Chapter 528: The Oath of Victory

Matthew Horner once thought that once the gate was breached, victory would be within reach. Despite fighting all day and night to reclaim Spire Palace, there was no joy in his heart. Instead, a sense of urgency gnawed at him.

Ryan's army had lost nearly half its strength, but what about Matthew Horner? Out of the 28,000 undead he brought from Mousilon, over 12,000 had fallen in front of Spire Palace's walls.

This devastating loss brought no satisfaction to Horner. His relentless assault, regardless of the cost, had resulted in staggering casualties. Even the last of Mousilon's Blood Knights and several Black Grail Knights had perished, their power returning to his body.

He had no choice. Tactically, with his overwhelming numbers, Horner could have besieged the castle and slowly worn it down. But strategically, Spire Palace needed to be reclaimed immediately, and in the shortest time possible. Hence, Horner had to attack without regard for the cost.

Yes, without regard for the cost.

After breaching the gate, Horner looked at the streets within the castle, his eye twitching slightly.

The streets inside Spire Palace had been transformed into a fortress by the dwarf craftsmen and engineers in a short period. Sorceress Teresa and her ice witch apprentices created numerous ice walls, combined with dwarven architecture, blocking the streets completely. As the undead army entered the castle, they were met with a devastating rain of arrows and gunfire.

Ryan and his army had long prepared for street fighting.

The remaining human and dwarf forces retreated in an orderly manner into the streets, setting up new defensive lines. Before Horner could issue an order, a volley of gunfire took out hundreds of undead.

"Come on, Mousilon's serpent! Come to your grandpa Dugan!" Dwarf engineer Dugan Ironhand taunted from behind the fortifications. "I'm your grandpa! You're your mom's son!"

"Damn dwarf! I'll use your skull as a bowl!" Horner was enraged, swearing vengeance but refraining from leading the undead charge himself.

Mousilon's serpent feared Ryan, especially after seeing him defeat the Chaos Champion Guile. Horner was cautious and chose not to engage personally, ordering the undead to continue the assault.

Frost Nova! Teresa unleashed her ice magic, her face pale. Fortunately, it was still winter, allowing the ice witches to replenish their mana from the environment.

Behind the fortifications, Dugan Ironhand grumbled seeing Horner not approaching. The dwarf had hoped to lure him close and then use grenades to show him the power of dwarven black powder.

Disappointed, Dugan instead pulled out his long-barreled musket, ready for battle. Dwarves never give up, never.

Bellegar and the Angrund Clan dwarves volunteered to hold the front line, allowing the exhausted human troops to rest. "Brother Ryan, leave this to us! You and your men get some rest! Dwarves can handle it!"

Ryan, covered in blood and grime, could barely be seen in his silver armor. Hearing Bellegar, he didn't refuse. "Hold for twenty minutes, King Bellegar! I'll bring reinforcements soon!"

"Alright! Come on, damn undead! Brave dwarves will win!" Bellegar stood on his oath stone, ready to face the undead horde.

As the human troops withdrew behind the fortifications, they quickly ate. Soldiers devoured soft, tasty ham sandwiches and drank hot water. Many infantrymen were so exhausted they could barely stand, falling asleep as soon as they lay down. Knights, too, were drained, abandoning noble decorum to sit on the ground, gulping down broth and food.

Morgiana, the Lake Witch, arrived at the front lines, casting a spell, "Mist of the Goddess," shrouding the entire castle in thick fog, slowing the undead's advance.

Even with the Holy Grail's aid, Morgiana's magic was nearly depleted. She approached Ryan, using clean water to wash his armor and offering him a bacon and egg sandwich, roast chicken, and wine. She spoke calmly, "We might not last until tomorrow noon."

"Matthew Horner is smart," Ryan nodded, glancing at his subordinates. "He knows we're exhausted."

Baron Devon Hex held his abdomen, injured. Without the Lake Prophetesses' healing magic, he might have died.

Young Sun Knight Juan Carlos was also injured, breathing heavily, his face pale. His arms and legs were bandaged, and he ate slowly under a serf's care.

Even the legendary Gerald was weary, leaning against a wall, eating and drinking apple cider. "Damn undead! May the Lady curse you!"

Only the Grail Knights showed no fatigue. Fedemond, Armand, and others ate quickly. Among the ten Grail Guardians Morgiana brought, three had fallen permanently in Spire Palace, their stories to be sung in poetry until the world's end.

Before the battle, Ryan's army was already tired, for good reasons. Winter fighting exhausted the soldiers quickly, and the insufficient troop numbers meant no rest after swiftly taking Spire Palace. They had to resupply, transport goods, and mount cannons on the walls. Then, Horner's assault lasted all day and night.

These were all factors Ryan had considered, planning accordingly.

