Episode 560
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
Jupiter was the most fortified and militarized city in the entire empire. Its defenses were unmatched, with towering triple-layered walls at the front and a natural, nearly insurmountable cliff at the back.
Given Jupiter’s formidable geography, the Continental Alliance had no choice but to set up their base at a considerable distance from the fortress.
Helen Draker, the newly appointed Supreme Commander of the Alliance, was a seasoned and formidable knight. However, the Alliance was a tangled web of national and familial interests, making unified command a challenge.
Though bound by treaty to send their knights to establish a camp before Jupiter, the various factions were reluctant to heed Helen’s orders. Each group set up their own camps, more concerned with watching each other than taking decisive action.
Aware of the precarious situation, Helen was cautious. A misstep could be like trying to crack a boulder with an egg.
Inside her tent, Helen studied a map of Jupiter’s terrain, letting out a deep sigh.
“The longer this drags on, the worse it is for us.”
The Alliance was a coalition of knights from diverse backgrounds. Prolonged conflict would not only erode their cause but also exhaust the knights and soldiers.
If Castro Pollock’s forces chose to remain holed up within Jupiter, the Alliance, already strained, could eventually crumble.
Moreover, the final stronghold, Thermo Fortress, was under heavy assault by monsters. If it fell while the Alliance was tied up here, the still-recovering Rom would suffer greatly.
“We can’t just sit here. We need to find a way to breach Jupiter.”
As Helen pondered her next move, Duke, the leader of the Black Sword Knights, entered the tent.
“Sir Duke.”
Though his visit was unexpected, Helen greeted the elder of her family and the black knight with respect.
After taking a seat, Duke spoke, “The burden of this mission must weigh heavily on you.”
“It’s manageable,” Helen replied, though her face showed signs of weariness.
Duke observed her closely. “The Red King of the Empire is the real concern, isn’t he?”
Helen bit her lip at the mention of the Red King. Originally, Jupiter was held by Castro Pollock and his legion, along with the mercenary group, the Breaker Brigade. But news had reached the Alliance that the Red King, one of the Empire’s black knights, had joined them.
While the Duke of Crevan di Panion was the most renowned black knight in the Rom Empire, Count Vlad, known as the Red King, was equally infamous.
His reputation for brutality was well-known, overshadowed only by the madness of Emperor Nero and the massacres of Abel Draker. Yet, Vlad’s cruelty was vividly remembered from the Eastern Continent Invasion War 25 years ago.
In fact, the warriors of the Murk Empire feared only two figures in the Central Continent: the Conqueror Arthur Draker and the Red King, Count Vlad.
The Eastern Continent had even given Vlad a chilling moniker.
“The Impaler…”
As Helen whispered Vlad’s nickname, Duke’s expression darkened.
“The mere rumor of the Red King’s presence has already dampened the Alliance’s morale. Count Vlad and his Basarab family’s Dracul Knights are notorious for their strength and ruthlessness.”
Even the mad emperor avoided Valachia, where the Red King resided. Vlad’s presence in Jupiter was the worst possible news for the Alliance.
Helen nodded grimly. “You’re right, Sir Duke. Jupiter was already a tough nut to crack, and with Count Vlad joining, the battle has become even more daunting.”
Helen had made a concerted effort to objectively assess Count Vlad. While his notoriety was well-known, his actual achievements were often obscured by terrifying rumors.
Through the remaining records of the Eastern Continent War, Helen had investigated Vlad’s history. Her conclusion was that he was a siege warfare expert.
Twenty-five years ago, the Murk Empire, led by the Butcher Saladin, had stormed into the Central Continent with terrifying force. Saladin aimed for the heart of the continent, Midland, but the nobles wanted to first conquer the vast Rom Empire to gain glory.
Despite Saladin’s intentions, the nobles led a massive army into Rom, only to be stopped by the Red King, Count Vlad.
Valachia, ruled by the Basarab family, was not a large county. The Murk Empire intended to crush Valachia quickly and invade Rom. However, their formidable army of over a hundred thousand was decisively defeated at Valachia.
At the heart of this defense were the Red King and the Dracul Knights. The fields before Valachia were littered with the impaled bodies of Murk warriors, creating rivers of blood.
The Murk nobles, shocked by Vlad’s prowess and brutality, had no choice but to retreat.
While Vlad’s reputation focused on his cruelty, Helen’s analysis of the battle revealed a strategic mind.
“To defend a siege-unfriendly Valachia against such overwhelming odds, he used shock tactics to instill fear.”
