Battles weren’t just erupting at Wubei Port and Rapids Island; Purple Thunder Territory was also under attack.
Although this territory bordered the Villa Duchy to the east, the enemy didn’t co from there. Instead, they ca from Black Pine Mountain, a region situated south of Purple Thunder Territory on the southeasternmost border of Wushan Territory.
Black Pine Mountain had originally been part of Wushan Territory. Like Purple Thunder Territory, it was located at the crossroads of Wushan Territory and the Villa Duchy, which ant that trade in the area was quite prosperous.
However, ever since the Black Gold Brotherhood rose to power and occupied this land, Wushan Castle had yet to reclaim it.
Even when lonika and his n crushed the Black Gold Brotherhood in the last war, they didn’t press the attack to completely drive the faction out of Wushan Territory.
But this ti, with Wushan Castle taking the initiative to dispatch troops to Moonlight Valley and Screaming Island also making a move, the Brotherhood felt their chance had co.
In truth, they had been coveting this land for a long ti.
In the past, if Ossen Count and Andrea hadn’t been allies, the Brotherhood would never have ignored this territory to push deeper into Wushan Territory’s interior.
So this ti, the Black Gold Brotherhood abandoned its defensive, turtling posture. They took the initiative, leading their forces out of their own territory to launch a surprise attack on Purple Thunder Territory, intending to seize its horse pastures and farmlands for themselves.
The reason for this change in strategy was that Andrea had supplied them with enough n and provisions to restore the Brotherhood to the size of five Knight Orders.
Furthermore, in addition to their Golden Knights, this ti they were led by three teor Knights who had been brought in specifically for this: David, Kurt, and Mason.
As they saw it, with Wushan Territory’s main army away in Moonlight Valley, taking Purple Thunder Territory should be a simple matter, even with Wushan Castle’s Second, Third, and Eighth Knight Orders still in the area.
As for Ronin’s handful of Knight Squads, they didn’t even factor into the Brotherhood’s calculations.
After all, in their eyes, how could a newly established Count—regardless of his personal strength—have subordinates of any notable quality?
The three columns of troops advanced across the plain. They saw no enemy patrols, no guards, and not a single rchant or farr.
"If you ask , I could take Purple Thunder City all by myself. You two can split up—one of you take two units to Black Python City, and the other take two to Wushan Town!"
"Yeah, that way we could take three cities at once."
"I think you two should stop daydreaming. That lonika is no ordinary teor Level. We likely wouldn’t be his match if we faced him alone. We just need to follow our orders and proceed with caution!"
"Heh, we haven’t seen each other in years, Mason, and you’re still as cowardly as ever..."
The three Knight Order Leaders bantered back and forth. Judging by their relaxed tone, they all believed they could take Purple Thunder Territory without breaking a sweat.
Unfortunately for them, before they even entered the Purple Thunder Territory region, they were ambushed by four forces from the east, north, and west.
Directly to the north were Purple Thunder Territory’s three Knight Squads, led by Macken. To the west were the Second and Third Knight Orders, led by lonika and Kabil. To the east was the Eighth Knight Order, led by its new leader, Hor.
The three Black Gold Brotherhood leaders were stunned. They never expected their opponents to attack proactively instead of defending their city. ’Are they in a hurry to die?’
Neither side had any intention of parleying. As battle cries rang out, the two armies charged.
The warhorses were fast, but Macken was faster.
Purple Thunder Territory might not have established its own Knight Order yet, but its Governor, a Silver Moon Level master, was a force to be reckoned with.
Macken flashed to the center of the battlefield and slamd his hands on the ground. The earth instantly began to shake violently, and an Earth Wall seven or eight ters high and several ters thick abruptly erupted from the ground before them.
In an instant, the battlefield was split in two.
This was a Combat Skill only an Earth Attribute teor Knight could perform, and its sturdiness was far beyond that of any low-level Earth Wall.
The charging Black Gold Brotherhood Cavalry hadn’t anticipated such a move at all and were thrown into disarray.
"Kill!"
Macken leaped onto the Earth Wall, stood at its highest point, and let out a furious roar.
The battle began in earnest.
WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH!
Countless arrows flew toward Macken, but he neither dodged nor flinched. His body abruptly turned black, becoming like steel. The arrows struck him but couldn’t even scratch his skin.
Empowered by the Eighth-level Combat Skill, Hardened Skin, Macken leaped down and lunged straight for David.
"You’re courting death!"
David snorted and leaped from his warhorse, intending to land a devastating blow on his opponent in mid-air.
But just as they were about to clash, Macken took a single step, shifting his body to the side. A flash of his sword followed, and he slit his opponent’s throat. The head flew through the air as blood sprayed forth.
David’s eyes were wide with shock. Only in the mont of his death did he realize his opponent was a Silver Moon Knight.
With David’s death, the morale of the Wushan Territory soldiers surged.
lonika wielded his Longsword, and wherever its tip pointed, n from the Black Gold Brotherhood fell in droves.
His Swordsmanship was as fluid as flowing water, each strike precise and deadly.
Kabil and Hor each led their own Knight Orders, clashing fiercely with the enemy.
The Black Gold Brotherhood still had two teor Knights, Kurt and Mason, but the mont they saw David die, all they could think about was escape.
Unfortunately for them, on a battlefield with two armies locked in a charge, escaping wasn’t so simple.
The fierce battle raged for over an hour. Under the overwhelming might of Macken and lonika, Wushan Territory’s force of just over three Knight Orders managed to defeat the Black Gold Brotherhood’s five.
Compared to Moonlight City, this battlefield was far more bloody and brutal.
Severed limbs and mangled corpses littered the ground, creating rivers of blood. The stench of gore hung in the air, stretching for miles without dissipating.
Macken looked back at the three Knight Squads he had worked so hard to build. After this single battle, he had lost nearly half of them.
"Saimon, get a casualty count. Have the uninjured clean up the battlefield."
The three leaders—lonika, Kabil, and Hor—approached, their eyes filled with clear respect for Macken.
But what truly astounded them was Ronin. That young Lord actually had another Silver Moon Knight under his command.
’No wonder,’ they thought. ’No wonder Ronin specifically transferred Macken from Giant Stone City to guard this border.’
lonika’s low voice sounded. "We’re preparing to take a squad of Cavalry to Black Pine Mountain and reclaim the territory they’ve held for over a decade. Are you in?"
Macken considered it for a mont.
He was the Governor of Purple Thunder Territory now. And while Ronin had given him ample financial support, he also needed to secure his own resources.
Black Pine Mountain City was the Brotherhood’s main base, so it was bound to be full of supplies and wealth.
If he didn’t go, wouldn’t he just be letting all that plunder slip through his fingers?
"I’m in!"
Macken made his decision, a smile spreading across his face. "An opportunity this good? I wouldn’t miss it for the world!"
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