Chapter 376: Great Magician’s Combat Power

"So, after a charge, you routed the knights of Mane City and annihilated all the Earth Knights, then the knights stationed inside the castle surrendered, allowing you to take the castle easily?"

The Count was somewhat surprised by Liszt's speed.

It had only been two days, and Liszt had already completed the purging of Mane City and captured a castle. Meanwhile, there had been no word back from Eunas, who had gone to Green River City, and Trick, who had headed to Greenwood City.

"I have Hiddleston, father. You should know the combat capability of a mid-level magical beast. Fields of rock spikes completely disrupted the enemy's charge formation, and then my Black Knights crushed them in a single blow." Since it was a private conversation, he didn't use the title "My Lord Count."

"Hiddleston is growing very quickly; he's just over a year old and is already showing his ferocity on the battlefield. With Hiddleston, this battle was easier to win. Currently, Snide is hiding in Parsley Castle, and no matter how much I provoke him, he refuses to come out. This gives Hiddleston the chance to do what he does best—destroy castles."

"Destroying an unnamed castle is easy, but Parsley Castle might be a bit more difficult, though I can still damage its structure."

"Damaging the structure is enough. Snide definitely won't sit by and watch his castle be destroyed. When he comes out, I'll behead him."

As a sky knight at the sword saint level, Lee William was fully confident in handling an ordinary sky knight.

Liszt smiled and said, "I anticipate that moment."

The Count of Coral Island seemed somewhat reflective, "Without realizing it, the three of us in the family are already fighting side by side on the battlefield. In a few more years, Lytton should also be ready for war. You've performed very well this time. I'll record your merit. Rack up a few more battle honors, and it will be enough to grant you the title of Viscount."

Capturing a small city alone wasn't enough to be made a Viscount.

However, there was still Niu Mao City to capture, and earning some merit there, along with capturing other cities, might be enough for an immediate promotion to Viscount without having to wait for the next war of expansion.

He suddenly thought of a question, "Father, I sent a knight to deliver a message to you. Did you find out what major event Snide and the magicians were discussing?"

The brother of the independent rat had overheard a secret conversation between Snide and the magicians, waiting for some major event to occur.

This had made Liszt very concerned.

I have already sent someone to contact Marquis Grindton, and he replied that he would maintain communication with both the First Prince and the Second Prince to ensure that no unexpected changes occur in the battle situation. As for what this major event is, it's still unclear. If it’s true, it should be related to the Goat Assembly.

There was another possibility, related to dragons, but the father and son did not mention it.

“Have the Furious Knights of Marquis Bull taken Cowtail Town?”

“Of course not. Marquis Wallace has already headed there, and the First Prince has also dispatched your uncle to assist. With the knights from the Pineapple Green family and the Longtaro family, holding off Marquis Wallace's Furious Knights isn’t too difficult. However, it’s said that a great magician has joined the battle, leading to a stalemate.”

“Can a great magician affect the outcome of a knight’s charge?” Liszt asked, still unclear about the capabilities of great magicians.

He only knew that great magicians were incredibly skilled in magic, to the point of even plotting against dragons. The great magician from the Maple Leaf Duchy had designs on a light dragon and created black dragon thralls like Parris. The great magician from the Sapphire Duchy plotted against the Sapphire Dragon, which led to a marquis's rebellion.

They were truly deserving of the title 'Evil Magicians.'

However, as the common saying goes, magicians cannot compete with knights. A charging knight can easily crush a magician.

The Count pondered for a moment before slowly responding, “Knights dominate not because they are necessarily stronger than magicians. It’s just that mana training is more universally achievable. As long as one is provided with sufficient nutrition from a young age, even those with poor talent can cultivate mana. Magic, on the other hand, requires innate talent.

An ordinary person,

with ample food and drink from a young age and a basic method of mana training, can certainly develop low-level mana. Continuously consuming magical beast meat can lead to mid-level mana. With enough potions, unless one is utterly foolish, high-level mana can be achieved.

In other words, ordinary sky knights can be mass-produced as long as there are sufficient resources.

Your uncle, Mexiro, is an excellent example.

Marquis Merlin only has one son, so all the resources of the Longtaro family were poured into Mexiro, allowing him to successfully advance from a good-for-nothing to an ordinary sky knight.

Beyond that level, though, it’s not just about resources. Even an entire nation’s resources wouldn’t suffice for the next level of cultivation.

"Out of a hundred people, ninety-nine can develop their mana by eating meat, and about twenty of them might become Earth Knights by consuming more. But out of a hundred, only ten might be selected as magic apprentices and sense magic, and possibly none will become magicians."

This huge disparity is why knights rule the world, not magicians.

The earl shifted gears: "Those who can become magicians are often geniuses. They are indispensable for crafting magic items and brewing potions. As for combat... in a fair duel, I could totally crush any great magician, but in reality, great magicians don’t duel knights."

He gave an example: "The Furious Knights' ambush on the Second Prince’s knights clearly had the help of a great magician from the Goat Assembly, just like bringing Hiddleston to cast spells that disrupt the charge formation of knights."

"If great magicians are so powerful, why do we rarely see them accompanying knight groups into battle?"

"The magic of great magicians is only effective for ambushes. When casting spells, they must draw ambient magic power from the air. However, when knights charge, their mana converges into a field, affecting all the surrounding magic power, making it impossible for the magician to gather magic power or cast spells."

This is where Hiddleston has an advantage; it can draw magic power from within its own body to cast spells.

Once magicians are on the battlefield, as soon as knights charge, they're rendered powerless. However, if a magician gets the chance to cast spells, knights can take serious losses. The elite Blueblood Knights led by the Second Prince likely fell victim to a magician's ambush.

"So."

The earl stressed, "Never underestimate magicians; they always find ways to cause chaos."

"I understand," Liszt nodded. "Dad, do you think there might be a great magician hiding in Parsley Castle? Snide is determined to hold out to the end; I think he's got some ace up his sleeve."

"It’s possible, but it doesn’t matter anymore. If this great magician dares to show up, my sword will make him regret participating in the war of knights!"

……

The atmosphere between father and son was pleasant. After talking about the war, the earl also gave Liszt some practical advice on training.

Now, the earl no longer treated Liszt as a child but as an adult he could discuss matters with.

Liszt quite liked this atmosphere; it made him feel less uncomfortable. No matter what, he still felt conflicted because he wasn't the earl's biological son.

However, the harmonious atmosphere didn’t last long.

A knight who arrived in a hurry on a fast horse brought bad news.

Eunas Stonebreaker's Grey Knights faced fierce resistance, suffered heavy losses, and still couldn’t capture the castle at Small River City."