At the break of dawn, the entire Hesse Territory bustled with activity, with soldiers ready to move out and slaves lined up for assembly.
In the territory’s all-out preparation, nearly eight hundred soldiers were outfitted with the finest equipnt the territory could provide. The soldiers donned armor and sharpened their swords.
The knights personally fed their warhorses, soothing these most crucial battlefield partners, and led them out of the stables, assembling gradually on the training field.
Soon, under the deploynt of Knight Oerstein, the training field was filled with fluttering banners, spears like reeds, and the glint of armor shining in the sun.
In the castle, Su Li rose early, an unusual occurrence, as this battle held great significance for him; defeat would spell the downfall of the entire territory, while victory promised beauties, glory, and power!
For a better life, and to win over the unmatched beauty of Philis tonight, he was determined and fervent.
After rising early, he reviewed today’s intelligence report.
All content regarding territorial developnt was temporarily ignored by him, as victory was the only goal at present.
[Your strong inclination to lie flat has strengthened the tiline, granting you the ability of the Prophet of Destiny while lying flat.]
[As you are in a prone state, today’s prophet ssages have been updated.]
[1: Give Beast Slayer Jerald an opportunity for a duel with the Anaric Giant Spider; slaying beasts is both his mission and the source of his rapid growth in power. Courage, independence, and strength are qualities Yurik values most. If Jerald bravely faces the challenge and confronts an Anaric Giant Spider, he stands a great chance to gain Yurik’s admiration, filling himself with Yurik’s willpower, and unleash the desire for slaughter. After winning the battle, he will advance to beco a Champion Knight.]
[2: ...]
[3: ...]
[4: 7 hours later, the Sun Goddess’s Divine Power Tide will reach its peak for this cycle. At this mont, invoking the Goddess’s na and praising the "fury" prayers from the religious book "War Goddess Violet," she will respond to your request and bestow upon you the dazzling Celestial Punishnt Fire, enhancing weapon penetration and causing enemies to be blinded and horrified.]
...
[6: ...]
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[10: The leader of the Green Tide is a despicable Lurker, be wary of him and his vile Lurking Guard, who move stealthily and sotis erge from between the enemy’s legs to attack or leap out from the shadows like ’assassins’ to kill. Ensure a reliable Impact Knight unit surrounds your archer troops.]
The daily intelligence system continues to be effective, with five intelligence items regarding the decisive battle already refreshed from yesterday.
No longer needing any hesitation, it’s ti to launch a decisive strike, put all in the fight, and leave the rest to destiny!
Hilude soon opened her eyes as well, with a blazing spirit of battle reflected in her bright eyes. Under the auxiliary cultivation of Su Li, she was already at her peak state.
She lifted her head, eyes shining as she looked at Su Li, and resolutely said, "Lord, let be your sharpest longsword in this battle, I will cut down all the monsters blocking our way!"
Su Li nodded excitedly, grabbed the sword by his bedside, stood upright, took a deep breath, and declared boldly, "Fully ard, let’s move out!"
Soon, Avril helped him don the most exquisite Vibranium Rune Armor Blazing Soul Law. The fiery red battle patterns on this golden Vibranium Rune Armor shone especially brightly today, accompanied by Su Li’s Eternal Fla Sword, making the usually lazy and relaxed Apprentice Knight appear remarkably robust and filled with a martial spirit.
Especially when Hilude also donned a similarly radiant Vibranium Rune Armor, as they stepped out of the castle, greeting the morning sun like a radiant sun rising from the horizon.
When he arrived at the training field, the entire army was already assembled.
Knight Oerstein imdiately approached Su Li with two fully armored Heavy Armored Knights, solemnly clenched his right hand into a fist, and hamred his chest, reporting, "Lord, the entire army is assembled, please give your orders."
Surrounded by a throng of Heavy Armored Knights, Su Li ascended a wooden platform erected last night. Here, facing the morning sun, he could clearly see the mighty phalanx neatly arranged below.
Looking down, the scene was filled with iron armor standing tall, shields like strong walls, spears like reeds, and the Red Banner of the Bauhinia family waving. Below the golden bauhinia, two crossed sword hamrs symbolizing the family’s martial prowess ford a striking banner shining in the sunlight.
This mont of power’s allure captivated him deeply!
He took a deep breath and shouted, "Soldiers, the cruel cries of the enemy echo from the Blood Pine Forest, they destroy everything and ravage our holand."
"Perhaps you expect to say that behind us lies the Hesse Territory, and there’s no retreat!"
"No, I tell you that today is a good day, a holy day! Those who survive today and return ho safely will forever speak of this day with reverence."
"Pick up your lances! Mount your warhorses! Drink your battle wine! Destiny is waiting for us, it is all destined. We shall triumph! Forward, for the territory, for glory!"
"Victory!"
With Su Li’s arm raised and a shout, the soldiers below erupted like a tidal wave: "Victory!"
"Victory!"
"Victory!"
Perhaps so have beco accustod to hearing those Empire people’s rhetoric about wanting to avoid war and stand aside.
