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[FTMWDK] Chapter 70: I Will Present to You a Magnificent Victory!
🕑 Added 2023-10-22 05:13:09 +0000 UTCThe war had raged on for an entire night, continuing until a faint streak of dawn appeared on the distant horizon, and the last demon boar, with a mournful howl, finally lost its life.
"It's over..."
Someone said, though no one knew who it was. All the soldiers collapsed to the ground as if their strength had been drained out of them.
There were no cheers, no celebrations. The high-intensity battle that had lasted the entire night had left them too exhausted even to stand.
Bedivere rubbed his brow as his eyes were bloodshot and his face etched with undeniable weariness.
"It's finally over..." Bedivere sighed softly.
Arkhan walked to the wall, gazing down at the defensive magecraft etched on the city's walls. Nearly half of them had exhausted their magical energy, and the demon boar's lifeless bodies lay piled up like small mountains beneath the city walls.
The crimson blood had stained the earth a deep purplish-black, a scene of devastation, with craters left by enormous stones. It reeked of an apocalyptic desolation.
Guinevere's face turned slightly pale. The overwhelming stench of blood made her feel nauseous.
*Thud! Thud!*
Heavy footsteps echoed as Benedict, who was clad in silver armor, approached from a distance. It was clear that he was also not in the best shape with his weary expression and bloodshot eyes. But still, there was a hint of a relieved smile on his face.
"Thank you for your help, Your Majesty. Your subordinates greatly assisted us." Benedict earnestly thanked Arkhan.
It was not flattery. In the battle against the beast tide last night, both Lancelot and Artoria had played significant roles.
The former had jumped directly off the city wall to eliminate the most powerful demon boars, significantly reducing the pressure on the defenders. The latter had taken up the mantle of command and, with a commanding ability matching Bedivere's, easily held the demon boars at bay.
Meanwhile, Kay and Benedict defended the frontline, with Kay, the golden-haired boy capable of shooting arrows with crossbow-like precision, leaving a profound impression on the duke.
Even though Lucanmont might have held off the beast tide without their assistance, the cost would have been several times greater.
"No need for thanks, Duke. As I mentioned to your brother earlier, as a king, and Lucanmont being one of Camelot's cities, it is my duty to protect this city." Arkhan said with a smile.
"Your Majesty's benevolence shines like the sun in the sky." Benedict sighed. He looked at the soldiers strewn around, and a bitter smile crossed his face. "Your Majesty, by now, you should understand why I said that Lucanmont can't spare any more troops."
Arkhan followed his gaze and sighed lightly. "Indeed, I do understand now."
"Until now, we still don't know the true cause of these beast tides, and we have no idea when it will end. Until reinforcements arrive, our soldiers won't be able to set foot outside this city to defend Lucanmont." Benedict said with a wry smile. "So, I'm truly sorry, Your Majesty, but there's not much more I can do."
"No need to apologize, Duke. As a lord, protecting your people is your duty, and you've shown remarkable resolve in the face of a savage enemy. Just that alone is commendable." Arkhan consoled the duke with a smile.
Benedict felt moved yet ashamed. When he was in a difficult situation, the new king had readily extended his hand, but when the new king needed help, he had hesitated. The stark contrast left him overwhelmed with shame.
"Besides, I've never said that I came here to ask you for troops..." Arkhan added, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"But... if you don't have the troops, Your Majesty, how do you plan to handle Ganna?" Benedict looked utterly bewildered.
"Since when did I say I didn't have troops?" Arkhan smiled.
Benedict was even more perplexed. Did the new king mean those few youngsters by his side?
He acknowledged that those youngsters were exceptional, but challenging a nation of tens of thousands with just them seemed overly ambitious and unrealistic.
Benedict felt it necessary to caution the new king not to make a grave mistake due to impulsiveness.
"Your Majesty, you—"
*Rumble! Rumble!*
Benedict had just begun to speak when the familiar vibrations shook beneath his feet once more.
*Rumble!*
Rolling thick smoke billowed from the distance, nearly identical to the scene from the night before.
