Early the next morning, the army broke camp. Marquis Ancey led an army of over thirty thousand men and entered the Forest of Arden from the front. Winford's army met up with Bastogne's army and prepared to enter the forest along the circular path.
There weren't many people in this unit, about six thousand. Among them, about three thousand were combat-ready soldiers, and the rest were military personnel and logistical personnel.
Early in the morning, a Royal Knight in his thirties came to Laing. He was wearing a silver gilded cross helmet with a golden dragon carved on the top and a full set of mithril plate armor forged by Master Bastogne. "Greetings, Holy Grail Knight, Lord Laing. I'm Gabriel de Bastogne."
"Greetings, Lord Laing. I'm Laing Macado." Laing shook hands with him.
"I'm glad to be able to fight alongside you. If you don't mind, please allow the Bastogne Beast Killers to lead the way," Gabriel said seriously. "The soldiers have been fighting the Orcs at the edge of the Arden Forest all year round. They're familiar with the complicated paths in the forest."
"Oh, of course. I welcome soldiers who know the path well to lead the way!" Laing said sincerely. "We're an army from afar and aren't familiar with the forest. Your Bastogne's army has been fighting these beasts all year round. We'll have to rely on your performance."
"No wonder you're the Lady's Chosen One champion!" Gabriel praised. "Please!"
"Please!"
After about an hour, the army finished gathering and marched into the forest along the path.
At the front were more than a hundred Royal Knights, followed by more than three hundred Ranger Knights, six hundred serf archers, and two thousand serf infantrymen led by sergeants. The rest were a large number of military personnel and logistical units. Covering the flanks of the army were more than two hundred rangers.
Leon, Julius, and Gabriel, the three Royal Knights, followed behind the Royal Knights at the front.
This third son of Duke Bastogne had a resolute face. There were many scars on his face, but his eyes were shining. At a glance, one could tell that he was a veteran of the battlefield. The valiant aura coming from his body indicated that he was a very stable Legend rank powerhouse.
There were no mediocre people in the Bastogne family for generations. As the direct descendants of the first Knight King, Arthur, this family had always had an extremely strict family system and rules. Coupled with the excellent nurturing and guidance from a young age, it wasn't surprising that this marquis was powerful.
"This time, the Winford Fugitives and the Bastogne Beast Killers are going to fight side by side." Laing took the initiative to start the conversation.
"To be able to fight alongside the famous Vanford Knights is the honor of us Bastogne Knights. And to be able to fight alongside the Lady's Chosen Champion, Sir Ryan, is the honor of me, Gabriel!" Gabriel also responded seriously. "Even though Bastogne's army is assigned here, we don't intend to be spectators."
"Audience? Why do you say that? " As they gradually entered the forest, the originally neat military formation could no longer fit so many troops side by side. The entire army began to elongate. Leon paid close attention to the movements in the forest as he asked curiously.
"Hey, Mr. Ryan, you don't know this. When I learned that Anch Desmond had arranged for us to take the right path, I knew that he didn't want us to steal his limelight." Gabriel's tone was a little dissatisfied.
"Please elaborate." Laing and Julius looked at each other. They weren't clear about the situation in the Arden Forest.
"The right route is the most difficult route among the three armies. There are many Orc gangs on this route, and the route is rugged and difficult to traverse. It's difficult for us to obtain sufficient loot, and it's also inconvenient for us to move quickly," Gabriel said. Gabriel said, "Lord Ryan, we don't have enough soldiers. I think we should advance steadily and not be overly ambitious. As long as we wipe out the Orc gangs along the way and rendezvous at the designated location, we'll be able to do so."
"That's what I think too. The forest isn't our home ground. How are the Knights going to charge in the uneven land and dense bushes?" Laing nodded.
"We're here to wipe out the Orcs, not to play hide-and-seek with them," Julius said.
Thus, the strategic direction of the Right Army was decided.
The Bastogne Knights were experienced in fighting with the Orcs. Gabriel was pleased that Laing approved the plan. He was afraid that this young Knight of the Holy Grail would be like the hot-blooded Rangers who would chase after the Orcs.
In the forest, such a battle would be over.
There weren't many accidents on the first day of the march. They didn't encounter any Orcs, and they advanced smoothly. Then they set up camp near a small stream. The soldiers boiled water and cooked dinner. The sky was getting dark.
