Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 486 Powerful Standard Equipment: Rare-Grade Blazing Plate Armor
Forging the Blazing Plate Armor!
Without a doubt, this is one of the most magnificent undertakings in the Hessian Territory and even the entire border princely territory.

This blueprint is the most precious treasure left behind by a legendary dwarven hero, spanning tens of thousands of years.

So when Boros mentioned this, every dwarf, even the passing apprentices, stared intently at him with gleaming eyes!
At that moment, Gerson Grayrock, who had been silently overseeing the rune inscription from a distance, finally turned around abruptly. His granite-like face, darkened by suppressed rage, was almost the same color as Grayrock in his clan name.

He strode over in a few steps, his heavy boots thumping loudly on the stone pavement, and spat directly at Pelos Dragonhammer: "Enough, Pelos Dragonhammer! You hollow iron barrel that keeps making a racket!"

Gerson's voice was like the grinding of rocks, deep yet explosive, "What do you mean 'your bunch of old stoneheads'? What do you mean 'unsuitable'? Explain yourself! Every craftsman in our Grayrock Clan has been hammering ore since they could lift a hammer. Every single one of their skills has been witnessed by our ancestral gods. Why are you leaving our people out in the cold, only allowing your dwarven community to participate in this great plate armor forging project?! I suspect this is a manifestation of your narrow-minded nepotism, an irresponsibility towards the Lord's cause!"

Boros was taken aback by the shout, but his anger flared up instantly, his red beard almost standing on end. He retorted without backing down, practically pressing his forehead against Gerson's and roaring:
"Why? Because your old fogies' brains are harder than the rocks you've been hammering! Gerson Grayrock! I admit your craftsmanship, you're quite skilled at engraving ancient runes! But we're forging Blazing Plate Armor! It's the top-of-the-line equipment with the highest technology in the territory, as requested by the lord! Not the old-fashioned armor you've been hammering in caves for hundreds of years!"

He waved his thick arm, pointing to a complex device that was operating with precision, composed of countless tiny gears and springs—the [Deadly Lead Multi-Deposition Micro-Spring Core].

"See that? That thing! It's a top-of-the-line tool meticulously designed by the Imperial Engineering Academy, requiring precise control of temperature, pressure, and rune flow! Your people can't even understand it! When they try to operate it, they either use too much force and shatter the core, or they're too afraid to use enough force, resulting in incomplete fusion! Last time, I had your people try to assemble a breastplate component, and what happened? They almost blew half of my workshop up! How many precious materials were wasted!"

Gerson's face flushed red, not from shame, but from anger and an embarrassment at having his sore spot touched. He knew, of course, that part of what Boros said was true; the artisans of the Grayrock Clan were indeed not very comfortable with these "flashy" new mechanical creations of the Black Forest Territory, and trusted more the feel of their hands, forged through countless trials, and ancient experience.

But he absolutely could not admit that it was a matter of their clan's craftsmanship being inferior! This concerned the honor of the entire Grayrock clan!

"Bullshit! Those human contraptions are too delicate! They can't withstand the hammering of a true craftsman!" Gerson roared. "True armor is forged by the conviction of hammering away, not by those clanging little iron plates and clockwork mechanisms! The reinforcing runes that our Grayrock Clan's rune masters can carve with their eyes closed are more reliable than your fancy contraptions!"

"Reliable? Reliable is useless! If you can't keep up with the times, you'll be eliminated! What the lord wants is fast, good, and powerful equipment, not your slow-moving old-fashioned methods!" Beros retorted.

"Whose old almanac are you talking about?! Do you want to taste how hard the hammer of the old almanac is, you nouveau riche who sprang from the furnace!"

"Come on! You think you're afraid of me, you weathered old rock?!"

The two dwarf masters, like two enraged rams, stood facing each other, spitting as they exchanged words, threatening to escalate their verbal battle into a full-blown fight. The surrounding dwarf craftsmen stopped their work, not only failing to intervene but also beginning to murmur and cheer on their respective clan leaders—typical examples of people who enjoy watching a spectacle.

