moving into the front line of battle.
Her fingertips turned pale, even trembling slightly.
Countless times, she had heard legends from her father about such an army in bedtime stories: clad in pure white armor, fighting alongside the former king in the plains, mountains, and forests of Erluin, defeating all their enemies, expanding their territory, and walking alongside virtue and bravery. They were the strongest army that truly belonged to Erluin.
The White Lion Guard.
Countless times, she had seen that shining banner in her dreams, coming before her under the lead of her knight. And that glorious army seemed to have returned to Erluin, back under that banner.
Countless times, she even thought her father still lived in this world and could see her achieving everything.
Countless times, she believed she could succeed.
Until her ever-supportive father left her, until the royal faction diverged from her ideals, but now, today, the dream had become reality.
That banner was before her eyes.
Behind Brendel.
And that army was passing by under the flag, pure white armor, with golden battle poems circling around them, distinct and precise. When she saw that army ruthlessly pushing back the White Lion army’s assault, the Half-Elf Maiden couldn’t help but look up at the sky.
At that moment, she seemed to see that wise gaze transcending time.
Brendel had not expected that the army he forged with his own hands would have such a profound impact on this princess; but wasn’t he the same? Recreating this army was one of his dreams, but it was only after witnessing the birth of this army with his own eyes that he realized his effort was not in vain.
The ancient army had returned, as if handed to him by that king himself; only the people of Erluin could understand its significance.
But Brendel knew it wasn’t the time for sentiment. The White Lion army was still preparing to complete the encirclement on both flanks; he only had one chance, and he must break through the siege.
With everyone.
He glanced over, and the officer knights of the Royal Knight Academy had already closed ranks. These young men had suffered almost no losses against the Harbor Guard Army. But once the White Lion army struck, nearly one-tenth of their numbers would remain forever on the battlefield.
Still too immature.
Brendel felt a pang in his heart, almost speechless. But fortunately, most of the prominent figures of history had not sustained serious injuries, with only a few slightly hurt. The funniest part was that Enroch had actually fallen off his horse while breaking through the White Lion army’s blockade and ended up crushing one of the oppponents. If his comrades hadn’t rushed to save him, that guy would have likely become a prisoner.
Thank goodness.
Brendel turned back; he gave Carglis a knowing glance. The current commander of the new White Lion army immediately nodded, understanding his meaning. Brendel wanted the new White Lion army to protect these students on the flanks; it wasn’t that he didn’t care about the new White Lion army’s safety, but rather because he believed these young men from Toniger had no chance of being casualties.
With everything arranged, the new White Lion army and the officer knights of the Royal Knight Academy, undoubtedly the finest troops in Erluin at this time, completed their merge and turn in under a quarter of an hour.
Brendel raised his sword.
He proudly looked at the assembled White Lion Guard in the distance; finally, the tactic he envisioned was about to be realized, and let the kingdom’s White Lion army be the first test subject.
Although it was still incomplete, it was enough to make some people have a taste.
However, everyone raised their heads to look at the sword of the earth pointing to the sky, at that moment, a ring of golden light spread from Brendel.
Conflict Aura.
Brendel lowered his sword and pointed forward:
“Charge!”
………(To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)
