Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 531 The Final Chapter of the War: The Demise of the Swamp Territory
Facing the blasted-back Litanel, Hilder did not pursue. Her massive golden figure stood in the center of the battlefield, her blazing legendary longsword pointing diagonally at the ground, its blade still flickering with incandescent holy flames. She raised her other hand, and a sacred prayer resounded throughout the heavens and earth:

"Divine Art: Radiant Sunlight!"

In the sky, it seemed as if a miniature, blazing sun flashed by, casting endless radiance upon all the soldiers of the Black Forest Territory.

In an instant, all the followers of the Goddess of the Sun felt a surge of energy, and the power within their bodies seemed to become more active and pure, with a significant increase in their hatred and destructive power against evil and corruption!

This is a new stage of divine magic that Hilder gained after advancing to Legendary rank, which can greatly increase the damage and resistance of friendly units against Chaos/Evil units.

After doing all this, Hilder's huge golden eyes once again coldly gazed in the direction where Naguru Ritanell had crashed down.

She knew that although the sword strike was powerful, it wasn't enough to completely destroy this monster that had received the "favor" of the evil god. The real battle had only just begun!
As she had predicted, Nurgle Rittanel, who had been cleaved in two by Hilde's sword and crashed heavily into the swamp, let out a roar that was a mixture of extreme pain, rage, and blasphemy.

Its massive body struggled to its feet, and from the huge wound cleaved open by [Blazing Blood - Radiant Judgment], pus gushed out like a waterfall, while countless fat maggots and colorful fungal carpets were writhing wildly at an unprecedented speed, attempting to repair themselves.

However, the scorching sun's energy, like incandescent lava, lingered at the edge of the wound, continuously "burning" the newly formed, decaying flesh, emitting a hissing sound and greatly slowing down its healing.

"Blasphemer...you...must...rot!" A muffled roar came from its massive maw, and its three murky demonic eyes stared intently at the golden legendary general, filled with the most vicious hatred.

Then, it did something horrifying—it plunged a huge, pus-drenched claw into its own fat, writhing belly!

"Pfft!"

Accompanied by a tooth-grinding tearing sound and an even stronger stench, it actually pulled a weapon out of its own abdominal cavity!
It was not solid metal, but rather a giant sword of energy formed from the concentrated essence of plague, despair, and the wails of countless tormented souls! The giant sword was entirely filthy, constantly shifting between dark green and pale white, and its surface seemed to be covered with countless twisted faces struggling and howling, emanating an aura of soul corrosion and disease spread ten times stronger than the previous plague cleaver! Its mere appearance enveloped a large area around it in a layer of deathly aura that caused mental confusion.

"Fatherly love... embrace... the end!" Nagoritanel gripped the terrifying Soul Plague Greatsword with both hands and charged towards Hilder! Each step it took cracked the earth, sending mud flying, its massive body carrying the force to crush everything in its path, the greatsword in its hand leaving a trail of filthy corruption as it slashed fiercely at Hilder!

At the same time, the concentration of its yellowish-green, corrupting aura reached its peak, forming a viscous, plague-like force field capable of instantly festering and killing any living being, which it crushed forward with its charge! It swung its enormous arms, carrying the power to shatter mountains, and slammed down on Hilder! This was the purest and most savage crushing force, intending to use its massive size and the terrifying brute force bestowed by the evil god to smash the giant of light before it, along with its divine radiance!
However, Hilde's legendary forty-meter-tall divine body remained completely unmoved by this mountain-shaking blow! The ground beneath her feet cracked and sank, but her sword-wielding stance remained unchanged. The aura of the Golden Shield flowed around her, firmly isolating the plague force field that attempted to erode her.

"Is that all?" A cold and authoritative voice came from beneath Hilde's visor, carrying a hint of disappointment.

The next moment, her aura surged once again!

"Blazing Blood - Activate!"

There were no flowery words, just a simple declaration. But in that instant, centered on Hilder, it was as if a real sun had been ignited!

An incomparably intense and pure incandescent radiance erupted from her body, transforming her into the very source of light! That light was not warm and gentle, but rather filled with the ultimate domineering power of destruction, judgment, and annihilation! The air distorted and ionized under the intense heat, crackling and popping, and the mud beneath her feet instantly dried up and vitrified! The giant blade of light in her hand was no longer burning with holy flames, but had completely transformed into a physical object formed purely from incandescent light of destruction!
At this moment, Hilder seemed to be the god of the sun in person, carrying the absolute authority to burn all things and judge everything! The pressure was so strong that even the chosen knights, such as Orstein, who were watching from afar, felt a chill in their hearts, and the remaining monsters let out terrified howls, and even instinctively prostrated themselves on the ground!
For the first time, a look of near-fear appeared in Nagore's three demonic eyes! From that incandescent light, it sensed the most fundamental, nemesis and natural enemy of all that existed within it! This was not purification; this was utter annihilation!
Hilder moved.