Su Li looked at the conflict in front of him, which was full of dwarven characteristics and had broken out due to differences in skills and concepts. He was both amused and exasperated, but he also understood that this was a manifestation of the dwarves' straightforwardness, stubbornness and extreme emphasis on honor.

Gerson brought his people to repay a debt of gratitude and to demonstrate his strength, but they were marginalized due to technical limitations, so his frustration is understandable. Berlos, on the other hand, had an extreme pursuit of craftsmanship and was unwilling to let any unstable factors affect the quality of the Blazing Plate Armor.

"Alright!" Su Li had to raise his voice and intervene in the impending brawl. "It's all about the military equipment of Black Forest Territory. Arguing won't solve anything!"

His voice calmed the two masters down a little, but they still glared at each other with wide eyes, panting heavily.

Su Li looked at Gerson, her tone gentle but firm: "Master Gerson, no one questions the craftsmanship of the Grayrock Clan artisans. Master Boros's concerns are also reasonable; the core technology of the Blazing Plate Armor does indeed need to adapt to new technologies."

He then looked at Boros: "Master Boros, the artisans of the Grayrock Clan are our invaluable asset. Their runic knowledge and forging experience are crucial. We cannot completely exclude them just because they are not yet familiar with the new machines."

He thought for a moment and proposed a compromise: "How about this, we'll select a group of skilled craftsmen from the Imperial Dwarves to specifically instruct the Grayrock Clan's craftsmen in learning and operating those new machines. Meanwhile, the forging of the non-core components of the Blazing Plate Armor, and the most crucial rune enhancement, will all be handled by the Grayrock Clan's champion rune masters! What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Gerson, though still fuming, softened considerably. At least, their clan's forte—rune work—had been acknowledged and given an important role. He gave a heavy snort, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Although Boros still had some reservations, feeling it wasn't safe to let the "old fogies" handle the intricate core, the lord had spoken, and entrusting them with the crucial rune engraving would indeed improve efficiency and quality. He reluctantly nodded, "...Alright, we'll do as you say, sir. But they need to study hard! Don't break my precious machine again!"

“Hmph, the learning ability of our Gray Rock Clan is far more reliable than your fragile machine!” Gerson immediately retorted.

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Su Li quickly waved his hand: "Then it's settled! Now bring out a few sets of qualified Blazing Plate Armor. I want to see how the air cavalry's equipment changes!"

The two dwarf masters glared at each other one last time, then simultaneously turned to Su Li, pounded their chests, and bowed: "Yes, my lord!"

Although their tone remained firm, they finally reached a temporary, dwarven-style consensus on cooperation.

Upon hearing Su Li's command, Gerson Grayrock finally showed a hint of triumph. He waved his hand sharply and roared something in dwarven language. Immediately, several taciturn Grayrock clan dwarven craftsmen who had been following behind the group stepped forward.

Since the misunderstanding in the Valley of Memory and the subsequent discovery that their lord had recovered their ancestral remains, the artisans of the Grayrock clan have been immersed in an atmosphere of mixed gratitude, shame, and intense gratitude. Not given to words, they express their respect by dedicating themselves entirely to the military buildup that their lord prioritizes, using their finest and most exquisite craftsmanship to prove the Grayrock clan's worth and repay this immense debt of gratitude. Their demeanor is as steady as a mountain, their eyes filled with the stubbornness characteristic of dwarves and an almost pious focus.

Soon, two dwarven craftsmen worked together to lift an incredibly heavy metal frame covered in thick black velvet from the inner treasury. Gerson took a deep breath, stepped forward solemnly, and abruptly lifted the black velvet!
In an instant, a dazzling golden-red light dispelled the darkness in the armory!
What appeared before everyone was a complete and flawless set of Blazing Rune Plate Armor!

