Chapter 20: Rapid Assault
Year 831 of the Falling Stars Era, December 14th, Southern Forest Region of the Great Aias Mountains, Black Forest Fortress.
Heavy snow fell amidst the howling roar of the wind. Snowflakes as large as goose feathers churned with the fierce northern gale, while a gray haze shrouded the sky.
It was a blizzard so thick it obscured even one's vision. Even the elves, renowned for their keen eyesight, could not hope to see more than a few dozen meters ahead in such conditions.
But outside the fortress, on the boundless ice field before the city gate, stood several dozen armored knights. A voice rang out: "I am your lord, Joshua Radcliffe. Yesterday, I posted a summons on the bulletin board, asking you to gather here today to tell you one thing."
"The battle is not yet over."
"As you all know, we were attacked by a Black Tide a few days ago. An unprecedented horde of frenzied beasts surrounded the fortress. They used chaotic mana to disrupt our communications, cutting off any hope of calling for help. In the end, a sudden golden giant beast breached the walls, and the fortress nearly fell. Fortunately, I arrived in the nick of time. Otherwise, I doubt many of you here would have survived."
Hearing this, a faint stir ran through the orderly ranks of knights. However, no one showed indignation; some even wore expressions of shame. What their lord said was true. As knights sworn to defend the fortress, they had failed to uphold their oaths.
Most fear and anger stemmed from one's own powerlessness. As knights bound by vows and virtue, they would not deny this fact.
The speech continued.
"This is not to boast of my martial prowess, but merely to state a fact: the ferocity of this Black Tide far exceeds anything you have encountered before. The slightest misstep could lead to total collapse. Once the fortress is breached, the villages and towns behind you will lose their greatest protection, and they would be utterly helpless against the frenzied beasts."
He paused, fixing his gaze on the crowd before him, and spoke in a louder voice: "Among those living in those villages and towns may be your parents, wives, children, or friends. I believe you chose to become knights, to hone your skills and bodies, not just to eat more, but to protect them. So imagine this: if the beast horde breaks through the pass, freely rampaging across the snowfields, attacking your loved ones at will, dragging them from their homes, tearing them apart, and devouring them... I know you are willing to sacrifice your lives for the fortress out of honor and duty, but are you willing to see such a sight?!"
No, absolutely not!
"I swear to defend the fortress to the death! I will not retreat!" Some knights in the ranks could not help but speak up. Their brows were furrowed, their faces marked with worry, as if they were following Joshua's words and imagining such a scene. Thus, resolute vows were quickly made: "I would rather die before them, be devoured by magical beasts, than witness such a sight!"
But there were still dissenting voices among the crowd: "But Lord, since you killed the giant beast last time and drove the beast tide away, there hasn't been a single trace of monsters in the surrounding Black Forest... Isn't this Black Tide over?"
And even more direct: "Yes, Lord. We successfully defended the fortress. Our families must be safe now. Isn't what you're saying... a bit alarmist?"
"Of course not." The warrior in black armor shook his head, meeting the gaze of the questioning knight.
"What I am saying is not alarmist; it has already become a fact. Right now, not far to our northeast, in the Moldova Territory, it is being besieged by over two hundred thousand frenzied beasts."
As he spoke, Joshua raised his hand. A crimson flame burned at his fingertip, lingering for a long time, leaving a red trail in the air. Using this trail as a pen, he drew a crude map in the air: "The four northern territories are truly one. If the fortress in Moldova falls, our plan to block the Black Forest region of the Great Aias Mountains will completely collapse. The frenzied beasts, surging forth, could easily bypass our defenses from the rear, cut straight into the prosperous hinterlands, and rampage at will."
He drew a heavy red arrow at the Moldova fortress, as conspicuous and vivid as blood: "End? No, as I said at the start, the battle is not only not over, it has only just begun! If we do not crush this wave of beast tide, we will never know peace!"
The stir in the ranks grew louder, but it was not born of fear or doubt. Amidst the discussion, a middle-aged knight with gray-white hair stepped forward. He asked Joshua seriously: "Then, Lord, what should we do?"
"What should we do? Simple. We ride there, support Moldova, and help them hold the line."
Joshua's words were straightforward, without a hint of hesitation: "Fighting on someone else's land is always better than fighting on our own. Even though this battle does not take place on our soil, it can still protect our families and children."
"But that's two hundred thousand frenzied beasts." Another knight stepped out from behind the middle-aged one. He did not seem weak, merely expressing genuine awe and doubt: "Fifty thousand frenzied beasts pushed our fortress to the brink. Two hundred thousand, four times that scale—even moving the entire Black Forest Fortress there would be useless."
Indeed, even with the advantages of walls and various magical alchemical devices, the three-thousand-strong garrison, including reserves, could barely hold their own against mindless frenzied beasts. What use would fifty knights be against two hundred thousand? Even if they were all elite Silver-rank combatants, they could not last long in an endless tide of beasts.
But the warrior shook his head, apparently disagreeing with this view.
"It's different from defending a city," he said. "Back then, you were outnumbered, with no average advantage in strength. And in high-end combat power, the enemy had a Gold-rank magical beast, while you only had three Silver Peak commanders. Even under those circumstances, you held out for so long. That proves the frenzied beasts are not that strong."
At this point, he revealed a proud, arrogant smile: "Besides, this time, I am here. I am leading you. So victory is certain."
Such proud and bold words came from the mouth of the man in black armor, yet no one objected. Even those who had questioned him earlier raised no doubts about this point. The knights nodded matter-of-factly and let out their first cheer since assembling: "Victory!" "Victory!" "Victory!"
"Then, mount up!"
"Yes!"
At this command, all the knights simultaneously donned their helmets and mounted their warhorses. They hung packs of dried rations and supplies on the horses' flanks. The warhorses, bearing the bloodline of ground dragons, snorted, sending white plumes of breath steaming into the air.
Joshua slowly put on his cold, heavy helmet. Through the V-shaped visor slit, two points of red light burned like fire. He swung onto his warhorse and pulled Ying up behind him. Only then did some notice the second figure was a silver-haired girl, but by now, no one cared.
The warrior in black armor issued the order:
"Follow my command! Target: northeast, Moldova! Advance!"
With that, he immediately spurred his horse and took the lead.
Perhaps only such a man could bring certain victory!
The flames in their chests blazed. The knights responded loudly: "Advance!"
On the endless snowfield.
Ice dust splashed, hooves thundered. Amidst the vast, heavy snow, the swiftly galloping knights kicked up waves of snow dust. Their heavy steps shook the ground. Against the wind blowing from the north, they charged like arrows or a tidal wave, racing swiftly towards the distant horizon.
Never looking back.