Her movements were lightning fast, creating an eerie contrast with her massive size. The incandescent blade of light transformed into a flash of light that tore through the heavens and earth.

"Sizzle—!!!"

There was no earth-shattering crash, only a chilling sound, like cold water being poured into boiling oil, violently evaporating and annihilating!
The seemingly invincible greatsword of soul plague, the moment it came into contact with the incandescent light blade, was as if it had met its nemesis! The condensed plague and the desperate wails of souls that made up the sword body, in the face of that ultimate power of annihilation by the blazing sun, melted, disintegrated and turned into nothingness as quickly as ice and snow under the sun!
The incandescent light blade swept forward with unstoppable force, flowing upstream along the blade of the Soul Plague Greatsword. Wherever it passed, the filthy energy was completely purified and annihilated!
Nagoritanel let out an incredulous howl, filled with pain and fear, as it tried to withdraw its weapon, but it was too late!

With a flick of her wrist, Hilde's incandescent light blade shot forward, propelled by the force of the opponent's retreat!
"puff!"

The light blade sliced ​​through butter like a hot knife, easily piercing Nagore's thick arm as he tried to block, and then, without hesitation, slashed straight at its massive, hill-like head!
Too fast! Too powerful! In her fully activated [Blazing Blood] state, Hildor's attack had already exceeded the limits of Nagoriltane's reaction time!
For the first time, the fear of utter annihilation was clearly reflected in those three murky demonic eyes that were oozing pus!

"No... Father... save me..."

The pleading, blasphemous words had not yet been fully uttered—

"Zheng——!"

A condensed, incandescent arc of light, like a line of dawn slicing through the darkness, instantly swept across Nagore Litanel's neck!

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Nagoritanel's massive body, which was charging forward, suddenly froze, and its movement of raising half of the Soul Plague Greatsword also stopped in mid-air.

Then, its massive, pus-draining head, as thick as a mountain, slowly, then rapidly, slid off its neck along the smooth, mirror-like incision!
"Boom!!!"

The head slammed heavily onto the dry, vitrified ground with a dull thud, rolling several times before coming to a stop. The yellowish-green light in the three demonic eyes quickly dimmed and extinguished, finally solidifying into utter ashes. The bloated, headless body swayed twice in place before collapsing like a mountain toppling, splattering a cloud of blood-stained mud, and then remained motionless.

The massive Nurgle creation, exuding a terrifying and oppressive aura, was decapitated by Hilder with a single, overwhelming strike after she activated her [Blazing Blood] state!
The incandescent light gradually faded from Hildor, but her colossal golden divine form remained standing, her giant blade of light pointing diagonally at the ground, its tip dripping with the instantly evaporated filth. She glanced indifferently at the massive corpse that was rapidly decaying and emitting its final stench, then turned to face the entire battlefield.

His legendary power stunned the entire audience!
All the remaining monsters, after seeing their last hope, the "King of the Swamp," so cleanly and decisively killed, completely lost their last shred of will to resist.

Hilder's cool and authoritative voice once again echoed across the battlefield:
Those who resist will be killed without mercy!

This sound tolled the final bell for this fierce and grand battle in the swamp.

Hilder's decapitating sword not only severed Nurgle's head but also shattered the last remaining will to fight of this vast swamp army. When they witnessed firsthand the swift and decisive slaying of the "Swamp King," considered their last hope and "given" by the evil god, fear, like the most severe plague, instantly overwhelmed the spirit of every monster.

The collapse has begun.

First came sporadic screams and cries, then spread like an avalanche across the chaotic battlefield. The surviving ratmen were the first to abandon their crudely made weapons, letting out terrified screams of "Where there's life, there's hope," ignoring the roars of any leaders, and fleeing like frightened cockroaches towards any mud pit or cave that seemed like a safe haven.

They trampled each other, crushing their wounded companions into the mud, just to get away from that death zone where the golden god stood.

The river trolls, who had previously rampaged through the land with their brute force and regenerative abilities, were now gripped by immense panic. Their simple minds could not comprehend why their leader had fallen, but their survival instincts told them that staying here meant certain death.

They let out a dull, fearful roar, abandoned the fight, and strode heavily, trying to smash through everything in their way and flee into the depths of the swamp, even trampling any ratmen or swamp monsters that stood in their path into a pulp.

