It was late autumn. The air was cold, and the cold wind blew across the high ground of the gray mountain range. It was gloomy and damp, and it was still drizzling. The fragile canvas of the tent was damaged, but it was still able to resist the invasion of the rain.
Inside the tent, the weak fire on the pile of firewood was crackling. Everyone in the tent was sleeping. They used simple blankets to lay on the muddy grass and slept with their clothes on.
Only the Count's halberd army could have such excellent living conditions.
The army was gradually approaching the Blackstone Stronghold. Although there were no large-scale battles along the way, there were still many small skirmishes. The scattered undead were moving around in the wild, and the knights defeated them one by one and completely annihilated them. Every time a small undead army was annihilated, the knights would gather the soldiers and tell them how they saved the country from the hands of the Green Dwarfs, Chaos, and the undead. They would show their courage to their heart's content. The young ranger knights especially liked to criticize the various practices of the serfs that did not conform to the spirit of chivalry, but they also ordered them to search the corpses for the relics of the dead.
For the sake of income, for the sake of living, the serfs could only obey.
Outside, the sky was already turning white. Dawn was about to arrive.
The halberd soldier Raymond felt that he couldn't sleep anymore. He got up and put on his equipment: a sturdy breastplate, blue and white tights, leather gloves, a halberd, and a dagger at his waist. Raymond put on his own equipment. He noticed that the fire on the pile of firewood was already very weak. The young halberd soldier took out a piece of wet wood and stuffed it into the fire. He then opened the curtain and walked out of the tent.
He took out a small square box from his chest and began to pray under the first rays of the morning sun. "My Lord, the God of Justice, your believer Raymond prays to you."
The young halberd soldier's brown hair was a little messy. Under his slightly wheat-colored skin were blue eyes. His face was ruddy and healthy. His mind was a little confused from waking up early, but there was also an indescribable fanaticism. Just three days ago, he and his halberd tasted the first drop of blood from an undead monster.
The small square box opened, and a statue of the God of Justice, carved from stone, appeared in front of Raymond. The statue's workmanship wasn't very good. The God of Justice held a war hammer and scales, and his empty eyes quietly looked at Raymond.
"My Lord, the God of Justice, I pray to you here. With your blessing, I have traveled another day. When dawn comes and the darkness fades, I know that this is another day that I have received your blessing."
"Today is my twentieth birthday. Thank you, Lord. I have been in this world for twenty years. Your grace has made me strong."
"I'll still be weak, I'll still feel fear, I'll still fall. It's the power on your high throne that has blessed me, giving me the courage to face all of this. My loyalty will remain the same, serving you. I'm not afraid of death, I'm not afraid of pain. My Lord, God of Justice, please use your hammer of justice to judge all of this, please use your scales of justice to weigh all of this. Although I don't know the path of tomorrow, I know that you control tomorrow, you hold my hand."
"As for me, I will use my halberd and my faith to prove myself. I hope you will give me honor."
"Prayer complete." Raymond raised his head. The light of dawn broke through the clouds. The entire camp of the knights had woken up. The knights were looking for their horses and squires. The war machines belonging to the dwarves moved slowly, plowing deep ditches in the muddy ground. Loud drumbeats resounded throughout the land.
The rain in the sky was getting heavier. In the distance, the horns of the undead army sounded faintly. Raymond clenched his halberd. He knew that it wasn't an illusion. On the way from Gisol 'Ox to Blackstone Stronghold, there had been several small-scale battles. The soldiers were no longer unfamiliar with the undead.
"Great prayer, young man." A soldier in green clothes and a triangular hat came to Raymond's side. "So it's your birthday today?"
"Yes, Mr. Bertrand." Raymond picked up his helmet. The helmet's feathers had long since disappeared in the previous battle. This made the helmeted halberd soldier look like a bald man, but he was sincerely glad that he had lost his helmet and not his head.
