Chapter 497: Justice in the Eastern Army!

On the eastern side of the Moros Plains, Holy Grail Knight Fredemond and Deputy Commander Houls of the Sea God Knights were leading a force of over thirty knights emerging slowly from the forest. Fredemond's eyes, filled with an endless hatred, locked onto Gillam. "Gillam! Traitor!" he shouted.

"Damn, it's the Holy Grail Knights!" The rogue knights were visibly shaken by Fredemond's appearance, though they soon realized their enemies were just over thirty riders strong.

Gillam's rogue knights numbered over a hundred, along with more than three hundred squire followers.

This overwhelming numerical advantage bolstered Gillam's confidence. He roared, "Alright! Let's crush these Sea God Knights first! This will be our first step to fame and glory!"

"Yeah!" His subordinates responded enthusiastically. These rogue knights were as eager for renown as they were for wealth and honor, perhaps even more so than knights from any other human realms.

"Advance!" The rogue knights spurred their horses, raised their lances, and charged. Their steeds neighed as they galloped across the wide, flat Moros Plains, launching a shameless and fierce charge against the thirty knights.

Speed, strength, honor! Fredemond and his Sea God Knights charged, shouting the name of Bordeleaux as they faced the enemy head-on.

In a split second, the finely dressed, blue-and-yellow Sea God Knights clashed with the rogue knights. The sound of lances shattering broke the morning silence.

"Kill!" Fredemond's lance pierced through a rogue knight's chest. He immediately drew his knightly sword from his waist. "For Bordeleaux! For Manann! For the Lady!"

"Roar!" The Sea God Knights, high in spirits, drew their curved swords and raised their shields after breaking their lances or tridents, plunging into close combat. Blood soaked their surcoats and armor.

In the blink of an eye, more than thirty rogue knights had fallen, while the Sea God Knights had lost only five men.

Fredemond's eyes glinted with determination. His knightly sword had tasted the blood of at least five rogue knights or squires. As the initial charge ended, he raised his sword to signal the Sea God Knights to regroup and prepare for another assault.

The Sea God Knights, full of morale, began to sing an ancient chant.

"Come on, cheer up, my lads, we are steering towards glory."

"Hold your heads high, we dispel the fear."

"For honor, we call upon you, as free men, not slaves."

"We are proud sons of the Sea God, never to yield until dawn!"

Hearing this song caused a stir among the rogue knights. The tune was so familiar that many of them felt ashamed and could no longer grip their weapons firmly.

The song, "Heart of Oak," was the anthem of the Sea God Knights.

Many of the rogue knights led by Gillam were from Bordeleaux. They had grown up with this song. As it echoed across the battlefield, these knights felt a deep sense of shame and regret.

Was becoming a rogue knight and betraying their homeland truly honorable?

Despite their attempts to justify their actions, a deep sense of melancholy enveloped the traitors. They knew that even if they achieved fame and fortune, they would never be recognized by their homeland.

This was the price of betrayal.

Gillam's face turned pale. He raised his weapon and shouted, "We have no way out, my warriors! Don't you crave glory? We are facing a Holy Grail Knight!"

"Advance!" Fredemond did not give Gillam time to continue his speech. He raised his knightly sword again. "Advance! Sea God Knights!"

"Advance!" The Sea God Knights, though reduced to just over twenty men, charged again with the momentum of a thousand-strong force. Each knight shouted the name of Bordeleaux.

As they said, the sons of the Sea God would never yield!

In a flash, the second clash ensued. This time, the Sea God Knights lost four more men, while nearly twenty rogue knights fell.

As the second clash ended, both sides showed signs of weariness. The rogue knights began to tire, and the Sea God Knights were nearly all injured.

Gillam, the leader of the rogue knights, signaled his men to halt. After two rounds of direct confrontation, they had already lost fifty men—far more than he had anticipated. Continuing the fight at this rate, even if they could wipe out the Sea God Knights, their losses would be too great!

In simple terms, he no longer wanted to fight.

Gillam hesitated, but Fredemond was relentless. Covered in blood, the Holy Grail Knight showed no emotion as he raised his sword once more. "Sea God Knights, advance!"

