Chapter 91: Chapter 33: The Shocking Effects of Divine Grace
Hilude’s perfect response produced an effect beyond Su Li’s imagination.
For the first time, a miracle was so clearly displayed in front of every soldier and every slave in the territory.
This moment of miracle transcended all words, and the entire army was suddenly brimming with morale; it was as if countless courage and power surged forth within each soldier, making their training extraordinarily vigorous.
And this scene had an even greater impact on the Sun Goddess Battle Pilgrimage Group, with two Apprentice Knights and six Mounted Armored Attendants immediately kneeling on one knee before Hilude, expressing their willingness to follow her in pursuit of the Goddess’s will.
These knights all believed that Hilude, bathed in the radiance and grace of the Sun Goddess, would surely become a Divine Chosen Knight, carrying out the Goddess’s will in the mortal world.
What made Su Li’s heart race even more was Hilude’s transformation; against the backdrop of golden light, she closed her eyes, her exquisite visage noble and breathtakingly beautiful, making his heart race and blood surge. In this moment, she truly shone with beauty, a beauty that was his own, always gently fulfilling his every request, leaving Su Li with a feeling of both awe and irreverence.
Beyond her appearance, Hilude’s height also increased, now standing at least over 175. Her shapely legs were especially long. She grasped a sharp Rune Sword, the blade gleaming in the sunlight, the patterns on her armor burning like fierce flames, transforming her into the Goddess’s will in the mortal world, a perfect blend of beauty and divine nobility. Although her level had not yet reached that of a Divine Chosen Knight, her features and demeanor already bore the grace of one.
She then slowly opened her eyes, a bright, sharp light radiating from her gaze, as she unflinchingly waved her longsword with her right hand, a fierce glow flashing across the cold blade, while air currents swirled around her, golden light flickering on her exquisite battle armor.
She looked towards Su Li, the corners of her mouth lifting in a calm, confident smile: "My Lord, I’ve broken through to the initial tier of an Apprentice Knight. I will strive to restore my strength in the coming days."
Hiss~
Su Li drew in a sharp breath, wondering what kind of terrifying talent Hilude now possessed?
The Divine Grace Baptism had just reduced her cultivation to zero, leaving her with only mortal abilities, and all her bloodline energies had been washed away, yet she merely waved her longsword and broke through to an Apprentice Knight!
Is this a doubling of talent?
For the first time, Su Li doubted the accuracy of the intelligence system; it seemed her talent had increased by three to five times at least!
Back when Hilude broke through to Apprentice Knight within two hours, it was already shocking and awe-inspiring.
Now she just simply swung her arm and broke through into an extraordinary awakening, can doubling explain such speed?
Very soon, Su Li realized that his earlier shock was nothing compared to what followed!
After Hilude finished her lunch, consuming three pounds of fire rabbit meat, with glistening oil still on her rosy lips, she slowly raised her head and gazed at Su Li, calmly saying: "My Lord, I have broken through to the official Knight stage."
Su Li was so shocked that he jumped up from his chair, this is the terrifying talent of a Divine Chosen Knight!?
But very quickly, Su Li’s shock turned to ecstasy, as he enthusiastically leaned in, cradling Hilude’s face, planting a firm kiss on her glistening, rosy lips: "My darling, you truly gave me an astounding surprise! Perhaps you’ll break through to Elite Level even faster than before the Divine Grace Baptism!"
Hilude gently reciprocated Su Li’s kiss, while carefully shielding the table edge with her hand to prevent the excited Su Li from bumping into it.
After Su Li finished his thrilled kiss, she slowly spoke, firmly stating: "My Lord, I aim to break through to Elite Level before the green tide arrives. Perhaps one of the three Anaric Giant Spiders could be my prey."
Cross-tier combat?
Su Li couldn’t help but feel moved, saying: "I believe you can do it, perhaps I can offer you some assistance. Follow me, to the east of the castle."
Hilude allowed Su Li to lead her by the wrist, as he guided her all the way to the northeastern pasture of the territory.
At this time, a large gathering of Half-Elf archers and the territory’s elite troops had assembled in the pasture.
This was approximately two squadrons of elite troops, representing the absolute main force of the territory. Through mobilization and alliance, though a force of nearly eight hundred could be assembled for this battle, it was truly these two hundred elite soldiers who could determine the outcome of the battlefield.
The other conscripted free people, workers, and slaves, despite training, would at most assist in maintaining the lines, waiting for the main force to claim victory, they could then pursue the enemy or face utter defeat.
Among these over two hundred elite, at least 60 knights are clad in exquisite heavy plate armor, while the remaining hundreds wear chain armor. Those in leather armor are mostly the archers and a small number of armed attendants with long lances.
