??Chapter 239: Chapter 238 Please Everyone Have a Cigarette
Chapter 239: Chapter 238 Please Everyone Have a Cigarette
Majesty, searing heat, and a body as imposing as a mountain, with patterns like flowing magma—the complete form of the Shadowfla Dragon, like the cold indifference flickering in its vertical pupils, instilled a primal fear in all who beheld it.
But beyond that fear, one might feel an awe rising spontaneously in the soul, a sense of beauty that overwheld.
It wasn’t for the aesthetic beauty of the Shadowfla Dragon’s form that one would marvel, but rather for the magnificence of its surging, powerful essence that left one astonished.
“A Great Dragon!”
Russell reigned in his gaze, not daring to peer carelessly at the Shadowfla Dragon’s form again, but even that brief glimpse had left an indelible impression in his mind—an incarnation of the most formidable force in the Supernatural World.
It was also the ultimate embodint of the earth’s power.
He had been so captivated by the Shadowfla Dragon’s deanor that he didn’t even notice the large flock of bipedal flying dragons and fantasy beasts that descended in its wake.
“Greetings, Your Highness Shadowfla!” Lord Kunbifu Yanyan’s voice was the first to rise, breaking the silence of the mont.
It was only then that Earl Osclo Shuiliu realized what was happening and belatedly called out in a booming voice, “Osclo, greetings, Your Highness Shadowfla!”
“Greetings, Your Highness Shadowfla!”
“Greetings, Your Highness Shadowfla!”
The nobles shouted one after the other, their cries growing like waves, one higher than the last.
The Shadowfla Dragon offered no response to this ritual of human subjugation; such gestures were of no concern to it.
However, by the Shadowfla Dragon’s side, the Grand Duke Kunstan Yingyan, whom Russell had completely overlooked, dismounted from the back of a hawk-like fantasy beast and strode forward until he stood in line with the dragon’s head.
Earl Osclo then clearly saw Grand Duke Kunstan and promptly called out with a booming voice, “Osclo, greetings, Your Grace!”
“Greetings, Your Grace!”
“Greetings, Your Grace!”
Another round of thunderous salutations followed.
Unlike the indifferent Shadowfla Dragon, the young, delicate, and handso Grand Duke Kunstan greatly enjoyed the greetings from knights kneeling before him.
A smug smile spread across his face as he raised his hand and gestured, “Rise, everyone, there’s no need for such formalities.”
“Thank you, Your Grace!” responded Earl Osclo, as he stood up.
Russell also got to his feet, then his gaze shifted past Grand Duke Kunstan to his grandfather, Count rlin, and another large group of noble knights. These knights, either Flying Dragon Knights or Phantom Beast Knights, were the elite of the Grand Duchy.
But in the presence of the Shadowfla Dragon, they seed inconsequential; even the currently self-satisfied Grand Duke Kunstan paled in the brilliance of the Shadowfla Dragon.
The reverence of the Grand Duchy’s nobility and knights was not for Grand Duke Kunstan or the Flacrest Dragonblood Family.
The sole object of their reverence was the Shadowfla Dragon.
After casting a glance over the assembled knights, the Shadowfla Dragon raised its head high, gazing northwestward.
It seed to see beyond the distance of over a hundred kiloters, to its mortal enemy—the Snow Giant Da.
At this mont.
The only thing that could catch its attention was the Snow Giant Da.
“My lords, you are the backbone of our Grand Duchy,” Grand Duke Kunstan spoke under the shadow of the Shadowfla Dragon, enduring the intense heat as he improvised a warti motivational speech, “Defending the frontier goes hand in hand with the fate of our nation!”
“Twenty-one years ago, the Battle of the Fallen on the snowfields had profound effects on our Shadowfla Grand Duchy, forcing His Highness Shadowfla to recuperate for twenty years.”
Grand Duke Kunstan paced back and forth, hand on the hilt of his sword, eyes sweeping across those present: “How could a twenty-year grudge simply dissipate… Now, with the awakening of the Snow Giant Da who once again invades our Grand Duchy’s borders, we face a crisis, but also an opportunity!”
“What kind of opportunity? The opportunity to exact revenge, to utterly clear the path for our Grand Duchy’s expansion!”
Clang.
Grand Duke Kunstan drew his sword, its hilt studded with several gems of different colors: “At this mont, from His Highness Shadowfla himself to , you, and every knight of the Grand Duchy, we must all be prepared to put our utmost effort into a decisive battle to completely slay the Snow Giant Da!”
He paused.
