An army of fifteen hundred innate Qi level martial artists and three core level martial artists marched towards Sunset Breeze Pass City, the sun casting long shadows behind them.
They were Zhao Haoreng's vanguard, an unstoppable force ready to lay siege to the city. Yet, as they approached the narrow mountain pass that guarded the city's entrance, they encountered an obstacle that was as unexpected as it was formidable: a mere three hundred soldiers dressed in crimson and black armor, standing firm as a fortress wall.
In a split second.
Chaos arrived.
Seeing his men dying in great number even before they could get to their destination
"Keep charging! DON'T STOP!" Yelled be Luo Yongkang.
"Yes, once we are closer to them, we can kill them. FIGHT!"
He believed that once his remaining men got closer he could forsee those 300 soldiers would be shaken and even run away. But he didn't even see any panic in those soldiers as his men got closer.
Master Luo's confidence had been unshaken, but as the crimson and black-armored knights unfurled their battle standard, a symbol of a starry sky and black abyss in the center, the air grew thick with the scent of fear and doubt.
His men had never faced an enemy like this, one that didn't even flinch at the sight of their overwhelming numbers.
"Die!" One of the Zhao Haoreng's soldier uttered as he slash at knights infront of him.
The 'Blood Knights' draws their weapon and clash with the enemy's ranks.
CLANG CLANG
The clanging of steel and the screams of dying soldiers filled the air as the knights clashed with the vanguard. Each crimson blade was a bolt of lightning, cutting through the enemy's ranks with a ferocity that seemed inhuman.
The knights moved as one, their synchronized strikes and parries painting a macabre dance of death across the battlefield.
Master Luo's heart pounded in his chest as he watched his men fall like leaves before an autumn storm.
His mind raced, trying to comprehend the power that lay before him.
He had seen many battles in his storied career, but never had he faced an enemy that could lay waste to his troops with such ease.
With a roar of fury and desperation, he leaped from his horse, his own sword drawn.
His eyes searched the crimson and black wall for a chink, for any sign of weakness that he could exploit.
Master Luo's two Core level martial artists, sensing their leader's intent, charged forth with him. Their aura's blazed with power as they drew upon their deepest reserves, their swords crackling with energy as they sliced through the air towards the knights.
The knights, however, didn't falter. They met the charge with a wall of steel and determination.
The sound of metal clashing was deafening, sparks flying as swords met shields and spears.
Master Luo Yongkang's blade met the crimson sword of the knight captain, the impact resonating through his arms.
To his astonishment, the knight was not only incredibly tall, but also surprisingly quick. His armor was not just for show; it was laden with some sort of precious metals that made him almost impervious to their attacks.
The knights, though fewer in number, pushed back the advancing army with ease, their movements a blur of crimson and black.
Their weapons, which had been hidden beneath their capes, were unlike anything the Zhao soldiers had ever seen.
They gleamed with a crimson energy as blood splatters, each swing sending shockwaves rippling through the ground.
Master Luo Yongkang, though initially shocked by their ferocity, found his battle instincts kicking in.
He and his two core level comrades charged into the fray, their swords and spears a flurry of deadly intent. For a brief moment, the knights staggered, the sheer force of their combined might pushing the line back.
But it was not to be a swift victory.
These knights were not mere men.
They were giants clad in metal, their crimson and black armor gleaming under the sun's early rays.
Their height, which easily surpassed that of any man in the Zhao Haoreng's army, was almost unnerving. Yet, it was not just their size that was daunting—it was the unyielding and inhuman strength that each of them possessed.
Master Luo and his Core level comrades managed to carve a temporary path through the knights, pushing them back with their superior numbers and power.
Yet, even as they fought, the knights seemed to move with a coordination that defied human limits. Their movements were so precise, so in sync, it was as if they shared a single mind, each action calculated to bring down the enemy with maximum efficiency.
Then, without warning, Luo Yongkang felt a surge of danger to his side. He swiveled, his eyes narrowing as he caught the flicker of motion.
An armored knight had managed to break through the melee and was hurtling towards him, sword aloft.