The remaining swamp warriors and dark creatures also lost their last organization. They either blindly followed the fleeing tide or desperately tried to put up a last stand, but their formation had broken and their morale had collapsed. Their resistance appeared futile and laughable under the iron hooves of the Black Forest Territory that followed closely behind.

"For the Lord! For victory! All troops, charge! Crush them!" Marshal Orstein seized this fleeting opportunity, his booming voice echoing across the battlefield. The order was given, and the entire Hessian army, like tigers finally freed from their last shackles, launched a final, devastating charge against the utterly collapsing enemy!

The Blacksene Royal Guard knights and various heavy cavalry units surged forward like a raging torrent of metal, relentlessly pursuing the fleeing enemy. They no longer needed tight formations, but instead charged in small squads, mercilessly cutting down and slicing through the retreating ranks. Lances pierced, sabers slashed, felling monsters fleeing with their backs to the ground. Where their iron hooves passed, only a scene of carnage and desperate cries remained.

The air cavalry transformed into highly efficient sweepers. Griffin riders and griffin riders circled low, specifically hunting down enemy leaders and large units attempting to regroup or flee quickly. Swan riders, utilizing their mobility, herded the fleeing enemy together with precise arrows, much like herding sheep, making it easier for ground troops to encircle and annihilate them. The roar of dwarven helicopters followed the densest concentrations of the fleeing troops, unleashing devastating firepower and hastening their demise.

The infantry phalanx, composed of Ironbreakers and Amethyst Ironclads, advanced steadily like a moving steel wall. They cleared away any remaining enemies, those trying to hide or feign death, using warhammers and repeating crossbows to ensure no hidden dangers remained. Wherever they passed, it was as if a comb had passed through hair, completely erasing all traces of resistance.

The battlefield has completely devolved into a one-sided pursuit and slaughter.

The scattered monsters, having lost all command and order, fled for their lives, exposing their backs to their pursuers without reservation. The soldiers of Black Forest Territory showed no mercy, using cold steel and blazing flames to carry out their final purification mission. Screams, howls, the sounds of weapons piercing flesh, explosions... all blended into a final symphony announcing the destruction of the Swamp Territory.

The setting sun, like blood, shone on the battlefield soaked by floods and blood. The once vast and filthy swamp coalition had vanished, leaving behind only scattered corpses, tattered flags, and desperate footprints of fleeing people stretching into the depths of the swamp.

Under the blood-red setting sun, the forest of banners and gleaming armor of the Black Forest Territory reflected the last rays of light, as if they themselves were burning, their sharp light blindingly bright, their imposing presence seemingly illuminating this land long tainted by darkness and filth. This overwhelming and unstoppable military might even cause those observing from afar to feel a stinging pain in their eyes and their minds to be captivated.

On the twisted, seemingly fused-with-the-swamp highest tower of Mudcrown Fortress, a figure stood silently.

It was none other than the queen of the swamp demons, "Mia" Mosa.

She was no longer naked; instead, she was now draped in a slightly oversized, antique-style, even somewhat tattered nun's robe. The rough fabric concealed most of her smooth, dark green skin, revealing only her head and a pair of sharp claws. This robe, so incongruous with her own demeanor, exuded an eerie, almost sacrilegious tranquility on her.

The single, enormous eye on her forehead clearly reflected the final outcome unfolding on the distant battlefield—the massive, decapitated corpse of Nagoritanel, and the invincible sweep of the battlefield by the Blacksend army.

The inhuman face of hers now bore no trace of the submissive and affectionate demeanor she had shown when she prostrated herself at the feet of Litanel's throne, like a tamed female dog. Instead, it was replaced by a profound, almost frozen, indifference.

Within its single eye, the pupil slightly contracted, clearly reflecting the towering golden general and the all-controlling figure atop the dragon's back.

Shock, disbelief, and a hint of fear—a fear she herself was unwilling to admit, stemming from a life-or-death instinct—flashed rapidly in her eyes like an undercurrent beneath the ice.

The power of the Black Forest Territory and Su Li's methods far exceeded her worst expectations. This power was no longer merely "powerful," but carried a chilling, incredible quality, as if it were about to reshape order and rules.

At the same time, a barely perceptible trace of regret flickered in her eyes. It was as if she had only lost a toy she had used for a long time and found quite convenient, rather than a "companion" with whom she had once shared power and secrets.

Just then, a deep male voice suddenly rang out behind her, breaking the silence of the tower:

"Judging from your appearance... the situation at the front seems to be quite dire."

