Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 232: Chapter 226: Dragon Lizard Knight VS Armored Rhinoceros

When Raylo and Master Barnaby appeared at the entrance to the great hall.

A sharp CLANG of scraping metal echoed as all the Knights dropped to one knee in perfect unison, placing their right hands over their chests.

”Greetings, Lord!”

Their resonant voices echoed throughout the hall, filled with adoration and fervor.

Raylo walked before them, his gaze sweeping across each Knight’s face.

He could call each of them by name and recall their heroic deeds on the battlefield.

”I have gathered you here today to fulfill my promise.”

Raylo’s voice was calm and powerful.

”Black Stone Territory never fails to reward the Warriors who have bled and sacrificed for it. I have seen your loyalty and valor with my own eyes.”

He opened the case in his hands, displaying twelve vials of the dark red Dragon Lizard Bloodline Potion before them.

”This is the Tier Three Dragon Lizard Bloodline Potion, newly developed by Master Barnaby,”

Raylo explained.

”It will comprehensively boost your Power, agility, and constitution. More importantly, it will vastly increase your potential and pave the way for you to reach the realm of a Tier Three Earth Knight.”

The Knights’ breathing instantly grew heavy.

A Tier Three Earth Knight!

That was the realm every Knight dreamed of achieving.

Now, the key to that path of power lay right before them.

”Now, step forward and receive the honor you have earned.”

At Ed’s direction, the twelve Knights stepped forward in succession, respectfully accepting the Bloodline Potions from Raylo’s hands.

”Now, drink it,”

Raylo commanded.

”Begin your journey on the path of the Earth Knight.”

Without the slightest hesitation, the Knights uncorked the vials and downed the viscous, dark red liquid in a single gulp.

As the Potion went down, a scorching heat instantly erupted in their stomachs, spreading rapidly to their limbs and throughout their bodies.

A faint, earthy-yellow glow materialized on the surface of the Knights’ bodies. The muscles beneath their skin began to writhe and contort at a visible rate, as if countless small snakes were slithering just beneath the surface.

”HNGH!”

One Knight couldn’t help but let out a low growl. He clenched his fists tightly, veins popping on his neck as his bones emitted a series of sharp CRACKS.

He could clearly feel an unprecedented power welling up within him, surging through every muscle, bone, and cell.

His body yearned for battle, desperate to unleash this nascent power completely.

The others were in a similar state. They gritted their teeth, silently enduring the drastic transformation of their bodies.

Although no one broke through their bottleneck and advanced a Tier on the spot as had happened previously, each person could feel the monumental changes within themselves.

Raylo was not surprised.

’The greatest effect of a Bloodline Potion has never been an immediate increase in Tier, but rather a fundamental transformation of one’s life potential.’

’Among those who took the Earth Dragon Bloodline Potion last time, only two broke through on the spot. But in the training and battles that followed, over a dozen more successfully advanced to become Tier Two Great Knights.’

’That is the true value of a Bloodline Potion.’

’It opens a door to a higher realm for Knights with limited natural talent.’

The twelve men before him were already elites among the Tier Two Great Knights. Now, with the boost from the Dragon Lizard bloodline, Raylo was confident that in the near future, Black Stone Territory would have its very first batch of home-grown Tier Three Earth Knights.

After a long while, the red glow on the Knights’ bodies gradually faded. They slowly opened their eyes, which now glinted with a sharp light.

They stretched their limbs, feeling the power coursing relentlessly through their bodies. Their faces were a mixture of shock and elation.

”How do you feel?”

Raylo asked.

”Reporting, my Lord!”

A Knight at the front of the group stepped forward and said excitedly.

”I feel my Power has increased by at least fifty percent! My body feels much lighter, too, and it’s brimming with explosive energy!”

”Me too! I feel like I could take on Thor’s Armored Rhinoceros right now!”

another Knight added excitedly.

The other Knights chimed in with agreement, and a cheerful atmosphere filled the hall.

Raylo nodded in satisfaction and raised a hand, signaling for silence.

”This is only the beginning.”

His voice rang out again, and everyone focused their attention.

”You have not yet fully absorbed the Potion’s power. Return to your duties, intensify your training, and master this new strength as quickly as possible. I need you to transform it into true combat capability in the shortest possible time.”

”The future of Black Stone Territory rests in your hands.”

”We pledge our lives to the Lord!”

The twelve Knights dropped to one knee again, their voices even more resonant and fervent than before.

Raylo had no intention of forming a dedicated squad with these new Knights, unlike the Earth Dragon Heavy Armor Knight Squad he had created before.

The supply of Iron-backed Dragon Lizards was limited, which meant the Dragon Lizard Bloodline Potion could not be produced as consistently as the Earth Dragon Bloodline Potion. For this reason, Raylo had chosen twelve Great Knights who were already the backbone and mid-level leaders of the Knight Order to become the new Dragon Lizard Knights.

Once they had fully developed their new abilities, these Knights would become the framework and support of the Black Stone Army.

...

「The next morning」, Raylo was awakened by a deafening clamor from the square outside the castle.

The sound was a mix of a hundred men shouting, metal clashing, and the low roars of beasts. It was filled with a raw, vigorous Life Force that felt powerful enough to tear the roof off the castle.

Raylo threw on an overcoat, walked to the window, and looked down at the square with keen interest.

At some point, a space had been cleared in the center of the square, creating a makeshift arena.

A hundred or so Knights had surrounded the arena, packed several rows deep. They were all shouting at the top of their lungs, cheering on their comrades inside, creating a feverish atmosphere.

Two Knights were grappling in the center of the ring.

One of them, his muscles bulging and his skin faintly glowing with an earthy-yellow light, was one of the twelve Knights who had taken the Dragon Lizard Bloodline Potion the day before.

His opponent was a more powerfully built Earth Dragon Knight.

Neither man was using a Weapon; they were competing with bare hands, pitting their Power and skill against one another.

The Dragon Lizard Knight’s movements were clearly swifter than his opponent’s. Every dodge and punch carried explosive Power. The Earth Dragon Knight, however, excelled in defense and endurance, like an unmoving Fortress.

Raylo watched for a moment, a smile playing on his lips.

’These guys. Full of new power with nowhere to vent it, so they came here first thing in the morning to ”spar.”’

Just as he was getting engrossed, the situation in the ring suddenly changed.

The crowd parted to form a path, and Thor strode in, leading his mountain of an Armored Rhinoceros with a proud, swaggering gait.

”What’s the fun in just fighting other men? Bring out someone who can really fight!”

Thor bellowed, slapping the Armored Rhinoceros’s hard carapace.

”Who was it yesterday that said they wanted to take on my ’Iron Head’? Step up!”