The design of this plate armor is not overly exaggerated, yet it exudes a powerful and majestic beauty. Its entire surface is a warm and deep gold, as if molten gold and the afterglow of the setting sun were cast together. The surface of the plates is not completely smooth, but rather has subtle, flame-like textures. Under the glow of the furnace, these textures seem to flow slowly, radiating a scorching heat.

The armor's lines were strong and practical, with the shoulder armor sculpted in the shape of a roaring griffin's head. The breastplate featured a relief of the Blackwood Territory's bauhinia emblem, its stamen inlaid with a shimmering ruby, like the core of a condensing flame. The entire suit of armor was subtly shrouded in a faint, distorted wave of heat; simply approaching it evoked a reassuring warmth, as if wearing it would grant one fearlessness against the cold and darkness.

Gerson Grayrock straightened his back, carefully running his thick fingers over the deep runic inscriptions on his breastplate, and began to introduce it in a loud and proud voice:
"My lord, look! This is the result of the joint efforts of our Grayrock Clan and the men of Belos—the Blazing Plate Armor!"

"Its main body is forged from dragon breath steel, sun gold, and a small amount of hell iron and vibranium, and then tempered by the extreme high temperature of the King's Forge, making it indestructible and naturally extremely resistant to fire and dark energy!"

"But what truly makes it worthy of the name 'rare' is the three core defensive runes that we painstakingly engraved on it! This is an extremely remarkable achievement!"

"Having been in contact with armor and dwarves for so long, you must know that inscribing three runes on armor without aether is an incredibly difficult feat, requiring a combination of opportunity, inspiration, and luck. Many dwarven rune masters may never have the chance to achieve this in their entire lives."

"But our legendary ancestors took a different approach and developed this set of Blazing Rune Plate Armor, thus enabling the mass production of this special plate armor."

He first pointed to the deepest and brightest runes on the breastplate and main armor plates: "First, [Granny's Resilience]! This rune originates from the power of our dwarven ancestor, the God of War, and greatly enhances the armor's physical protection, granting the wearer unparalleled resilience. Whether it's a heavy axe's slash, a giant hammer's strike, or a spear's thrust, its force will be largely absorbed and deflected by this rune, as if the attack hit a mountain! Under this effect, physical damage reduction is greatly increased."

Then, his fingers slid down to the tiny runes on the shoulder and arm armor that resembled leaping flames:
"Secondly, [Molten Barrier]! This rune automatically activates when attacked, instantly forming a scorching shield of extreme heat on the armor surface. Not only can it effectively offset some of the magical energy impact, but it can also make enemies who attack at close range taste the backlash of flames! Fools who dare to scratch with claws or bite with teeth should be prepared to be roasted! Under this effect, there is a certain probability of triggering a fire shield when attacked, causing fire reflection damage to surrounding enemies and increasing magic resistance."

After Gerson Grayrock finished introducing the first two runes, his expression became increasingly solemn and dignified, as if the existence he was about to mention filled him with boundless awe.

His thick fingers finally stroked with utmost gentleness the most complex, profound, dark gold runes around the forehead of the helmet and the breastplate, which seemed to contain the soul of the mountains. The patterns of these runes were not as leaping as flames, but rather more like mineral veins in ancient rock strata, steady and restrained, yet containing unimaginable power.

“And this last one,” Gerson’s voice unconsciously lowered, with an tone like reciting an ancient epic, “is the core that truly establishes the name of this armor as ‘rare’! It is not a creation of our time, but rather originated before the loss of Karak-Eight Peaks, created by the rune lords among our ancestors, and is called the ‘Oath of the Heart of the Mountains’!”

He looked around and saw that all the dwarves, including Boros, held their breath, their eyes filled with longing and awe, before continuing in a deep voice:

"This rune is extremely ancient, extremely powerful, and extremely difficult to inscribe. It does not pray to the elements or gods for power, but directly calls upon and binds the primal power of a small section of the earth and mountains to the armor!"

