Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 214: Chapter 208: The Grand Army Sets Out

At midnight, the skies to the west and south of the camp were simultaneously painted an ominous orange-red.

Flames shot into the sky, and thick smoke billowed, reflecting on the panicked faces of countless soldiers.

”Fire! We’re on fire! Put it out!”

”We’re under attack! We’re under attack!”

Shrill cries and chaotic footsteps tore through the night’s tranquility. The entire Allied Army camp, like a pot of boiling water, instantly descended into chaos.

Raylo stood before his tent, hands behind his back, calmly gazing at the distant flames.

The night wind blew through his hair, his robes fluttering loudly.

About fifteen minutes later, the shout Raylo had been anticipating finally came from the direction of the camp’s central command.

”Bad news! Prince Karachi has been kidnapped!”

A Personal Guard Knight rushed before Raylo, his armor still stained with water and ash from fighting the fire.

”My lord, someone infiltrated the camp, and Prin—Prince Karachi... is gone!”

An expression of pure shock and rage instantly spread across Raylo’s face as he spun around abruptly.

”What did you say?!”

The sudden, furious roar was a performance of such exquisite skill that even Baofeng, who was lying on the ground, lifted his head in alarm, staring at his master in confusion.

”Issue my orders immediately!”

Raylo’s voice echoed throughout the entire Black Stone Territory camp.

”All Griffin Knights and Pegasus Knights, take to the skies! Seal every exit! I want him found, even if you have to tear the whole place apart!”

”Yes, sir!”

Ed acknowledged the order and immediately turned to relay it.

In an instant, the Black Stone Territory’s camp was thrown into utter chaos.

The sharp cries of Griffins and the neighs of Pegasi intertwined as squad after squad of Knights urgently took to the air. By Raylo’s deliberate design, they gave chase into the night sky in all directions with great fanfare, creating a commotion so immense it seemed poised to tear the heavens asunder.

This grand ”pursuit” naturally alarmed the entire Allied Army camp, including the Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Alliance Army, ”Iron Blood” Luke.

Before long, Luke landed in Raylo’s camp, riding his Thunder Eagle.

”Raylo.”

Luke’s voice was low.

”What’s going on?”

Raylo hurried forward to meet him, his face a mask of frustration.

”Your Excellency Luke, I have failed in my duty. The enemy created a diversion, setting fires on two sides of the camp to sow chaos, then used the opportunity to send a master operative to infiltrate the main tent and kidnap Karachi.”

”A master?”

Luke raised an eyebrow.

”Yes.”

Raylo nodded.

”According to the guards’ descriptions, the intruder is extremely powerful and moves like a phantom, leaving behind almost no useful clues. I judge them to be a Domain Knight at the very least.”

”It’s very likely ’Radiant Blade’ Kade.”

This conclusion made Luke’s brow furrow even deeper.

Trying to find a Domain Knight determined to escape with a hostage in the vast wastes of the Northern Territory was like finding a needle in a haystack.

What’s more, with the war at a critical juncture, it was impossible for him to personally undertake such a hopeless pursuit.

Luke silently surveyed the still-bustling Black Stone Territory camp, watching the Griffins and Pegasi continuously taking off and landing. In the end, he could only let out a helpless breath.

”Order the troops to stop the pursuit. It’s useless.”

”Strengthen the camp’s defenses. We can’t afford any more trouble.”

”Yes, Your Excellency.”

Raylo replied with a bow.

The commotion of the ”prince’s kidnapping” caused a bit of a stir among the Allied Army’s high command, but it gradually died down as the war progressed.

For the next dozen or so days, Raylo dedicated himself completely to upgrading and overhauling his forces.

Acquiring a large number of Griffins and Pegasi from the various lords brought about an explosive growth in the Black Stone Territory’s military strength.

With so many Griffins and Pegasi, expanding the ranks of the Griffin Knights and Pegasus Knights was imperative.

Raylo summoned Ailia from Silver Mist Castle, a Female Mage with a somewhat boyish, heroic air. She and the seventeen Mages under her command cheered and jumped for joy when they saw the Pegasi Raylo had prepared for them.

”A Pegasus... Mage Squad?”

Ailia said.

”That’s right.”

Raylo nodded.

”I need a Magic Power that is highly mobile and capable of aerial strikes. Lady Ailia, I’m putting you in charge of the Black Stone Territory’s first Pegasus Mage Squad.”

A fire lit up in Ailia’s eyes. She stroked the Pegasus’s smooth white mane and solemnly gave Raylo a Mage’s salute.

”I will not fail you, my lord!”

For the soldiers who survived, the successive bloody battles were the best catalyst.

Teetering on the edge between life and death is the best way to stimulate one’s potential.

The Knights and Knight’s Attendants of Black Stone Territory experienced a collective breakthrough in their strength.

During this period, their ranks grew by a full fifty-plus Official Knights and a dozen or so Great Knights.

The Earth Knight Monk, who had always longed for a Griffin, fought bravely in the previous battles, leading from the front. He earned everyone’s respect with his loyalty and courage, and his wish was finally granted.

As he clumsily mounted the back of a majestic Griffin for the first time, the eyes of this normally stoic, burly man actually grew red around the rims.

It wasn’t just because he had obtained the Griffin companion he had always dreamed of; it also meant that this former Earth Knight from Ironthorn Territory had successfully integrated into the Black Stone Territory.

Another six newly-promoted Great Knights, distinguished in battle and proven loyal, were personally selected by Raylo for his Personal Guard, becoming glorious Griffin Knights.

The remaining two hundred Pegasi were distributed among the Knights according to their battle merits, bringing the size of the Black Stone Territory’s Pegasus Knight Order to over two hundred and forty members.

The entire camp was buzzing with a feverish excitement.

The Knights and their new partners seized every minute and every second to bond and train together.

The strength of the Black Stone Territory was growing at a visible rate.

「A dozen or so days passed in the blink of an eye.」

Just as the Knights and their Magical Beasts were becoming more and more coordinated, an Iron Feathered Eagle Knight came speeding from the rear, bringing the latest orders from the Duke of the North.

The messenger brought a personal letter from the Duke.

Commander Luke unfolded the Duke’s personal letter. The message within was concise and brimming with killing intent.

The King of Fiery Sun has been assassinated. The country will surely fall into chaos. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a decisive battle.

The Duke ordered Commander Luke’s Northern Lords’ Alliance Army to set out immediately. They were to strike the main army of the Fiery Sun Kingdom from the flank, coordinating with the Duke’s primary forces to win a decisive battle that would determine the fate of the two kingdoms.

The next day, a thin mist shrouded the vast plains.

The Allied Army of tens of thousands had already assembled, a vast, dark mass. Their banners stood like a forest, their blades and spear tips gleamed like snow.

Raylo sat astride the broad back of his Storm Griffin King. Baofeng’s tawny Iron Feathers glinted with a metallic sheen in the morning light.

Raylo’s gaze swept over his own formation.

At the very front was his Griffin Guard, the Knights perched high atop their Griffins, their expressions resolute.

Behind them was the massive Pegasus Knight Order.

On the ground, the Mammoths and Earth Dragon Knights at the head of the column looked magnificent and imposing.

Behind them was the main force composed of Knights and Knight’s Attendants.

A special squad of Pegasus-mounted Mages circled on the flank of the formation, ready to ascend at a moment’s notice.

His army had been completely transformed.

Commander Luke’s war banner waved up ahead, and the mournful blast of a horn echoed to the heavens.

The great army marched out!