Chapter 119: The Time of Decisive Battle

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PS2: Many have asked for two updates a day, and I think it's feasible. One update a day with 4000 words, or two updates with 2000 words each, it all depends on what you all prefer.

Julius Antreli, the eldest son of the Duke of Winfort in Bretonnia, is hailed as the strongest among the young generation in Bretonnia.

Ryan had met him years ago through the introduction of the Griffin Duke and the Duke of Winfort, who share a deep personal friendship. After a bout of horseback and foot combat, Ryan lost the mounted duel but won the on-foot combat, leaving both young men in disbelief: Is there actually someone in this world who can match me?!

Ryan was the most surprised, considering he is a genetic primogenitor. To find an equal in this world, someone who could stand toe-to-toe with him as a genetic primogenitor, was unthinkable.

Since that duel, the two young men became friends and considered each other worthy rivals.

The Bretonnian kingdom knight carried a two-handed greatsword, with his lance held by his squire. His pegasus bore a shield on its hind legs, with a single-handed sword strapped to the shield. Despite his handsome features, his demeanor was as cold as ice. His golden hair was tied in a ponytail. Upon seeing Ryan approach, he opened his mouth to say, "You are here; I knew I would come."

"I knew you would come because I am here. I just didn't expect Miss Sulya to accompany you," Ryan shrugged, then turned his gaze to the female knight standing beside Julius.

With her long golden curls, a posture straight as an arrow, a face nearly perfect in its beauty, and a noble lady's grace perfectly blended with the valiance of a knight, her sea-blue eyes sparkled with curiosity. The female knight greeted Ryan with a perfectly polite noble smile, "Greetings, Mr. Ryan. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Among all the women Ryan had encountered, only Aneta, the decapitated president of the Aesthetic Society, could rival her beauty.

"Julius actually brought his precious sister out?" Ryan joked, then extended his hand, "Greetings, Miss Sulya! It's an honor to meet you again."

"My brother always mentions your name. Hearing that Mr. Ryan was in Marinburg, I decided to come along," the female knight said with a smile.

"What awaits us is not socializing or feasting. Are you ready, Julius? Scouts report that after killing three greenskin warbosses, Ugruklok has taken command of their army. After a brief rest, we will face an enemy more than twice our number," Ryan said on the way back.

"It matters not. I will eradicate any evil in the Lady's name," Julius remained cold, his expression unchanging: "After this war, we shall resume our unfinished duel."

"I look forward to seeing how much you've improved, but not now. The future holds many opportunities for us to duel," Ryan thought, facing a battle enthusiast: "In the future, we will fight side by side in the Lady's name, to vanquish evil."

"..." Julius's expression finally changed slightly as he fixed his gaze on Ryan, his tone shifting, "That is my wish, to serve the Lady alongside you."

But his face betrayed no sign of happiness.

After the arrival of the Bretonnian reinforcements, the Empire's last support force also reached Marinburg. Scouts have confirmed that an army of over thirty thousand greenskins is rolling down from the Gint Mine towards Kohlerson.

The Empire and Bretonnian allied forces set off for Kohlerson, ready to confront the greenskin horde.

In early spring, the chill of the night was like water. On the boundless plains, the allied camp was established near Kohlerson, with logistic units continuously supplying the camp.

The Iris Guards from Marinburg and mercenaries willing to be hired had arrived, along with Templar Knights led by Bierhoff, including Alfred and other holy warriors. Ryan noticed Lops among the troops.

After extensive experience and combat, Lops's youthful naivety and aspirations had faded, replaced by the baptism of blood and fire. He nearly lost his life to a group of undead while fulfilling a merchant's commission. Despite being saved, the scars on the wandering knight's body and face spoke of his past ordeals.

The son of Lord Heide of Moschen had begun to truly resemble a knight.

Scouts repeatedly reported that the thirty-thousand-strong greenskin army had officially descended from the Gint Mine, rolling towards Kohlerson. If all goes as expected, the human allied forces will engage in battle with the greenskin army by noon tomorrow.

At nightfall, after dinner, Ryan stood alone outside the village, gazing at the tranquil distance. He exhaled deeply, standing silently at the village entrance.

The village's inhabitants had been forcibly evacuated by the Empire. Despite the villagers' protests that this would affect spring plowing, the Griffin Duke's stance was equally firm: sacrificing a few for the protection of many.

Seeing Ryan outside, some audacious Bretonnian questing knights again sought to challenge him to a duel. However, their reckless actions were stopped by Grail Knight Eules. In this army, no one could defy a Grail Knight's word. The restless questing knights had no choice but to relent.

For the Bretonnians, Grail Knights are not just part of the knightly hierarchy; they are living embodiments of the eight knightly virtues, true living saints.

