374 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 374 "They're coming!" Thud, thud, thud. As the sight of a relentless army advancing loomed from the horizon, Stephan Royer ground his teeth with determination. Characterized by his striking white hair and eyebrows, Stephan possessed an ageless, radiant appearance befitting an aura user, defying the fact that he was nearing his sixtieth year. Renowned for his immaculate demeanor, he perfectly embodied the image of the “Holy Spirit Knight.” Having spent more than half his life locked in battle against monstrous creatures, countless crises had dotted Stephan's journey. However, never had he felt such overwhelming dread as he did now. Nevertheless, he couldn’t afford to reveal his sentiments. He was the Vice-Commander of the continent’s largest and most prestigious knight order, the Holy Knights. "Do not panic, wait for orders!" Sensing the gaze of soldiers looking towards him, Stephan worked hard to project a façade filled with confidence. He then turned his focus to the Western 2nd Corps making their charge and took note of a particular figure in their rear. Upon a much larger black stallion sat an imposing knight hefting a colossal axe-lance, marking a stark contrast. This figure was Miles Boykin, the general of the Empire’s Western 2nd Corps and the superhuman adversary Stephan needed to intercept at the northern gate. "They called him the Guillotine, didn’t they?" Even from a distance, his towering figure seemed over two meters tall, and imagining the swing of his massive axe-lance, Stephan understood why he earned such a moniker. The man likely waited for the armies to clash, intending to exploit any weak points. And Stephan’s role was to stop him. While mapping the ebb and flow of battle in his mind, he suddenly felt the knight’s gaze fixed upon him, staring up at the fortress walls. Though it should have been impossible to discern any expressions through the helmet from this distance, Stephan was convinced the knight was grinning broadly within his helm. "Cuts off the heads of criminals as a hobby, they said. If true, he’s a madman... but perhaps the perfect commander for the battlefield." With a heavy heart, Stephan watched him, when a waiting voice rang out from the distant eastern gate. "The Nine Gods bless us! Punish the enemies of the gods!" It was the voice of his sole superior, the Grand Master of the Holy Knights, known as the Godly Sword. Given the immense expanse across the fortress walls of Nobiens, a voice should not be heard over such a distance. Yet, Stephan, being an extraordinary being himself, heard it clearly. Thus, even before the flag signals reached him, he bellowed with fervor. "Punish the enemy!!!" No sooner had the words left his mouth than a rain of arrows poured from the battlements. The arrows fired by the soldiers of the Sacred Corps sliced through the ranks of the enemy like speeding rays of light, tracing straight lines rather than arcs. "Ahhh!" "Arggh!" "Advance! Advance!" The primary effect of Nobiens’ sacred barrier was the maximization of the power of projectiles fired from within its walls to the outside. The effect was clearly manifest on the battlefield. Arrows loosed from ordinary longbows pierced through the armor of the Imperial soldiers with ease. Among them, some 300 repeating crossbows hurriedly supplied from the mercantile group ‘Mac’ demonstrated an even more extraordinary impact. "Ugh!" "What on earth is this!" As quivers from the repeating crossbows punctured even the armor of incoming knights, several knights fell from their steeds. "What?" Even Stephan, observing the situation, was shocked by the scale of their offensive power. Despite their efforts, however, the vast majority of the lead knights, numbering in the thousands, advanced through the arrow storm to reach the vicinity of the walls. Encased in heavy armor, they leapt towards the battlements without hindrance. Watching them, Stephan motioned to the priests stationed behind the soldiers. "God’s Barrier!" "God’s Barrier!" In unison, the knights on either side echoed the order while waving their flags frantically. Under the command delivered instantly across the entirety of the fortress wall, the priests stepped forward, kneeling quietly with hands clasped in front of the ramparts. At a glance, it appeared as if they intended to commit sacrificial acts, but that impression lasted only a moment. From their aligned positions, beams of white light burst forth from the priests’ bodies, soon forming a radiant, hemispherical barrier encompassing the battlements. Normally imperceptible, this manifestation of divine power was materialized into a protective barrier through the priests thanks