Knight: Becoming King of the World

Soon, the officers of the nobles’ Private Armies searched for their masters as usual, checking their residences in Odoche and the military camps, but they couldn’t find a soul.

They arrived at John’s command post, only to find him with a grim expression on his face. His gaze swept over them like a blade, and the coldness in his eyes made them shudder.

"Lord Count," an officer asked, mustering his courage, "do you know where our masters and their Knight’s Squires have gone?"

John snorted coldly and spoke slowly, "Them? They’ve gone where they needed to go. Now, all that’s here is you, me, and this battle."

The officers’ hearts skipped a beat. They instantly understood most of the situation, but none dared to ask further. At a life-or-death moment like this, any sign of doubt or dissatisfaction could be a death sentence.

"From now on, your troops are under my direct and absolute command. If there is even the slightest delay in following an order..."

The officers bowed their heads and replied in unison, "As you command, Lord Count!"

At this moment, they knew that obeying John was their only path to survival, their only chance to protect their own lives.

John nodded in satisfaction and immediately began issuing orders. "Reinforce the defenses on the left section of the wall. Prevent Henry’s army from exploiting any weakness. All other units, stand ready to provide support at a moment’s notice."

The officers sprang into action, rushing to their respective units to relay John’s commands.

For days, Boman and Fass had been on standby, yet Henry had shown no sign of ordering a large-scale attack. The soldiers they had brought with them were tense, and as the weather grew hotter, sweat dripped down their foreheads. Still, no one dared to relax in the slightest.

Because they, too, had no idea when the final assault would begin!

A look at the defending soldiers on the walls revealed them biting their lips, their hands trembling. The wind itself seemed to grow heavy, feeling strangely chilly against their skin despite the blazing sun.

’What the hell is Henry playing at?’ John couldn’t help but curse under his breath, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the hilt of his sword.

’Is he trying to wear us down until we die? This isn’t his style!’ No one answered him. Complaining was pointless.

The defending army, in particular, was tormented by the long wait, pushed to the brink of collapse. Some soldiers even began to imagine they had already died on the battlefield, their souls drifting in the air, never to return to the warmth of their homes.

They were tempted to throw themselves from the walls just to end the endless torment, but they knew that giving up meant absolute failure and death.

Just then, John’s voice suddenly rang out. "Warriors, pull yourselves together! Henry’s army may be cunning, but we will not be intimidated! As long as we hold our ground, reinforcements will surely arrive!"

The soldiers straightened their backs at his words, but they no longer held any real hope for these supposed reinforcements.

Boman and Fass had assumed today would be like any other. They expected Henry to continue sending out waves of prisoners to their deaths, using them to drain the enemy’s energy and probe for weaknesses in their defenses.

However, when they saw a commotion stirring in Henry’s camp, followed by Henry’s own towering figure appearing at the head of the army, the two men exchanged a look of pure shock.

Henry stood clad in his mysterious black armor, which seemed to swallow the light, glinting with a cold, dark sheen under the sun.

He held a great axe and a warhammer. The weapons looked immensely heavy, yet they didn’t seem to hinder his movements in the slightest.

Boman and Fass had once, with Henry’s permission, tried to lift the two weapons.

But it took all their strength, using two hands, just to lift one of the weapons. In a fight, they’d likely lose their aim after five swings and be completely exhausted after ten.

And yet, here was Henry, holding one in each hand! They had always assumed he only used one of them to fight!

Henry stood before his army, his gaze sweeping the field. His imposing presence made Boman and Fass swallow hard, feeling an invisible pressure bear down on them.

"Is he about to launch the final assault?" Boman muttered.

Fass gripped the hilt of his sword, his palm already slick with sweat. He watched Henry’s mighty figure and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fear.

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Henry’s appearance undoubtedly meant the battle was about to enter a new phase.

Sure enough, Henry’s army began to move. Soldiers fell into formation, and the synchronized sound of their marching was enough to make one’s heart pound.

Without another word, Boman and Fass immediately began their own preparations, ordering their soldiers to assemble for the attack.

The defenders of Odoche spotted the movement. Bells began to ring frantically as reserves and resting soldiers scrambled to assemble.

Officers sprang into action, ordering soldiers to haul stones, check their bows and arrows, and reinforce the walls.

Everyone on the walls, from top to bottom, fixed their eyes on Henry’s every move, praying silently that their defenses would hold against the coming onslaught.

At that moment, John was riding hard from the Earl’s Mansion, racing toward the walls!

Henry raised his great axe and let out a sky-shattering roar, rallying his incredibly loyal soldiers.

Henry’s gaze swept over Boman’s and Fass’s armies. Seeing they were assembled, he issued his command: "Boman, Fass! Push forward with four Cloud Ladders—two on the left, two on the right! Lead your armies and launch an all-out assault on the wall before you!"

Boman’s face lit up with excitement upon hearing the command. ’It’s time, it’s finally time!’ If he had to wait any longer, he might have gotten bored enough to take up gardening.