Throne of the North.

Chapter 653 The Knight in the Nightmare (Part 5)

When Meyers' threat arrives, Ryan no longer needs to hide his strength.

Only muscles can make nobles follow him closely, and only stronger muscles can make Meyers retreat.

He didn't know if Grand Duke Meyers was absolutely required to have the Northwind Province. If not, why would he have chosen this place?

For Ryan, the answer to his guess was simple: the Northwind Province was easy to bully.

Grand Duke Meyers personally shattered the Northwind Province more than thirty years ago, so he knows the strength of this land all too well. Moreover, this land never belonged to the Empire, and His Majesty the Emperor didn't care about it at all, which is also one of the reasons.

Finally, the Northwind Province had already been riddled with problems due to several orc invasions to the south and internal wars.

Here, there are no noble castles where even legends cannot escape their fate, no ancient noble lineages that inspire awe in the imperial nobility, and no formidable superhuman legion capable of sweeping across an entire province.

If weakness led Grand Duke Meyers to choose this place, then strength should be the source of confidence to deal with Grand Duke Meyers.

Ryan needs to be strong, and he also needs to let everyone see his strength.

A baron in the North may just be a baron, but a baron can also possess incredibly formidable military power.

He was creating his own glory, the initial honor of the Lane family.

The North is his territory.

With top-notch weapons, top-notch armor, and an endless supply of warhorses, Ryan's forces were an army armed to the teeth.

In addition, what was the nobles' first impression of Baron Ryan?
It was his exceptional talent as a war commander, so powerful that he never suffered a defeat.

and so……

"Baron Ryan possesses a fully armed and powerful superhuman legion."

"And he himself was a terrible war commander."

"A powerful commander working with a powerful extraordinary legion..."

Many nobles dared not continue thinking about it; he was just a baron. They finally began to feel disoriented. Why didn't His Majesty crown Baron Ryan? He was fully capable of becoming a viscount or even an earl.

Given that the Earl of Clayton was the father of Baron Lane, the nobles generally believed that the title of viscount was rightfully earned by Baron Lane.

But it's still hard to accept.

"Where did Baron Ryan get so many people and resources to grow so powerful?"

Not understanding, a few nobles tried to understand, and Ryan opened the door wide, letting the bards act as guides.

"The Frozen Territory is the only territory in the empire that exists in the mountains, but it is believed that the ancient gods have left the people of the Frozen Territory with a uniquely favorable environment."

Those who came here were greatly shocked, and naturally, the nobles were extremely curious about it after they returned.

This is a symbol of the Frozen Territory's power. Ryan has been cultivating the North for so long and wields immense authority in this frigid land. It's time for the nobles of the Empire to see what their friends in the North look like.

Returning home in glory is like wearing fine clothes at night; if Baron Ryan becomes powerful but is timid and hides his strength, what's the point?
“Meyers must pay the price, whatever their motives may be.”

Meyers was equally shocked by the Northern Baron's strength, mainly because none of the extraordinary teams they sent to the North had returned alive.

“He is deeply entrenched there.”

There was no fear, but Grand Duke Meyers and Chrysus felt that their opponents were difficult to deal with.

"He has become so powerful in just a few years. Is he truly favored by a great being?"

Grand Duke Meyers was concerned about this issue: in a world with gods, Baron Ryan's development was clearly out of step with the pace of human progress, but only with the help of a great being could everything become reasonable.

"It definitely can't be the Lord of Dawn, the God of Light!"

As Baron Ryan's strength was gradually revealed, the nobles became increasingly shocked. After all, a fortress was still under construction in the Frozen Territory. As long as the fortress existed, the Frozen Territory would be a natural fortress that was easy to defend and difficult to attack. It was cold, but that could not shake Ryan's powerful strength.

Of course, further on, came the voices of doubt.

"Where did Baron Ryan get so many slaves and knights?"

"A knight can only be trained by not engaging in production for three to five years and by eating and drinking well."

"The time Ryan has been in office in the Frozen Territory is not even enough for a knight to give birth to the spark of life!"

The nobles began to doubt Baron Ryan's faith. In this world, humanity could only have one faith: the Creator in the heavens, the Lord of Dawn, or the God of Light who had given Him a different name.

Heretics are doomed to die. Both the Flor Empire and the Papacy have to find a way to gain a foothold in the faith of light.

"The Lord of Dawn is still asleep. He cannot favor any one nobleman forever. In the past decades, the only person He has divinely granted favor to is Archbishop Adriana."