"Advance!" Despite their fatigue from two grueling charges, the remaining Sea God Knights, inspired by their leader, readied themselves for another advance.

Gillam felt his hands trembling. He knew they could not afford to retreat now.

So, the third charge commenced. Broken armor, splattered blood, shattered limbs—the brutality of war laid bare.

This time, the Sea God Knights were nearing their limit. The initial force of thirty was now reduced to less than half, and all were injured. Fredemond and Sir Houls were covered in blood, almost resembling blood-soaked figures.

The Moros Plains fell silent. The rogue knights' morale plummeted despite their apparent advantage. The eerie scene on the battlefield at dawn showed the rogue knights, poised for victory, yet demoralized and listless.

At this moment, the Sea God Knights stood in the east and the rogue knights in the west, forming a tense standoff on the plains.

The spectacle of the battle deeply shocked the Margarete Vanguard watching the fight. The deputy commander approached the vanguard's leader, Rodrigo, and marveled, "So, these are the knights of Bretonnia?"

"Now you see why Bretonnia's knights are hailed as the finest in the Old World?" Rodrigo nodded, his brow furrowed. "This is what honor and faith look like."

"Commander, when should we join the fight?" the deputy asked softly. "Didn't we agree to support the Bretonnians?"

"Wait a little longer," Rodrigo hesitated.

As mercenaries, they differed significantly from regular armies, particularly in their level of obedience. As the leader of a mercenary band, Rodrigo was not part of Estalia's official forces but rather a hired hand. Therefore, he was reluctant to commit his troops too early, aiming to minimize losses.

Rodrigo's plan was to let the Bretonnian main force engage and weaken the rogue knights before stepping in to finish off the survivors, thereby reducing his own casualties.

However, things were not destined to go as Rodrigo planned. Just as the mercenary leader was lost in thought, a massive fireball flew from the forest, trailing a scorched path before exploding just thirty meters in front of the vanguard. The blast created a crater, and the scent of burning grass and black smoke spread among the Margarete Vanguard.

"Cough, cough~ Damn it, this must be the Bretonnians warning us for not moving!" the deputy coughed and spoke to Rodrigo. "Damn it, if this continues, President Amancio will kick us out!"

Rodrigo's gaze flickered. He glanced at the crater left by the fireball and then at the distant forest before finally making up his mind. The mercenary leader mounted his horse and signaled his troops to be ready.

Rodrigo raised his arm, pointing eastward, his voice filled with righteous fervor:

"Justice is in the eastern army! Attack immediately! Crush Gillam and his men! Rewards for everyone!"

"Yes!"

The sudden betrayal by the mercenaries caught Gillam and his rogue knights off guard. The sound of muskets and cannons from behind confirmed their fears—they had been sold out!

The rogue knights, unable to respond in time, were ambushed by the treacherous fire. Many squires were killed on the spot, and the morale of the rogue knights plummeted.

"Traitors! All of them traitors! We've been betrayed!" Gillam shouted. "Soldiers, follow me, let's break through!"

But it was too late for the rogue knights to retreat. Their escape routes were cut off by the mercenaries, and from the south, more Sea God Knights were pouring into the battlefield.

Duke Bodrick of Bordeleaux raised his knightly sword and gave an impassioned speech. "My compatriots! After much hardship, we have finally cornered these traitors!"

"They desecrated our tombs and stole the Sea God Trident! They are beyond forgiveness!"

"Now, it's time for them to face our wrath!"

"Sons of the Sea God, never yield to the enemy! Follow me into the charge! For the Lady! For Manann! For Bordeleaux!"

Hundreds of Sea God Knights surged into the battlefield with earth-shaking roars, their iron hooves crashing towards Gillam's flank like an unstoppable tide!

A sharp cry came from above, where a bolt of lightning rode upon a golden griffon. The rider invoked the name of the Lady of the Lake, summoning lightning that struck two rogue knights, charring them instantly!

It was Ryan and his griffon, Imprys! The Sea God fleet had transported this mighty beast here!

"Retreat! Retreat!" Gillam quickly realized they were surrounded! He urgently ordered his knights to retreat through the northern woods. Desperation filled his voice as he commanded his loyalists to secure the Sea God Trident and break through with him.

