Chapter 644: Power of the Knights

Chapter 644 The Might of the Knights

In her right hand, Blanche held a glowing blue gemstone, while her left hand wielded a fine needle, painstakingly smoothing out the scars upon Karen's right shoulder, millimeter by millimeter, striving to ensure not a single trace of discoloration remained.

When the task was finished, a smile of quiet satisfaction graced her lips.

Her feelings toward her captain—well, her department head now—bore little of the romantic passion shared between man and woman; rather, it was a primal, instinctual appreciation and fondness for a handsome, exceptional member of the opposite sex.

To her, being permitted to quietly admire her superior's physique was a thoroughly enjoyable endeavor.

It brought to mind the time Karen had been assigned to a security detail and they had shared a room; whether it was Piggy sleeping in the nude or Fanny lounging in her sheer nightgown, Karen would look, and he would find it beautiful.

Yet both sides understood with absolute clarity that the boundary between them would never be crossed.

Moral constraint was like a preservative, keeping the world’s most beautiful things from spoiling quite so quickly.

Karen sat up, casting a cursory glance over the neatly tended wounds, and smiled. "Splendid work. Thank you for your trouble."

Neo had once mocked him, scoffing at how a grown man could be so terribly afraid of bearing scars.

To which Karen had offered a sharp retort: at least he still had the capacity to scar, unlike a certain someone who, no matter how many holes were poked through his flesh, would mend entirely within moments, insisting that a man remains soft-skinned and tender until the day he dies.

Purr, who had been lounging lazily on the bed to keep Karen company through his "beauty routine," leapt onto his chest, pressing a soft feline paw against the bare skin.

"My, before I even noticed, you've grown quite solid, meow."

"Indeed, quite so," Blanche chimed in, gathering her instruments.

Karen reached out to stroke Purr’s head, before offering Blanche a quiet reminder. "When you return to the office, remember to tell Ashley to keep a constant eye on Dana's movements."

"Understood, Minister."

Once Blanche had departed, Purr tilted her head and looked up at Karen. "Do you think she will slip away?"

Karen replied with absolute certainty, "She will."

"You want to go watch the battle, don't you?"

"Yes, I want to see it. The last time I witnessed a war was the naval battle between the Church of Samsara and the Church of Luna. The spectacle was grand enough, but it always felt as though something was missing. I want to see the battlefield of the Knights of Order with my own eyes."

"In truth, there isn't much to see," Purr murmured, resting her head against Karen’s stomach while idly batting at her own tail.

"I half expected you to beg me to take you along."

"I have no desire to go. Once you witness the battlefield of the Knights of Order, you will find that individual might suddenly feels entirely insignificant. It takes a dreadfully long time to restore one's state of mind after that."

"Is it truly that exaggerated?"

"It is precisely that exaggerated. A proper order of knights and the garrisoned knights are two entirely different concepts. You will understand when you see it with your own eyes."

"Then all the more reason to experience it."

"Still, don't you find it a bit too exhausting? I thought you would want to take a rest."

"I will rest once we return."

Karen rose from the bed, donned his divine robes, and walked over to the dog bed. Kevin, who had been lying there engrossed in a book, stood up at his approach, shaking his body and wagging his tail twice.

Reaching down to pat Kevin's head, Karen knelt and opened the box beside the dog bed. Resting inside lay the remains of Melinda.

Coiled tightly, she resembled a gnarled piece of wild mountain ginseng.

Purr padded over, gazing down at the form. "She is highly dangerous. Why did you agree to let the Radio Pixie bring her back?"

"Because he is Alfred."

"Oh, what a flawless answer. Next time you can just change the names—because it is Purr, because it is the stupid dog, because it is the jester."

"For those answers, no further justification is ever required."

"Very well, then, so long as it pleases you."

"I am going to take a bath and then sleep for a while. It might be a long one."

Purr nodded. "Rest easy. If there is word from the hospital, I shall wake you. That is a service no ordinary cat can provide."

"I have heard that some cats possess a sense of time; if you oversleep, they will come to rouse you."

"That is only because they fear you will miss work. In their eyes, a master going out to work is no different from going out to hunt."

"It seems you had your fair share of encounters with other felines in the past."

"Back when my existence was bound to that of a cat, I did indeed try to mingle with others of my kind."

"I am turning in."

Karen took a long soak in the bath, then laid himself down upon the bed, whispering to himself:

"No dreams this time. Even if you show up, I shall ignore you."

Closing his eyes, he drifted off.

The familiar pit-a-pat of dripping water never came; this slumber was deep, long, and entirely peaceful.

Until, at last, a furry, padded paw began to knead at his face.

Karen opened his eyes to the sound of Purr's voice. "Blanche just called. She has left the hospital."

"How long did I sleep?"

"Not too badly. Nearly two days and two nights."

"A long sleep indeed."

Karen got out of bed and stepped into the washroom. Soon, Purr heard the rushing sound of the shower from within.

"Hey, are you not the least bit hurried?"