Ryan thought perhaps this was why Bretonnia sent a Grail Knight to lead the expedition.

The main body of the Empire's army, apart from the standing army, consists of self-sufficient farmers, who enjoy sufficient civil rights. In contrast, Bretonnian infantry mainly comprises serfs, many of whom may have never left their duchy's land in their lifetimes. Fighting in a foreign land brings them unease, but the presence of a Grail Knight can greatly reassure them and ensure the young and rash questing knights follow orders.

As Ryan pondered, footsteps approached from behind: "Are you afraid?"

It was Julius, the golden-haired beauty in full plate armor, the Pegasus emblem shining with magical light on him. His expression was as cold as three feet of winter ice: "Facing mere greenskins, do you feel fear?"

"I am not afraid. I'm just wondering, Julius, who among us will claim more greenskin heads?" Ryan lifted his warhammer, turning to smile at Julius.

"I see no merit in collecting the heads of those pests, but I think your proposal is interesting," Julius stood beside Ryan, his golden ponytail fluttering in the air, his piercing gaze fixed on Ryan, then suddenly said, "You've done a lot these past months. You've changed, become stronger than I imagined."

"By the Lady's grace," Ryan lifted his warhammer, observing Julius for a moment: "You've become stronger too."

The Duke of Winfort's eldest son nodded: "In my training, I encountered the Green Knight. He guided me."

"The Green Knight?!" Ryan was surprised.

The Green Knight, leader of the Grail Knights (also called the Grandmaster), the strongest knight under the Lady of the Lake, has existed for hundreds of years. He is the guardian of the Lady's sacred places and the guide on the path of the Grail. His true identity is unknown; he appears from waterfalls, wanders among ancient trees, and with his flaming sword, cleaves through enemies' heads. After the turmoil subsides, he quietly disappears into the mist.

Many speculate about the Green Knight's identity. Some say it's a title that has had numerous bearers, others believe he embodies the eight knightly virtues, and some even claim he is the spirit of Arthur, the founding Knight King...

"That's truly congratulations," Ryan recovered quickly, offering his congratulations.

"Yet it pales in comparison to your achievements. I haven't had the chance to duel with a champion of Chaos," Julius's brows were furrowed, his face cold, his eyes burning with fighting spirit: "I will prove I am stronger than you."

"You'll have plenty of chances to prove that, but not now," Ryan walked beside Julius, the two men of similar height gazing into the night-shrouded distance: "We have a fierce battle ahead."

"..." Julius nodded, clearly understanding what mattered most: "When we return to Bretonnia, you and I will have our duel."

"And I will defeat you, for I am the Lady's champion!" Ryan lifted his warhammer, unyielding. The man before him was a battle fanatic; it was through strength that they became friends.

"Anyway, I'm glad you chose the Lady," Julius looked at Ryan, suddenly snorted: "Your domain is not far from Helenhilde. Riding a pegasus, it only takes fifteen minutes to arrive. We'll be neighbors in the future."

"My domain?"

"Yes, the Grail Knights have cleared the area. Lady Morgiana named it the Barony of Giselle." Julius had only spoken a few words when he suddenly turned to look behind: "Sulya?"

Ryan turned as well, and there stood the fully armored, dazzling golden-haired female knight Sulya behind them, like a blooming iris. Seeing both Julius and Ryan looking at her, the female knight beamed a bright smile: "Brother, this is the most you've spoken in a day since I've come of age."

"Pff!" Ryan couldn't help but laugh. Julius was just like that, a battle fanatic and man of few words. He said to Julius: "Is this why you brought your sister? You know tomorrow's battle will be fierce. Even with many guards, it's hard to ensure her safety."

"Don't underestimate me, Mr. Ryan," the female knight lifted her knight's sword, her sea-blue eyes filled with seriousness. A strand of golden hair fell across her forehead: "I will prove I am also an excellent knight."

Ryan could tell she wasn't joking, so the champion chosen by the Lady of the Lake seriously replied: "Then I look forward to your performance."

The night passed quickly.

As the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon, the human allied forces quickly awoke to the sound of loud bugles. Soldiers boiled water and cooked food, human and dwarf engineers constantly adjusted the cannons, gunners cleaned their firearms, and knights donned their plate armor with the help of their squires.

Scouts went out in waves, then returned with the latest intelligence to the central command tent.

"The greenskin army is twenty kilometers away!"

"Ten kilometers!"

"Five kilometers!"

Imperial infantry units arranged their positions under the command of their leaders, and the Bretonnian infantry, under the direction of their knights, took their places in an orderly fashion.

The Iris Guard from Marinburg, positioned on the right flank, and groups of mercenaries and holy warriors, armed with various weapons, stood ready. Many had crossbows on their backs for ranged combat, among them a large number of mobile outriders, mostly equipped with simple handguns. Massive trebuchets were placed behind the lines.