"Hex, arrange for people to patrol the hill! Olivier, send people to guard the upper reaches of the stream. Watch out for Orcs poisoning the food. " Laing arranged for the soldiers to patrol. Gabriel of Bastogne also arranged his soldiers and said, "Baudouin! Alphonse! You know what to do! "
"Yes! My Marquis! " The Bastogne Knights were well-trained, and the serfs set up camp with ease. The soldiers didn't need to be reminded as they were well-trained. They weren't called the Bastogne Beast Killer Team for nothing.
Lionheart stood alone by the stream and looked at the flowing water. He noticed that there were footsteps behind him, and there was also a faint fragrance wafting from the stream.
Hmm, it was the fragrance of jasmine and iris flowers. Laing turned around and said, "Miss Suria? Miss Sylvia? "
"Good evening! Lord Laing! "" Good evening, Lord Laing, Knight of the Holy Grail! " The two girls greeted Laing. Sylvia was unfamiliar with him, but Suria was very natural. "What are you thinking about?"
The summer night, the tranquil forest, the cool breeze, the chirping of insects, and the two beauties in front of him put Leon in a good mood. The two female knights didn't wear their knight's armor when they camped at night. Instead, they wore the standard Brittanian knight's attire, which was a blue waistcoat, a white shirt, brown tights, and riding boots. The two female knights had very good figures. Only Leon could tell that Sulia's shirt buttons were tighter than Sulia's.
"I'm thinking if we can achieve our goal in this Knight's War. We haven't encountered any powerful enemies," Laing said softly, "The Orcs seem to have disappeared."
"Lord Laing, don't be careless! These bastards might be spying on us from the shadows right now! "Sylvia said subconsciously.
"Sylvia! How can Lord Laing be that kind of Knight? "Suria gestured for Sylvia to stop talking.
Laing thought of a stern and beautiful female Knight who was close to Suria. They were like sisters, so he smiled and said, "Miss Suria, don't be so serious. I'm not being careless. Instead, I'm afraid that the Orcs won't fight with us."
The two female Knights were curious, so Laing said, "We Brittany Knights. What are we good at?"
"Hmm, we're good at charging in groups on the plains. We're good at fighting in formations." Suria pondered for a while and said, "So, if the Orcs are willing to fight with us, the Knights will have a huge advantage." "That's right.
Because of that, the Orcs won't fight with us. We're wearing sturdy armor and wielding heavy shields. Once we charge in groups, the Orcs won't be able to resist. We're clear that the Orcs are aware of this. Never underestimate the intelligence of these beasts. They might be smarter than many Knights. "Laing lifted his head to look at the army camp.
Several of the knights-errant of Bastogne had already begun to quarrel with those of Winford, and it seemed that another duel of knights was about to break out.
"Pfff ~" The two female Knights looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.
Compared to the brainless Ranger Knights, perhaps the Orcs were smarter than them.
"Lord Laing is right!" Marquis Gabriel and Marquis Connelly joined the conversation. Gabriel, who was over 30 years old, clapped his hands and said, "I've been on the battlefield since I was 16 years old. I've fought with these beasts for more than 20 years. I know how cunning they are. In this huge and dense forest, our Knights are disciplined. We're strong in defense and weak in offense. Hence, the Orcs won't give us a chance to fight on flat ground or grassland. Instead, dense forests, narrow roads, and muddy environments are their favorite."
Ryan nodded. Suddenly, he said regretfully, "I suddenly feel that you are the one who is suitable to lead the army, Mr. Gabriel."
"Perhaps." Gabriel grasped the Broken Steel Sword at his waist and looked ghastly as he said, "But I know I won't be able to get this position. Even if Marquis Anshe isn't the commander of this Knight Duel, King Richard won't let me be the commander."
"Why?" Laing asked curiously.
"Because my surname is Bastogne!" Gabriel said and left. Suria walked to Laing's side and whispered, "Richard's Knight King position should have been given to Duke Berchemund, but he refused."
Laing understood.
