Black Stone Territory.
The vast square in front of the Lord’s Mansion was already thronging with people.
The generous sunlight cast down, making every scratch on their armor clearly visible—the dals of honor for these Knights.
Before he left, Raylo had specifically instructed Barrett to select a group of Knight Apprentices and Official Knights who had distinguished themselves with exceptional rit in recent battles.
Now, these individuals were the center of attention.
A one-ter-high stone platform had been temporarily erected in the center of the square.
Raylo wore the simple, everyday attire of a Lord, unadorned with any complex ornants, with only his Knight’s Sword hanging at his waist.
He stood at the edge of the stone platform, his calm gaze sweeping over the faces below—so young, others weathered by experience.
Behind him, Barrett stood in a full suit of Knight Armor, his expression solemn, holding a heavy wooden box in his hands.
"Warriors of Black Stone Territory!"
Raylo’s voice carried clearly to every corner of the square, getting straight to the point without any pleasantries.
All eyes in the square converged on him, filled with reverence, anticipation, and a hint of nervousness.
He turned to Barrett, motioning for him to step forward.
The wooden box opened, and a faint, unusual fragrance mixed with fluctuations of Magic Power wafted out, capturing everyone’s attention.
Inside the box, dozens of crystal-clear Potion vials were neatly arranged, gleaming with a captivating luster in the sunlight.
"Today, ten Knight Apprentices, for their courage and loyalty, will receive a ’Knight’s Breakthrough Potion’ to help you break through your shackles and beco true Knights!"
Barrett began to read from the list.
"Knight Apprentice, Horn!"
A burly young man with a fresh scar on his face snapped his head up, his eyes erupting with an incredulous light. He strode out from the ranks and knelt on one knee.
"I am willing to die for my Lord!"
The young man’s voice trembled slightly with excitent.
Raylo personally picked up a pale-green Potion and placed it in his hand. "Rise, Horn. Black Stone Territory needs your strength."
"Thank you, my Lord!"
Horn clutched the Potion vial tightly, his heart surging with emotion.
"Knight Apprentice, Martha!"
A girl with a slightly youthful face but a resolute gaze stepped forward.
She was one of the few won in the ranks, and her cheeks were flushed as she tried to suppress her excitent.
...
The ten Knight Apprentices ca forward one by one to receive the Potion from Raylo’s hands—a Potion that could change their destiny.
So were so moved that their eyes filled with tears, while others bit their lips, burying their excitent deep inside. But their faintly trembling shoulders betrayed the turmoil in their hearts.
The common folk erupted in cheers, applauding these young Guardians.
Raylo waited for the ten Apprentices to return to their ranks before his voice rang out again.
"Next are fifteen Official Knights! You are the pillars of Black Stone Territory, the lions of the battlefield! For your outstanding rits, you are specially granted the ’Great Knight’s Breakthrough Potion.’ I hope you will use this to reach even greater heights and beco the true backbone of Black Stone Territory!"
As soon as he said this, the wave of cheers from the crowd threatened to overturn the very heavens.
"Knight, Olaf!"
A big, bearded man, usually taciturn, strode forward with his eyes wide. The sound of his knee hitting the Stone Slab was a powerful, resounding thud.
"Olaf, your war hamr has smashed open the path forward for Black Stone Territory."
Olaf accepted the Potion from Raylo with both hands, his voice deep and rumbling, yet full of power.
"I’m willing to smash ten more Blood Wolf Corps for you, my Lord!"
Olaf’s words drew a round of good-natured laughter from those nearby.
"Knight, Roy!"
An agile-looking Knight stepped forward.
"I have seen your valor with my own eyes. This Potion might help you touch a higher realm."
...
The fifteen Knights were all Warriors who had earned illustrious rits in the previous battles.
Among them were mbers of the Pegasus Knight Squad, heroes who had cleared out the Demon Serpent’s Fangs, and vanguards who had annihilated the Blood Wolf Corps.
At this mont, as they received the Potions representing honor and the future from their Lord’s hands, their excitent was written all over their faces.
A Knight nad Gru, known for being fearless in the face of death, seed at a loss as he accepted the Potion. He scratched his head sheepishly, which even brought a slight smile to Raylo’s face.
He simply pounded his chest plate heavily. No words were needed.
When the last Knight had received his Potion, the atmosphere in the square reached its peak.
All the rewarded Knights and Apprentices spontaneously raised their Potions high above their heads, then slamd their fists against the left side of their chests, producing a single, unified thud.
"For Black Stone Territory!"
"For the Lord!"
A deafening, tsunami-like roar echoed through the sky, and every face was alight with excitent and fervor.
Standing on the high platform, Raylo looked down at the excited faces below, a surge of pride welling up in his own heart.
The rewarded Knights were surrounded by their comrades, excitedly discussing how they would use the Potions and what their future plans were.
The soldiers who hadn’t received an award also gathered in small groups, talking about the grand ceremony and looking forward to their next chance to earn rit.
The entire square was imrsed in an atmosphere of excitent and hope.
Raylo descended the stone platform with Barrett following close behind.
"My Lord, the effect of this ceremony has far exceeded expectations," Barrett said sincerely.
"I dare say that from this day forward, the cohesion and combat effectiveness of our Black Stone Territory soldiers will rise to a new level."
The next day, dawn was just breaking, and the air still carried a crisp chill.
This was the day he had agreed upon with Gao Wen to make a move in Red Leaf City.
Just as the sky began to lighten, the Pegasus Knight Squad was already assembled and ready to depart.
A dozen or so Pegasi beat their wings and soared high, transforming into streaks of silvery light that quickly vanished over the horizon, speeding toward Ironthorn Castle.
Their mission was to monitor any movents from Ironthorn Castle.
Raylo stood on a high platform, watching the Pegasus Knights fly away.
Everything was already in place; all that was left was the signal to act.
The daylight hours passed slowly in a sowhat tense and quiet calm.
It was not until evening, when the afterglow of the sunset painted the sky a magnificent shade of crimson-orange.
Several small black dots appeared on the horizon, growing larger rapidly.
It was the dispatched Pegasus Knights! They landed in the square, and their leader dismounted and knelt on one knee.
"My Lord! There’s movent at Ironthorn Castle! We saw dust rising from within the castle walls. A large number of troops are massing..."
"So, they’re finally on the move."
Raylo’s eyes narrowed, and a cold smirk played on his lips.
’Baron ngde must have received Alan Rickman’s signal and is heading to support Red Leaf Territory.’
"Relay my orders!"
Raylo’s voice echoed clearly across the entire square.
"All forces, assemble! We move out imdiately!"
Without another word needed, the army of Black Stone Territory, already on standby, assembled quickly and orderly under the command of their officers.
Tempered by the last battle against the Blood Wolf Corps and motivated by the Breakthrough Potions from the day before, the army’s morale was higher than ever, like a ferocious tiger about to be unleashed from its cage.
"My Lord, all preparations are complete!"
Ed ca to Raylo’s side, his Armor glinting coldly in the twilight.
Raylo nodded, vaulted onto his Storm Griffin, and pointed his sword forward.
"Target, the border of Ironthorn Territory! March!"
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