First, he made numerous cannon models to deceive the enemy, buying a precious day.

Second, Ryan prepared thoroughly, transporting ample supplies to the front. Abundant gunpowder and arrows ensured a full day of combat without running out of ammunition. Generously, Ryan distributed plenty of food, even giving the lowest serf soldiers 200 grams of roast meat, plenty of bread rich in salt, and various fresh vegetables, helping them endure a day's hard fight.

Finally, Ryan spread a message.

"A message?" Morgiana, exhausted, looked puzzled.

"Before we set out, I had Oliver spread the word in all Bretonnian inns," Ryan nodded, shoving food into his mouth and drinking water. "That we had taken Spire Palace."

"I see!" Grail Knight Fedemond suddenly understood. "I get it. Once the news of Spire Palace's fall reaches Duke Lawn in Lyonnaise, he will surely..."

"Exactly!" Ryan's face was cold as ice. He clapped, and his men brought his mount, the gryphon Imperius.

The massive gryphon, crackling with electricity, screeched excitedly, eager for battle, flapping its wings.

"It's longing for battle," Morgiana stroked Imperius' face, the Lake Witch closing her eyes to feel the beast's anger. "Imperius is unhappy you didn't bring it to the fight."

"It should be very happy now!" Ryan roared. "Armand, bring out that banner!"

"Yes!" Grail Knight Armand, Ryan's standard-bearer, responded loudly, rushing into the inner keep.

"All knights and soldiers able to fight, come with me!" Ryan drew the Vengeance Goddess, shouting to everyone. "Follow me!"

"Our lances and swords for you, Champion of the Lady!" The knights who could still stand rose, looking at Ryan's bright figure in the dark. They felt their spirits ignite.

When Armand appeared with a massive banner, the knights fell silent, some moved to tears.

They recognized the banner.

Depicting the Lady of the Lake, this banner, blessed by her, had survived over a thousand years. It depicted the first King Arthur kneeling at the lake, drinking from the Holy Grail.

This banner had accompanied Arthur's life, blessed by the Lady. Under it, Arthur united Bretonnia, ushering in a golden age for humanity.

The banner fluttered in the cold night wind, recalling the legendary battles of the first twelve Grail Knights, its pristine condition defying a thousand years of history.

"Look!" Ryan, full of vigor, approached, surrounded by psychic light, like an ancient war god fighting alongside mortals. "Knights, remember your oaths!"

"Remember! Remember!" How could they forget? Every Bretonnian knight was taught from birth to uphold these oaths, ingrained in their souls.

Under the Lady's banner, Ryan recited, and the knights followed.

"By this sword, by Bretonnia and the Lady of the Lake, I swear."

"I swear to protect the weak!"

"I swear to fight bravely against the strong!"

"I swear to oppose all wrongs!"

"I swear to fight for the defenseless!"

"I swear not to harm any woman or child!"

"I swear to help my fellow knights!"

"I swear to be true to my friends!"

"I swear to be loyal to my love unto death!"

The knights, moved by this ancient oath, cried. The oath, taught since birth, was a sacred promise to the Lady and their ancestors.

"Knights, my brothers! The undead ravage our land. Our dwarf friends fight bravely nearby. We will not yield! Like our ancestors, we will never yield to evil! Our oaths are not just to you but to myself!" Ryan declared. "Brothers, remember your ancestors' honor! Forgetting the past is betrayal! We are heroes! How can we let the undead defeat us? We must defend our land with our lances and blood! This is the way of the knight!"

"Yes! Yes! For the Lady! For our oaths! For our land!" The cheers echoed through Spire Palace, washing away fatigue. The knights raised their fists, the cold of the winter night forgotten, replaced by a furnace-like heat.

The Grail Knights knelt in loyalty, Fedemond trembling, looking at the banner. "My ancestor, Marcus de Bordeleaux, I have found my lord, just like you did!"

"My brothers, let us fight! For Mousilon! For the Lady's land

! For the kingdom!" Ryan mounted his gryphon, followed by Armand with the banner. "Even in death, die with honor! Never bow to the enemy, never turn your back on them! Can you do it?"

"Yes!" The knights roared, their spirits soaring as they mounted their horses.

They were ready to fight.

"Forward!" Ryan rode his gryphon, raising the Vengeance Goddess. Teresa melted the ice walls, and over five hundred knights charged.

This charge had no war horns, only the knights' prayers. United in spirit, knights from different duchies felt a renewed sense of unity.

As the knights spurred forward, dawn broke. The Lady of the Lake's ethereal form appeared in the clouds, her arms outstretched, chanting divine spells.

That day, all knights in Spire Palace received the Lady's blessing.

Under the mighty hooves of their warhorses, the earth trembled. The Lady's banner shone with pure light in the dark.

Bretonnians would not sit idly by! They would die charging!

