Chapter 326: The Battle of Okkagral (Part Eight)
Anthony lifted his head to gaze at the lion spirit. Yet, there was no fear in his eyes, only disdain.
"Just a mere kitten."
"How dare it roar before the Ember King's servants?"
"I will show you—what true power is! What it means to be the embodiment of destruction!"
Anthony laughed wildly, his dragon-scaled face brimming with excitement and exhilaration.
This was his first time wielding such power. It was the most direct and intimate connection to the Dragon Lord, and he couldn't help but revel in it.
"Everyone, recite the oath with me!"
"Extinguish the flame of hope!"
"Enforce order with an iron fist!"
"The Dragon Lord above all!"
Over a hundred Dragon-Oath Paladins raised their longswords in unison. The flames surrounding them converged above, forming a fiery red dragon's shadow, dozens of meters long.
[Dragon Lord's Descent]
When twelve or more Dragon-Oath Paladins recite the Dragon-Oath Creed together, they can summon a fiery red dragon's shadow capable of channeling Cassius' will.
"Roar—"
The fiery dragon's shadow slowly flapped its wings, glaring down at the lion spirit with a resounding roar.
Anthony knelt involuntarily, gazing at the perfect embodiment above.
"Your Majesty."
His dragon-scaled face reflected the fervent devotion and madness of a zealot, mirrored by the other Dragon-Oath Paladins, though Fried barely retained his composure.
What immense power.
What a perfect form.
This was the one true king of the Ember Kingdom, the master they served.
Even if it was merely an illusory projection of flames, anything tied to its existence wielded the power to destroy all.
Under the terrifying pressure of the red dragon's shadow, the lion spirit summoned by the Lionheart Knights whimpered and hesitantly retreated a half-step.
It was afraid!
It was terrified!
Maxi immediately sensed trouble, realizing this signified a wavering of the Lionheart Knights' resolve.
The stronger the belief, the greater the power. The more steadfast the will, the firmer the manifestation. This was the foundation of all holy oath magic. As such, beings with high charisma could unleash grandiose oath magic simply by their confidence and will.
Now, with most of the lion spirit's essence stemming from Maxi himself, it grew increasingly ephemeral.
In contrast, the Dragon-Oath Paladins, like fanatics, remained unshaken. Born lowly and forged through hardship, their lives were irrevocably changed by the Ember Kingdom's rise. Even if the world ended, they would unwaveringly believe in the red dragon's power.
"It's just an illusion made of flames!"
"We must believe—the Bosk Lion is eternal and indestructible!"
Maxi desperately shouted, rallying the Lionheart Knights suppressed by the dragon's might, which slightly solidified the lion spirit.
However, the red dragon's shadow descended slowly, spreading its broad wings and exhaling scorching flames from its massive maw.
"Boom—"
Almost instantly, the lion spirit was engulfed in the blazing fire. It howled, screeched, and struggled, but its annihilation was inevitable.
Finally, it disintegrated into scattered particles of light, vanishing into the air.
"No, no…"
Maxi shook his head repeatedly, murmuring to himself.
His face was pale, his eyes hollow. The destruction of the lion spirit inflicted severe mental trauma.
It felt as if an inferno raged within his mind, burning away his will, spirit, and even soul, consigning him to eternal damnation.
"The Bosk Lion is supposed to be immortal…"
"I don't believe it."
Under immense psychological pressure, Maxi lost his usual composure and calmness, shaking his head and muttering incessantly.
Raising his head, Maxi spread his arms wide and began laughing maniacally.
"Ha ha ha ha! They're lying to me! These are all illusions!"
"You can't kill me! I am 'Golden Lion Knight' Maxi Stewart! Leader of the great Lionheart Knights!"
At the next moment, brilliant flames reflected in his pupils.
Maxi Stewart was engulfed by searing flames, his entire body ignited.
Despite his delusion, reality remained unyielding. The flames consumed him regardless of his disbelief.
However, as a high-level Professional, his resilient physique prolonged the burning process, preventing immediate annihilation.
Onlookers saw a towering figure writhing and rolling amidst the flames.
His body burned black and cracked like coal, resembling a humanoid monster as he howled and roared, screaming phrases like "This isn't real!" and "It's all an illusion!"
In contrast, the other Lionheart Knights were far less fortunate. Most were instantly reduced to ashes by the flames, leaving only their high-quality equipment, melting into silver pools.
Soon, all that remained on the ground were black ashes, flowing silver, and unrelenting fire.
"Roar—"
The red dragon's shadow lifted its head amidst the inferno, letting out a triumphant roar.
"Long live the Ember King!"
"Glory to the immortal red dragon!"
"This is the power our master bestows!"
The Dragon-Oath Paladins cheered ecstatically, dancing around the fire like zealots conducting a bizarre ritual.
The Bosk Duchy's thousand-year legacy of elite private forces—the Lionheart Knights—renowned in Northland history for countless victories, such as defeating frost giant leaders and slaying white dragons, was now utterly annihilated, with no survivors.
Ironically, the individual who now best understood the Lionheart Knights' legacy was likely Fried, who had become a Dragon-Oath Paladin.
The annihilation of the Lionheart Knights marked the complete collapse of the allied forces.
The earlier counterattack, born of the Lionheart Knights' power, was merely an illusion of hope. Their collapse revealed the stark and brutal truth of the battlefield: the overwhelming disparity in military strength.
"Crush them! Fight for the Ember Kingdom!"
Amid the tide of tiefling infantry, Medrolash raised his Everburning Greatsword and spoke.
Ahead of him, the allied forces' lines were shattered, soldiers scattering in panic.
It was over!