Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 591 - 591 278 The Returning Avenger_2

591: Chapter 278: The Returning Avenger_2 591: Chapter 278: The Returning Avenger_2 The two quickened their pace, hastily heading to gather the commanders to discuss defense strategies.

…

South of Kilmerton Pass.

Cold moonlight, spilling over the tranquil Itherlin Valley, like silver gauze.

The army under Leon’s command had long stopped advancing and camped temporarily in the valley.

The flickering bonfire illuminated the tired yet resolute faces of the soldiers.

Though the Alliance had already destroyed the undead stronghold in the Itherlin Valley, Leon didn’t dare to take any blind risks now.

The tree-lined avenue of the valley appeared calm and still, yet it might conceal deadly traps.

Uncertain of whether there were more dangers on the way back to the pass fortress, he was unwilling to rush blindly through the night and preferred to wait for dawn before proceeding.

Sitting quietly by the bonfire within the army, Leon furrowed his brow.

Engaging with the undead, he had witnessed various bizarre undead creatures, but the intelligence shared by Lord Tiger mentioned unknown undead possessing the ability to autonomously execute a night raid and beheading tactic, causing Leon great concern.

Those enemies imbued with high intelligence were evidently far more troublesome than ordinary undead which rely only on instinct, especially their elusive night raid strategies, rendering the human army in need of rest powerless to counteract.

Since the opponent could launch attacks in the dark undeterred, it was evident they had exploited the vulnerabilities of the human army, and the more Leon thought about it, the more he felt almost helpless except for passive response.

Undead devoid of morale, needing no supply, capable of round-the-clock combat, indifferent to darkness, truly could be deemed a perfect army.

What they seemed to lack was merely a true “officer” capable of effectively commanding the troops.

Now, a force capable of tactically engaging the human army — does this imply that the Alliance has encountered the main force manipulated by the mastermind behind the undead calamity?

Could it be that over the past month, his destruction of countless undead altars in Baldim County had finally interfered with the enemy’s Great Magic Ceremony and alerted them?

Listening to the crackle of the bonfire, amidst his thoughts, Leon instinctively lowered his head, his gaze falling on Olivia lying beside him on the marching blanket.

The girl gently rested her head on his leg armor, clutching her sword, eyes closed as if in a light nap.

Leon’s mouth unconsciously curled into a gentle smile, raising his hand to gently stroke her hair, brushing past the cute braided bun and earlobes, thinking how the girl didn’t find discomfort from his leg armor beneath her head.

Of course, he knew in his heart that the beloved was not asleep.

As she felt full of energy and didn’t mind staying awake for a day and night, he joined the night watch soldiers to guard against potential night raids.

While Olivia insisted on accompanying him, he thought of how this little lion had far stronger stamina than himself, leaving him no choice but to have her join him for the night duty.

With her quiet companionship, the silent night was less monotonous.

Suddenly, a piercing, teeth-grinding, headache-inducing shriek, like a sharp blade, shattered the tranquility of the night.

The guarding techniques set up at various points of the army were triggered simultaneously, their flashing light glaring in the darkness.

Leon instinctively pressed his sword, his expression becoming tense immediately.

This was definitely not caused by a beast mistakenly touching the technique.

Near the human paths in Baldim County, the number of beasts had drastically decreased due to the Soul Bell’s influence; let alone such uniformly consistent alarms from all directions.

Undoubtedly, it was an enemy attack.

Olivia, resting against his leg, immediately got up, deftly drawing her long sword.

Leon rose and ran with her to the army perimeter to organize the troops.

The soldiers and knights, awakened swiftly by the alarm, responded most promptly among them were the experienced Ranger Knights, who first entered battle readiness.

The well-trained Holy Lake Knights systematically deployed formations, and Avalon’s veteran soldiers no longer as youthful as before, quickly rose from the ground and grouped into a neat formation.

The entire army stood ready.

However, no undead emerged from the darkness as anticipated.

Riding among the army perimeter was Leon, as many commanders hurriedly gathered in his vicinity.

