Chapter 705: The Grand Duke’s Entrance

This chapter is an extra update for the "Fantasy Battle Hymn" reward.

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Marquis Niuwei, blood still at the corner of his mouth, staggered in a daze. One moment he had been swaggering with confidence, eager to erase past humiliations; the next, he was bound hand and foot in iron chains, reduced to a captive.

"How are you this strong?!" He pulled himself together, staring at the handsome, smirking face before him, unable to hide his panic.

Liszt glanced casually at the ongoing naval battle and said, "My strength grows daily, and I wield the mighty power of the Frostbite Dragon Slayer Sword. Meanwhile, you’ve stagnated. It’s only natural that you’re captured." The chaotic boarding fight raged on unchecked, even after Marquis Niuwei's defeat.

In fact, aside from Marquis Niuwei,

the Kingdom of the Eagle still had several outstanding sky knights who were beginning to turn the tide.

If not for the Blue Gemstone knights’ familiarity with naval warfare, the battle would’ve been a rout. This long-planned ambush by the Kingdom of the Eagle had gathered a massive force of elite knights. Just the sky knights alone could form multiple elite knight regiments, darkening the skies in droves.

The advantage brought by fast sailing and seafaring skills was slipping away, and signs of collapse were beginning to appear in the Blue Gemstone fleet.

"I don’t know how you trained—whether it’s the Frostbite Dragon Slayer Sword granting you such power or some ancient warrior inheritance unlocking your strength," Marquis Niuwei regained his composure, "but even if you capture me, you can’t change Blue Gemstone’s fate."

"Is that so?"

"Just wait. Blue Gemstone will be completely taken over by the Kingdom of the Eagle. The Blue Gemstone family and all of you followers will become prisoners of the Kingdom of the Eagle!"

"I don’t think so. The Grand Duke hasn’t even moved yet. Once the Blue Gemstone Dragon arrives, you’ll all be running for your lives." Liszt played the cocky youth, trying to provoke a reaction. "Besides, the sea belongs to Blue Gemstone. Once our knights rally, we won’t even need the Blue Gemstone Dragon to wipe you out."

"You arrogant brat!"

Marquis Niuwei tried to mock Liszt but suddenly remembered he was now the prisoner. His words caught in his throat, and he turned his head away, closing his eyes in silence.

Liszt kept pressing him: "You’d better prepare your ransom. As a Domain Knight, it won’t be cheap."

Marquis Niuwei gave a calm chuckle. "Hmph."

"Do you really think you’ll be rescued soon? Di Maria, with my strength, I rule these seas unchallenged. No one can save you. Only ransom will buy your freedom."

"Spare me the talk. Soon enough, you’ll see how this war ends. I’m just a pawn in this conflict, and no matter how strong you are, you're just as small as I am."

"Trying to scare me?"

"No." Having calmed his anger, Marquis Niuwei became tight-lipped, revealing nothing but repeating variations of "Blue Gemstone is doomed" and "you're doomed too." A seasoned Domain Knight like him wouldn't fall for simple tricks.

At that moment, another figure approached—Marquis Niuwei, hauled from the sea and changed into clean clothes. Seeing the tightly bound Marquis Niuwei, he sighed deeply.

He had thought himself close to perfection, confident he could withstand a few blows from a Domain Knight.

Never did he expect to be blasted into the sea upon their first clash, leaving him utterly humiliated. Fortunately, Liszt had restored his pride: "Di Maria, didn’t expect us to meet again so soon. On any other battlefield, you'd be a terror. But here, you're outmatched."

"Lee William, you just happened to father a prodigy. You couldn’t even survive a single strike from me."

"I told you—under different circumstances, your words would shame me. But now you're bound on my ship. Your threats hold no weight."

"They will soon."

"I know what you're thinking. You believe the Kingdom of the Eagle has already won, so being captured doesn’t bother you. But whether you like it or not, a prisoner is still a prisoner. The Tulip family has many options, while you have only one." Lee William clasped his hands behind his back, oozing smugness as if he had Di Maria completely under control.

His implication was clear.

Perhaps Blue Gemstone would fall, but if the Tulip family pledged allegiance in time, they could quickly rise as nobles of the Kingdom of the Eagle. And then, no matter how high Marquis Niuwei’s rank, he’d still have to pay the Tulip family a hefty ransom for his freedom—because that was exactly what the Tulip family deserved.

Unless the Tulip family follows the Sapphire family to ruin or becomes prisoners, the Raging Tide Marquis can regain his freedom.

In any case, the disgrace of defeat and capture has been locked onto the Raging Tide Marquis, and only time can wash it away—there is no other way.

Seeing the Raging Tide Marquis’ face alternate between green and red,

Lee William finally got his revenge. Whether it was dignified or not, he stood in the position of the victor—all because he had a dragon knight for a son.

After locking the panting Raging Tide Marquis in the bottom of the ship’s hold,

Lee William and Liszt began to slow their offensive momentum, preparing to hold back.

Whether it was Lee William’s earlier aerial acrobatics, or Liszt’s capture of the Raging Tide Marquis, they had already demonstrated enough valor on the battlefield to repay the Duke’s trust—now Liszt could claim to be exhausted from the battle, and Lee William could claim injuries from battling the Raging Tide Marquis, avoiding further combat.

“It’s time to retreat. The fleet of the Blue Blood Knights can’t withstand the Kingdom of the Eagle’s Sky Knights’ bombardment, and the Prince’s flagship has already suffered several strikes.”

Lee William observed through his telescope and spoke.

Liszt was about to agree with the Marquis’ view when suddenly, his chest stirred—the fire drake Rio had sent him a message through their mental link.

His eyebrows raised, and he couldn’t help but exclaim excitedly, “Father, the fleet may not retreat after all—the Duke approaches!”

“The Duke?”

“I sense the presence of the Sapphire Dragon, and it’s not far from us.”

“Is that so? It seems I’ll have to maintain appearances to leave a good impression on the Duke.” Lee William immediately began directing the fleet to seek new opponents.

Liszt stood beside Acheronides at the ship’s bow.

He hadn’t expected the Sapphire Duke to join the battle so early—after all, in typical chivalric warfare, such figures usually appeared only at the final moment.

Regardless, he still held an eager anticipation for the Sapphire Dragon’s arrival. Every dragon was a living symbol of power and beauty. Amid this excitement, the chaotic battlefield suddenly went silent as all knights ceased their fighting.

One by one, they turned their heads to gaze at the northern horizon.

A dragon’s roar rumbled like thunder, and from within a cloud burst a blue dragon, its gem-like scales glittering in the sunlight.

Descending from the clouds, its mere appearance shook the entire battlefield.

“roar!”

The Sapphire Dragon continued its thunderous roar as it slowly descended over the battlefield. Faintly visible on the Dragon Tooth Platform at its neck and shoulders stood a figure clad in blue armor. As for the dragon itself, it remained as broken as before—missing a forelimb, with half its scales rotted away.

Its magic power was still potent and vibrant, yet its body showed no signs of recovery.

“Is it unwilling to heal, or unable to?” Liszt activated *Magic Eye*, carefully observing this powerful adult dragon.

At the same time, he pressed a hand to his chest,

struggling to suppress the burning heat there.

Inside, Leo was frenzied with excitement—showing no fear, only eagerness and the desire to tear his opponent apart.