Chapter 9: A brilliant victory
As the battle raged on, more and more gray wolves fell to the ground, slain by the relentless assault of the Royal Knights. Yet, some knights were also overwhelmed by the frenzied attacks of the wolves, their fates uncertain. Although the Royal Knights' casualties were minimal compared to the number of fallen wolves, each loss pained Haotian deeply. After all, he only had forty Royal Knights under his command, and losing even one or two was a significant blow.
In the thick of the battle, Haotian had no other choice but to keep casting spells, his magic staff cutting through the air as he aimed to kill as many wolves as possible, easing the burden on his embattled knights. As the fight continued, flashes of golden light sporadically illuminated the battlefield—signs of the knights leveling up. Almost every Royal Knight broke through to level six, their strength and stamina replenished, their fighting spirit rekindled.
The battlefield was soon littered with the corpses of gray wolves, and the silver-white armor of the Royal Knights was stained crimson. Yet neither side showed any sign of retreat. The wolf leader, trapped within a circle of dancing fire serpents, roared in fury. Its fur was singed black, its body a testament to the high-level magic of Fire Serpent Dance. Lesser wolves would have been reduced to ash, but this high-tier beast endured.
Around the fire serpent ring lay the bodies of three Royal Knights, fallen in their brave effort to contain the wolf leader. Their sacrifice did not deter the remaining knights; instead, it fueled their resolve. They faced the berserk wolf leader head-on, one after another, in a display of extraordinary courage and sacrifice.
Eventually, another massive fireball soared into the fire serpent ring, striking the wolf leader directly. The beast collapsed, enveloped in flames, struggling to rise. Yet, as it tried, silver-armored figures descended upon it, driving their swords into its massive body despite the consuming flames. The spirit of self-sacrifice and unyielding bravery moved even the seasoned steward, Horden, who had served three generations of the Tulip family.
Finally, with a coordinated effort between the Royal Knights and Horden, the wolf leader was vanquished. As it fell, the battlefield echoed with the mournful howls of the remaining wolves. No wolf fled; instead, they fought with renewed ferocity, seeking vengeance for their fallen leader.
Meanwhile, Haotian, protected by a few knights, retreated toward the Royal Knights' training grounds. He glanced at his watch—it was past midnight, the start of a new day. Without hesitation, he activated the new day's troop recruitment. With a burst of golden light, thirty fully armed Royal Knights materialized and immediately joined the fray. These fresh knights, in peak condition, swiftly turned the tide, slaughtering the wolves with merciless efficiency.
The wolf pack's numbers dwindled rapidly. In no time, the knights had encircled and overwhelmed the remaining wolves. The last wolf was dispatched by a knight's sword, and the two-hour-long battle to defend their territory came to an end.
Ignoring the mission reward notifications in his mind, Haotian immediately tended to his knights' casualties. The final tally was sobering: of the seventy Royal Knights who fought, twenty-eight were down. Thirteen had minor injuries, nine were severely wounded, and six had fallen.
"Although it's a glorious victory, the losses are heartbreaking," Haotian sighed deeply. In this early stage of his reign, the loss of nine critically wounded knights and six dead was significant. As he prepared to give the fallen knights a proper burial, he noticed golden light emanating from their bodies. Gradually, the bodies of the six deceased knights vanished into thin air.
"What's happening?" Haotian wondered, baffled. His troops were real, living beings with blood and souls. Yet now, they disappeared like data. Before he could consult the Lord System, a message appeared in his mind:
"Fallen units' souls and bodies are temporarily stored in a void space. When the lord ascends to godhood and establishes a divine kingdom, they will be resurrected as citizens of that kingdom."
"So, that's how it works!" Haotian thought, relieved. This news brought a glimmer of hope. He then addressed his knights with a priestly tone, "The fallen heroes have achieved eternal life. This is their honor!"
"Praise the great lord!" The Royal Knights raised their swords in elation, their eyes filled with fervent devotion. To them, Haotian was their divine leader.
The lightly injured knights were sent to rest, while the severely wounded were cared for. The remaining knights, under Haotian's direction, cleaned the battlefield. Beyond the spoils of battle, Haotian's own level increased to six. One step further, and he would reach a high-tier class.
He also claimed his mission rewards: three hundred gold coins and a random territory building blueprint.
"You have used a random territory building blueprint." "Congratulations, you have obtained a special territory building blueprint: the Luck Altar."
Special Building: Luck Altar Building Info: Grants a random territory luck aura each week. Construction Requirements: 1000 gold coins, 500 units of stone.
Haotian felt a surge of excitement. With this new blueprint, his territory's prospects were looking brighter, despite the heavy losses.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone