Chapter 122: They Mocked Luke’s Army Until the Machine Empire’s War Machines Appeared
Author Note:
This is a bonus Chapter to celebrate reaching "20 Golden Tickets!"
A very special thanks to "Souls 101" "BluuuuTea" "Zanatox", and everyone else who has supported this novel and continued to show your love and encouragement. Your support means a lot and motivates me to keep writing.
The next milestone is "50 Golden Tickets", which will unlock "3 additional Chapters" as a special reward.
I hope everyone continues to support this novel and enjoy the journey ahead. Thank you all for reading!
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Luke became surprised, that this halo also gave him an additional passive ability, ’but who is saying no to free things.’ With that he looked toward everyone and saw their wary expressions.
But he didn’t care about that and replied to Sorin’s earlier claims, which were heard by everyone. "I don’t know, where your bastard young master and his uncle have gone."
"Because if they were in front of me, then I would make sure to make them feel what happens when someone touches what’s mine."
GASP!
Everyone was already feeling shocked by Luke’s earlier transformation and after hearing his current words they gasped at his sheer arrogance.
Sorin also came out of his earlier thoughts after hearing Luke’s arrogant reply, but didn’t become angry, instead he raised his brow. ’Playing politics... not accepting until the end.’
While Nyra and Sophia’s expressions turned a little worried, even though Luke had broken through, he was still an Early Bronze Knight in realm.
So angering the Golden Knight could be disastrous and if they targeted him, then he would definitely get injured even with the Golden Knight’s protection.
But Aurielle merely smiled, thinking, ’He really would do that.’
Beside her, Aurora nodded in agreement. ’Master is the best.’
As for Vaelira, her gaze remained fixed on Sorin the entire time.
She was watching him closely, ready to act. If he dared to attack her master, she would retaliate instantly without hesitation.
Though all the Blackstone Legions remained silent, standing still as they waited for their master’s command.
While most of them were still mocking Luke for his earlier provocative words, they suddenly heard his voice echo across the battlefield once again.
"And now that you have touched my territory, so all of you pay the price for it." With that Luke pointed his giant finger toward Alastair, whose face became disgusted, because that Golden Knight woman is a different thing, but now he was getting pointed at by someone of a lower realm than him, which angered him.
Because even if the Viscount of another territory comes into their territory, they have to give him respect as well.
Seeing that the situation was not changing at all, Sorin shook his head and said, "Seems like talking is useless."
A hint of regret appeared in his eyes. The person standing before him was not just a Baron—before this, he had been a Hero. If Sorin harmed him openly, there was a possibility that he would anger the Holy Light Church.
’But I have to follow Aldaric’s order.’ plus he was also a little suspicious regarding Luke being talentless and now Luke had already become an enemy of the Ashenford family, so he had to capture Luke at all cost, though without hurting him.
Having thought so, he gave a look toward the angry Alastair, who nodded to him.
The next moment, Alastair raised his hand high and roared,
"ARCHERS!"
His command echoed across the battlefield.
Instantly, nearly twenty-four thousand archers—from Body Temper Realm soldiers to seasoned Bronze Knights—stepped forward in perfect unison. Then they raised their bows toward the sky and nocked their arrows with practiced precision.
Creak... Creak... Creak...
Thousands upon thousands of bowstrings were drawn simultaneously, their taut groans merging into a single, overwhelming sound that blanketed the battlefield.
In mere moments, a forest of arrows pointed toward the sky, their gleaming arrowheads reflecting a chilling promise of death, which made the air itself tense, as if the entire battlefield was holding its breath, waiting for Alastair’s next command.
Faced with the overwhelming display of force, Luke remained completely unfazed.
Instead of making a drastic move, he simply raised one hand.
Aurielle, at his side, immediately understood the silent command.
She gave a slight nod before taking out ten iron spheres, each engraved with intricate, glowing runes that pulsed with runic light.
Without the slightest hesitation, she hurled them in different directions across the battlefield.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The ten rune-covered iron spheres streaked through the air, before landing at random locations around the battlefield.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Then it happened, which even stunned the Ashenford Knights.
The moment the iron spheres struck the ground, glowing runes flared brilliantly.
Rumble...!
The spheres began to unfold.
Layers of enchanted metal expanded outward with a series of loud clanks, transforming the palm-sized objects into massive steel fortresses, each standing nearly ten meters tall and ten meters wide.
But the transformation wasn’t over.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
From both sides of each fortress, eight enormous mechanical legs extended one after another. Every leg measured nearly fourteen meters in length, piercing deep into the earth before lifting the colossal structures high above the battlefield like gigantic metallic beasts.
BOOM!
The ground trembled as all ten mechanical fortresses settled into position.
"T-This...!"
The onlookers cried out in astonishment, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
They recognized the design immediately.
It perfectly matched the famous war machines of the Machine Empire—inventions spoken of only in stories and military records. Some had merely heard the tales, while a fortunate few had once witnessed such marvels from afar.
Yet none of them had ever imagined they would see ten of these colossal mechanical fortresses standing before them, radiating an overwhelming aura of technology and ancient craftsmanship. The sight alone was enough to leave the entire battlefield speechless.
But there was one problem.
The Machine Empire almost never sold its war machines to outsiders. Each creation was considered a national property, and even powerful kingdoms struggled to obtain a single one.
So why were they here? Soon confusion spread across the battlefield.
’Are they genuine...?’ ’Or are they merely replicas?’ That same question surfaced in everyone’s mind.
No one could tell whether these towering mechanical fortresses were authentic creations of the Machine Empire or flawless imitations. Yet one thing was certain—
Whether real or copied, the terrifying pressure they radiated was undeniably real.
While the onlookers were enjoying the spectacle, fifty Bronze Archer Knights from the Blackstone Legions suddenly leapt forward and mounted the Warwalker fortresses.
Following them, one hundred Marinthains also moved into position. They divided themselves into groups of ten before climbing onto each fortress.
The same happened with the high-ranking officers as well. Luke, Aurielle, Osric, Vaelira, and Aurora all moved toward the final Warwalker fortress and mounted it together.
Sadly, each fortress could only accommodate around eighty people while maintaining a reasonable level of comfort. Any more than that would make the space cramped and suffocating.
Because of this, the remaining knights and their warhorses took shelter behind each Warwalker fortress, using them as cover.
Alastair observed the Warwalker fortress, but couldn’t identify its tier. ’Enchanted? Refined? Or even higher?’ because even though its whole body was Black-Iron color, but occasional bronze runes could be seen on its surface.
’Whatever.’ He shook his head and ordered.
"FIRE!"