Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 403 A Fierce Victory and the Power of Legendary Weapons

As Edgar Roland's towering golden figure, along with the purified spirits of the Knights of the Excalibur, transformed into countless specks of light and vanished into the sky above the Brienne River, the entire battlefield fell into an instant of absolute silence.

It was as if time had been frozen.

Then, it was like a volcano that had been suppressed for thousands of years suddenly erupting!

"Victory!!!"

Someone, using all their strength, hoarsely uttered the first cry. The sound was like a spark igniting a fuse.

"We've won! We've won!"

"Long live Blacksin! Long live the Lord!"

Praise be to the Goddess of the Sun!

A deafening roar, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing against a cliff, instantly engulfed the scorched battlefield! Exhausted and wounded, the Black Forest soldiers forgot their pain, their fear, and the agony they had just endured—a torment that felt like an eternity under the legendary pressure! They threw down their weapons, embraced their comrades, pounded their blood-stained and mud-covered breastplates, and unleashed their most primal and fervent shouts with every ounce of their strength!
The shouts rose higher and higher, merging into an unstoppable torrent!
The dwarves hurled their heavy battleaxes and warhammers high into the air, letting out rough roars that shook the very ground beneath their feet. Half-griffin riders, riding their equally excited steeds, weaved through the cheering crowd, their blood-stained lances held high, their tips gleaming in the sunlight piercing through the smoke-filled clouds. Musketeers pulled their triggers, the clatter of gunfire like victory salutes!
Surrounded by soldiers, the five chosen knights, though pale-faced, their divine powers long gone and covered in wounds of varying depths, still stood ramrod straight. Orstein grinned, revealing blood-stained teeth, and let out a deafening laugh. Hilder's weary face blossomed into a radiant, relieved smile, like the rising sun.

Accompanied by Ariria, Su Li slowly walked to the center of the sea of ​​cheers. He was equally exhausted, but his eyes burned with a flame more intense than victory itself—a flame of confidence in the future, pride in his comrades-in-arms, and a deep appreciation for the glory won with blood and will. He raised high his legendary weapon, the Spear of Oath!
"Warriors of the Black Forest!" His voice, though not loud, clearly overpowered the deafening cheers, carrying a power that pierced the heart, "We! Have won!"

"Roar—!!!" The response was an even more frenzied and deafening roar! The soldiers pounded their weapons against their shields and the ground, creating a unified boom!
"For victory! For glory! For Black Forest!" Su Li's voice was resolute.

"For victory! For glory! For Black Forest! For the lord!" The shouts of thousands converged into one voice, as if they could lift the sky itself!
In contrast, on the high ground of Blue Mirror Castle, Baron Grant lay limp on the muddy ground, as if all his bones had been removed. His magnificent lord's robes were stained with mud and blood, and his meticulously combed hair was disheveled. His face was ashen, like that of a dead man, and his lips trembled, but no sound came out.

The deafening cheers of victory from below, filled with boundless ecstasy and power, were like countless red-hot steel needles piercing his eardrums and penetrating his heart! Every "victory," every "Black Forest," was like a heavy hammer blow, shattering his remaining illusions and dignity!
"No...impossible..." he muttered to himself, his voice dry as if sandpaper was being rubbed together, "The Wrath of the Sea God...the Green Knight Legion...even...even the mirror image of the Holy Knights...all...all defeated?"

He abruptly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the battlefield. There, his once-beloved Blue Mirror Lake was now a scene of utter devastation. He saw the Black Forest soldiers cheering like ants, and he saw the young lord, surrounded by a throng of people, shining like the sun—Su Li Bauhinia!

“Mannan above…why…why…” Baron Grant’s nails dug deep into his palms, his knuckles turning white from the effort. Despair, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled around his heart, tightening ever more.

He remembered the ancient sea dragon remains he had painstakingly unearthed from the bottom of Blue Mirror Lake, sacrificing countless lives of his people; he remembered the fanatical Mannan believers who had become neither human nor ghost because of the "Wrath of the Sea God" ritual; he remembered the Green Knight Legion on which he had placed his hopes, believing they could turn the tide; he remembered the final appearance of the Holy Knight's image, which seemed like a divine miracle... that should have been his last hope for turning the tide!
However, all of this turned into the cruelest joke amidst the deafening cheers!
“My…my kingdom…my Blue Mirror Territory…” Baron Grant’s body began to tremble uncontrollably, like a leaf falling in the cold wind. Everything he had meticulously planned, his mad gamble, the very foundation upon which he depended for survival, had been utterly crushed, trampled, and reduced to nothing in just one day!
"No! No! No!!!" He suddenly let out a heart-wrenching, inhuman scream! This scream was filled with endless resentment, despair, and unwillingness, but it was instantly drowned out by the even louder cheers of victory below.