"What's going on? Didn't the beast tide end already? Why is it happening again?!" Benedict's pupils constricted, and he exclaimed in disbelief.
Bedivere's eyes were filled with intense astonishment as well.
Arkhan gazed into the distance, looking in the direction where the thick smoke was rising. He squinted slightly and said, "This time, it's not the beast tide."
"Not the beast tide?" Duke Benedict paused for a moment. "Then... what is it?"
"It's an army." Arkhan replied nonchalantly.
"An army?" Benedict was utterly perplexed. Why would there suddenly be an army behind Lucanmont?
"Not a human army though..." Arkhan added.
The loud commotion drew the attention of everyone. Fatigued soldiers rallied their spirits, looking towards the thick smoke in the distance.
Before long, they finally saw the true identity of their enemies.
"Mountain Giants..." Benedict's eyes were now completely replaced by horror as he stared at the massive figures.
"Chimeras..." Bedivere also couldn't help but gape at the three-headed creatures beneath the giants.
"This is just too absurd! How could this be happening?!" Benedict could hardly believe his eyes. "Both of these were phantasmal species long gone in the annals of history, even if there were some remnants, they should have been in a deep slumber, how could they appear here in broad daylight, and in such numbers!"
As scions of noble families, Bedivere and Benedict were no strangers to various mythological texts. With the guidance of their mentors, they possessed more detailed knowledge in this regard than the average person. So, at this moment, they experienced a much stronger sense of shock.
Giants and chimeras were both phantasmal species that far surpassed wyverns, and they had long disappeared into the flow of history. Why were there so many of them emerging here?
"I can't believe this is happening!" Benedict's eyes flashed with madness. He grabbed a bow and arrows from a nearby soldier, pulled the string to a full moon, and shot towards the distance.
The speeding arrow crossed over a hundred meters and struck the body of one of the mountain giants, leaving nothing but a faint white mark. The creature's entirely stone-made body remained unharmed.
"How... could this... be possible..." Benedict's eyes were gradually clouded by despair.
Having just endured a night of relentless battles, the soldiers were now at their most exhausted. They could hardly muster any fighting strength.
Moreover, even if they were in top condition, how could they have any chance of winning against these phantasmal species that surpassed wyverns?
"Ahaha, it's over, Lucanmont, it's all over..." Benedict put down the bow in his hand, his eyes dim.
Suddenly, a silver-armored arm reached out in front of him.
Instinctively, he raised his head and saw an incredibly familiar face.
"Bedivere..."
"Please stand up, Elder Brother..." Bedivere said firmly. "You are the Duke of Lucanmont. You cannot fall here."
"It's useless, Bedivere. We have no hope left..." Benedict laughed bitterly and shook his head.
"No, Elder Brother, please look around."
Benedict turned around, bewildered, and saw the soldiers who had fallen on the ground rising one by one. Although their faces still bore unmistakable fatigue, they stood tall, their spines as straight as javelins.
They held their own weapons tightly, silently standing at their positions. Even though the enemy was composed of creatures from myths, not a single person chose to retreat.
"Please stand up, Elder Brother." Bedivere repeated, his eyes full of determination. "Lucanmont has not fallen yet."
An indescribable warmth flowed through Benedict's heart, and tears streamed down his cheeks. He opened his mouth, but his throat seemed blocked, and not a word came out.
Another voice suddenly rang out.
"You're right, Duke. Since Lucanmont has not fallen, you, as its ruler, cannot give up easily."
"Your Majesty..." Benedict stared at Arkhan in astonishment.
Arkhan smiled at him, then turned to the soldiers behind him and declared loudly:
"Soldiers of Lucanmont! Your unwavering determination and will to stand strong in the face of a formidable foe, I have truly felt it!"
"Lucanmont has not disappointed in its mission to defend against external enemies and protect the homeland!"
"This indomitable courage will be etched into every inch of Britain's land! I look forward to this glory being passed on to future generations, as a new source of strength for humanity!"
"Open your eyes wide, for in response to this belief, I will now present to you a magnificent victory!"
