Chapter 403: Barrington's Immortality

A gust of wind brought by the dragon not only stirred the hearts of the nobles present but also spread rapidly throughout the entire noble alliance and both knightly orders.

In an instant, the army’s morale—previously shaken by news of Black Serpent City’s advancing forces—soared once more.

Moreover, Ridal’s arrival bolstered their confidence even further.

Roan mused that if Ridal openly revealed his status as a Solar Knight, these men might become so ecstatic they wouldn’t be able to sleep.

But Stellar-level strength was already sufficient; there was no need to disclose the truth about being a Solar Knight.

After all, the tallest tree catches the most wind. For now, it was wiser to conceal one’s brilliance and bide one’s time—better not repeat the fate that had befallen Rulans thirty years ago.

With spirits lifted, they turned to discussing battle plans.

Roan, having led many to glory during the battle against the Polant thieves, and now backed by a dragon and powerful followers, naturally emerged as the supreme commander for Splendor City’s side—despite officially leading only the noble alliance.

Captains Kabir and Sandro raised no objections; in fact, they temporarily ceded command of their knightly orders to him.

Yet Roan entrusted leadership of the noble alliance to Ridal, choosing not to interfere directly with the two knightly orders.

His role would be to determine the general location of the battlefield.

The border between Splendor City and Black Serpent City was mostly flat, with only insignificant hills scattered across vast plains.

Such terrain offered little strategic advantage.

Eventually, Roan selected a site beneath a small hill, fronted by relatively open ground.

Compared to the enemy, his own forces could reach it more easily, while the opposing army would have to march farther.

Once decided, Roan instructed Marwen and others to disseminate among the troops the method for completely extinguishing the Wuhun Clan’s life force.

Fortunately, soldiers were trained regularly—finishing off enemies was familiar enough, especially since military merit was sometimes measured by severed heads, making battlefield decapitation widely accepted.

For mid- and high-ranking knights, it was simpler still: flood the enemy’s body with enough inner aura, and they’d disintegrate into dust.

Before dawn the next day, the army set out. By around ten in the morning, they arrived at the designated location, erected camp, and rested briefly.

Riggs, using the telescope given by Roan, periodically relayed intelligence on enemy movements.

“My lord, the enemy has reached the small hill just beyond the grasslands. They show no sign of resting—I believe they’ll advance soon!”

Riggs concluded his reconnaissance—the enemy was near.

Roan looked ahead. Though small, the hill obstructed his view.

“Everyone, eat well, drink deep. Prepare to meet the foe,” he ordered.

Meanwhile, Barlington and Tani led Black Serpent City’s forces to the foot of the hill.

“Barlington, we should halt and rest first!”

Tani insisted firmly. “Their scouts have spotted us, and ours have seen them encamped just beyond this slope. If we charge without rest, their men will have greater stamina. That favors them.”

Barlington chuckled coldly. “Do you really think my soldiers need rest, Father-in-law?”

Tani glanced around at the troops who seemed numb, almost hollow—and found himself increasingly unable to understand what had become of them.

Even more unsettling was how unfamiliar Barlington now felt.

Once, though petty and hot-tempered, his son-in-law had still listened to sound advice when it served him.

But throughout this campaign, he had rejected every suggestion, even mocking or dismissing Tani’s proposals outright.

“Barlington… what has happened to you?”

Tani’s mustache trembled. “When did you grow so arrogant as to disregard your enemies entirely?”

Barlington’s brow furrowed. Were it not for Tani’s own power and loyal subordinates, such insolence would have cost him his life.

Now, he no longer spared respect for blood ties.

“Tani, I am stronger than ever!”

Barlington drew his dagger and plunged it into his own heart.

Tani’s scalp prickled, every hair standing on end. “What are you doing? Have you gone mad?”

He thought Barlington was mutilating himself.

But what followed shattered his understanding of reality.

Barlington withdrew the blade. The wound didn’t bleed—it wasn’t even there.

“See? I am immortal. My endurance surpasses any mortal’s.”

He grinned triumphantly. “On the battlefield, who can kill me?”

Then he gestured toward the soldiers nearby. “Many of them are like me—ordinary blades cannot pierce their flesh. Tell me, should we fear mere mortals?”

