Chapter 404: One Person Becomes an Army (Part 1)

The next day, noon arrived, and Count Perry’s barracks mobilized the entire army.

Fabiana was already waiting on the city wall early, just as Samimi had scolded her yesterday. There was no trace of cowardice on her face—only a firm gaze.

The three hundred Giant Whale Knights stood guard collectively atop the wall. Seeing their War Marshal with such an expression, they naturally brimmed with fighting spirit. Even if the enemy outnumbered them a hundred times over, no one would flinch.

Moreover, besides the three hundred Giant Whale Knights inside the city, there were also many logistics personnel—all veterans even older than the Knight King himself.

They too were Giant Whale Knights. The Dilmurt Family would support them for life, so at this moment, they would advance and retreat together with Knight Academy City.

The Dilmurt Family couldn’t afford much in rewards; they weren’t good at business and didn’t actually have much money. The barrel of gold Fabiana had hidden in her room had already been carried off by Samimi.

But even if it was just room and board, the Giant Whale Knights were willing to give their all for the Dilmurt Family.

All the Giant Whale Knights had already changed classes to archers and slingers. They held longbows in their hands, with large quivers placed beside them, ready to strike.

On that grassland everyone knew so well, at this very moment, its far end was filled entirely with enemies.

As far as the eye could see, all were foes.

The army pressed forward, troops at the city gates.

Commanding Count Perry’s thirty-thousand-strong army were the famous Frostblade Knights Order and Windwhisper Knights Order.

These were the two most perfectly coordinated knight orders, known as the Great Knight Orders.

Their Knight Commanders also held seats at the Round Table Meeting.

Frostblade Knight Commander Henry and Windwhisper Knight Commander Rex were both first-class experts.

The two Grand Knight Commanders flanked Count Perry on left and right. It seemed the Count himself was prepared to take the field today and lead from the front.

Behind the two Great Knight Orders were various miscellaneous knights, numbering in the thousands.

But to be honest, using cavalry to attack a city seemed fairly useless.

So today, the more than twenty thousand mercenaries behind the knights were the true main force for the assault.

A large number of siege engines were ready to launch, and dozens of scaling ladders were already prepared.

Unlike the Giant Whale Knights of Knight Academy City, everyone on the Count’s side was driven by profit.

All of them were here for money.

But only half had been paid so far.

Only after this battle would they receive the other half of the bounty, plus extra rewards.

Even dying didn’t matter; the money would be sent to their families.

Warriors driven by gold were not necessarily weaker than the knights across from them, who were driven by loyalty. They could even be stronger and fight more desperately.

However, the two Grand Knights and Count Perry, along with their elite noble knights, stopped in the middle of the grassland. They wouldn’t actually enter the enemy’s “archer range.”

“Brothers! Charge!”

Then the more than twenty thousand mercenary infantry began rushing forward with all their might.

They pushed siege engines, carried scaling ladders, and used their own bodies to withstand the enemy’s arrows.

The densely packed mercenaries were as numerous as a swarm of running ants.

The roar of battle shook the heavens, ferocious shouts filled the air, making one completely lose any sense of the weight of life.

Clearly, the fact that yesterday their own mage general had been burned to a cripple by the enemy general did not instill much fear in these mercenaries.

They were still just as heartless and cold-blooded.

“It’s beginning.”

Fabiana listened to the rolling war drums, closed her eyes, and felt the mysterious power lingering between heaven and earth.

We’ve only met for the first time, yet they want to destroy my home—for money and power.

If that’s the case, then don’t blame me for being merciless.

The girl seemed to see a group of sacred figures.

They were ancient soldiers, facing terrible enemies hidden in the darkness. Even as their bodies were eroded by the dark, their sanity remained steadfast. To protect their most beloved, they fought against the entire world.

Countless enemy arrows flew past her, but none touched her, as if she had activated some kind of evasion aura.

“Your sun has set.”

Fabiana suddenly opened her eyes, golden light flickering within her pupils. Even her silver hair was tinged with a hint of gold.

In an instant, the sky changed color, and black clouds pressed down.

Even though it was broad daylight, the moment turned dark and dim.

Not only that, but Fabiana suddenly leaped into the air, soaring straight out beyond the city wall.

But you’re not a mage?

Mages can spray mana downward to cancel their momentum, thereby mimicking the showy step of walking on air.

You’re not really a mage—what are you doing?

“Boom! Boom!”

Yet in fact, Fabiana was completely fine even after jumping down from the three-story-high city wall. She slowly stood up as if nothing had happened.

And she had even used a charged jump, first leaping several meters into the air before landing.

Even that didn’t break your steel knees, huh.

This move stunned both sides.

Not only the charging mercenaries opposite, but even her own Giant Whale Knights were startled.

“[Hundred Ghosts Night Ride].”

At her command, a frenzied icy fog swept across the field, and the ground began to tremble.

One by one, black skeletons emerged from the earth out of nowhere, and one set of dark armor after another fitted onto them.

Finally, black knight swords appeared in each of their hands.

Compared to last time, the skeleton knights had been significantly upgraded again.

This time, the skeletons were all over six foot three—tough guys with massive, sturdy frames. Their original bone swords had become knight swords.

Some skeleton knights even had capes, a symbol of strength.

Of course, the most important thing was that the number of skeleton knights far exceeded any previous summoning.

Fabiana had actually summoned a full ten thousand skeleton knights!

The surroundings of Knight Academy City were pitch black, all her own defending forces.

Not only was it an iron-clad defense, but she was also taking the initiative.

And it wasn’t over yet. Fabiana even summoned a batch of Coldfire Skeleton Horses.

She mounted one herself and slowly rode to the front of her Heroic Spirit army, head and shoulders above them, asserting dominance over her skeletal forces.

Someone who had called for so many knights finally looked like a knight herself.

And this time…

The mercenaries fighting for money finally understood what fear was.

Their unstoppable advance came to a halt. Sweat dripped from their foreheads, and the blades in their hands somehow felt slippery.

Even though everyone had heard they would be facing Fabiana the Ghost Knight, and had heard her legends, seeing it with their own eyes now—not pissing their pants was already considered brave.

They had all thought those were just made-up stories by the noble knight lords.

They never imagined it was real!

Holy crap!