SLASH
The crimson blade sliced through the air with a sound like a whip crack, aimed at his chest. Instinct took over, and Luo Yongkang rolled to the side, his heart racing as he barely avoided the deadly blow.
The knight who had launched the sneak attack was different from the others.
His armor, though similar in color, had intricate patterns that seemed to dance in the light. His aura was palpable, a swirling maelstrom of crimson and black that screamed of power and menace.
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It was clear that this was no ordinary knight; the energy emanating from him was that of a Core level martial artist, and perhaps even more profound than that.
Master Luo's eyes narrowed as he took stock of the new threat. He had seen his fair share of powerful adversaries in his time, but this was something else entirely. The knight's blade was not a mere weapon; it was a living extension of his will, carving through the air with a speed that seemed to defy logic.
"You must be the one leading these soldiers," Master Luo Yongkang shouted over the din of battle, his eyes locked on the crimson-and-black knight with the aura of a core level martial artist.
The knight didn't break his stoic silence, his eyes as cold as the steel of his blade.
Master Luo Yongkang's mind raced. Who were these mysterious warriors, and what power did they serve?
He believe the person in front of him would be the leader of this small group of soldiers. Even if he is not the leader, he would be one of the vice leaders.
He could feel the core level energy emanating from the knight, a clear sign of his elite status. Yet, he remained silent, his aura speaking louder than any words could.
Then suddenly few figures step forward.
Master Luo's heart raced as more knights stepped forward, their auras flaring to life.
Each one revealed themselves to be a core level martial artist, and their combined power was a spectacle that left him speechless. He had never encountered such a concentrated force in such a small group.
"Who are you?" he managed to choke out, his voice hoarse with disbelief.
The crimson and black knight before him raised his visor, revealing a face that was as stoic as the metal that encased his body.
"Wang Lichen," the crimson knight declared, his voice steady amidst the chaos.
"The Grand Master of the Blood Wolf Knights Order," the crimson knight, now revealed to be a man named Lichen, announced with a hint of pride.
His gaze was as sharp as the blade he wielded, and his posture spoke of a confidence that belied his youth.
"We are the Blood Wolf Knights!" Lichen roared, his voice carrying through the chaos like a battle cry from the heavens.
"We are the guardians of this land! We fight not just for our lives, but for the lives of every man, woman, and child who calls this land their home!"
In response, a roar erupted from the 320 knights, their voices merging into a single, thunderous declaration that echoed through the mountain pass.
"WE ARE KNIGHTS THAT BRING ORDER AND HOPE TO THESE LANDS!"
Lichen's and everyone's shout resonated through the mountain pass, his voice carrying a fiery conviction that set the hearts of the surrounding Blood Wolf Knights ablaze.
One by one, each knight lifted their visors, revealing faces etched with determination and the unbreakable bond of camaraderie.
Master Luo's eyes grew wide in disbelief as the 320 knights surged forward as one, moving in a coordinated wave that seemed almost supernatural.
The crimson and black tide of steel and resolve crashed into the Zhao Haoreng's army like a tsunami, leaving fear and panic in their wake.
The knights' charge was swift and merciless, their crimson-energy-infused weapons leaving trails of light as they cut through the enemy lines. The once-proud soldiers of the Zhao Haoreng's army faltered, their morale shattering under the relentless onslaught of the smaller but infinitely more powerful force.
Master Luo Yongkang's body trembled as he watched the knights close in, their unyielding determination manifesting like a physical force that pushed back his own troops.
The realization of his own folly washed over him, as he had underestimated these warriors dressed in crimson and black.
"Retreat!" he bellowed, his voice cracking with fear.
"Sound the retreat!"
The Zhao Haoreng's soldiers looked back at him in confusion, but the horror of the crimson and black tide washed over them like a wave of terror.
They turned tail and ran, their discipline forgotten in the face of the relentless charge of the Blood Wolf Knights.
The knights didn't pursue them; they remained in their defensive line, their crimson eyes gleaming in the early morning light, watching as the would-be conquerors fled in disarray.
Master Luo Yongkang's heart hammered in his chest as he realized the gravity of the situation. He had led his men into a slaughter, and now he was running away like a coward.