"Damn it!" In the distance, Horner, directing the undead to push the dwarves into their last stand, heard the thunderous hoofbeats. Seeing Ryan and the Lady's banner, the Mousilon serpent knew it was trouble. "Damn!"

Ryan dared to countercharge the undead within the castle?!

More surprising was the appearance of the Lady's banner!

Horner had no time to think. The knights lowered their lances, swords drawn, steel clashing on Spire Palace's streets. The Bretonnians' fury was unstoppable, tearing through the undead's efforts to regroup.

In the bloody chaos, lances pierced grave guards' armor, shattered skeleton warriors' helmets, and cut through tomb ghouls and wights. The undead fled in panic.

The undead tide was crushed by the colorful flood. Knights roared, charging, not trying to kill every enemy but breaking the undead's formations. The undead were trampled under hooves, the knights fighting valiantly, shouting for the Lady. Seeing Ryan leading the charge, the knights felt their spirits soar.

The Lady's banner waved through the castle, its divine light crushing the undead's morale. The knights were unstoppable, the undead fleeing in disarray.

Ryan led the charge, wild and untamed. Imperius, crackling with lightning, tore through enemies. Ryan's blue eyes glowed with psychic energy, locking on his target.

Matthew Horner, the Mousilon serpent, had just entered the castle. This Black Knight would not leave!

The Vengeance Goddess cleaved through a Blood Knight's head and shield. Ryan swept through the street, showcasing his strength and valor. The undead trying to stop him failed, with Imperius tearing through fire and smoke, ripping a vargheist's wings off.

Closer, ever closer, Ryan raised the Vengeance Goddess, reaching Horner, who had just cut down a Bastonne knight with his Serpent Sword.

Imperius swooped past Horner, the Vengeance Goddess clashing with the Serpent Sword. Horner felt a terrible force, pushing him and his undead steed back. The Mousilon duke glared at Ryan, screaming, "Are you happy being her lapdog?"

"..." Ryan didn't answer, responding with the Vengeance Goddess. The Lady's Champion tightened the reins, the sword burning with silver flames and blue light, carving a deep groove in Horner's shield, knocking him off his horse.

Mad with rage, Horner threw away his shield, grabbing Ryan's arm and pulling him off Imperius. Ryan tumbled, punching through a house, the Vengeance Goddess piercing Horner's cursed armor, while the Serpent Sword scraped sparks off Ryan's shoulder.

Through dark magic, Horner's power grew rapidly, matching Ryan. Yet, his unearned power left him disadvantaged in battle.

But he had no retreat.

A fierce duel ensued, light and shadow flashing. After dozens of rounds, Ryan's Vengeance Goddess fell heavily, shattering the stone beneath Horner. The second strike burned Horner's face, and Ryan's punch broke his nose.

"Snap!" Horner screamed, his nose broken, throwing Ryan's white Grail cape to the ground.

Ryan pulled out Thor's Hammer, roaring and hurling it at Horner's head.

The hammer, crackling with lightning, flew towards Horner, who blocked with both hands, his left arm breaking with a crunch. The force sent him flying to the castle gate.

"My duke!" Vampire lord Belitos rushed to support him. "We're overwhelmed! And news from Richard Castle! Duke Lawn is leading over 20,000 knights from the north, besieging Richard Castle! We must reinforce them, or it will fall!"

"What?!" Horner, clutching his chest, bloodied, looked at the scene: the undead couldn't withstand the knights' charge. The Lady's banner burned the undead to ash. Led by Morgiana and the Grail Knights, the Bretonnian knights swept through the castle, pushing towards the gate.

"Retreat!" Horner gritted his teeth, ordering, "Tell Melowin to retreat! Zilfrois, cover the rear!"

"Yes! Retreat, retreat!!!" Belitos echoed, "Retreat!"

Ryan landed, crashing through a noble's stone house and bouncing off the ground, landing among undead bones. Coughing, he tried to rise, but a terrorgheist dived at him!

Abandoning his attempt to stand, Ryan raised the Vengeance Goddess to block, but another screech came from the side. "Ahhhh!"

Imperius attacked the terrorgheist, the gryphon's beak tearing into its belly, ripping out chunks of flesh.

"Die!" Ryan rolled, getting up and running to the terrorgheist. Imperius pinned its head, and Ryan stabbed down, black blood spraying over him.

The terrorgheist lay still.

As Ryan regained his senses, the undead were in full retreat, led by Mad Duke Melowin, abandoning Spire Palace.

In the distance, dawn broke, the sun rising. The undead retreated, defeated by Bretonnian fury!

Cheers echoed, knights celebrating a historic victory and their survival.

"Victory!"

"We won! We held Spire Palace!"

"Long live the Lady! Long live Ryan-Malkado!"

"Victory!!!"

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