Fear can paralyze. Vlad knew the young Eastern nobles leading the Murk forces were inexperienced in war, and he used the most effective means to stop them.
Helen concluded that Vlad was more of a strategic genius than a mere brute.
“Castro Pollock is known to be a species supremacist, but he’s also respected by those he values. With a strategist like Vlad by his side, this battle will be incredibly challenging…”
At that moment, Felix burst into the tent.
“Commander!”
Felix’s urgent voice called out to Helen.
“The gates of Jupiter have opened!”
Helen and the Black Sword Knights rode out to see the open gates of Jupiter for themselves.
Though the fortress was some distance away, their keen eyesight allowed them to clearly observe the situation.
Before Jupiter’s gates, knights bearing a dragon-emblazoned banner stood proudly.
Helen bit her lip at the sight.
“The Dracul Knights.”
While the Draker family was famed for dragon slaying, the Basarab family was said to carry the blood of dragons. During the Seven Kingdoms era, many families bore dragon emblems, but they vanished after the Liberation War.
The Dracul Knights of the Basarab family were the only ones who still bore the dragon emblem, having gained fame in the Central Continent for their role in repelling the Murk invasion.
Behind the Dracul Knights, soldiers began setting up something in front of the fortress—a massive, spiked iron stake.
The same fearsome weapon that had terrified the Murk Empire 25 years ago, the Impaler’s spikes, had reappeared before Jupiter.
Duke clicked his tongue at the sight. “It’s rare for defenders to provoke like this.”
Unlike Duke, who seemed unfazed, Helen’s expression was grave.
“The other Alliance camps will see this too.”
As she predicted, the other camps were witnessing the installation of the massive iron spikes before Jupiter.
Though the Red King’s infamy had faded over time, it still instilled fear in both the Murk Empire and the Central Continent.
Seeing the spikes being set up only intensified that fear.
As soldiers drove dozens of spikes into the ground, a figure on horseback emerged from the gates.
The horse was twice the size of the others, and atop it sat a knight clad in red Hershion armor.
Even from a distance, the knight exuded an intimidating aura.
“The Red King.”
Helen realized this was the infamous Count Vlad.
Though his face was hidden by a helmet, there was no mistaking his identity.
For a key commander to appear so openly was a bold display of confidence.
Understanding this, Helen could only bite her lip in frustration.
Count Vlad sat astride his horse, surveying the spikes embedded in the ground. His gaze shifted, locking onto Helen despite the considerable distance between them.
In that instant, Vlad spurred his horse forward, galloping ahead. He reached down and effortlessly picked up one of the massive iron spikes, a feat that would have required several strong men to accomplish.
With a powerful throw, he launched the spike into the air. It soared with a whistling sound, cutting through the sky towards Helen and the Black Sword Knights.
The knights, caught off guard by the unexpected throw from such a distance, hastily drew their swords. But Helen, who had been on high alert since Vlad’s appearance, calmly unsheathed her Dragon Buster.
As she unleashed her power, the fragments attached to the Dragon Buster began to move.
With a metallic clatter, the pieces expanded outward, forming a sturdy shield. Using her bloodline ability to manipulate magnetism, Helen fused the shield together, bracing for the impact of Vlad’s iron spike.
A deafening explosion-like sound reverberated as the spike collided with the shield. The front of the spike blunted and fell to the ground with a heavy thud, leaving a deep indentation where it landed.
The fragments of the Dragon Buster then reassembled themselves, transforming into armor that enveloped Helen. She glared across the battlefield at Count Vlad, recognizing his blatant provocation aimed directly at her, the commander.
Vlad’s actions were a clear attempt to lure the allied forces into attacking the fortress.
Helen clenched her teeth. “If we retreat now, morale will plummet even further,” she thought. Yet, launching an assault on the well-fortified Jupiter Fortress without a plan was out of the question.
As the commander, Helen pondered her response to Vlad’s sudden challenge, aware that many noble banners were watching.
At that moment, Alicia Himonas, the Grand Duke of the North, approached with her knights.
“Commander,” Alicia called out.
“Grand Duke,” Helen replied, tense as Alicia’s formidable presence drew near. She feared that if Alicia, weary of the prolonged standoff, decided to withdraw, it would devastate their morale. It would also put Helen in a difficult position, given her previous support for the North.
Alicia picked up the fallen iron spike, examining it briefly before turning to Helen.
“They’ve sent their regards,” Alicia said with a wry smile. “Shall I respond on your behalf?”