Yes, the Duchy of Bastogne, Brittany's land of prosperity. The direct descendants of the first Knight King Arthur, the Red Dragon Family, had the purest royal blood. The first Knight King Arthur's dragonskin armor was still kept in Bastogne Castle, and Duke Berchemund was a glorious Knight of the Holy Grail and a Sacred Grand Knight.
If this Red Dragon Duke stood up and shouted that he was the purest descendant of Arthur, and that he was also a Knight of the Holy Grail and a Sacred Grand Knight recognized by the Lady of the Holy Grail, then there would be no need for the King Selection Convention. Berchemund could be crowned as the Knight King based on these two points alone.
He refused to be crowned as the Knight King, and the Duke himself was not interested in becoming the king, so the King Selection Convention continued.
So, would the current Knight King Richard be grateful to him for this?
No, not at all. Instead, Richard would have to double his vigilance against this Red Dragon Duke and keep a close watch on him.
To put it simply, this Red Dragon Duke had "strong claims" over Brittany, and he was also a local power. If this was a game, then the Knight King Richard would do everything possible to replace him or assassinate him.
But this was reality, not a game. Richard would not do that, but caution and suspicion were inevitable.
Where there were people, there would be politics. Laing knew that every kingdom had its own unique political situation, just like the Kurfürst system in the Empire, and the Brittany's duchies and fairies in the lake.
Laing was not a barbarian, and he could not be like a barbarian. He could not declare another territory under his control after occupying a place. The result of this was to make the world his enemy, and then the Evil Gods of Chaos, Khorne and Tzeentch, would be very happy, because they would gain a lot of energy from this action, and sit back and watch the humans fight among themselves while waiting for the opportunity to strike a fatal blow.
There was still a long way to go, and the Baron title was only the beginning.
Laing lifted his head. The summer moon was gradually rounding, emitting bright rays that nourished the dark land.
Wait, gradually rounding?
…
Deep in the Arden Forest, the same moonlight shone above the heads of the Orcs.
The Devil's Rock, also known as the Core of Chaos, was the sacred totem of the Orcs' power and belief. All sorts of resources were placed here to appease the Gods and gain favor. The weapons, armor, flags, and dismembered corpses of the defeated enemies were placed around the rock.
The Devil's Rock was always erected where the winds of Mana gathered. It was usually a place where a meteor fell.
Today, a grand Orc banquet was held in the depths of the forest. The three-meter tall Shaman, "Heart Devourer" Groz, was hosting the Alliance Conference.
The captured Breton knights screamed as they were dragged to the front of the Demon Cliff. Their stomachs were cut open and they were generously rewarded to the strong Orcs who came to the alliance.
"We … eat! We … kill! We are strong!!! " The four-meter tall Orc King, "Bloody Horn" Malas, who had two huge horns and a battle axe, shouted, "Kill!!!"
The Orc King crushed the head of a captured Knight with his teeth, and brain matter splattered everywhere.
"Kill! Kill! Kill! " Tens of thousands of Orcs surrounded the Devil's Rock. At the same time, more Orcs rushed over from afar. Every corner of the Dark Forest was filled with these terrifying creatures.
The earth was shaking, and the forest was crying.
The blazing flames of the Alliance Conference lit up the sky and surrounded the Devil's Rock. The Shamans threw hallucinogenic grass into the flames, and colorful fireworks scattered in the forest.
The flames and the smell of rotting flesh attracted all the Orcs to the Devil's Rock. They formed a huge flood of flesh and blood. Every Orc leader used the primitive language of the Orcs to carve his name at the Devil's Rock. He was pledging his loyalty to the powerful Orc King, "Bloody Horn" Malas.
Three thousand, five thousand, eight thousand, ten thousand, the number of Orcs increased every second. There were horned Beasts, tall Giants, ferocious Doomsday Bulls, Chaos Warhounds, Razorbeasts, Harpies, Centaurs, and the most terrifying Cyclops and Four-Armed Bull Devils.
"The Knights … are here! Orcs … kill! Ahhhhh!!! "The Orc King raised his battle axe and let out a deafening roar." Kill! "
"Kill! Kill! Kill! " More than 12,000 Orc Battle Groups, Battle Groups, and Battle Beasts responded to the Orc King's call. In the distance, countless Orcs were joining them. "Kill … the Knights! Kill … the fake God in the lake! "
"The season of rest … is over … now … it's the season of killing!"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