Standing in front of the archers is the leader of the Balantangborne Clan, Hartskline. This elderly half-elf holds a smoking pipe, tapping the ash on the shin guards of her Ogre Bull Warrior Protector, and hesitantly asks, "Is there really a terrifying two-legged flying dragon around? I feel that something is not right here, though Hesse territory is fertile, it seems more perilous than imagined."
She is a half-elf by nature somewhat timid, far less tenacious than their human comrades, so her voice carries a tremor.
Upon first seeing this territory, the sight of many knights glittering like a sunlit scene offered her immense confidence, leading her to believe such a powerful lord could surely safeguard the territory’s security. But it seems now that though the lord’s army is strong, the underlying threat is even greater.
In response to Hartskline’s inquiry, Su Li doesn’t directly answer but softly says, "You’d better pray it comes here; if we kill it, the future risk will be greatly reduced. Otherwise, if it discovers our territory from elsewhere, the future threat to us would be even greater."
Su Li left Schwartz and Rong’en to lead the Battle Pilgrimage Group to train the army within the territory, while taking a large number of elites and half-elf archers with him, all with the aim of ambushing that two-legged flying dragon, ensuring that it cannot escape!
The two-legged flying dragon, also known as the stepping stone for the Knight Lords and a whetstone for Champion Knights, is because every acclaimed Champion Knight has, at some point, slain a two-legged flying dragon.
But don’t underestimate these flying dragons; they are counted among the Dragon’s Followers, second only to the Giant Dragons in power.
Every two-legged flying dragon possesses strength comparable to a Champion Knight, while a powerful Two-Legged Flying Dragon King even has the ability to kill a young dragon, contending with a Divine Chosen Knight.
These ominous beasts lurking at the peaks of major mountain ranges typically dwell in dark caves but are also driven by hunger to hunt on the foothill plains. They are winged reptiles that feast on carrion, with some trivial similarities to Giant Dragons.
In appearance, they are almost identical to Giant Dragons, just lacking forelimbs and much smaller in size.
Their physique is robust, like a scaled bull, possessing poor eyesight and a ferocious temper.
The most dangerous Beastman Warlords sometimes ride the two-legged flying dragons they have personally nurtured or at least personally subdued.
Dwarves have many amusing tales depicting two-legged flying dragons betraying their riders at "inconvenient" moments, such as during a duel.
In human lore, more emphasis is on their curse, with tales claiming the shadow of a two-legged flying dragon can bring ruin upon the things it envelops.
Many farmers, of course, feel saddened by this because the inevitable shadow signifies that a few sheep from the flock will soon be missing. Some claim that "the curse of the two-legged flying dragon" is a reality because they particularly favor sheep, thus their shadow flying over a place is seen as an ominous sign everywhere.
Su Li plans to exploit this trait of the two-legged flying dragon to lure it over.
Currently, it is soaring in the sky searching for potential enemies for its mistress, and nothing on the vast plains around is more alluring than the boundless flocks of sheep in the Hesse territory pastures.
As long as it flies westward, reaching the foothills of Hesse, it will surely swoop down upon the over 400 sheep Su Li intentionally gathered to pasture in this pasture.
Su Li said to Hilude beside him, "If the two-legged flying dragon swoops down, I plan to let Knight Oerstein take it on alone. You can take the opportunity to observe combat at the Champion Level strength; it might aid you in cross-tier battles."
"If the two-legged flying dragon tries to escape, you must initiate an assault immediately, no matter what, to prevent its escape."
Upon hearing Su Li’s arrangement, Knight Oerstein gripped his warhammer in excitement and boldly declared, "Hilude, don’t intervene lightly. This two-legged flying dragon is my prey, and severing its head will be a glorious deed sung by minstrels for my lifetime."
Hilude grasped the sword hilt, plunged the longsword into the fertile grass beneath her, and calmly said, "Our Commander-in-Chief, rest assured, I won’t interfere easily in your honorable battle. Unless it is about to flee the pasture, only then will we take action. But you must be careful as well; the two-legged flying dragon’s vision is poor and easily mistakes a formidable opponent for a feeble creature, thus launching ferocious attacks, which often enable them to secure victories that seemed impossible."
"Ha-ha, excellent." Knight Oerstein showed not a hint of fear, laughing as he said, "I believe in your judgment, Hilude, and henceforth, the warriors are under your command."
After Oerstein knight instructed, he carried his warhammer and drew nearer to the sheep flock. His luck was considerable, as just at the dusk and twilight, a burst of exclamations arose from the squad.
"Look, what’s that gigantic shadow on the eastern horizon?"
"It’s a two-legged flying dragon! The two-legged flying dragon has truly come."
Amidst waves of exclamations, everyone raised their heads to gaze at the sky, the sunset casting its bloody glow, reflecting a fierce, majestic flying monster. It spread its massive wings, like a shadow casting a vast darkness over the land, swiftly roaring its way over.