Chapter 325: The Battle of Okkagral (Part Seven)
"Paladins?"
"By Tempus, can such things even be called paladins?"
Maxi Stewart's expression grew serious as sweat seeped from his hand gripping the lance—he could tell these were enemies akin to them, and in some ways, even more formidable.
Quickly, he spotted a familiar face among the ranks.
"Fried?"
"Damn bastard! It really is that orphanage brat! The whore's son!"
"You were bestowed the title of 'Black Lion Knight' by Grand Duke Leo himself. How dare you, born of such lowly origins, accept such a great gift and then become a vassal of an evil dragon!"
Maxi roared.
"I will personally end you, traitor! Cleanse the Lionheart Knights of your disgrace!"
Fried merely sneered and replied coldly:
"I am no longer the so-called 'Black Lion Knight.' Now, I am an instructor of the Dragon-Oath Sanctuary. As for whether you can end this traitor, that depends on whether you can surpass my students."
The "Golden Lion Knight" Maxi Stewart had left Fried with a poor impression. Born into nobility, Maxi often humiliated him and Tarik over their lineage, calling them "children of whores." Fried had long fantasized about killing this arrogant man, and now was the perfect opportunity.
"Lowly?"
"You hypocritical Northland nobles are the most despicable beasts!"
Anthony roared, pointing his blazing sword at Maxi.
The self-righteous demeanor and genuine contempt for commoners reminded him of Baron Solly from years ago.
As the leader of the Dragon-Oath Paladins, he had to set an example.
"We are the faithful of the great Ember King. We wield the mighty power bestowed by His Majesty. These Northland scum are insignificant before the great red dragon and his vision!"
"Dragon-Oath Paladins, heed my command!"
"Dragon Vein Connection!"
Anthony raised his longsword, using his guided draconic power to create dragon vein chains, linking with the other Dragon-Oath Paladins. This connection not only allowed them to share damage but also inflicted burns on their enemies.
The scorching red chains emitted flames, making the battlefield unbearably hot.
"That's the power of the evil dragon! They are its loyal servants!"
"But comrades, we are the Lionheart Knights—servants of the divine, followers of Lord Leo, and an invincible force of the Northlands for a thousand years."
"Throughout the glorious history of the Lionheart Knights, we've slain countless wicked dragons. Facing mere dragon vassals today, we shall feel no fear!"
"Charge!"
Maxi and Anthony shouted simultaneously.
Thus, two colossal forces clashed. Flames and radiance intertwined, roars and wails echoed everywhere.
Although it was a battle of only a few hundred, these elite military units, carefully cultivated on both sides, created an impact no less destructive than a ten-thousand-strong melee. The devastation was so immense that even players couldn't interfere.
"Dragon!"
"That's a dragon! Impossible!"
"So terrifying."
At the moment the armies collided, many Lionheart Knights instinctively trembled, some even unable to hold their weapons.
In the depths of their minds, they saw a horrifying vision of a dragon—its massive maw ready to swallow them whole.
This was [Draconic Majesty].
The Dragon-Oath Paladins channeled their draconic power to project an awe-inspiring presence, striking fear into their enemies.
However, the battle-hardened Maxi was not intimidated by illusions or draconic majesty. Instead, he roared like a lion, rallying his Lionheart Knights.
"It's all fake!"
"Comrades, we are Lionheart Knights! Even if an evil dragon appears, we would face it fearlessly!"
Maxi's efforts snapped most of the Lionheart Knights out of their fear, allowing them to return to the fight.
Despite being founded only a few years ago, the Dragon-Oath Paladins, armed with fervent draconic power and abilities granted by Cassius, were proving superior to the Lionheart Knights in this battle.
[Blazing Aura]
Dragon-Oath Paladins radiated a blazing aura as long as they were not incapacitated. This aura dramatically increased the surrounding temperature, amplified fire damage, inflicted burns on enemies, and exhilarated allies.
When enough Dragon-Oath Paladins released their blazing aura simultaneously, they could even trigger volcanic eruptions.
At present, one hundred Dragon-Oath Paladins fought side by side, unleashing devastating power through their combined aura.
The air around them grew scorching and distorted, like the mouth of a volcano in midsummer. Even the snow on the plains melted entirely, exposing dry ground that steamed with rising vapors, shrouding the battlefield in chaotic mist.
The surrounding flames caused the Lionheart Knights to wail in agony, their silver shields glowing red-hot under the heat, with molten silver dripping down.
"It's so hot!"
"I can barely hold my weapon! Damn it!"
"By Tempus, my shield is melting!"
"Is this the power of the evil dragon? The Ember King?"
Maxi stood at the forefront, enduring the scorching flames. With his resilient physique and masterful combat skills, he repeatedly pushed back the enemies, but his sweat-soaked body was growing weaker.
Even the mighty "Golden Lion Knight," a Level 14 National Master, couldn't sustain high-intensity combat in such extreme heat. The other Lionheart Knights were faring even worse.
"We can't go on like this; we'll burn to death!"
"We must counterattack and end this battle quickly!"
Gritting his teeth, Maxi knocked down a Dragon-Oath Paladin in front of him and raised the Lion's banner.
"Spirit Lion Guard!"
The "Golden Lion Knight" let out a majestic roar.
The Lionheart Knights activated their ultimate ability. Through the power of their oaths, the loyalty and determination of all 120 knights summoned a radiant lion spirit to launch a fierce, overwhelming attack.
"Roar!"
With a deafening roar, a massive lion spirit, five meters tall, materialized from their formation.
The spectral lion moved as if alive, roaring and growling with taut muscles and razor-sharp claws, ready to pounce and tear apart its enemies.
This was the sacred symbol of the Bosk family for a thousand years and the embodiment of the Lionheart Knights' collective spirit and will!
Just one more chapter to go. Hopefully, the protagonist will appear soon.