Barlington knew the Wuhun Clan’s weakness—but merely injecting foreign supernatural energy into their bodies wasn’t enough to slay him.

As a Golden Peak Knight, reducing him to ashes required far greater power.

Against weaker foes, calling himself immortal wasn’t entirely false.

Tani stared at his son-in-law like he was some abomination. So this was Barlington’s secret.

“What kind of ability is this?”

Confusion mingled with fear—and a flicker of desire.

“You want it too?”

Barlington smiled, voice dripping with temptation. “After victory, I’ll ask Archon Murphy to bestow divine grace upon you. Then you’ll be just like me.”

“Murphy? Archon?” Tani asked, bewildered.

Barlington gave no answer. He patted Tani’s shoulder. “Come. Let us finish this swiftly.”

Tani took a deep breath, letting the questions go.

Now he understood the source of Barlington’s arrogance.

With such power, pride was justified.

“Very well. As you wish.”

Tani raised his voice. “Forward!”

Soon, Black Serpent City’s army crested the hill. From the higher ground, they saw clearly the host below—men resting beside tents across the plain.

“Enjoy your final moments of peace,” someone muttered.

On the other side, Roan and his companions sensed the enemy’s approach the moment they appeared.

Without needing orders, every soldier from the noble alliance and both knightly orders had already drawn shields and longswords, dispersing under their captains’ commands into three formations, ready for battle.

Roan stood with the others at the front, silently watching the enemy descend the slope, drawing nearer.

One thousand meters. Eight hundred. Six hundred…

As the distance closed to five hundred—just within charging range—a massive dark shadow swept low overhead.

Oooowww—

A dragon’s roar split the sky, echoing across the plain.

Barlington, brimming with confidence and arrogance mere seconds before, felt his heart plummet, gripped by a crisis unlike any he’d known—a primal dread clawing at his very soul.

He seemed terrified by the sound.

“What is that?”

Tenny and the others looked up to the sky, where a great dragon spread its enormous wings, soaring toward them.

“Archers, ready!”

Tenny, seasoned by countless battles, issued orders without hesitation. “Knights, prepare your martial techniques for attack!”

Though the dragon was mighty, he had no time now for awe or thought—Carlus had to be treated as just another flying magical beast.

The archers and knights trembled with fear, yet at the command, instinct took over.

“Whoosh!”

Carlus ascended slightly, then unleashed a torrent of fiery breath, cascading down like a deluge from above.

“Damn it! A dragon?!”

Barrington snapped into action, activating his technique and joining the other knights in a combined effort to repel the flames.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The clash between martial energy and fire erupted in thunderous explosions.

Though Carlus’s breath was fierce, the united force of the knights shattered most of it midair. Only a fraction slipped through, striking the Witch-Soul soldiers below.

In an instant, those men screamed, howled, and were reduced to ash beneath the searing breath.

“Loose arrows!” Tenny shouted.

Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!

A storm of arrows filled the sky. Some fell short, their strength spent halfway; others missed entirely, lacking precision.

Yet a few struck Carlus’s scales—leaving not even a white mark.

However, several enchanted arrows exploded against his hide. Though they caused no injury, violent sparks flared upon impact, jolting Carlus with a sharp vibration.

He shook his head, circled once, then returned—this time unleashing a freezing breath, cold as winter’s heart.

Tenny’s group repeated their defense, but again, over a dozen soldiers perished, and the blast sent many more tumbling to the ground.

“So you want to wear us down here?”

Barrington sensed the dragon’s intent and roared in fury: “All knights, all cavalry—charge! I don’t believe this beast will dare burn its own allies!”

His reasoning was sound. Once the lines clashed, any breath attack risked harming friend as well as foe.

Barrington’s maneuver indeed shackled Carlus’s power.

But on Ronin’s side, seeing the dragon wreak havoc among the enemy ranks, morale had surged like a rising tide.

Now, charging forward, they felt no fear.

Rudal, Marvin, Vitorino, Kabir—one by one they mounted their steeds, drew their swords.

“For the glory of Wushan Fortress!”

“Forward, everyone—charge!” (End of Chapter)