Chapter 572

Chapter 572: The Sky Darkens

In the Solander Royal Palace, Lolan Hill listened as Feilang recounted the glorious era when heroes were abundant.

“Then, why did that fluttering banner of the Wind Curtain gradually decline?” she asked curiously. According to the old man’s description, the knights of the Western Wind Kingdom had once been renowned across the continent, even defeating several elite troops of the Verdant Empire, and their combat strength was comparable to the Red Dragon cavalry of the Erixian Dragon, with numbers even exceeding them.

“Because such tactics, or rather this style of battle, require extremely high standards for the members involved. Each knight in the formation must have exceptional combat skills and excellent teamwork, moving in unison to unleash their full potential. Otherwise, they would only appear superficial.”

“Until the fall of the Western Wind Kingdom, only the Lightning Knights maintained such formations. They were stationed at the Chaos Vortex and had little contact with the outside world, thus preventing their decline.”

Feilang narrated the legend of the White Horse of the Western Wind. During Roland’s reign, the white horse knights raised their silver lances, with swallow-tailed banners fluttering in the air like a wall of wind. Ten thousand cavalrymen formed a vast sea of silver light, charging at all enemies before them. That kind of momentum was invincible, instilling fear in anyone who faced them.

“Even with the existence of Sequence 9, one would still feel powerless under such a large-scale charge and might have to temporarily retreat to preserve oneself. Although this could ensure safety, it wouldn’t be enough to stop the overwhelming advance and impact of their formation.”

“This is the charm of the War Sequence. Individually, one may not be strong, but when working together in unison, under the resonance of belief and extraordinary core, one can shine brightly.” Feilang looked up at the azure sky, with wisps of clouds passing by, as scenes from those past eras flashed through his mind.

So valiant and powerful.

—

New Vergha Alliance, Huangnan County.

This place was not far from Hope Lane and lay on the eastern side of the New Vergha Alliance.

As a coastal plain region, although the terrain was gentle, there was abundant rainfall, leading to vast forests. Such terrain made it difficult for a large army to advance, forcing them to form long snake-like lines and proceed along the long and rugged roads.

At this moment, General Jenkins of the Frost Union was riding through the forest path. Ahead and behind him were 200 cavalrymen in dark metal breastplates. These were his personal guards, skilled and equipped with extraordinary weapons crafted by alchemists. Under the resonance of the War Sequence, even Sequence 8 entities could withstand attacks for a while.

He asked a nearby mage, “Are there flying airships covering the area within a 50-mile radius for reconnaissance? This place isn’t exactly safe.”

“For the past two days, eight airships have been patrolling the surroundings to ensure our march isn’t ambushed,” the mage replied confidently.

“Actually, General Jenkins doesn’t need to worry so much. The New Vergha Alliance has only recently been established and can hardly be called a proper nation. Their army members are quite complex. From my perspective, just standing against our massive force takes courage. Surprise tactics aren’t easy to pull off.”

Seeing no change in the general’s expression, the mage felt he was being underestimated, perhaps thinking he was just a theorist. So he continued, “Surprise tactics require very high standards for army members, needing great patience and courage, and ensuring no one slips up, thereby compromising the entire operation.”

“Although there have been a few famous battles in history where such tactics were used, most commanders who failed ended up losing their armies due to poor execution. Direct confrontation is far superior,” the mage continued, seemingly to save face.

Jenkins nodded slightly, either agreeing or wanting the talkative mage to stop.

A knight riding a horse approached from the front, clad in dark metal armor, with a blue-dyed cloak over his shoulder, featuring a white rose pattern.

“General, the golem legion has cleared a space in the forest for us to use as a camp. Shall we set up camp here?” His voice was clear. It was then that the accompanying mages realized he was a woman.

“Very good. Order the troops to set up camp. Also, send out two squads of scouts to set up a circular perimeter five miles outside the camp to guard against night attacks. We’ve entered enemy territory; everything must be done cautiously.”

“Yes, General!” The young lady knight saluted and rode ahead.

After she left, a nearby mage asked curiously, “Do you have women among your personal guards?”

The other mages also perked up their ears.

“That’s my daughter, Ada. She’s currently at Magic Sequence 7. What do you think?”

The mage who had intended to tease her immediately became submissive. He himself was also at Magic Sequence 7, but he knew his own sequence was somewhat dubious, achieved through some trickery. Compared to Sequence 6, he was only marginally stronger and would suffer greatly against peers of the same rank.

“I didn’t expect General Jenkins’ daughter to be so outstanding.”

Praise and flattery followed, though a bit exaggerated, but being his own daughter, Jenkins’ expression softened.

“In raising her, I put in a lot of effort. Initially, I wanted her to be a mage, as life would be more comfortable for a girl. But perhaps because of me, she grew up in military training, and now she’s taken up knighthood.”

After saying this, the general sighed and the group slowly approached a large open space.

There had originally been a small lake here, and the golem legion had expanded outward, cutting down many trees, allowing such a large army to be stationed here.

When Jenkins and his personal guards dismounted onto the land, they could still feel the residual warmth from the previous burning.

The jungle had many wooden stakes, snakes, rodents, and insects. Burning them not only cleared away these obstacles but also killed most of the pests, preventing them from bothering the soldiers, making it suitable for setting up camp.

As thousands settled in, smoke rose by the lakeside. Soldiers began eating, and some mage apprentices emerged from the golems to prepare dinner.

It was early September, a cool season, and the evening breeze dispersed the day’s fatigue.

The sky gradually darkened, and the forest was shrouded in a hazy darkness. In the unseen depths of the woods, faint insect sounds echoed, slightly louder than usual.

(End of Chapter)