Outside Shield River City, dust billowed on the Highland Forest Path.
A castle militia with fluttering banners was charging forward, the thunderous sound of hooves shattering the silence.
Leading them was a middle-aged knight with a resolute face and a short beard—Adrian Grant, the deputy commander of this militia.
He looked down at Shield River City and the Fifth Legion garrison not far below. His gaze swept the area for a moment, but he found no obvious signs of abnormality or combat. Only then did he relax slightly and withdraw his gaze.
They were originally elite knights and soldiers under Duke Holmes of the Storm Territory, responsible for guarding the duke's castle and the surrounding lands. However, just one day ago, they had suddenly received an urgent summons from Duke Holmes, ordering them to set out immediately to reinforce Storm Fortress without delay.
The order had come so hastily that they didn't even have time to prepare adequate logistical supplies. They had ridden non-stop for hundreds of miles, finally reaching the vicinity of Shield River City.
But they would not stop here to rest. According to the orders, they would pass directly through Shield River City and continue on their way to Storm Fortress to assist the Border Corps in defending against the impending Magical Tide.
Adrian's gaze fixed on the road ahead. His right hand reached into his chest and pulled out an exquisite silver pocket watch. He opened the cover and glanced hurriedly at the time, but his eyes unconsciously fell on a small portrait embedded inside the back cover.
This was a portrait he had commissioned years ago, spending a considerable sum of his savings. He had specifically asked his friend Raman, a mage who had graduated from Jade City Academy and was from Flinburg, to create it meticulously using magic.
This was his beloved, Jessica.
Though years had passed and Jessica had long since become a gentle middle-aged woman, this portrait had permanently preserved her at her most youthful and beautiful.
Every time Adrian saw this portrait, he couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of magic, and it further strengthened his resolve to send his own child to study in the scholarly atmosphere of Jade City in the future.
However, this summons was simply too sudden, even to the point of being described as frantic. He had never seen Duke Holmes, who always prided himself on being noble and composed, so flustered, repeatedly urging them in the order to "absolutely arrive on time" and "not delay for a moment."
This made him vaguely uneasy inside, as if something earth-shattering was about to happen at Storm Fortress, and their hastily dispatched militia was perhaps just a piece being hurriedly moved on a chessboard.
"Cardos above, Great Guardian, please grant that I may return safely. Jessica and the children are still waiting for me at home..." Adrian prayed silently, carefully putting the watch away.
Just then, he suddenly felt something was wrong ahead. He squinted his eyes and looked down the road.
A solitary figure had abruptly appeared in the middle of the road ahead, blocking the militia's charging route.
Judging by the attire, it seemed to be a knight, wearing light knight's armor and holding a... rapier?
This was more like a weapon used by Shield River City's garrison or certain etiquette-conscious nobles.
While this type of sword was sharp enough and its piercing damage was stronger than an ordinary straight longsword, against thick-skinned, tough Magical Creatures, such a delicate weapon would probably break after just a few strikes.
Adrian quickly made a judgment in his heart—this person didn't look like a frontline warrior; more likely, he was from a rear-town garrison or a noble's guard.
He dared not let the militia stop. Once they stopped, these warhorses, already exhausted from riding through the night, might never be able to run again. If they missed the duke's stipulated arrival deadline because of this, he would have no way to explain it.
"See the banners and insignia clearly!"
Adrian suddenly drew the longsword at his waist and shouted loudly toward the figure ahead, "We are the Flinburg Militia under Duke Holmes, ordered to reinforce Storm Fortress! Clear the road!!"
In case the other couldn't see clearly, the standard-bearer behind him immediately raised high a banner embroidered with the black hawk insignia of the Holmes family, letting it flutter in the wind.
Surprisingly, however, the knight ahead not only didn't move aside, but instead slowly walked forward, facing the charging militia.
His voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly pierced through the sound of hooves, reaching the entire militia: "Stop. Storm Fortress is not a place you should go."
Adrian's heart tightened. He instantly realized this knight before him was no simple figure. As if guided by a ghost, he obeyed the other's words, suddenly raising a hand and barking sharply, "Halt! The entire company, stop!"
"Whoa—!"
The well-trained soldiers all pulled hard on their reins. The warhorses neighed, stopping dangerously just a few steps away from the blocking knight.
The dust kicked up by the hooves almost engulfed the other. If they had been even a moment later, they probably would have trampled right over him.
Yet, the knight's expression didn't change in the slightest. He didn't even blink. He just stood there calmly.