The most elite unit on the right flank was undoubtedly the Knights of the Trident, armed with tridents and ready to shout in the name of the sea god Manann.

The left flank was composed of the Bretonnian reinforcements, with large numbers of questing knights and a few kingdom knights forming knightly formations. The young questing knights, eager to demonstrate their valor to the Lady, shouted their names and couldn't wait to start the battle.

The Knight Kingdom's infantry formed around the knights, wearing simple leather armor and round helmets, wielding weapons, and shouting the name of Grail Knight Eules to boost their morale. Archers, dressed in cloth and real serfs conscripted by their lords, stood at the forefront, providing them strength through their ancestral longbows, which were not just trusted weapons but also sources of comfort, offering a sense of protection from their forefathers.

The serfs were conflicted, hoping for victory to survive and gain more rewards and spoils from their knightly lords, yet not wanting their combat skills to be noticed by their lords to avoid being forced into the infantry.

Their fear and unease were noticed by the Bretonnian knights, who loudly cursed and sternly criticized the serfs for their dishonorable behavior. Under the stern gaze of the knights, the archers took their positions.

In the center stood the Empire's army.

The Griffin Knight Order formed three rows, with elite Imperial infantry in front, including the long spear and halberd regiments, proud to fight alongside the Griffin Knights. The greatswordsmen from Carroburg, in luxurious, shining plate armor from dwarf forges, knew only the bravest and most honorable could join their ranks. Today, their greatswords would drink the blood of greenskins, repaying the Empire and potentially earning a knighthood.

Cannons aimed at the distance, with human and dwarf engineers making final adjustments. The massive cannons, a collaboration between the Imperial College of Engineers in Nuln and the dwarfs, were the nightmare of all enemies of the Empire, destined to bring destruction to the greenskin ranks.

The front lines were held by gunners, whose dense volleys would toll the doom of the greenskins.

Ryan Macado, now standing beside Grail Knight Eules on his steed Pinecone, was no longer the White Wolf Knight of Nordland but the Baron of Giselle, a Grail Knight of Bretonnia.

He felt uneasy with the change in roles, but Grail Knight Eules, noticing his discomfort, simply smiled and said, "For the Lady!"

"For the Lady!" Ryan lifted his warhammer, finding peace in his heart. Wearing the new badge of a Grail Knight, he felt the Lady of the Lake's gaze upon him.

Yes, for the Lady, for his father, and for humanity! Ryan gripped his warhammer, his fighting spirit igniting.

The ground trembled slightly, and deep, chaotic horn blasts sounded in the distance. These horns, uneven and discordant, heralded the arrival of the greenskins.

"Fellow humans! Today, we stand here, side by side in battle!" Duke Ivan Ferdinand of the Griffins drew his Griffin True Silver Sword, riding his griffin, and addressed the soldiers.

"Whether you're from Marinburg, Reikland, or Bretonnia, today we unite to face the evil green tide."

"Since Emperor Charlemagne founded the Empire on this continent over 1500 years ago, we humans have dominated this land, thriving and prospering."

"But peace and prosperity come at a cost. From the moment humans took root here, countless enemies have surrounded us, countless evils sought to take everything from us. Since then, the Empire has endured many long and arduous wars, against greenskins and ogres, the destruction of vampire courts, and the terrible assaults of Chaos armies. And ceaseless, the betrayals and turmoil from within."

"We have faced the brink of annihilation, we have been divided, we have been weak, we have failed, but we have never compromised, we have never surrendered!!!"

"Because we all share a belief, a nation, a people, a faith!"

"We believe! We fight! We win! Let us hold the steadfast faith in our ancestor Charlemagne, and fight to the death against evil!"

"For Charlemagne! For the human Empire!!!" The Griffin True Silver Sword was raised high, its holy light illuminating all soldiers, igniting their courage as they responded loudly, "For Charlemagne! For the Empire!!!"

"For the Lady! For Bretonnia!!!" Grail Knight Eules also shouted.

The soldiers pounded their halberds on the ground: "Agreed! Agreed! Agreed!!!"

Thump~ Thump~ Thump~, the rhythmic pounding was humanity's forceful reply to the greenskins, overshadowing the tremors of the ground.

Then, at the edge of everyone's vision, several green figures appeared, clad in tattered armor, wielding crude swords and shields, their faces fierce and brutal.

"waaaaaaaaaaagh!!!" A few greenskins charged at the human allied forces first.

Following them was a sea of green, covering hills and roads, filling the horizon, countless greenskins charging out of the edge of the earth like a tide towards the human allied forces.

Ryan licked his dry lips, the genetic primogenitor raised his head, his griffin warhammer shining in the sun.

"Let's begin."

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