The fear was like a vice around his throat, choking the breath from his lungs as he sprinted towards the safety of his horse. He could hear the thunderous hooves of his retreating cavalry fading into the distance, leaving him and his Core martial artists to face the knights alone.
"Master!" one of the core martial artists called out, desperation etched into his voice.
Master Luo ignored him, his eyes closing as he took deep, calming breaths.
The chaos around him faded away, and he focused solely on the warmth of his Qi, the lifeblood of his power. He knew that if he was not going to survive this, he needed to be calm, focused, and ready for anything.
In the distance, he heard the cries of his men as they were cut down by the crimson and black knights. The clanging of swords and the screams of the dying pierced the air, a symphony of horror that seemed to crescendo around him. Yet he remained still, his eyes shut tightly as he centered himself.
Master Luo's thoughts raced back to his early days as a martial artist, the lessons of his own master echoing in his mind: "To face death without fear is to truly understand the way of the warrior."
With a deep, resigned sigh, he opened his eyes to the hellish tableau before him.
The crimson and black knights moved like shadows, their weapons cutting through his men with a precision that was almost artful.
He watched as one of his most trusted core martial artists, a man named Zhang, fell to the ground, his lifeblood pooling around him.
Master Luo knew that his time was limited. He had to act, or he would share the same fate as his comrades. He took a step forward, his eyes never leaving the knights.
"Can I ask who you serve?" Master Luo's voice boomed through the chaos, his question a challenge thrown to the crimson and black knights.
"We serve the will of our lord Joshua," a deep, resonant voice replied from the crimson-clad knights.
Master Luo's mind race as he don't know who is this lord they serve.
He knew of no lord named Joshua who would command such fierce and disciplined knights. His curiosity piqued, he raised his sword and pointed it at the crimson sea before him.
"I demand to fight the strongest among you!"
Master Luo's voice thundered through the mountain pass, his eyes scanning the crimson and black knights for any sign of weakness.
The knights around him paused in their assault, their crimson eyes gleaming with an eerie light.
The sea of knights parted, revealing a towering figure in gleaming golden armor. The man, or perhaps he was more than a man, was at least nine feet tall. The armor looked like it was gilded with gold, reflecting the firelight with a blinding intensity.
This 'Noble Knight' had not been seen in the battle so far, and the revelation of his presence sent a tremor of fear through the remaining soldiers of Zhao Haoreng's army.
Master Luo Yongkang squinted at the figure, his heart racing. He had never encountered such a being before, and the sheer size and grandeur of the knight was almost overwhelming.
"We accept your challenge," the golden-armored knight spoke, his voice as cold and unyielding as the steel of their weapons.
Master Luo Yongkang, his heart pounding in his chest, took a deep breath and centered himself. His hand hovered above the hilt of his sword, the anticipation of battle thrumming through his veins.
The Sky Parting Slash was his trump card, a technique that had never failed him.
With a swift, practiced motion, he drew the blade, its steel singing through the air. The crimson energy of the knights' weapons glinted in the early dawn, but it was the gold of the Noble Knight's armor that captured his gaze. The blade arced gracefully, aimed at the giant's neck, a precise strike that would end the battle in an instant.
The Sky Parting Slash was a move that had earned him the respect and fear of his enemies on countless battlefields. But today, as the gleaming blade approached the neck, the knight's hand shot up, faster than the eye could follow.
Master Luo's heart skipped a beat as he saw the golden gauntlet close around the sword's hilt. With a sound like a thunderclap, the sword shattered into a hundred shards, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through his body.
The crimson-eyed knight stepped forward, his halberd now a golden blur as it arced through the air, aiming straight for Luo Yongkang's chest. Time seemed to slow, the cries of his men fading into a distant murmur as he faced the inevitable.
STAB
The halberd's impact was like a hammer blow to his chest, and Luo Yongkang felt the air leave his lungs in a painful rush.
The golden-armored knight had moved with a speed that seemed impossible, and now he was impaled, suspended in the air by the weapon.
His eyes widened in shock, staring down at the gleaming point of the halberd as it pierced through his armor and into his very body.
The world around him grew dim as his vision narrowed to focus on the golden visage of his attacker.
