The Vampire Count Constant Drangonrock, who had stationed himself inside the castle, was slain by Francois during his decisive battle with the Necromancer Heinrich Kemler over a decade ago. Yet, the castle still houses swarms of Dark Creatures, which frequently launch assaults, harassing passing travelers.
Every road leads to the grand city of Hemgart in the Imperial Rick Territory, where the Empire maintains a heavy garrison to guard against invasions from Brittania.
"I know a Moore Knight Order knight in Ubeseric; he can arrange accommodations for us." Francois, slicing pork with a silver knife, comnted on the knights' need for at: "Or... Laine, do you have any alternatives?"
"I do. I have a transit docunt issued by my honorary brother, the Griffin Earl Anton Ferdinand," Laine said, presenting a sheepskin parchnt embossed with the Griffin Duke's seal: "This pass allows us to travel unimpeded through most towns and checkpoints in the Imperial Rick Territory."
"Excellent."
The following day, Francois's party embarked on the "Lady Grey" path.
The biting cold wind swept across the faces of the four knights, but the treacherous mountainous paths were no match for their strength. Laine's pure white Holy Grail cloak fluttered dramatically on the alpine roads: "What a strong wind!"
Looking up, the mountain path was shrouded in mist, snow thickly veiling the peaks of the Gray Mountain Range, resembling a breathtaking landscape painting. In the silent isolation, only Laine and his companions slowly traversed the mountain road.
Footprints marked their passage on the trail as the bright sun peeked through the cloud gaps and cast its radiance over the path of the Holy Grail Knights.
The frigid air filled Laine's lungs, but as the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady, he was unfazed by the harsh environnt, having endured such trials during his journey. Francois, the Duke of Winford, relished the challenges of the wilderness, viewing every obstacle as the Lady's blessing. Even after a life of comfort, he never forgot her teachings. After inhaling the crisp mountain air and the scent of snow, Francois addressed his son Julius and cousin Jerald: "Now you experience this. When you embark on the Path of the Holy Grail, you will inevitably face these challenges."
"That is... not easy!" Julius struggled to extricate his body from the snowdrift, feeling the piercing cold invade his bones. The thick winter clothing and enchanted armor offered little respite from such a burden; what once felt weightless now seed overwhelmingly heavy. Like his father, Julius perceived this as a test from the Lady.
I can overco this, the young Kingdom Knight assured himself.
"Ah~ I understand why this trail is so difficult to navigate." Jerald, transford into a snowman, also struggled to traverse the path. Unlike Laine and Francois's nimble steps, Jerald's footprints were heavy and uneven, the fierce wind chilling him to the bone through his armor's gaps: "But I will persevere."
"Everyone must persevere, for this is but a minor trial on your knightly path from the Lady." Francois solemnly remarked, observing the struggles of his cousin and son: "On my Path of the Holy Grail, my bag fell into a ravine. I survived by hunting and drinking snow water. After much hardship, when I descended the cliff, a group of Green Skins awaited ."
"Father..." Julius's voice wavered slightly.
"I slew them all and sang the Lady's hymns until a group of Imperial farrs found my wounded self, took to their village, and offered their black bread, the best al I ever had." Francois's gaze turned icy as he fixed on Julius and Jerald: "And you submit to re obstacles like this?"
"No!!!" The long journey's passion rekindled by the Duke's words, Julius and Jerald responded loudly, shaking off their discouragent and following the Holy Grail Knights' pace.
Days passed in this manner.
The scenery transford as sparse alpine adows receded, unveiling vistas of rolling hills and valleys. Muddy gray-white snow piled atop the peaks, draping over the ridged mountains. The fragnted mountain paths gradually succumbed to towering cliffs.
Laine held the reins of his Pure-blooded Elf Warhorse Grapes, silently standing at the trail's summit.
"Champion of the Lady, why do we halt here?" Francois, his armor and surcoat still pristine, approached Laine with a teasing smile.
Julius and Jerald, with unsteady steps, caught up, arriving behind Laine.
Raising his head, Laine gestured for them to look ahead at a small plain with a border monunt.
Brittania, 936.
This marked Brittania's boundary. Beyond lay the Empire's domain.
"We've completed half this journey," Julius nodded gently: "Beyond lies the Empire."
"No, we've rely completed a quarter." Francois cast his gaze towards the distant mountain ranges, grasping his Unicorn Sword: "Do you hear it?"
"I hear it." Laine raised his Griffin Warhamr, his expression cold.
Jerald was about to speak when a nauseating howl resonated from the snow-capped peaks, and several malevolent black figures leaped from the peaks, charging down in fury.
They were Undead creatures!
Jerald imdiately recalled the battle from over a decade ago, when Francois led the Winford Duchy's army in a life-or-death battle against the Necromancer.
"Vampire Beasts!!" Julius shouted, brandishing a two-handed wide blade greatsword. The Duke's Legitimate Son threw off his cloak, revealing the Pure White Pegasus family crest and gleaming armor beneath.
Dozens of Vampire Beasts leaped down from the mountain, descending like an avalanche with imnse force. Their roars drowned out the knights' battle cries. These Dark Creatures stood over a ter high, even crouched, with powerful limbs and massive jaws, their four fangs chilling in the wintry wind.
"Fight! For the Lady!" Laine released Grapes' reins, as the path was ill-suited for a cavalry charge. The Divine Chosen Champion unleashed a formidable aura, charging directly at the Vampire Beasts like a ferocious bull.
"For the Lady!"
Their clash resonated through the mountains, and Laine crushed the lead Vampire Beast's head with a single blow of his warhamr. Its splattering brains did not deter him; he swiftly swiveled, launching another Vampire Beast into the air, plumting off the cliff.
Julius plunged his great sword's blade into a Vampire Beast's mouth, piercing through its skull, while Jerald's sword struck like lightning, driving into another's heart.
At that mont, Francois sprang into action.
The Duke of Winford's saber—Unicorn Sword—unsheathed, emitting a dazzling light. All Vampire Beasts within five ters of the Duke were evaporated into ash under its illumination.
Three.
Francois's elegant spin sent Unicorn Sword slicing into a Vampire Beast's neck.
Two.
With every motion, three Vampire Beasts were decapitated one after another. The Duke's formidable display instilled fear among the Vampire Beasts, encircling him more closely.
One.
Francois slightly retreated, evading a coordinated attack from multiple Vampire Beasts. His blade traced a half-circle in the frigid air.
With a brilliant flash, all the Vampire Beasts within five ters of the Duke were once more reduced to ash.
Laine was seeing Francois in action for the first ti.
Such was the strength of his future father-in-law, one of the Knight Kingdom's three great families' leaders—the "Pure White Pegasus" Francois, the Duke of Winford, the Enemy of the Undead!
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