The sense of unease in Adrian's heart grew stronger. He dismounted and walked up to the other, performing a standard Knight's Salute. In a deep voice, he asked, "Sir Knight, may I ask... who knighted you?"
The man raised his head and said flatly, "Lide Valentián. No one knighted me."
"Lide Valentián?!" Adrian was inwardly shocked.
Of course he had heard this name—the Army Commander of the Fifth Legion, the renowned 'Flickering Sword' of the Storm Territory, a true Extraordinary knight.
He quickly bowed again, his tone even more respectful. "Greetings, Lord Lide. May I ask why you are stopping us?"
Lide gave a slight nod, a form of returning the courtesy. His tone remained flat. "Turn back. Storm Fortress doesn't need a militia to guard it right now."
"But..." Adrian struggled internally. He dared not disobey the duke's orders, and even more so, he dared not offend this Extraordinary before him. "Lord Lide, perhaps I could first take a small number of men to assess the situation? If there truly is no issue, our militia can camp nearby for a few days. That way, we can also give Duke Holmes an explanation upon our return..."
Lide didn't speak. He just looked at him calmly with those placid eyes.
Adrian immediately felt his scalp go numb. An invisible pressure made it almost hard to breathe. He didn't dare insist any longer and intended to mount up first and gather the militia to leave this place for now.
But right then, a knight mounted beside him, his eyes flickering a few times, suddenly spoke up coldly, "Knight Grant! How can you be sure the man before you is Army Commander Lide himself? I think this is just some fraud who popped up from who knows where! If we delay the duke's orders, do you know the consequences?!"
"This..." Adrian's heart was instantly thrown into turmoil. The other's words weren't without reason. He had never seen Army Commander Lide in person, relying only on the other's word...
"Exactly! We have orders to reinforce. How can we just retreat like this?"
"I find his behavior suspicious. He might be a spy!"
"Commander Grant, you must not hesitate!"
Influenced by a few soldiers, voices of dissatisfaction and doubt gradually rose within the militia. The atmosphere instantly became tense, as if they were about to take action if Lide dared to block them again.
Adrian grew even more restless, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"Not bad at stirring things up." Lide's gaze slowly swept over the few knights and soldiers shouting the loudest within the militia. The corner of his mouth seemed to curve into a faint arc. "To think the infiltration has reached this extent."
He slowly drew the rapier at his waist. The blade still reflected a sharp, cold gleam even within the Gray Mist.
"Just as well. It's been a while since I stretched my limbs."
"What do you mean?!" Seeing this, the knights in the militia drew their weapons one after another, glaring angrily.
Lide didn't answer. He just took a slight breath.
[High-Speed Slash]
Adrian only felt his vision blur. Lide's figure vanished. A dazzling, eye-catching silver light bloomed, like lightning tearing through space. Starting from in front of him, it instantly pierced through the entire militia's formation, extending all the way to the rear of the column.
The entire process was unbelievably fast. The light flashed and was gone.
Lide's figure had somehow appeared behind the militia. He sheathed his rapier and then, without looking back, continued forward, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the woods beside the road.
"What happened..."
The soldiers in the militia looked at each other, bewildered and uncertain. They had only seen a flash of light, and then the blocking knight was gone.
Before they could finish speaking, a series of crisp snapping sounds rang out within the militia.
All the longswords and wooden spears tightly gripped by the soldiers snapped cleanly in the middle. The chainmail and Leather Armor they wore also had their connecting leather straps or metal buckles break and fall off one after another.
The entire militia, hundreds of men, had their weapons and armor scattered. They instantly lost their combat capability.
For a moment, the entire company fell silent. All the soldiers stood rigidly in place, their faces filled with shock and terror. They didn't even dare to move, afraid the next thing to snap would be their own necks.
"G-Grant, I..." The knight who had spoken up earlier to provoke, along with several other soldiers who were clearly stirring up emotions, opened their mouths as if to say something. But suddenly, their bodies went limp, and they fell one after another from their saddles, landing on the ground with several dull thuds.
A small, bloody hole had somehow appeared in the center of their chests. At this moment, warm blood was gushing out.
The few of them stared wide-eyed, their gazes filled with confusion and unwillingness. Their life force rapidly dissipated.
Adrian was so frightened that cold sweat broke out all over his body, his hands and feet turning icy. He instinctively touched his own chest and neck. Only after confirming there were no wounds did he slowly let out a sigh of relief.
He didn't dare hesitate any longer. Immediately, he hoarsely commanded, "Quick! Take the fallen ones down and see if any can be saved! Everyone else, set up camp here! Without my order, no one is to advance another step!"