"There is no need for haste. The very first ladybug carriage she commandeered upon leaving the hospital was the one I prepared for her."

"Oh, the poor girl. To think you toy with her so."

"Mind your phrasing."

Having washed and dressed, Karen walked out of the washroom, issuing instructions as he made for the door. "Stay safe here at the hotel."

"Understood, meow. Go on and enjoy your hunt in peace."

Karen stepped into the lift, and the carriage began its descent.

Yet, before the lift could reach the ground floor, a shadow dropped straight from above, landing squarely within the compartment. It was little Conna.

"Do you wish to accompany me?" Karen inquired.

Conna shook her head, handing Karen a bag of cream bread instead.

"Meow."

It meant that Purr had sent her down to deliver his breakfast; in this place, procuring normal food was quite an ordeal, as the hotel offered nothing but various raw marinades that they deemed exquisite.

"Thank you."

Conna leapt upward, slipping through the gap of the elevator mechanism, climbing effortlessly back to her floor.

As Karen ate the bread, he could not help but reflect on how wonderful the little bone dragon truly was—always there to protect him at a critical juncture, yet entirely unclingy when there was nothing to be done.

However, the true reason Karen had left her behind was that Order was setting out to diminish the lineage of the Dragon Race. Though the little bone dragon spoke with nothing but disdain for the likes of Lady Augie—dragons who chose to live upon their knees—it hardly felt right to force her to watch the slaughter of her own kind.

Besides, inside the grand encampment of the Knights, he would be in no danger at all.

It was not that Cullen was setting a flag for himself, for it was truly difficult to imagine what person or what faction could possibly stir up trouble within the Knights of Order.

The elevator doors slid open, and Cullen calculated the time; to be safe, it was better to let Miss Dina remain a fugitive for a little while longer, lest he intercept her before she even reached the Knights.

Walking up to the service counter, Cullen drew some vouchers from his pocket:

"A cup of crystal grape and sea buckthorn juice, thank you."

...

Miss Dina rode her ladybug, journeying all the way west.

The injuries upon her body had not yet fully healed, leaving her quite weak, but at this moment, nothing could obstruct her yearning for war.

A girl abandoned in infancy to be raised within the Order of Knights possessed the very same convictions as the knights themselves; their need for war was exceedingly urgent, a desperate thirst to prove themselves amidst conflict.

The tracks left by the marching army grew clearer and clearer, proving that the Order of Knights was not far ahead, and this area was also fast approaching the boundaries of the dragon settlements.

Just then, Miss Dina suddenly noticed on both flanks a group of scavengers riding all manner of vehicles, slowly closing in on her position.

They were originally nomadic tribes dwelling on the fringes of the subterranean world; during this campaign, as the Knights set out from the main city toward the dragon settlements, they had also forcibly conscripted other races to serve as auxiliary troops.

These scavengers were not auxiliaries, yet they were quite clever, following the path left in the wake of the great army to scavenge whatever useful objects they could find.

Of course, if they chanced upon a young girl left all alone, they did not mind playing the part of bandits; this had always been their logic of survival.

Miss Dina gripped the ladybug’s reins with both hands, her gaze turning slightly cold as she surveyed her surroundings; the moment they dared to lift a hand against her, she would certainly strike back.

Yet at the same time, a trace of unease stirred in her heart; she had only recently awakened from her grievous injuries, and mobilizing the spiritual power within her body was somewhat forced, though it should be sufficient to deal with these people... right?

A cloud of black mist materialized from above, and immediately following it, a young man bearing a greatsword on his back and clad in the divine robes of Order landed upon the ladybug, standing perfectly straight.

Seeing this sight, the surrounding scavengers began to retreat one after another.

Dina turned her head and looked at Cullen, startled at first as if about to cry out, but very quickly she understood and cursed:

"You bastard, you used me!"

Cullen spoke: "When slipping out in secret, you should have worn the divine robes of Order; it saves a great deal of trouble."

"There weren't any in the ward!"

"Couldn't you have stolen one yourself?"

"You..."

"Focus on driving, it is just ahead; after you see your Commander Uncle, you should know what to say."

"On what grounds? I was mischievous and willful and got punished, and in the end, it benefits you?"

"If you do not agree, I will take you back right now."

"What makes you think I won't go back on my word even if I agree now?"

"You are a person of your word."

The corners of Dina's mouth twitched unnaturally several times, fiercely resisting the urge to smile.

In the end, she still said pettishly: "You owe me a favor—no, two favors, counting that bone dragon as one."

"The bone dragon was acquired through my own application, and this time is in exchange for me not capturing you and taking you back; there is no favor."

"Hey, do you really have to be so pedantic?"

"Because I too am a person of my word, so I do not like owing favors."

"I really can't stand you." Dina prepared to toss the reins away and let Cullen drive so she could rest, but when she turned her head, she saw Cullen had already seated himself in the chair behind.

"Call me after we catch up with the Knights, I am going to catch up on some sleep."

"You!"