Commander Irem furrowed his brows, his gaze wary as he looked toward the haunting dense woods in the distance, and solemnly said, “We might be dealing with enemies who can think, Lord Leon.”

Cowis, looking tired from days of travel and newly awakened from sleep, looked at Leon and asked, “My lord, do you need me to ascend and scout the vicinity?”

Glenn Soren rode forward and volunteered, “This mission is more suited for us; in the middle of the night, Sir Cowis might struggle to see clearly from the sky the surrounding situation.”

Leon decisively shook his head, his expression grave: “It’s too risky.

If Commander Irem’s speculation is correct, acting according to the enemy’s thinking, tonight might never end.

Not to mention the risk of searching for enemies in the forest under the night, it’s very likely a trap.

Even if the enemy retreats without attacking, as long as they intermittently harass the army, the army would become exhausted and anxious.”

Undead don’t need sleep, and Knights of Valor can endure, but the ordinary warriors in the army refuse to drag their fatigued bodies to fight the Undead Army.

“…Flames will help you find enemies in the shadows; I hear the calling of the element spirits, tonight the wind won’t blow towards the south…”

The gentle voice of the Prophetess echoed in Leon’s mind.

Leon slightly nodded, already having a plan.

He turned to issue the order to the entire army:

“Set fire, burn the forest!”

Within the army, there were enough oil-based fish paste to counter the undead, and large surrounding trees along with withered ones were undoubtedly excellent fuel for mountain burning.

So, the enemy would have to either retreat or be trapped and turned into charcoal rib racks; or…

would have to face Knights under his command head-on decisively.

Regarding the devastation of valley forest woodlands, for now, the overall situation takes precedence.

Sacrificing some environmental resources is better than sacrificing the lives of warriors, surely Count Lunaf wouldn’t opine against this.

With Leon’s order.

Over two thousand soldiers wielded torches and transported fuel, immediately initiating the action.

A towering fiery blaze ignited in the southern Itherlin Valley.

The fires caused by deliberate arson spread fiercely.

Southern winds gusted, driving the fire, rapidly expanding.

Before long, the ink-black sky lit up like dusk.

Two thousand soldiers formed a Defensive Formation around the supply carriage, ready for enemy forces.

In the northwest of the camp, on a highland not yet invaded by the fire, the roaming Vanguard Cavalry soon keenly spotted a mass of dark shadows surging from the forest.

The ambushed undead army voluntarily revealed itself, and Leon saw that the fire attack strategy worked, immediately commanding the entire army to prepare for battle.

The military horn sliced through the night sky, while knights with torches slanted on their saddles maneuvered their neighing warhorses among their own directed corps, adhering to the commander’s instructions, ordered the army formation to slowly adjust in preparation for the Corpse Ghost Army’s assault.

In the depths of darkness, numerous glowing cold ghostly eyes converged into a sinister ocean.

The undead marched in neat formation, stepping toward the open sloped area bustling with torches in the living army formation.

Under the forest blaze north of the battlefield, the two armies drew closer, compelling Leon to gaze at those tattered banners still hoisted among the deceased army.

“…No, no!!!

Damn it!!!

No!!!”

Lokhak’s roar was filled with extreme anger, like a frightful tiger roar, the stout knight’s eyes turned red, fixed on the Corpse Ghost army ahead…

Leon raised his eyes, his pupils slighted.

Saw on that banner…

strikingly familiar emblem from memory.

The originally pristine sun wheel blade emblem had been stained deep red by blood.

A line of Corpse Ghost Warriors holding Holy Sun Emblem Shields and spears proclaimed their former identity.

Rolannar…

City Guard Army.

Memory tugged, the latent anger also surged through his mind.

The scene he least wanted to see still unfolded before him.

…

Since earlier faced undead, not lacking in Kantadar’s East Expedition Army invading Seryan, then Seryans who had long died before and after the Holy Land City’s great battle could hardly have escaped.

Lokhak was filled with rage rising within his chest, tightly gripping the Halberd with hands making a cracking sound: “…No matter who, no matter who desecrated the souls of my parents, I will surely kill him!!!

I will definitely kill them!!”