Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 560 - 560 267 Each with a Unique Skill

560: Chapter 267: Each with a Unique Skill 560: Chapter 267: Each with a Unique Skill The white flame banner of Illaril, symbolizing the Knight Order, fluttered fiercely on the bloodstained walls of Hageshtan Castle.

The once sinister fortress, shrouded in the chilling aura of the undead, was now bathed in the radiant silver glint of the Holy Lake Knights’ armor from the foreign lands.

A pungent stench of decay mixed with the acrid smell of smoke permeated the air within the fortress, while the crumbling ruins spoke of the ferocious battle that had recently ended.

The oppressive clouds dissipated over this small area, and sunlight brought a fragile glimmer of life back to the netherworld terrain.

Knights and warriors busied themselves, moving back and forth between the walls and the drawbridge, hauling bodies to be disposed of outside the fortress.

The scattered and dismembered corpses lay piled like small mountains, as warriors methodically stacked dry firewood beneath the mounds of dead.

They knew the corpses of the undead had to be entirely destroyed, lest the malevolent magic behind them resurrect these horrors once more.

At the command of their leader, torches were thrown onto the pyres.

Flames rose instantly, consuming all within their purifying embrace.

The fire lapped hungrily at the bodies of the undead, crackling and spitting as thick black smoke spiraled upward, carrying the nauseating stench toward the skies.

The heavy gates of the castle groaned as they steadily lifted, the iron chains clanking noisily.

Leon, who had traveled an entire day to reach the site, led the Avalon Cavalry through the burning pits of corpses and entered the fortress through its main gate.

His gaze swept across the scene within the castle walls, his expression filled with both amazement and admiration.

Reining in his horse and dismounting swiftly, Leon strode toward Grand Master Irem with determined steps.

“Your bravery and that of the Holy Lake Knights are truly commendable.

I did not expect you to destroy an undead stronghold on your own and in so little time!”

Still bearing the fresh bloodstains of combat, Commander Irem steadied his sword, saluting as he responded calmly, “It was merely our duty.

I hope Lord Leon will not fault me for acting without prior consultation.”

He gestured toward a breach in the fortress wall.

“When I led the vanguard here, I discovered the undead attempting to repair this wall.

However, their progress was slow.

I estimated that their numbers were not significant.”

Irem’s eyes gleamed with resolution.

“But if we delayed, allowing them to complete their fortifications, any future assault would have incurred greater sacrifices.

So I made a decisive call—mobilized reserve forces from across the river, and while the enemy was still unprepared, launched a rapid attack.

By fortune, we managed to capture the fortress with success.”

“Your swift and effective actions leave no room for blame,” Leon praised sincerely before expressing concern.

“Were there heavy casualties among the Knight Order?”

“A dozen injured, and several brave Knight brothers sacrificed their lives with honor.

I’ve already dispatched personnel to carefully transport their ashes urns across the river to camp, where they will be safeguarded until the war’s end and then returned to the Holy Lake,” Irem replied stoically.

“Illaril will bless their noble souls with peace, and the people will remember these heroes’ names,” Leon murmured solemnly, a faint sadness in his heart.

War inevitably brought loss, but no matter how many times it repeated, he could never reduce the fallen to mere cold statistics in his mind.

“What’s the status of the grain supply?” Leon continued, his tone pragmatic.

“The priests have inspected many of the storehouses.

So far, they’ve found no traces of magical curses or alchemical toxins in the provisions.

The quantities seem to match expectations as well,” Irem reported.

In truth, poisoning such a vast stockpile of grain would require an unimaginable amount of toxin.

A small dose might only taint a portion and kill a few soldiers—a tactic of little consequence in the grand scale of war.

The inspections were merely a precaution against any extraordinary magical means that the undead’s masters might possess.

Leon nodded.

“Take me to inspect it.”

Not wishing to waste time, he followed Commander Irem straight to the grain storage facilities at the rear of the fortress.

There, he saw a wide expanse of granaries that remained intact.

They meticulously inspected several storerooms, checking every corner of the supplies.

Upon confirming with Lola that no magical traces were found, any potential concerns were wholly dispelled.

Only then did Leon breathe a sigh of relief.

It remained unclear why the Corpse Ghost leader occupying this place had not burned the grain stores.

Perhaps their mind had faltered?

Or maybe they feared a blaze might consume the entire fortress?

Regardless, the Holy Lake Knights’ timely recapture of Hageshtan had secured these 16,000 lun of grain—a measure that provided urgent relief for the North Shore.

This food would sustain an army of 10,000 for at least a month and could stabilize the region, even if famine erupted among the civilians.

Back in the fortress hall, Irem waited for everyone to gather before inquiring: “What is the plan for the next move?

Shall we use this as a springboard for advancing eastward?”

“Not so fast.

The status of the other three storage sites remains uncertain.

We should first consolidate this position and ensure most of the grain is transported back to the North Shore,” Leon replied.

He then instructed Irem to immediately dispatch priests and knights to return to the North Shore and coordinate with Count Lunaf for transport convoy arrangements.

The Avalon contingent temporarily stationed themselves in Hageshtan, awaiting further updates.

The next day, the soldiers remained industrious.

Leon commanded the troops to collaborate with the Holy Lake Knights in locating materials to repair and seal the gaps in the walls breached during the undead’s assault.

While the fortress was undergoing large-scale reconstruction, Leon made time to investigate the ruins of the altar destroyed by the Holy Lake Knights.

The makeshift bell tower, built crudely, had been reduced to rubble during the battle.

Among the debris lay the broken bell, partially buried in shattered stones.

A faint magical residue flickered weakly on the bell’s surface, while an air of desolation and dread lingered around the site, as if even the wind hesitated to brush against the cursed artifact.

Only a few elite Holy Lake Knights guarded the area, forbidding any soldiers from approaching to prevent further incidents.