Chapter 879: Crystal Helen

"Captain Marcus, assemble all the knight contingents on the island and march with me to Hot Spring Island!" Liszt pointed his longsword, and Black Horse Island erupted into a frenzy.

"As you command, Your Highness!" Marcus swelled with emotion.

Now a baron, just four years ago he had been a commoner without a title, following a lord with bleak prospects to the rundown, decaying Flower Town.

Who would have thought that one day he would walk the familiar land as a baron?

Gazing at Liszt's shadow under the sunlight, his heart burned with boundless loyalty and reverence, for he knew all of this was bestowed upon him by the young lord before him—compared to four years ago, that once-callow lord had long shed his naivety, becoming a formidable Dragon Knight.

Now, the young lord had even triumphed in the second Dragon Slayer War and was about to root out traitors, radiating the inviolable glory of a Dragon Knight.

Marcus swiftly relayed Liszt's orders, summoning all knight squads and issuing mobilization orders. Though his combat prowess was modest—merely an elite Earth Knight—his authority was immense. Everyone knew he was Liszt's mouthpiece, commanding the most elite Flower Knight Order.

Not only were the knights of the Flower Knight Order assembling, but every Earth Knight stationed on Black Horse Island was also gathering toward the docks.

In truth, Liszt alone could have dealt with the Earl of Hot Spring Island, yet he mobilized every knight in his domain. Regardless of age or frailty, as long as they were Earth Knights, they were mobilized for battle—seeking weapons and boarding swift frigates. The shipyard could now produce two-masted swift frigates, though three-masted ones were still beyond their grasp.

"Your Highness, shall the patrol corps also deploy?" Parris rode a black-blood steed, coming to inquire.

As a Luminous Blade Master—equal in rank to Sky Knights and Great Magicians—her strength had surged recently, now capable of holding her own against Sword Saints.

She was one of Liszt's earliest confidants, currently only a baroness, which left Liszt somewhat dissatisfied. This voluptuous, beautiful female follower, though not the brightest, was deeply admired and trusted by him. He hoped to elevate her to a higher position soon to counterbalance the "Prisoner Faction."

The Prisoner Faction was a notion in Liszt's mind, referring to the Sky Knight followers captured from the Kingdom of the Eagle—numerous, powerful, and prone to forming cliques.

"Vet the patrol corps—all Earth Knights must join the battle. Parris, not just your patrol corps, but Charles' security corps must also deploy their Earth Knights... This expedition to Hot Spring Island is the finest reward I can give to my veteran followers."

"Your Highness, you are a lord who remembers the past, worthy of every knight's loyalty," Parris said respectfully, though a glimmer of barely-contained affection still flickered in her eyes.

No woman could remain unmoved by a Dragon Knight, especially one as dashing and majestic.

If the Sapphire Duchy had media publishing something like "The Nation's Most Desirable Male Knight in Women's Eyes," Liszt would undoubtedly sweep the votes.

"Glory is mine, and I stand with you all." Liszt reached out and patted Parris' shoulder.

Seeing this Luminous Blade Master reminded him of the Light Dragon dwelling in the Red Maple Mountains of the Maple Duchy—an eighty-meter-long colossal wyrm, formidable and elusive. No Dragon Knight dared lightly challenge it to claim the heroic title of Dragon Slayer.

Liszt was tempted to test his mettle.

But the time was not yet ripe; now was not the moment for reckless ventures.

That said, he was already a Dragon Knight with two legendary kills under his belt—Pale Emerald Dragon Knight Ka Erluo Violet and Copper Dragon Knight Loyel Zitong, both slain by his hand. Such a record was illustrious among Dragon Knights, as most died of old age, with battle deaths being rare.

"Your Highness, Charles reporting—the security corps has assembled all Earth Knights and is ready for battle!" Charles Trapp arrived promptly.

His zeal for military merit far surpassed Parris'.

Parris, as a woman, was naturally more relaxed, and with strength rivaling Sword Saints, a high-ranking title was inevitable. But Charles, an elite Earth Knight, had to seize every opportunity for battlefield glory.

"Captain Parris, Captain Charles, since the knight orders are assembled, board the ships at once and follow Captain Marcus' command."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

In no time, Black Horse Island assembled five knightly companies—the Flower Knight Order led by Marcus, the knight orders formed by Sky Knights Derek Tiejia and Joyce Dandelion, and the unconventional orders of Parris and Charles. Only one Sky Knight, Spark, remained to oversee security.

The five knight orders boarded ships and set sail in a grand procession toward Hot Spring Island.

Meanwhile, Tulip Castle also gathered a large force of knights, charging toward Square Island to purge the Viscount of Square Island. However, Marquis Niuwei did not participate personally—he had already departed for Blue Dragon Island to hash out the details with the Sapphire Duchy regarding the second Dragon Slayer War.

With his four sons mounted on dragons behind him, ignoring the sudden attacks, he'd never felt better.

...

Hot Spring Island.

The Earl was in the cellar, caressing batch after batch of treasures—all sent by the Kingdom of the Eagle. Having risked his life as a traitor, he naturally expected rich rewards.

"How beautiful... This 'Crystal Helen' statue must be crafted by the finest crystal artisan of the Kingdom of the Eagle, so lifelike it seemed alive... Ah, great Crystal Helen, you once guided the Moon Empire forward. Will you now guide this lost knight into your heart?"

He closed his eyes, as if intoxicated by a love-struck trance, where an extraordinarily beautiful woman embraced and kissed him...

*Clang!*

*Woo woo woo!*

An urgent horn suddenly blared above the castle, jolting the Earl from his fantasy. As anger rose, he remembered—this horn meant invasion.

"What's happening?!"

He hastily wrapped the half-human-tall Crystal Helen statue in soft cloth, then stormed out of the cellar, shouting at the knights scrambling into formation outside.

"My lord, it's the knights of Flame Territory invading!" A knight captain galloped over urgently. "They've launched an all-out attack on Hot Spring Island, already captured the coastal city of Sand Grain, and are now marching on Hot Spring Castle! My lord, prepare for battle!"

"Flame Territory?"

The Earl's heart skipped a beat, then clenched violently.

Though it was warm April, he felt as if plunged into a frozen hell, a bone-deep chill gripping him: "Flame Territory... Liszt Flame... the Dragon Slayer War... has it been exposed?"

Before he could process the situation, the knights lining up for battle ahead suddenly cried out in alarm:

"Dragon!"

"It's a dragon!"

"The Fire Dragon—the Flame Marquis's Fire Dragon!"

"Why is Flame Territory attacking us?!"

"Is he not afraid of the Grand Duke's wrath?!"

"We're doomed... A dragon knight is attacking us personally!"

Amid the panic, a Fire Dragon appeared on the horizon. With a thirty-meter wingspan, it flapped gently, unleashing boundless flames that surged toward Hot Spring Castle. No breath, no dive—just flames fanned by its wings scorching the castle.

Horses neighed in terror as knights scattered, abandoning formation.

Hot Spring Castle's knights broke ranks without a fight. As the Fire Dragon soared overhead, Liszt, mounted atop it, gave a dispassionate look at the towering castle. Behind him, Black Horse Island's five knight regiments charged forth.

A flood of mana instantly engulfed Hot Spring Castle.

At the edge of the battlefield, Parris, Derek Tiejia, and Joyce Dandelion—three mighty warriors—sprang into action, cutting off the fleeing Earl and blasting him back.

And just like that, it was over.