As long as they had this artifact, there was hope for a comeback!

But unfortunately for them, enemies awaited in the northern woods as well.

The Imperial Grand Alchemist, Balthasar Gelt, led a large contingent of Imperial forces into the battlefield. The Imperial Swordsmen, Handgunners, Pikemen, and a squadron of Solar Knights stood ready for battle.

Gelt raised his golden staff.

"Metal Flood!"

A torrent of silver streams surged across the plains, engulfing the area where the rogue knights stood.

"Transmutation of Lead!"

With Gelt's second spell, the rogue knights found their weapons and armor turning into heavy lead and brittle clay!

Before they could react, Duke Bodrick and his Sea God Knights charged into the rogue knights' ranks. Bodrick, a storm of fury, slashed through his enemies with his knightly sword. "Gillam, you traitor! Prepare to die!!!"

A massacre began.

Gillam's forces, caught between relentless assaults from the Bretonnian knights and the Imperial army's magic, stood no chance. Many rogue knights were cut down where they stood, their lines crumbling under the pressure.

In the chaos, Gillam desperately tried to regroup his men and make a final stand. He clutched the Sea God Trident, hoping its power could turn the tide. "Hold the line! For our future, we must fight!"

But his calls fell on deaf ears. Panic spread among the rogue knights. They were overwhelmed and outmaneuvered. The betrayal by the mercenaries and the ferocity of the Bretonnian and Imperial forces shattered their resolve.

The Imperial artillery roared, cannonballs and grapeshot tearing through the rogue knights' ranks. The handgunners' steady volleys cut down any who tried to flee.

Fredemond and his remaining Sea God Knights joined the fray, their blood-soaked armor gleaming in the morning sun. Their relentless advance was unstoppable. "For Bordeleaux! For Manann!"

Ryan, atop Imprys, swooped down from the sky. He unleashed a devastating lightning strike that incinerated more of Gillam's men. His presence on the battlefield inspired the Bretonnian forces and struck fear into the hearts of the rogue knights.

Seeing the battle turn decisively against them, many rogue knights threw down their weapons and tried to surrender. But there was no mercy to be found. The Bretonnian knights, filled with righteous fury, cut down all who stood in their path.

Gillam, realizing his end was near, made a desperate bid to escape. He spurred his horse, clutching the trident, and charged through the chaos towards the northern woods. His eyes were wild with fear and determination. "We must survive! This isn't over!"

But he never made it.

A bolt of pure magical energy from Gelt's staff struck Gillam, searing through his armor and throwing him from his horse. The trident fell from his grasp as he hit the ground, writhing in pain.

Gelt, his face stern and unyielding, approached the fallen rogue knight. "Your betrayal ends here, Gillam."

Fredemond arrived, dismounting from his horse and standing over Gillam. His eyes were cold, devoid of any mercy. "For Bordeleaux. For the Lady."

With a swift, decisive strike, Fredemond ended Gillam's life. The trident, a symbol of their betrayal, was reclaimed.

The battlefield grew quiet. The remaining rogue knights were either slain or captured. The Sea God Knights and their allies stood victorious, though their numbers were greatly diminished. The morning sun began to rise, casting its light over the blood-soaked plains.

Bodrick addressed his troops, his voice carrying across the silent field. "Today, justice has prevailed. These traitors have met their end. We have reclaimed what is rightfully ours. Let this be a lesson to all who dare defy the will of the Lady and the honor of Bretonnia."

The knights cheered, though their celebration was subdued by the memory of their fallen comrades.

Ryan, still mounted on Imprys, looked over the battlefield with a solemn expression. The cost of victory was high, but the integrity of Bretonnia had been defended.

The Margarete Vanguard, seeing the battle's outcome, withdrew from the battlefield. Rodrigo, the mercenary leader, knew they had missed their chance to gain glory, but they had also avoided heavy losses. As they retreated, he pondered the lessons of the day and the true meaning of honor and faith.

The Sea God Knights, though bloodied and battered, began to regroup and tend to their wounded. The battle was over, but the war was far from won. With the traitors vanquished, their focus would now turn to rebuilding and preparing for the challenges ahead.

In the distance, the sun continued its ascent, signaling the dawn of a new day.

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