"Its main effects are threefold," Gerson said, emphasizing each word as if each carried immense weight: "First, unwavering protection. Once activated (usually triggered automatically when the user's defensive resolve is firm), the wearer will gain near-absolute physical stability, granting them the ability to withstand charges and confront behemoths. The troll's slam, the minotaur's charge, or even the rolling of boulders will hardly make them retreat a single step; their feet will feel as if they are one with the earth. At the same time, all charge and knockback effects targeting the wearer will be significantly weakened or even completely nullified."

"Secondly, rock-hard skin. The runes continuously draw upon trace amounts of earth energy, temporarily granting the wearer's body a hardness and density comparable to rock. This not only greatly enhances resistance to blunt force and piercing damage, but also allows the wearer to resist disease and physical fatigue to some extent, enduring like a mountain."

“Thirdly, and this is why it’s called ‘Oath’—the mountains respond.” Gerson’s voice was tinged with excitement. “When the wearer makes a firm oath of protection (such as ‘I swear to defend this gate to the death!’ or ‘Don’t even think about harming those behind me!’) and truly has the determination to sacrifice for it, this rune will resonate strongly with the surrounding ley lines.”

“At that time,” his gaze was intense, “an ancient dwarven runic barrier made of pure earth energy may appear out of thin air in front of the wearer, lasting for a short time and able to withstand an extremely powerful attack (whether physical or magical); after this runic barrier is shattered, it may even cause a small-scale landslide (if in a mountainous environment).”

Gerson took a deep breath and concluded, “'The Oath of the Heart of the Mountains'... It represents the highest promise of a dwarven warrior—to be as steadfast as a mountain, to stand as a shield, and to protect until the very end. Its ancient power does not come from dazzling light, but from the deepest resilience and response of the earth. This armor is etched with this rune because it has gained the approval of the spirit of the mountains and the ancestors!”

The entire forging hall was deathly silent, save for the crackling of the furnace fire. All the dwarves were awestruck by the ancient and powerful runic energy.

Boros Dragonhammer suppressed his resentment, looked at the dark gold rune with a complicated expression, and finally nodded slowly, muttering to himself, "...That old stone really brought back something amazing from the Valley of Memories this time."

After Gerson finished his introduction, he proudly raised his head, looked around, and finally fixed his gaze on Su Li with intense intensity: "Lord! This armor is not only a weapon, but also a mobile fortress! Warriors who wear it will become an inextinguishable flame on the battlefield, the nemesis of evil forces! This is our Grayrock Clan's... small repayment for your kindness!"

As his words fell, the entire armory fell silent, save for the roar of the furnaces, a silent acclaim for this masterpiece. All the dwarves, including Boros Dragonhammer who had been arguing earlier, now gazed at the gleaming armor with complex expressions, their eyes filled with the admiration and awe of a craftsman upon seeing a perfect creation.

The Grayrock Clan proved their worth and earned the respect of all through their actions and unparalleled craftsmanship. Without exceptional runic expertise, even with the blueprints, they couldn't have inscribed this powerful [Oath of the Heart of the Mountains] onto the armor. It can be said that the silent, simple, and resilient spirit of the powerful Grayrock Clan perfectly complemented this, resulting in a masterpiece that forged this powerful, rare piece of equipment for the Blackwood Territory.

Su Li gazed at the blazing plate armor, its golden-red gleam flowing under the furnace's flames, the scorching energy in the air seeming to pulse with his heartbeat. Even having witnessed countless wonders and creations of the Black Forest Territory, his chest was now filled with an indescribable sense of awe and admiration.

This is more than just a piece of armor.

It is the pinnacle of skill, the embodiment of power, and a symbol of spirit.

“Unbelievable…” Su Li’s voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every breathless dwarf, “that such immense power could be sealed within metal and runes.”

His gaze swept over the three runes, each containing a different power, and finally settled on the most profound one, the [Oath of the Heart of the Mountains], which seemed to connect to the earth.