He pounded the filthy ground in agony, as if trying to shatter this cruel reality! Blood seeped from his knuckles, staining the cold stone red.

"Liars! They're all liars! Mannan abandoned me! Even the ancient spirits abandoned me!!" He roared hysterically, tears streaming down his face, looking like a madman. His carefully maintained aristocratic demeanor and composure shattered completely in the face of utter defeat.

He saw below the castle, where the remaining Blue Mirror Territory defenders were desperately laying down their weapons and kneeling before the Blacksene soldiers, their hands raised high. He saw the blue-and-wave-patterned flags symbolizing the Blue Mirror Territory being brutally torn off one by one and thrown into the mud like trash, replaced by the Blacksene Territory's bright red bauhinia battle flag!

"It's over...it's all over..." A final, desperate sob escaped his throat, and Baron Grant, as if all his strength had been drained, slowly slid down the cold stone wall to the ground. He curled up in the corner, his body still convulsing unconsciously, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, like a soulless shell. The thunderous cheers of victory below had become, to him, a funeral dirge.

The jubilation of the victors and the despair of the vanquished formed a stark and brutal contrast at Stromgarde Keep on the banks of the Brienne River. A new era had dawned, accompanied by blood, smoke, and deafening cheers. The former glory of Blue Mirror Territory, along with its fallen lord, was buried beneath this blood-soaked land.

Amidst earth-shattering cheers, Su Li treaded the blood-stained road and slowly ascended the high ground of Blue Mirror Fortress, surrounded by countless armored soldiers. Although the castle had not yet fallen, the defending troops had lost all courage and morale. The guards at the city gate had abandoned the city and fled, their banners knocked down by the fleeing soldiers and buried in the filthy ground.

Baron Grant lay there in despair and collapse amidst the chaos, like a lump of mud.

Su Li's face also bore the weariness of fierce battle, but his eyes shone with a bright, sharp light. Holding a legendary-grade weapon, he looked down at the already broken baron and said clearly, "Grant, as an Imperial Baron and Lord of the Border Prince's Domain, instead of protecting your territory and people, you have been waging war and brazenly provoking conflict, intending to invade the Black Forest Domain, causing widespread suffering and turning your territory into a scorched wasteland. Your crimes are irrefutable and beyond description!"

"According to the laws of the Empire and the legacy of the Border Prince's Territory," Su Li said coldly, "I, Su Li Bauhinia, Lord of the Black Forest Territory, and the legitimate conqueror of the Border Prince's Territory, hereby declare: Baron Grant, for blasphemy, crimes against humanity, and war crimes! Unforgivable! Sentenced to death! Executed immediately!"

"No...no...spare me..." Baron Grant seemed to be awakened by this final verdict. With his last ounce of strength, he struggled to raise his head, tears streaming down his face, looking at Su Li with the most humble plea in his eyes. "Lord Su Li...Bauhinia...I...I'll give you everything...Blue Mirror Territory...wealth...secrets...spare my life...please..."

Su Li's gaze remained unwavering, as if he were looking at an inanimate object. He slightly raised his hand, stopping Grant's incoherent pleas.

"Execution."

The cold words fell. Two champion knights stepped forward and held him down. Tiberius's tall figure walked up to him, looking down at him. He took the deep blue sword that Tiberius treasured and that symbolized Mannan's authority from him, and then raised his huge battle axe high in the air.

The cold axe blade gleamed with a sharp light under the watchful eyes of the three armies.

“Mannan…witness…my…loyalty…” Baron Grant let out a final, unintelligible sob and closed his eyes in despair.

puff!

The heavy battle axe, fueled by vengeful fury and chilling judgment, slammed down. The next moment, a severed head flew off, and copious amounts of blood gushed from the severed neck.

This ruthless warlord, who had dominated the border princely territory for many years, has finally bid farewell to this stage.

Su Li would never forgive him. The Black Forest Territory had lost too many elite troops in this battle, and the blood feud between the two sides could not be resolved. It could only be ended with bloodshed.

Although Black Forest Territory achieved a glorious victory in the battle against the Green Knights, it also paid a shockingly heavy price.

More than 350 dwarven warriors died directly in the battle. Including those with minor and serious injuries, the dwarven casualties exceeded half! Most of these people had to rely on their own strength to survive, as there were simply not enough medicines available.

The casualties of over a thousand people were almost overwhelming the medical capabilities of the Black Forest Territory. But the Black Forest Territory's losses were far more than that; 11 of its powerful half-griffin knights had perished! This pain caused Su Li to nearly convulse.