He absolutely dared not continue forward now. They would temporarily camp by the roadside on the highland. After a few days, when things calmed down, he would find some reason to return to Flinburg and report.
And scenes like this one were playing out successively on this Highland Forest Path leading to Storm Fortress.
Two hours later, Lide sheathed his rapier again, standing on a highland with a wide view.
He gazed toward the southwest—that was where Storm Fortress was located. The sky there was gray and gloomy now, yet one could vaguely see abnormal Mana light flickering.
"Arthur, Galvin, I hope you won't disappoint me."
...
Alice had never imagined that these demonic claws would be so troublesome and so well-prepared.
It was as if they had long anticipated the Arevalo family's resistance. They had even recalled the Sixth Legion, which was normally stationed at the southern border of the kingdom, guarding Southern Forest Fortress, well in advance.
And that wasn't the worst news.
What was worse was that while Southern Forest Fortress didn't face the Magical Tides head-on like Storm Fortress did, it bordered the Misty Bay Harbor Trade Alliance. There were normally two Extraordinaries stationed there long-term.
One was the Army Commander of the Sixth Legion, Samuel Dawson, a pure-blooded Anier person from a wealthy, powerful family native to the Southern Territory. Thus, he was also called the 'Golden Dawson' knight.
Though among the Extraordinaries, his personal strength wasn't the top tier, he was famous for his immense wealth. He practically armed himself to the teeth with expensive Enchanted equipment, a guy skilled at crushing his opponents with money.
The other, Bachelor Vincent, had an even more complex background.
He was originally a quite famous arcane mentor at the Gedun Arcane Academy in Jade City. Later, he was appreciated by the Crown Prince, entered the royal court for further study, and became a renowned royal court archmage.
But for some reason, three years ago, he offended some important figure and was dispatched to Southern Forest Fortress for garrison duty, never returning to the court since.
Looking at it now, this was probably also a move planned long ago by the demonic claws. This archmage had likely already sold his soul.
What was even more noteworthy was that the territory of the Southern Territory wasn't as vast as the Northern Territory; it was even smaller than the Storm Territory.
Only along the Jade River were there two cities prosperous from waterway trade. The rest of the area was mostly rugged mountainous terrain or primitive forests, with inconvenient land transportation.
The fact that the Sixth Legion could reach the Storm Territory so quickly meant they had set out at least several days in advance. This indicated that the demonic forces behind this had long planned for today's situation and had mobilized resources far beyond their expectations.
Alice followed Raven, continuously retreating along the City Wall, covering the family knights as they moved toward the predetermined evacuation route.
Down below the fortress, at the huge breach in the wall, Chen Yu was squeezing out from inside. His round body shook, continuously shrinking, as if preparing to make a run for it.
Since Army Commander Lide of the Fifth Legion hadn't come, the original plan of coordinating from inside and outside to rescue Arthur and the others in one fell swoop was completely ruined.
Besides the barely-alive Simo, counting the arriving Samuel and Vincent, the legion side now suddenly had four Extraordinaries gathered, and one of them was a troublesome mage.
Their side's advantage had completely vanished. There was no point in stubbornly holding out here. It was better to run for it quickly.
As for Arthur and the others... they could only think of other ways to save them later.
The Arevalo family knights retreated quickly. They swiftly descended to the inner side of the wall, occupied the stables, mounted their warhorses, and under Raven's leadership, formed a tight Knight Team. They charged against the Magical Tide pouring in through the breach, broke out of the ruined area of Storm Fortress, and prepared to join up with the Magical Creature Legion outside the city.
However, the Sixth Legion knights didn't seem inclined to let them go.
"After them! Don't let these traitors escape!"
Samuel Dawson—that 'Golden Dawson' knight, who glittered all over with gold like a moving treasure vault—sat astride a warhorse clad in Enchanted barding. He pointed his sword at the retreating Arevalo Knight Team.
Under his command, the Sixth Legion knights actually disregarded the surrounding Magical Tide creatures and launched a knightly Charge.
They were like a silver spearhead cleaving through the tide, extremely fast, rapidly closing the distance with the Arevalo family Knight Team.
Alice glanced back hurriedly during the gallop and couldn't help but frown.
She saw that under Samuel's command, the Sixth Legion knights charging at the front were actually throwing fist-sized Alchemical Bombs, as if they were free, madly hurling them at the Magical Tide and the ground blocking their path ahead.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Continuous explosions cleared out patches of scorched earth and debris ahead. The Sixth Legion knights' charging speed was therefore far faster than that of the Arevalo Knight Team.
At this rate, they would be caught sooner or later.