Then, changing his tone, he spoke with seriousness, “In this battle, you, , he, we all may die; but the will and courage of a knight will ignite in us an unprecedented fighting strength, and ultimately, under the leadership of his highness Shadowfla, we shall win this war!”
He raised his longsword high, and the gemstones shimred brilliantly under the sunlight.
Grand Duke Kunstan roared, “In this war, I, Kunstan Shadowfla, vow to slay the Snow Giant Da to death!”
Whir!
The longsword slashed down from above, its bright trail carving a deep ravine in the cracked earth: “Knights, lend
your strength!”
It was Earl Osclo who first responded, “I am willing to follow the Grand Duke and vow to slay the Snow Giant Da to death!”
With a leader initiating, everyone started shouting loudly, “Following the Grand Duke, we vow to slay the Snow Giant Da to death!”
Russell, his face stern, joined in the loud shouting, “Vow to slay the Snow Giant Da to death!”
Such oaths, such a scene, finally made the Shadowfla Dragon lower its head to carefully glance at the knights, but it was just a fleeting look before it raised its head again, looking towards the northwest.
Grand Duke Kunstan, proud and pleased, felt that he had greatly boosted the morale of the Knight Regint and wanted to say more.
However, Count rlin had already approached, “Your Highness, it is ti to discuss the strategy for this great battle.”
“Good, follow
into the command tent to discuss how this war shall proceed,” Grand Duke Kunstan strode into the command tent.
He had just wanted to say a few more words to boost the morale.
But then he saw Count rlin, with no hint of courtesy, taking the main seat in the command tent; he surveyed everyone in a circle and spoke in a grave voice, “Twenty-one years ago, I followed the forr Grand Duke in battle against the Snow Giant Da for three days and nights, the events of that day still vivid in my mind.”
Grand Duke Kunstan felt a bit embarrassed, shooting a glare at Count rlin, tempted to scold and send him away, but in the end, he refrained.
Having just ascended the throne less than half a year ago, his authority was not yet strong enough to command respect from everyone, especially since he had forced Count rlin to step back through dishonorable ans—though this had won him the opportunity to rule directly, it had not shaken Count rlin’s popularity.
Once Count rlin started speaking, everyone listened with the sa solemnity they had during the period when the Council of Elders held governance.
Even Earl Osclo, who often disagreed with Count rlin, had no objections.
Russell silently observed all this, quickly understanding the reason—faced with a battle of life and death, compared to the green Grand Duke Kunstan, everyone felt they were more likely to survive under Count rlin’s command.
“We must sever the connection between the Snow Demon Legion and Snow Giant Da, leaving sufficient space for His Highness Shadowfla to battle… anwhile, the Flying Dragon Knights must ensure ample mobility to support His Highness anyti, containing Snow Giant Da,” instructed Count rlin as he ticulously examined the sand table, repeatedly asking about the battlefield situation: “How many Knight Regints have been assembled so far?”
“Twenty Knight Regints, including the Dragon Blood Knights to which I belong,” spoke Lord Raub, the Knight Commander of the Dragon Blood Knights—a regint composed entirely of Great Knights.
One third of its mbers were Phantom Beast Knights.
It could be said that the Dragon Blood Knights were the most elite Knight Regint of the entire Grand Duchy.
“It’s fewer than twenty-one years ago, but the Snow Demon Legion’s numbers have also greatly diminished… In this way, each Knight Regint shall take their positions, striving to drive the Snow Demon Legion outward…” Count rlin continued, “His Highness Shadowfla will focus on another direction, keeping an eye on Snow Giant Da… In this battle, we must prevail!”
Speaking thus,
Count rlin smoothed out the sand table with a sweep of his hand, then signaled the knight at his side to hand out a box of cigars, “These are the Rain Dragon cigars my grandson invented for ; you ought to have heard of them. Please, each of you take one. By the ti we finish these cigars, the Knight Regints should be well organized.”
The Rain Dragon cigars from the White Dew series were distributed one by one.
Count rlin also acknowledged the presence of Russell in the corner with a slight nod, and then spoke sternly, “After one cigar, I want to see every Knight Regint charging fearlessly into battle, like a sharp sword thrust into the heart of the Snow Demon Legion!”
Everyone responded solemnly, “Understood!”
Lighting their cigars, the commanders of various Knight Regints left one after another.
Russell also followed Baron Roman back to the Glowing Valley Knight Regint’s encampnt, beginning to organize the regint and set off toward the snowfields.
In the command tent, only Count rlin and Grand Duke Kunstan were left.
The elder and the younger did not exchange glances, sinking into a silent silence.
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