Kneeling on one knee in the ruins of the bunker, Ackerman turned over the blood-stained soil with his hands and pulled out half a charred feather.
Randall crouched down and approached Ackerman: "The enemy forces in the defensive line have all been wiped out. Only the last ones remain..."
Looking at the last line of defense the enemy had built atop the hill, Randall frowned and said, "The fortifications on the hilltop have a shorter line of fire than the previous two, which means the enemy's firepower will be much denser."
Ackerman placed the charred feather in his palm, looked up at the last Valkyrie still hovering in the air, and said softly, "War should not involve women."
Randall followed his gaze to the sky and said helplessly, "I know what you're thinking."
After a pause, he continued, "I also know what that Valkyrie in the sky is thinking... I'm sure that as long as we launch an attack on the last line of defense, she will not hesitate to use her life to pave the way for us."
Ackerman clenched his fists and asked in a deep voice, "How many men have we lost?"
"Forty-nine knights are seriously injured and will need time to regenerate and recover. They probably won't be able to participate in the next battle. On the Crusader side... they have lost about two hundred men."
"In other words, we still have the capability to continue fighting..."
"That's right."
Ackerman glanced at the sky, a look of struggle on his face.
After hesitating for a full half minute, he gritted his teeth and growled in a low voice, "Have the messenger sound the bugle and prepare for the general offensive!"
Randall sighed, patted Ackerman on the shoulder, and then turned to leave.
"Wait! Wait!"
An anxious voice came from behind, attracting the attention of Ackerman and Randall.
Carrying the heavy dragon bones on her back, Joonella stumbled forward, protected by two giant wolves.
Ackerman grabbed Joonella's arm and yanked him into the trench, yelling, "You bastard! Are you crazy?! What are you doing here instead of staying in the rear?!"
Exhausted and out of breath, Joonella said wearily, "Wait a minute, I knew you were going to launch an attack, so I came from behind."
Ackerman glanced at him: "You want to play as the vanguard?"
Ioonera paused for a moment, then quickly shook her head and said, "Didn't you ask me before if there was any way to deal with the enemy's bunkers?"
"I only mentioned two, there was one I didn't say..."
Ackerman stared at Joonella: "Stop talking nonsense! Get to the point!"
"In fact, war beasts are the best choice for attacking such defensive fortifications."
Randall looked at the giant wolf beside Joonella with suspicion: "You mean them?"
Joonella stroked the giant wolf's head and slowly said, "I'm referring to coordinated combat between battle beasts. We beast tamers received special training in similar offensive operations at the academy, back then..."
Growing increasingly impatient, Ackerman drew an arrow, pressed it against Joonera's throat, and shouted sternly, "Swear to the Dragon God, if you utter another word of nonsense, I'll make sure you never have to use it again!"
Randall pulled back the giant wolves that were poised to bite, and said to Joonella with a wry smile, "Get to the point."
"Lord Alfonso is leading the main force of our army and is on his way here. He will arrive in an hour." Looking at the arrow in his throat, Joonera spoke quickly: "He also brought the order from Commander-in-Chief Cumberland, which can be summarized in one sentence... surround but do not attack."
An enraged Ackerman retracted his arrow and roared, "Why didn't you say so sooner?!"
Joonella pointed to her dragon bones, looking aggrieved: "I just got the news too."
Ackerman pulled out his charcoal pencil, wrote something on a rag, wrapped it around an arrow, and shot it directly at the Valkyrie in the air.
Watching the Valkyrie grasp the arrow, read the letter, and then turn her griffin to slowly fly down the mountain, Ackerman breathed a sigh of relief.
Lying on the ground with his limbs spread wide, Ackerman casually said, "Tell everyone to rest here."
Randall nodded and began using the Hive to contact the other knights.
Ackerman glanced at Joonella, who was touching her neck and still shaken, and smiled slightly. "Forgive my rudeness and impoliteness. I can't stand seeing my friends and subordinates get hurt..."
Ackerman's words elicited a look of surprise and admiration from Joonella.
Unfortunately, the dark elf's next words instantly shattered the good impression the young scholar had just built up.
Ackerman withdrew his right hand, patted the feathers in his pocket, and said casually, "...especially beautiful women."
An hour later, with the news that the enemy command post had been discovered, the expeditionary force from the Dragon Kingdom, except for a small portion that continued to intercept the enemy, gathered in a mighty procession at the foot of the Far Ember Hills.
Hundreds of dragonbone knights began to form an attack formation, freeing the dragonbone parasites from their armor and allowing them to writhe and grow in the air.
Orcs, werewolves, tauren, elves... countless alien Crusader warriors are receiving the final blessings from the shamans in their respective ranks.
Dozens of Valkyries circled continuously above the hills, occasionally reporting the enemy's movements to those below.
When Alfonso Decavo set foot on the land of the Far Ember Hills, the two banners representing the Dragon God and the Knights of Twilight were raised high at the forefront of the battlefield, issuing a final declaration of death to the enemy.
Minutes later, on the hilltop of the enemy camp, the original church flag was lowered and a flag embroidered with black and white lions was raised.
After seeing the flag, Alfonso stood still and remained silent for a long time.
Gazing at the flag in the distance, Ackerman whispered to Randall, "What's that?"
“That’s the coat of arms of the Hesmond family,” Randall said calmly. “In the capital city of Tyro, the two lions on that coat of arms are also known as the guardian dogs of the Father.”
Alfonso unsheathed his greatsword, handed the weapon to his lieutenant, and began walking alone towards the mountaintop.
Ackerman's eyes widened, and he quickly stepped in front of Alfonso, shouting, "What are you doing?!"
“I have a letter, a letter from Lord Cumberland, that needs to be delivered to Bromo Hesmond.” Alfonso looked at the dark elf before him and said expressionlessly, “His Majesty the Holy King has already given his approval to this action.”
“This isn’t a matter of agreement or disagreement!” Ackerman stopped Alfonso, saying, “You’ll be riddled with bullets before you even get close to the enemy!”
“EstSularusothMithas”
Alfonso left those words behind and walked towards the top of the hill without looking back.
Watching the knight's departing figure, Ackerman said weakly, "What exactly was he saying?"
"Honor is my life..." Randall sighed deeply. "This is the motto of the Church Knight Academy, and it's the first sentence in the oath of every graduate when they are awarded their knighthood..."
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