This is the most powerful and iconic unit in the Black Forest Territory. There are even four champion knights among them. For an ordinary territory of the Empire, it might take several years or even more than a decade to train such a champion-level half-griffin knight.

Even against the Black Forest Territory, this was the result of nearly two years of effort. But in this battle, a third of them were lost in a single engagement.

However, it was precisely because the Black Forest possessed such powerful combat strength and legions that they were able to win this arduous and extraordinary battle.

If it were any other pioneering territory or even a baronial territory, they would absolutely not have been able to win two consecutive bloody battles against the Green Knights.

Those terrifying green knights were the epitome of perfect human knighthood. For this victory, over 400 elite knights, nearly a thousand regular knights, and apprentice knights from the Black Forest Territory perished on the battlefield.

Sacrifice is the cornerstone of the empire, and this moment perfectly exemplifies that.

It was the sacrifice of countless people that brought about this glorious victory.

Of course, the losses of armaments and equipment were also enormous. The Hessian Territory lost three war wagons. They followed the knights' charge, providing accompanying fire support. The heavy war wagons were truly able to hold off the Green Knights' advance, facing their encirclement while firing at full force. Therefore, they suffered the most losses. Then, two mortars, three heavy plows, and five harvesters were lost.

The loss of livestock, including war rams, amounted to over 4000. Combined with the casualties from halflings, cannibalistic mercenaries, and others, the Free People's Corps suffered over a thousand casualties. These were the direct casualties; there were also numerous wounded.

It can be said that after this battle, almost every one of the more than 7,000 troops in the Black Forest Territory was wounded, and more than half of them had been killed. They were only able to survive thanks to their unwavering will and the large amount of medicine they received.

After executing Baron Grant, Su Li stood atop the highest point of Stromgarde, overlooking the bustling battlefield below: soldiers were collecting the bodies of their fallen comrades, dwarves were salvaging precious armor and weapons, engineers were repairing the damaged walls, and the Bauhinia banner, symbolizing the Blackforest Territory, fluttered wildly atop the crumbling walls. The air was thick with the stench of gunpowder, blood, and the fishy smell of the river, along with a... breath of new life.

The immense spoils would have filled any lord with ecstasy, but the long list of the fallen and the wounded generals weighed heavily on his heart like cold stones. Each of those chilling numbers represented a vibrant life, the pillar of a family. This victory was won with the blood and steel of the Blacksem Territory's most elite soldiers.

Orstein and Hilder's footsteps sounded behind him. Hilder knew very well that Su Li was feeling heavy-hearted, so she took the initiative to say, "My lord, our losses are indeed heavy, but there is also good news. Our gains are enormous!"

Su Li looked at the Oath Spear stuck in his right hand, raised his palm, and gripped it tightly. This legendary weapon was undoubtedly one of the greatest gains from the battle in Black Forest Territory. It was also the only ancient relic left behind by the Holy Knights.

A dazzling golden light, like the rising sun, erupted from the point where Su Li held the spear! Like liquid gold, it rapidly spread and expanded upwards and downwards along the ancient spear shaft!

The spear, originally about three meters long, underwent an astonishing transformation in Su Li's hands! Wherever the golden light passed, the spearhead seemed to be reshaped by pure radiance, its length and thickness changing at Su Li's will! This was the powerful ability of a legendary-grade spear; even for a champion knight like Su Li, the spear's length, center of gravity, and weight could be adjusted instantly, perfectly adapting to any combat scenario and tactical requirement. From close-quarters street fighting to cavalry charges, from armor-piercing infantry battles to phoenix-piercing attacks from tens or even hundreds of meters away, the spear was suitable for everything.

This is clearly due to the addition of a large amount of ethereal gold, which greatly increases its load-bearing capacity. As a result, it is inscribed with as many as four runes. This is also a hallmark of legendary weapons, having one more rune than chosen weapons.

The first is the "Unbreakable" rune, shaped like interlocking diamond-shaped anvils and chains. This is the core defensive rune, deeply engraved at the junction of the spear shaft and spearhead. It doesn't grant the spear absolute indestructibility, but rather greatly enhances its structural stability and resilience. Whether parrying the powerful blows of a great axe, withstanding the bombardment of a warhammer, or penetrating heavy plate armor, this rune ensures that the Oath Spear itself will not bend, crack, or break. It is the fundamental guarantee that a knight can trust his weapon to remain unbroken in bloody battle. When subjected to a massive impact, the rune will briefly light up, emitting a deep, metallic hum. This is the fundamental difference between it and other disposable lances.