Queen Mosa's single eye on her forehead was fixed on the distant army formation, which blazed like the sun, her pupils contracting violently from extreme shock. Her fingers, covered in fine scales, unconsciously gripped the rough fabric of her nun's robe.

"It's more than just bad..." Her voice was low, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor, as if she was still intimidated by the soaring military might in the distance. "The strength of our opponents has exceeded our comprehension. That power... makes it difficult for us to even look directly at them."

She slowly turned around, the brim of her nun's robe casting a shadow on her deep green cheek. Her enormous, single eye was now focused on the figure behind her, completely concealed by the hooded cloak, her tone carrying an undisguised anxiety and a hint of barely perceptible question:

"If you don't take action soon, what will we use to stop them?" Her voice rose a few decibels, filled with urgency bordering on despair.

"Do you know? That golden god general! That power is not of this world! And their army, their discipline, equipment, morale... it's like... like the real sun descending upon the world. Everything we rely on—the swamp, the mist, even the blessings of a benevolent father—melts away like ice and snow before their pure and domineering radiance! All our dark tricks are exposed under that light!"

Her words were filled with disbelief and deep fear of the power displayed by Black Forest Territory, especially by Su Li and Hilde. This was not simply the fear of defeat, but an instinctive tremor when facing a higher level of absolute power.

Beneath the hood, the man's face was hidden in shadow, with only two faint points of light flickering in the depths of the hood, as if they were his gaze.

He listened quietly to Mosa's account, a mixture of shock and urgency, without an immediate response, as if savoring the taste of despair, or perhaps assessing the true threat posed by the distant "scorching sun." The air in the tower grew even heavier with this silence.

After a long while, a very faint sneer came from under the hood, like ice shards rubbing together.

"That's precisely why I can't act rashly." The man's voice remained calm, yet it held a chilling sharpness. "Once I reveal myself and clash head-on with Su Li, it will be like two red-hot irons colliding, leaving no room for maneuver. Only when one side is completely melted can the conflict end. And I... I don't have the certainty of victory. To rashly engage in battle before figuring out all their trump cards would be a path to death."

"A sure thing?" Queen Mosa let out a sharp, mocking laugh, her single eye filled with contempt. "You're not one of those stupid knights under Violet's command, whose brains are only filled with 'tactics' and 'advantages'! Since when did a legendary powerhouse need to be 'sure thing' to act? I think you're just scared out of your wits! After being so humiliated by that man, having your 'possessions' taken away and defiled, you can still cower here like a rat in a gutter, without even the courage to stand up!"

Her voice was like a viper's hiss, each word piercing the heart: "A legend who has long been famous and whose power is known far and wide actually fears a woman who has only recently entered the realm of legend? What a ridiculous joke!"

The figure beneath the hood stiffened slightly, and the two points of eerie light suddenly turned chilling. An invisible, suffocating pressure emanated from him, as if the air in the tower were about to freeze.

But he didn't lash out; he simply suppressed his surging anger and forced out a rhetorical question through gritted teeth:
"Then, Your Majesty Queen Mia, what gives you the right to spout such nonsense here?" His voice was filled with undisguised malice. "If you are truly fearless, your 'man'—Litanel—was just beheaded right before your eyes. Why didn't you rush up to avenge him and fight Su Li to the death?"

Mosa's mockery deepened, even carrying a condescending pity:

“Litanell? He was nothing more than a plaything in my long life, a somewhat amusing pastime. Losing him is certainly regrettable, but I can always find another.” Her words were icy cold, devoid of any warmth. Then, her single eye fixed on the shadow beneath the hood, her tone suddenly becoming sharp and cutting.
"But what about that woman?"

"Is Bayonetta just a plaything to you too?"

"No!"

Her voice rose, carrying a chilling cruelty:

"She may have once been, merely a beautiful decoration in your palace, a trophy to be flaunted, a dispensable woman to demonstrate your power and status... Therefore, you were so engrossed in your so-called 'cultivation' that you never truly treated her or understood what was sleeping within her!"

"But what about now?" Queen Mosa's voice was filled with gloating malice. "She's been 'developed' by that man named Su Li! Moonflower! And that hidden bloodline of the Moon Priestess! You're jealous, aren't you? You've gone mad, haven't you?!"

She took a step closer, and could almost feel the suppressed rage beneath the hood:
"Because you know better than anyone that it's not just ordinary spoils of war, it's the most precious treasure in the world! It's the most valuable key that allows you to glimpse and even step into that supreme realm!"

"Now that key is in someone else's hands and has been used by someone else, that's why you're like a dragon whose treasure has been stolen, filled with anger, jealousy, and madness, wanting to take it back! Am I right, my esteemed... former master?"

(End of this chapter)