"Happy birthday, soldier." Bertrand handed over his canteen. "Empire Stout."
"Thank you." Raymond took the canteen and drank a mouthful. The strong taste of the stout stimulated the soldier. He returned the canteen to Bertrand. "I hope that today won't be my last birthday."
"Ha." Bertrand shook his head. He motioned Raymond to look around.
The army was gathering under the orders of the knights. There were a total of four thousand knights yelling and shouting, indicating that they were ready for battle. The feudal lords led their respective armies and shouted out numbers for the soldiers to assemble.
The army of the Duchy of Bastogne in red and yellow clothes, the army of the Duchy of Vanford in blue and white clothes, the army of the Duchy of Montfort in black and white clothes, and the dwarves in armor were gradually gathering under the light of dawn.
Lords, knights, warriors, and serfs, each had their own duties.
The cold wind was whistling. The white snow on the peaks of the Gray Mountains was watching the army of knights. The towering peaks had witnessed the story of Arthur, the first Knight King, and Mark Luther, the first Knight of the Holy Grail and Duke of Montfort. Now, it would also witness a new legend.
During the march, the mountain wind continued to blow toward the army from the northeast. The horizon in the distance had become blurred. As the army moved forward, the land gradually became dark. The corruption of the undead spread on the land. The trees had all withered under the influence of the vampires' corruption. They were like dying old men, completely curled up together.
The oncoming mountain wind carried the smell of the bones of the dead and the unique damp smell of tombs. The rushing river upstream of Grismore quickly washed the banks of the river.
The army of the undead was approaching.
"Prepare for battle! Soldiers of the Count, you know your duty, you know what you should do. You usually enjoy the salary of the Count, you live in good houses, you enjoy many tax exemptions in your fief, you are respected by everyone in the Count's fief, you know why! " The Knight of the Holy Grail, Armand, the flag bearer of Laing, held the military flag of Laing. He shouted at the serfs and soldiers, "Now, it's time to repay the count with your performance. For glory! For Laing! For the gods you believe in! For your homeland! "
"Yes! Yes! Yes! For our homeland! "The soldiers raised their weapons and shouted loudly.
Raymond swept his gaze across the army.
Out of honor, the large group of knights led by Sir Laing and Duke François were almost all gathered on the left wing. They were dressed in gorgeous clothes, and their ranks were neat. Their lances were like a forest supporting the backbone of the army. Every group of knights was led by a knight of the kingdom, and every group of knights of the kingdom had a Knight of the Holy Grail at the front of the line!
The Holy Grail, the family coat of arms, and the glorious military flag depicting all kinds of great deeds fluttered in the drizzle. Such a gorgeous, solemn, and military appearance was what the most powerful knights of the old world should look like!
The front of the army was made up of a large number of infantry regiments, halberds, pikes, swords, and shields. The Empire's freedmen were formed into square formations. They were supported by a large number of archers, crossbowmen, and dwarven musketeers. Behind them, a group of wood elves' rangers and dwarven thunder gunners and artillerymen were arrogantly standing at the back of the line.
Those mysterious fellows with green hoods could shoot arrows up to 300 meters away!
On the right wing, King Bellegar Ironhammer of the Angrend clan swore that he and his army would fight for honor and would not retreat a single step.
Count Laing's female courtier, the Garland Elder Veronica Benadotte, and her Light Magic Mount provided the army with enough assurance and confidence. Raymond swallowed a mouthful of saliva. He found that his hands holding the halberd were trembling.
Damn it, not now, Raymond! You have to remember who gave you everything you have. Your mother and brother are waiting for you to return!
The young serf gripped the halberd tightly and looked into the distance.
The undead had appeared. As usual, the large number of tireless undead zombies were the first to appear. The zombie army covered the mountains and plains, and their formation was a mess. The only way these stupid beasts could win was by relying on numbers.
They won't be able to break through our formation, Raymond thought as he looked at his companions.