[Granny's Resilience] greatly enhances the wearer's defense. Human knights are already known for their unwavering will and formidable defense, making them incredibly tough and resilient. This rune is not merely icing on the cake; it's a powerful boost. A champion knight wearing this runic armor will find it much harder to sustain injuries in the battle of Raven Territory, even against hordes of undead.

The [Molten Barrier] transforms the attack itself into a vengeful flame, activating a fire shield that scorches surrounding enemies, causing them to reap what they sow. This effectively addresses the knights' weakness in damage output while further enhancing their shield and durability. It adds another layer of magical shield to the already tanky and resilient knights.

Fighting these knights is a nightmare for low-tier troops like goblins, dryads, slave rats, skeletons, and inferior beastmen. They are essentially helpless against these powerful knights. A few knights can easily cut through hundreds of goblins and skeletons!

Of course, in this world ravaged by war and darkness, even if mortals reach the pinnacle of martial prowess, there will always be a more terrifying and powerful threat that can challenge or even tear apart this seemingly indestructible defense.

Even champion knights equipped with blazing plate armor are far from invincible when facing certain terrifying beings.

For example, the demon warriors of Khorne are not ordinary followers of Chaos, but ultimate killers blessed by the dark gods and clad in blasphemous armor. Among them, those warriors wielding enormous demonic axes possess power far exceeding the limits of mortals. Their battle axes are often wreathed in destructive chaotic energy, allowing a single warrior to go berserk and easily slaughter large armies of mortals with their sharp axes, even cleaving through the powerful armor of knights.

For example, dragons and demons, these ancient creatures are the embodiment of lightning and violence. They are as large as small mountains, and their wielding giant claws or heavy weapons contain primal violence capable of shattering city walls in a single blow. [Unwavering Protection] might prevent them from being repelled, but if they were to withstand a thunderous bombardment, the terrifying impact would be enough to shatter bones and tear internal organs apart. Even if the outer plate armor remains intact, the knight inside could be turned into mincemeat.

Even the Skaven's nefarious weapons pose a terrible threat to the knights. Their insidious war machines, such as dimensional lances or poison grenadiers, bypass traditional physical defenses. Scorching dimensional flames, corrosive poison mists, or twisted dimensional energy can seep directly into armor or attack in bizarre energy forms, severely testing the magic resistance of the Molten Barrier.

Powerful undead constructs or ancient tomb scorpions, these ancient undead creations, often possess attacks that dispel magic or are pure, millennia-old death power. Their claws are comparable to divine weapons, their strikes fueled by immortal hatred, enough to challenge any formidable defense.

Other Norse mammoths and other behemoths were like mobile fortresses, their heavy armor and battering ram-like trunks or tusks delivering crushing attacks that often resulted in people and armor being completely trampled and crushed into the mud.

This is where the value of the [Oath of the Heart of the Mountains] becomes apparent!
This was the first time Su Li had ever seen such ancient and legendary runes, which allowed the knight and armor to directly call upon and bind to the primal power of a small piece of the earth and mountains!
This grants the knight unwavering protective abilities! Once activated, they can withstand charges. Even the troll's slam, the minotaur's charge, the Norscan war mammoth, or the undead's tomb crab cannot force them to take a single step back; their feet seem to merge with the earth. Simultaneously, all charge and knockback effects targeting the wearer will be significantly weakened or even completely nullified.

After a knight swears an oath of protection, they can completely withstand a terrifying attack from an enemy! This could even include a powerful magical attack!

This is simply linking the knight's will with the protection of the armor, transforming protection into a powerful oath energy!

This will truly empower the champion knights of the territory to contend with the world's top monsters and fight to the very end for what they hold dear. Clad in fiery rune plate armor, champion knights will be able to face all powerful monsters, including Chaos Demons, War Mammoths, Tomb Crabs, Dragon Demons, and even dragons!

(End of this chapter)