Puffing her cheeks in annoyance, Dina continued to focus on driving.

They traveled for another day, and when night fell, the figures of falcon knights appeared in the sky ahead.

Then very quickly, a squad of knights rushed over, assuming an offensive posture.

Cullen made no sound, leaving Dina to negotiate; soon, the negotiation succeeded, and the knights began to escort the ladybug further into the interior of the grand army.

Before they could enter the commander's tent, Commander Daan, riding a lightning-horned rhinoceros, had already appeared, though he likely had not come specifically to see Dina, for behind him followed a group of people clad in the divine

"Join the battle?"

"Desecrate the dead," Augie let out a cold sneer. "My mother and I are to become the next generation of leaders for the dragon lineage. Order needs to establish its authority before us first, using our own kin."

"Will you turn traitor?" Karen asked. "I mean, once the fighting starts, will you suddenly defect?"

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Very well, I consent."

"Woooo— woooo—!"

The war horns wailed.

Dana blurted in surprise, "Is it really this rushed?"

How long had it been since the clash erupted at the outer sentries, and now they were launching a direct assault?

Augie let out a soft sigh and said, "They are probably afraid that if they delay any longer, more and more dragons will run out to beg for surrender."

Augie reached out, grasping Karen and Dana by their shoulders as she soared into the sky, whereupon she revealed her true form; Karen and Dana stood atop her—yes, right upon that High Priest's golden viewing platform.

"How big is that little bone dragon?" Dana asked suddenly.

Karen answered, "Right now, it is only ten meters long."

"So short, just like a child's toy. I have no use for it then."

As Augie flew higher and higher, Karen walked to the edge of her body and looked down, clearly discerning a meticulously ordered military camp below, while in front and on both sides of this camp, a chaotic mess of other colors was smeared across the landscape like thick porridge.

The number of conscripted auxiliary troops was truly immense.

It was rather ironic when one thought about it; the Crypt Cult was ostensibly a single entity, yet when Order intervened, intending to operate on one of its lineages, the other lines not only failed to unite in resistance but instead submissively acted as cannon fodder.

Soon, another frost giant dragon took to the air; it was Madam Anser.

Mother and daughter both revealed their true forms in the sky, yet they exchanged no communication whatsoever.

Up ahead, where the dragon settlement lay, rose a towering mountain range that served as a natural line of defense, but looking at it now, there was no sign of any genuine intent to defend.

A vast multitude of dragons, some flying low, others taking human form, alongside a dense swarm of various dragon sub-species, crossed the mountains and spread out over this side of the ridge, all in a desperate rush to come forward and surrender.

The reason the war had been launched ahead of schedule and in such haste was precisely because they were forced by this wave of surrender.

Below, hundreds of armored giants serving in the knight order anchored the trebuchets, the ear-piercing friction of gears clearly audible even high up in the air.

"Woooo— woooo—"

The military horns blew incessantly.

Knights bearing shields formed ranks at the front, and behind their formation, seemingly under the influence of a team of array masters, a colossal phantom of a black shield instantly manifested.

The two flanks consisted of the true cavalry, who began to deploy rapidly, like a pack of wolves driving a flock of sheep, pushing the auxiliary troops on both sides outward.

Various elemental auras, dense enough to suffocate, drifted from the military camp below as the summoners began their incantations.

Two immense phantoms were summoned into existence, towering within the camp, both clutching magic staves and radiating a thick, priestly aura.

A massive summon of this caliber was sufficient to cast large-scale blessings and healing upon the entire army formation.

A giant eye manifested in the sky, and Augie and Madam Anser immediately pulled away to position themselves on either side of the eyeball.

Everything was hurried, and many things had yet to be properly arranged, but just this spectacle alone left Karen thoroughly shaken; this giant eye, those two colossal priest statues—the aura of each one carried an overwhelmingly powerful sensation.

This method of warfare... fused an entire legion completely into a single entity, or rather, into a small team with a clear division of labor.

"Boom!!!"

Spheres of light of various colors hurled by the trebuchets crashed onto the mountain range; for a moment, it was as if a succession of sub-forbidden spells were being unleashed en masse, powers of different attributes rapidly expanding and devouring the peaks, ruthlessly erasing all life there.

This sight caused Karen to subconsciously bite his lower lip; he began to ponder whether, if he were on the mountain range right now, he could rely on his own strength to evade it?

No, evading was pointless; it would be better to kneel straight down and pray, praying that one's position happened to be an unaffected corner.

After a round of catapult bombardment, the auxiliary army was ordered to charge forward and begin the slaughter, while the knight order maintained its complete formation and started to move ahead.

During their advance, new immense phantoms were continuously summoned; clearly they were no longer needed, yet the statues kept being conjured up, likely because an opportunity for actual combat was so hard to come by that they felt compelled to display everything they practiced in daily training.

At this moment, Karen finally understood the meaning behind what Purr had said:

"Once you witness a knight order fighting a war, you will feel that individual strength instantly becomes utterly insignificant."