The sturdy military formation was neatly arranged. The dense halberd formation and spear formation shone under the morning light. The soldiers covered each other's comrades. The morning moisture inhaled into their lungs. They were a little nervous and a little restrained as they gripped the weapons in their hands tightly. There were soldiers constantly shouting to boost their morale.
The footsteps of the undead approached. The huge clamor, the stench of the rotting corpses, and the unconscious mumbling of the zombies made Raymond's mind a mess. He kept telling himself that he didn't need to worry about these zombies, that they wouldn't be a threat to him. In his previous battle, he could easily deal with five or six zombies by himself.
"Steady! Soldiers, don't waste your ammunition and arrows on those zombies! " The voice of the Royal Knight Hex traveled through the crowd. This knight was usually in charge of training, and he was highly respected in the infantry regiment. Under the command of Duke François and Duke Fulcade, he was given the power to command all the infantry. "Don't shoot! Don't shoot at the zombies! "
The soldiers nodded to show that they obeyed the order. Under their control, the zombies that were not attacked by the artillery and long-range weapons approached the army formation.
What responded to them was a dense formation of spears. The infantrymen screamed as they stabbed their spears into the bodies of the zombies. They waved their halberds, and the zombies, who were weak and had no armor to protect them, were immediately torn into pieces by the sharp weapons, falling down like rags.
"Kill!" Raymond stood where he was, and the halberd in his hand pierced through a zombie's head. The muscles of his arms were either stretched or tightened according to his master's movements.
It was like cutting meat, just like cutting meat.
Raymond tried not to let himself be burdened by the heavy sense of guilt. He silently chanted the holy name of the God of Justice, "I can do it."
The tide of zombies was just like what the knights had said. They looked scary, but in fact, they were just a bunch of trash. After a short battle, the serf infantry regiment immediately found that they could easily deal with the zombies. The zombies were slow and had low combat power.
The first, second, and third wave of zombies didn't pose any threat to the soldiers at all. Similarly, the long-range weapons and guns of the human and dwarf allied forces didn't fire even once.
However, the army of the dead did not only consist of zombies.
It seemed that the enemy had also realized that the zombies could not absorb the damage, so the real powerful army began to appear in the distance.
There were dozens of dire wolves. The hungry wolves' mouths were dripping with saliva. They ran quickly with their bloody mouths wide open. They cunningly hid themselves behind the zombies, ready to eat delicious human flesh.
Behind them, several skeleton legions were slowly pressing forward.
However, the allied forces were already prepared. The Royal Knight Hex, who was riding on a war horse, raised his lance and said, "First line, fire!"
"Fire!" The team leaders and company leaders shouted loudly. The crossbowmen and dwarf musketeers immediately obeyed and pulled the trigger at the dire wolves.
Hundreds of muskets, crossbows, and bows fired at the same time. The bullets of gunpowder arrived first, and the greediest Dire Wolves at the front were engulfed in flames. Then, the dense rain of arrows followed, piercing through the Dire Wolves' bodies.
The first wave of firepower engulfed the entire pack of Dire Wolves. When the volley ended, only three Dire Wolves that were covered in arrows were left alive.
The roar of the cannons soon followed. The cannonballs of the dwarven cannons exploded in the dense formation of the skeleton warriors, blasting them into pieces. The thunderous sound made Raymond cheer uncontrollably. The soldiers shouted and screamed, venting their joy. Every cannonball could destroy dozens of skeleton warriors, blasting them into smithereens.
What boosted the morale of the soldiers even more was that even the graveyard guards were unable to resist the dwarves' cannons. While a graveyard guard was trying its best to command its troops, a cannon shot hit its body right on the spot. In the explosion, its seemingly indestructible plate armor was shattered into pieces by the cannon. From its chest to its waist, its entire filthy body was blown into two halves. The soulfire in its eyes was extinguished, and the remaining half of its body stood on the spot before it fell down.