But those are all rumors misunderstanding the Empire people, for they all love the thrill and clash on the battlefield!
Watching the soldiers shout like a tide below, Su Li was satisfied as he accepted the sharp sword offered by Hilude, pointed forward, and gave the order: "March towards the Sun Goddess Convent, praying priests, we shall receive the blessing of the Divine Spirit!"
Leaving the castle training ground, to the northeast lies the Sun Goddess Convent. The new convent has just been built and still carries the fragrance of wood.
The Sun Goddess’s convent, like her radiant style, has her divine statue prominently positioned at the entrance, a white statue holding a sharp sword in both hands.
This is a small statue brought by the Battle Pilgrimage Group, and as the convent’s level increases, the size of the statue will grow.
A territory of faith blessed by the Goddess’s Divine Grace, in the future, will be dotted with statues of the Goddess everywhere. Before the battle begins, knights will place their swords into the ground, kneeling with one knee in front of the Goddess statue, silently praying to the Goddess.
This ti is not a re few minutes of silent prayer but an hour-long devout supplication, vowing to fight to the death for honor and justice.
Only those particularly devout and noble believers will receive the Goddess’s response.
Soon, a group of knights whose armor glead under the sun knelt on one knee before the convent. The Goddess responded to the soldiers’ prayers, and the whole territory presented an awe-inspiring scene. A mist filled with Divine Power seeped from the ground, responding to the knights’ resolute faith. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, flickering on the tips of their lances and armor, accompanied by an extraordinary choir stirred from the depths of the earth. All the knights knew their side had been blessed by Divine Grace.
The hour-long prayer concluded, and the Grand Leader of the Battle Pilgrimage Group, Rong’en, stood before the divine statue and solemnly addressed everyone: "Your devout prayers have drawn the Goddess’s attention. She believes your faith and justice deserve her blessing. Make good use of the newfound Divine Power within you: let no enemy obstruct your path! With the Goddess as your sword and shield, fear no obstacle, and in her na, punish evil!"
The whole army then stood up in unison, pulling out the longswords and battle lances that were stuck into the ground. Nurous knights and ard attendants felt the radiant Divine Power flowing in their hands, the sacred grace bestowed by the Goddess—[Strong Heart], granting knights the ability to resist fear, whether the common psychological fear or the magical fright caused by the Witch Demon or Shaman.
This blessing will last until the battle ends or the knight flees: if a knight loses courage and tries to escape, refusing to face the enemy squarely, the blessing will imdiately fail: he disgraces his status and must bear the consequence.
All war preparations are complete; it is now the mont for the soldiers’ swords and blades to determine victory or defeat!
Su Li then mounted his horse and pointed forward: "All troops, march forward!"
Over the pontoon bridges across the river, the whole army quickly reached the southern bank of the Brionne River, a life-giving river of the territory, and its war artery.
The raiders and monsters in the Blood Pine Forest had slaughtered along this river into the territory.
Today, the army of the Hesse Territory will follow this war path and actively counter the enemy, slicing all the monsters to pieces at the riverbank.
In just two hours, the army advanced fifteen miles. With the assistance of the Phoenix Wing Talisman, the whole army marched with ease, and the soldiers were full of energy.
Su Li himself had already led more than thirty knights and reached a high slope ten miles ahead of the troops, about eight hundred ters from the riverbank, a grassland highland about twelve ters above ground, an excellent vantage point.
Su Li and the Knight Stein double-checked the sketch map of the patrol team. Then, Su Li thrust the longsword heavily into the ground and said solemnly: "This is our battlefield. According to the map, there’s no higher ground within the next 20 miles ahead than here. Let the whole army lower the flags and ambush on the western side of this highland, waiting leisurely for the monsters to swarm down from the upper stream."
Knight Stein glanced at a forest about two kiloters to the right of the high slope, pondering slightly. In reality, this is not the best battlefield. The forest will obstruct the knights’ charge, while the monster’s spider cavalry can leap on treetops, leveraging their mobility.
The optimal battlefield is eight miles behind, which they passed through on their way here. Not only does it have undulating terrain, but also flat surroundings, a fertile grassland, ideal for cavalry maneuvers.
But it is too close to the territory, about ten miles, and even the most reckless and excited Green Skins may have their leader order them to form ranks.
Our side must therefore take the initiative, advancing further, launching assaults while their ranks are still disjointed.
The monsters will never expect that the Hesse Territory’s army, facing an enormous Green Tide of five thousand troops, instead of holding to the fortress, would boldly advance nearly thirty miles and launch a fierce attack while they are completely unprepared.
Thus Knight Stein said gravely: "Choosing here, we must strike with all our might, overwhelming all obstacles!"
Su Li, with his hand on the sword hilt, looked toward the magnificent landscapes ahead, resolutely declared: "In this battle, we can only win and must be unstoppable!"
Upon hearing Su Li’s impassioned words, Knight Stein imdiately grasped his Warhamr and exhorted: "Then we shall crush the enemy here completely!"
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