The second is the [Comet Center of Gravity] rune. Its form consists of three concentric circles encircling the middle of the spear shaft, with a tiny, double-tailed comet embedded in the center. This rune complements the power of Aether. It doesn't alter gravity, but rather subtly guides and stabilizes the weapon's dynamic balance during transformations and high-speed swings. It ensures that whether Su Li performs a delicate thrust, a powerful sweep, or a cunning counterattack on a dragon's back, the weapon's trajectory is precise and stable, minimizing recoil and sluggishness on the arm. It makes every attack fluid and effortless, greatly conserving the user's stamina and increasing accuracy. During dramatic transformations, the star emits a soft silver light.

The third is the [Armor Piercing Sharpness] rune. Its form is a simple, sharp, needle-like inverted triangle, deeply etched a short distance behind the spearhead. This rune's power is restrained yet deadly. It greatly enhances its penetrating power. When Su Li infuses the spearhead with his power, intending to penetrate solid defenses—such as the heavy plate armor of a Chaos Warrior, the thick hide of a troll, or the petrified shell of a gargoyle—the rune will glow faintly, and the spearhead tip will seem to condense a barely perceptible spatial distortion. It allows the Spear of Oath to tear and pierce seemingly indestructible defenses with less power consumption and greater efficiency. When the rune is activated, a cold, sharp, electric shock-like sensation will emanate from the spearhead.

The fourth is the [Exorcism] rune, which takes the form of a holy chalice burning with simplified flames, located on the counterweight at the end of the spear shaft. This is the most inconspicuous rune, but crucial in combating the forces of darkness. It contains a natural repulsion against unnatural beings such as chaos and the undead. When the spear tip pierces or the shaft strikes such evil creatures, the rune briefly bursts forth with a pure, blazing, but extremely small, golden flame. This flame itself has limited damage, but the power of order it contains can burn away the essence of evil, interfere with the undead's immortality, or cause weak Chaos Dreadlords to temporarily retreat with painful screams. It is more like a purification and deterrent, an indispensable aid for human knights in their fight against corruption. The burst of light carries a faint, holy incense-like scent.

With the added power of these four runes, even an elite knight wielding this legendary spear can challenge the chosen champions of the demons. If the spear hits, it can easily pierce through the sturdy chaos armor of the chosen demon knights.

But all of this pales in comparison to its formidable strategic capabilities!
As a legendary weapon, the Spear of Oath possesses characteristics comparable to a relic of glory. When an army commander equips this legendary weapon, the charging power and weapon strength of the knights in the army are significantly enhanced. During the charge, the knight's weapon will erupt with a bright light, inflicting terrible damage on the enemy.

When fighting against the evil legion, this power will be further enhanced, and it will also come with holy damage (minor) and a powerful armor-piercing effect.

It can be said that if Su Li were to wield this legendary spear and personally ride a dragon onto the battlefield to fight against the evil minions or evil forces like the Night Wanderers, the combat power of the Sun Knights of the Black Forest Territory would undergo a qualitative leap during their charge.

This is why the combat effectiveness of an army can be worlds apart from one commanded by a legendary general.

Under normal circumstances, the combat power of one Sun Knight is roughly equivalent to that of two Death Knights. After Su Li is equipped with this legendary-grade spear, one Sun Knight can even defeat four Death Knights.

What is this concept?
In other words, both were 60-man knightly orders. When the Sun Knights and the Death Knights clashed violently, the Sun Knights might only lose a few knights before they could shatter a squad of Death Knights.

If the knight commander of this warband uses the right tactics, he could defeat two Death Knight warbands without expending much effort.

If the situation had deteriorated to this point of a desperate battle, then this Sun Knights could have taken at least 200 Death Knights with them before being completely wiped out.

Therefore, even from a purely combat perspective, the Black Forest Territory's fighting strength has improved after suffering heavy losses in this battle. And once the army is fully replenished, the Black Forest Territory's combat strength will reach an even higher level.

With only 5000 elite infantry and cavalry, they can easily defeat over 20000 undead monsters. A resounding victory! In other words, they will suffer almost no losses, unlike the pyrrhic victory against the Green Dragon Legion where they were nearly wiped out.

If Arielia were to fight Su Li again, her green dragon minions and dependent legions would likely not even last a morning before being completely shredded by the Black Forest Territory's army. Moreover, they would be unlikely to inflict much damage on the Black Forest Territory.

At the same time, this legendary spear also has an effect similar to the Tiger Talisman. When Su Li holds this spear, he can reliably summon two squads of Green Knights to participate in all subsequent battles.

(End of this chapter)