Chapter 165: The Battle Between the Royal Knights and the Monsters

(This is from a third-party perspective.)

“My god, look at those numbers!” The scout for the Royal Knights cried out involuntarily. Entering his vision was a herd of monsters numerous enough to practically blanket the earth.

Despite Count Waterford and his men defeating so many, the number of monsters appeared to easily exceed a thousand. Or perhaps the reduced numbers had already been replenished? The scout hurriedly mounted his horse and headed to report to the main unit.

Two days after the Royal Knights stationed in the western part of the Albion Kingdom arrived at the Waterford territory to provide relief, a massive horde of monsters surged forward again. Receiving the scout’s report, the Royal Knights decided to sortie.

Generally speaking, to intercept a massive horde, besieging oneself within the city walls is a valid strategy. However, the strength of the Knight Order lies in the mobility of their horses. It had been decided beforehand that if the monsters attacked again, they would challenge them in open field battle.

Advancing to a meadow near the capital, the monsters came into view. The Royal Guard leading the 200 knights stationed in the west, along with the survivors of Count Waterford‘s army, raised his voice. “Proud knights of the Albion Kingdom! Do not falter before their numbers! There is no way you, who have undergone rigorous training, will lose to monsters!”

“”Oh!!”” The knights responded with a war cry. The mages chanted spells, and magic circles appeared one after another behind them. “Do not rush. Wait until they are a bit closer.” The Royal Guard called out to the mages, who were tempted to fire magic quickly at the massive horde.

Tense moments passed, and finally, the Royal Guard swung his arm down heavily. “Now, fire!” Colorful magic of fire, wind, and water raced through the air. Hitting the vanguard of the monster herd, many monsters vanished, leaving behind black smoke.

The Royal Guard drew his sword and shouted. “All forces, charge!” The knights leveled their lances and charged into the monster horde with their beloved horses.

The front of the horde consisted of Magic Dogs and Magic Wolves, and the knights literally ran them over. However, gradually Magic Boars and Magic Deer increased at the front lines; they could not be taken down easily, and it became a melee. Fighting one-on-one against Magic Boars or Magic Deer is not easy even for elite Royal Knights.

Some knights received attacks from fangs and horns. Even so, the Royal Knights were armored with gear William had imbued with multiple traits, so the armor withstood the attacks of the Magic Boars and Magic Deer.

But no matter how many they felled, more came from behind. There were simply too many. The number of knights sustaining injuries on their unarmored hands and legs began to increase. Unable to fire magic into the melee, the Order’s mages fired at the monsters waiting in the rear.

Just as the horde’s numbers thinned and it seemed the knights were gaining the upper hand, an anomaly occurred on the battlefield. Many lightning bolts struck down from mid-air.

“What is this?!” “Did the monsters use magic?!” Many knights were wounded.

Then, the Magic Bears who were at the very back of the herd attacked. These were powerful monsters rarely seen in the shallow layers of the Sea of Trees. The Royal Knights began to be pushed back.

However, the platoon leaders equipped with armor imbued with four resistances—including magic resistance—shielded their subordinates and sliced through the Magic Bears with Mithril swords. Furthermore, the Waterford knights led by the adjutant fought desperately, even while their bodies were numb from the lightning.

Once they pushed the monsters back, the Royal Guard decided to retreat. If they took another volley of lightning magic, they might be annihilated. “Retreat to the capital Torvaen! We will regroup!”

The knights began to pull back, but the monsters pursued. “We will hold them here!” The Waterford adjutant shouted, and the veteran knights followed. “Young ones, retreat with the Royal Knights and protect the people of Torvaen.”

With spirited cries, the adjutant and his men slaughtered monsters without caring for their own wounds. “I am sorry.” To ensure their sacrifice was not in vain, the Royal Guard gathered the knights and hurried the retreat.

The retreating knights somehow managed to return to Torvaen. They drove away the pursuing monsters using magic and arrows from the castle walls. With many injured and the threat of lightning magic, they could no longer sally out.

The Royal Knights were forced to hole up in Torvaen. The Royal Guard thought that if they held the monsters here and sought aid from the capital, damage to the populace would be minimized. However, seeing that it would be difficult to take this place, the monsters made an unexpected move.