to the sacred barrier’s effect. Also one of the barrier’s blessings, the amplification of divine energy was evident as Imperial knights collided with the invisible barrier and fell in disarray. Seizing the opportunity, the Sacred Corps soldiers, emerging from between the priests, thrust white-glowing spears towards the Imperial knights. "Die!" "Divine Punishment!" Not each soldier of the Sacred Corps was a skilled knight of intermediate level. Yet another effect of the barrier empowered their consecrated equipment, bestowing a formidable enhancement to their armaments. While ordinary spears didn’t transform into divine weapons, the luminous spears and sacred shields boosted the spirits of the Sacred Corps soldiers, creating destructive force surpassing expectations. Thud. "Ahh!" "Guhh!" "Damn it!" Some caught off-balance mid-air by soldiers’ spears were struck in their vital spots. A chorus of screams followed as the knights plummeted. Yet, their numbers were not significantly impactful. Crucially, the small contingent of elites could not be subdued by soldiers’ valor and the divine shield alone. "Get lost!" A notably shorter knight swung a massive axe-lance akin to their commander’s. Yet, the axe-lance's blade, glowing with a bright red hue from an imposing force blade, made it appear twice as daunting. A manifestation of being a top-tier knight. Stephan immediately identified the figure. "Jaksen Plow." One of the venerable commanders within the Western 2nd Corps, his attack cleaved through the divine shield, splitting the priest and five soldiers within. "Aaaah!" "We’re breached!" Damn it. Stephan’s hand trembled with frustration, but he couldn’t move rashly. The intruder climbed the edge of the fortress wall. Having to brace for any movements from the superhuman Miles below, Stephan was unable to leave his post at the heart of the battlements. However, not only Miles Boykin from the 2nd Corps but also four other commanders managed to break through the divine barrier and ascend the walls. With deliberate precision, they divided themselves at both ends of the fortress wall. "Ha ha ha!" "All of you, perish!" Blood rains erupted vividly at the ends of the fortress, not at the center where Stephan stood. Stephan's face twitched with agitation. 'Could it be that these...!?' In response, several squad leaders of the Holy Knights charged in unison to stop them. Although their weapons shimmered with a red force and their bodies emanated holy light, amplifying their physical strength, it was clear that facing the manifested force blades head-on was too much. As expected. "Aaaargh!" In that moment of collision, one squad leader already fell, spewing blood. Crack. 'Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!!' While Holy Knights were known for being stronger than others of their rank due to their dual training in holy power and force, it also meant that there were fewer individuals of high caliber among them. Moreover, most of the leading Holy Knights capable of facing top-tier opponents were concentrated at the eastern wall, where the enemy’s main force was attacking—a critical flaw. Even with five or six leaders grappling against a single commander, they barely held out leaning on the power of the barrier. 'Those damn bastards dare!' Despite his overwhelming desire to rush in and slash them to pieces, Stephan’s gaze remained fixed on the Guillotine, Miles Boykin. He couldn't move hastily. If he left his position at the expansive middle of the wall, Boykin might exploit his absence by breaking through elsewhere, jeopardizing the entire defensive line. Yet, interestingly, Miles was slowing down below the wall. 'Could it be...?' The commanders and Miles seemed aware of this possibility and were acting on it. Stephan’s white eyebrows twitched slightly with this realization. 'If so, staying put is a fool’s errand.' A multitude of possibilities flitted through his mind as the enemy general stood stationary below the wall, reinforcing Stephan’s thoughts. It felt as if it was challenging him: if you want to fight, then come down here. "Aaaaargh!" Yet again, screams pierced his ears, forcing Stephan to draw his sword at last. 'No choice.' Should he move to one side, the leader of the 2nd Corps would undoubtedly assault the opposite. Fortunately, there was a way. There was a reason why this northern gate had been entrusted to him, even in the absence of high-ranking Holy Knights. 'It's not the time to worry about the aftermath.' Stephan clenched his teeth and raised his sword. "O divine presence, grant us your power now!" With that cry, a brilliant light radiated from his body. The holy light began to spread from his position, stretching across the wide northern wall. Uuuuung. Within the scope of that light, the allied soldiers suddenly appeared reinvigorated. Minor wounds instantly healed, minds cleared, and fatigue slipped away. Severely injured Holy Knights also showed signs of life, regaining some color in their faces as they staggered to their feet. The characteristic blessing of light bestowed by the Holy Spirit Knight, Stephan Royer. It was an almost miraculous ability that, in a great clash of armies, could rival the influence of the Godly Sword. "Oraaah!" "God is with us!" "Perish!" Momentarily, the squad leaders, who had been hopelessly overpowered by the commanders, began pushing back the enemy. "These fanatical bastards shall all perish...!" One of the commanders of the 2nd Corps, the Mace Knight Mayer Hansen, roared as he relentlessly pressed the Holy Knights. But. "You shall perish instead." With a voice as icy as death, Stephan thrust his sword through Hansen's throat. "Do not fall back!" Having swiftly eliminated an enemy commander, Stephan boldly displayed the severed head. And in response, a colossal knight emitting streams of red aura appeared on the opposite rampart. "Here comes the main event!" Accompanying his ridiculous remark, the towering knight, who had climbed the wall unnoticed, swung his axe-lance, cleaving through dozens of assembled knights and soldiers in one fell swoop. "Aaaaaaah!" "A monster! A monster!" "Kehahahaha!" You cursed monster! Fueled with rage, Stephan charged tirelessly at him, ignoring the Imperial knights he passed along the way, eyes only for the giant before him. The giant, exhibiting a manic grin beneath his helm, awaited him. "Ah! Finally, the White Knight!" The brute stood atop scores of allies’ corpses. "You beast!" Kaboom! "Huh!" "Guh!" A fierce clash between the massive axe-lance and the sharp, agile sword. By conventional logic, the sword should be at a disadvantage. But the battlefield of superhumans eschewed ordinary reason. "Hmph, as expected..." It was Guillotine, Miles Boykin, who was pushed back considerably farther. Yet, his expression was unexpectedly unfazed. "Well! Kehahahaha, truly formidable. But how long can you keep that up?" At his taunt, Stephan's white eyebrows twitched slightly. It seemed that Boykin understood the major drawback of Stephan's Blessing of Light: the rapid depletion of holy power and stamina. Yet, his voice didn’t waver even slightly. "Until you’re dead and gone." "Oh? Then let’s see you try!" Despite his brash words, Guillotine, Miles Boykin, shifted to a defensive stance. Covering his massive frame with his armor and aura, he deflected Stephan's flurry of blows, interrupting any concentrated strikes by slashing with his immense axe-lance. Nevertheless, he didn’t exploit any openings. A thoroughly calculated strategy of attrition. 'Incredible. Far from a madman...' He was entirely unlike the rumors would suggest. It was evident that the position of an Imperial general was not awarded frivolously. But Stephan also held his pride and determination as a Holy Knight. 'Until you fall, I will not falter!' While the Blessing of Light was steadily consuming his holy power and force, they were within the protective barrier. This meant his divine energy was slowly replenishing, ensuring Stephan wouldn't crumble as easily as Miles presumed. Moreover... "Sir Stephan, we deliberately assigned weaker forces to the north. We placed our faith solely in you... Our apologies." "Have faith, Commander." Recalling the scene where his brilliant junior, the only superior staring down with regret, had once offered to relinquish the commander's position solely because he respected Stephan, who was once lacking in so many ways, Stephan clenched his teeth with renewed determination. "I will not fall!!" His resolve was beginning to push Miles back. Unexpectedly, the eyes behind Miles's helmet showed signs of uncertainty, clearly visible. And it wasn't just the combatants who noticed this change. "Assist the commander!" "Kill the White Knight!" Disregarding the attacks from the squad-level Holy Knights they were engaging, the commanders of the 2nd Corps rushed towards their superior. "Hey, you bastards! We'll take you on!" The Holy Knights attempted to block them, jumping into the fray between the two superhumans, but Miles waved off his subordinates. "Hold off the others! I alone am enough here!" "This monstrous old man...!" The formidable strength Miles hadn't anticipated was causing the tide to turn in the favor of the Holy Kingdom's second sword on the northern battlements. Yet, the situation on the other walls wasn't as favorable. "Hold the line!" "Ahhhh!" "The enemy is too... numerous!" Screams rang out from all directions.