“nice！” Raymond could not help but roar. He pierced the chest of a skeleton warrior with the tip of his halberd and cut off the head of another skeleton warrior with the blade of his halberd. The soldiers of the halberd division were fighting hard. In other words, all the infantry began to face the attack of the undead. In the roar of the cannons and the sound of the muskets, the crossbowmen division and the serf archers also opened fire with all their might. They shouted the holy name of the Goddess of the Lake and aimed their hatred at their enemies!
However, the efforts of the mortals were far from enough.
The wails and screams of the undead resounded through the foot of the Grey Mountains. More skeleton warriors and graveyard guards rushed to the battlefield. The ear-piercing howls almost drove Raymond crazy. He could no longer hear his own breathing. The halberd soldiers barely pushed the enemies in front of them away. He found that the tide of undead was not hindered by the powerful long-range firepower at all.
These undead creatures did not know the meaning of fatigue, nor did they know the meaning of fear. They only moved forward. If the ones in front fell, the ones behind would continue. If the ones in front stopped the ones behind, then they would continue to push them forward!
Tens of thousands of undead began to drown the human army's square formation. The army's formation was still firm, but every skeleton warrior or graveyard guard could make the formation retreat or shake. As the gap grew bigger and bigger, the first group of serf infantry appeared. The spears in their hands were broken, and the serf infantry had no choice but to face the skeleton warriors' rusty blades and rotten spears. The infantry was forced to retreat. Many serf infantry had died on the spot, and even more were slowly retreating.
The human body seemed to be even more fragile than the undead. Flesh was torn apart, organs were dug out, and the serf infantry died in droves. A graveyard demon slaughtered at least half a dozen soldiers in two or three attacks, but then it was hit by a few muskets and fell to the ground, never to get up again.
The crossbowmen and archers were still raining arrows down on the undead, while the dwarven thunder gunners were still firing. The cannons covered the undead army's formation, but the undead army that appeared on the other side of the horizon was still endless.
"Ahhh!" The halberd in the hands of a halberd soldier next to Raymond was unfortunately broken. He was immediately stabbed in the arm, chest, and abdomen by three spears. Blood flowed all over the ground, and in the blink of an eye, his body was split into several pieces.
"Go to hell!" Raymond took advantage of an opening and waved his halberd to cut down a skeleton warrior. The corpses of the skeleton warriors were already covered by the tide of undead. The young soldier immediately gave up trying to take back the bodies of his comrades. He knew that he could not move. Behind him, a similar young halberd soldier immediately took his place.
Three seconds later, the halberd soldier's head was cut off by a graveyard guard, and another soldier took his place.
The humans were using their flesh and blood to resist the attack of the undead.
The front line was gradually retreating. They would not be able to hold on for much longer.
The count will not abandon us, Raymond firmly believed. The halberd soldier's arms were sore and numb. He slowly retreated with the others. His comrades fell one by one. Exhaustion tortured his body and soaked his soul.
The count will not abandon us. Raymond once again tried to hold his halberd tightly. With a standard thrust, he stabbed down a direwolf that was charging at him.
Toot, toot, toot. A horn sounded from the west. The dense sound of hooves covered some sounds. Raymond's weak hearing could not hear it clearly, but he was sure that it was a speech full of glory and faith.
The knights were ready to charge.
"Oh, I like this," the young soldier muttered to himself. The young soldier murmured to himself. He was about to call upon his comrades to assist the knights in launching a counterattack. However, the scene before his eyes soon shocked him.
The same horn sounded from the undead army. A large group of undead knights were marching into the battlefield.
In the sky, a terrifying giant beast with wings spread open and a mouth full of green flames flew towards the human army. Raymond did not know what it was called, but he knew that it was not on their side.
"Oh, my god, the God of Justice above." Fear lingered in Raymond's heart. He trembled and retreated.
"I don't like this."
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