Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Everyone hurried to their respective posts, observing the movements beneath the mountains.

At this moment, Galanar stood atop the fortress’ wall, squinting his eyes as he peered into the distance.

I can feel them… They brought many Transcendent Knights and 3-Ringed Beast Soul Masters!

With his heightened senses, he could feel the strong fluctuations of energy coming from afar. It was the aura unique only to powerful individuals!

His steely expression conveyed his determination to defend the mountain pass despite the overwhelming odds!

He looked back to observe his soldiers and noticed the anxiety and fear on their faces. He couldn’t blame them for this. After all, they would be facing five hundred thousand warriors! Even he could feel the tension rising from his chest.

“Don’t overthink it!” His voice suddenly echoed, taking everyone by surprise. Turning their heads, they saw Galanar atop the wall staring at them with a face devoid of fear.

“The enemies outnumber us, but we hold the advantage in terrain! We have placed traps all over the mountain pass! If they want to breach our defenses, they must be prepared to lose half of their men!” Galanar’s words somehow calmed their hearts.

His confidence was infectious, and it filled everyone with an overflowing fighting spirit. Only Galanar would dare say something so outrageous while still instilling them with courage.

This was because they believed in his strength—the strength of someone at the top of the Astanian Dragon Leaderboard!

Soon, they felt the ground trembling and the distant sound of the enemy warriors drifted into their ears.

“Artillery units, prepare to release the boulders at my signal!” Galanar shouted while keeping his eyes beneath the mountains.

The artillery units were still using the trebuchet engraved with fearsome abilities. These weapons might be quite outdated, but their range and firepower weren’t to be underestimated. Facing this weapon, even high-ranking warriors and beast soul masters would be in danger if they weren’t careful.

In the next moment, the enemy finally entered their sights. There were so many of them that they looked like a swarm of ants from afar!

The distant battle cries echoed across the mountain pass, instilling fear into their listeners!

Galanar took a deep breath.

He had already done his best to calm his troops. He could only hope that they wouldn’t collapse from the pressure.

The enemies didn’t rest upon entering the mountain pass. They sent their infantry units which numbered about a hundred thousand men towards the fortress atop Aklan Pass.

Seeing this, Galanar reminded the artillery units. “Hold! Don’t release the boulders without my signal!”

They needed to properly time their ranged attacks to deal heavy damage to the enemy infantry units.

Everyone anxiously glanced at Galanar, waiting for his signal. The enemies were approaching them with great speed. They would cross their firing range at any moment!

“Now! Release the boulders!” Galanar bellowed and gestured with his hand.

Hearing his roar, the artillery units immediately released the boulders, sending them flying towards the approaching enemy infantrymen!

The large rocks burned in midair as the power imbued in them was automatically ignited!

Whoosh!

The scene was so strikingly dreadful. It was as if a rain of meteorites were about to fall into the world!

The enemy infantry was fearless. Even with the huge burning boulders raining upon them, they continued their charge seemingly unafraid of death!

Boom! Boom!

One boulder after another smashed into the ground, killing hundreds of enemy infantrymen in the process! Some caught fire, while there were also unlucky people who were flattened by the boulders.

Boom! Boom!

More and more enemies died under the relentless bombardment of burning projectiles, significantly slowing down their advance!

Screams of terror and panic echoed.

The soldiers atop Aklan Pass felt invigorated at the sight of their enemies’ brutal deaths.

“Our weapons are working! Do not fear them!”

“Kill them all!”

Meanwhile, Galanar felt that something was amiss. The enemy infantry units were too weak. They couldn’t even block the boulders.

An Elite Knight could have destroyed those boulders…

He narrowed his eyes and observed the enemy infantry units. It was then that he realized that all of them were just ordinary warriors with no traces of mana in their bodies.

Something isn’t right! Are they trying to use those men to empty our artillery projectiles?

After he realized that the infantry units were merely cannon fodder, he immediately commanded. “Stop! Don’t waste our projectiles on those men! They aren’t a threat to us!”

Hearing his orders, the artillery units were baffled, but they heeded his command and stopped releasing the boulders.

“Archers, wait for my signal!” Galanar issued another order.

The archers who had been itching to release their arrows immediately nocked their arrows and took aim at the approaching soldiers.

***

On Harune’s side, beneath the mountain pass, at the rear line of their formation.

“So they noticed, huh?” An old man holding a horsetail whisk clicked his tongue, feeling slightly annoyed.

“Lord Limuel, should we send the siege units now?” Asked a muscular man holding a pair of gigantic axes.

The old man shook his head, his mouth twitching.

“Not yet. The infantry units we sent are just a distraction. The real attack is aimed somewhere else. The siege units will be sent later once chaos erupts in their fortress.” He patiently explained. Although he was vexed by the muscular man’s stupidity, he still needed the latter’s strength.

Is this guy really a Mythical Knight?

Limuel lamented while looking at the muscular man.

“Just make sure that we win this battle. Otherwise, I will have your head!” Another person said.

This time, it was a middle-aged man dressed in steel armor.

When he spoke, Limuel didn’t dare meet his gaze. He was more afraid of this guy than the muscular man.

The Blue Star Arrow of Harune, Roger Varanholf… With his presence, this victory is ours for the taking!

Limuel smiled coldly, his eyes filled with anticipation. He could already picture himself receiving the promised rewards for winning this battle.