The Holy Mountain offered a similar explanation: the clergy there were secretly hoping for internal strife within the empire, watching the chaos with amusement and fanning the flames.

Not just Ryan, but also Meyers.

"Whether Grand Duke Meyers believes in our Lord needs to be judged. He has seized the power of the Nightmare, which is wrong, and he has become a heretic."

The emperor of the Flor Empire finally stopped feigning death and angrily rebuked Dawn Holy Mountain in the name of the High Pope of Light.

"The faith of Grand Duke Meyers and Baron Ryan will never be corrupted. The Holy Mountain is still the interior of the Judgment. Your faith-oath legions have become monsters, your archbishops have become followers of evil gods, opened the gates of hell, and even your pope has to go to the abyss to atone for his sins."

The Holy Mountain remained silent; in this respect, they were at a disadvantage.

However, on the Empire's side, the nobles do have doubts about Ryan. The Baron's rise to power has been too short, and where did his knights come from?
“There are enormous resources and opportunities in other worlds, but I did not make them slaves; instead, I made them my servants.”

"The great Lord has given me the eyes to discover the portal to space. Light shines upon Lane, for He knows that Lane Clayton is here, struggling to hold off the North and becoming the first line of defense for mankind."

Ryan appeared in Zero Crossing City on the day of the legendary weapon auction, in front of a large crowd.

"The Lord has given me the divine gift of dawn."

In front of everyone, Ryan's brow shone with a brilliant light, the only primordial unit of [Eternal] divinity on his spiritual panel.

It came from a gift from Archbishop Adriana, but now it is completely under Ryan's control and exists on his spiritual panel.

Archbishop Adriana could prevent anyone from questioning Sven's identity as a believer, and the divine gift she bestowed upon Ryan could also silence anyone who questioned whether his faith belonged to the light.

"I don't want anyone to question my beliefs."

Lord of the Dawn, God of Light, will not favor heretics.

Myers' plan has failed once again, and not only that.

The Dawn Cult members from the kingdoms of Andara and Sera spontaneously approached the edge of the Empire, entering the Northwind Road and arriving at Zero Crossing City.

"The Lord gave me a divine revelation: Ryan Clayton is the rightful Godfather of Dawn."

Dawn Priest Sven, accompanied by a large number of followers, knelt before Ryan, leaving countless people stunned and shocked.

"Our unwavering hope will grant us a better tomorrow."

"Dawn endures forever, the Lord's gift is eternal." Ryan helped the sven priest to his feet and spoke devoutly to the large number of Dawn followers, telling them to rise and take the bread and eggs he had brought from Rhinoceros Horn Mountain to distribute to all believers who needed food.

"Winter is coming, but dawn is just around the corner. I hope all believers can see His greatness."

Ryan also admitted that Meyers had given him a golden opportunity to etch Ryan's name into the hearts of the Dawn Cult members.

Just as he used Ryan's Vault to get Ryan into the Kingdom of Coran before, he can now use this eternal divinity to become the Godfather of Dawn.

The Sven missionaries held unparalleled prestige among the Dawn believers, and they never questioned their words in terms of religious faith.

Whatever he says, without needing evidence or reason, that's what a fanatical believer is.

"The Lord gave the Dawn Father great divine power, and he covered every believer with the light of the Lord's hope."

Sven was chanting, and Ryan was performing miracles. It was simple: he possessed spiritual blessings, and no other miracle could allow believers to feel the power of a great being so directly favoring them.

Ordinary believers suddenly become comparable to novice knights, and with the blessings of the priests, these novice knights can become Holy Light Knights in the future.

Dawn's title as Godfather is now even more secure.

Ryan resolved his own problems and, in turn, began to question Meyers.

"I'm curious, since the demons of nightmares come from the abyss, why would followers of the immortal God of Light wield such power? Are you willing to accept that? If not, why not abandon Him?"

"Shouldn't you pray to the immortal God of Light to purify the nightmares from your bodies and allow you to return to the eternal heaven?"

"Only those who are enslaved by the abyss would covet evil power. By Grand Duke Meyers' side, there is also a [Witcher] who can transform into a demon of the abyss. During the war on the Fragrant Mountain Plain, the nobles of the North Wind all witnessed this."

“I think Grand Duke Meyers would never question the purifying power of the God of Light; He has the ability to purify all evil forces.”

Myers offered only a cold explanation to these questions.

"Nightmares do not come from the abyss."

Pale and powerless, it wasn't that Meyers couldn't find an excuse; they had plenty of ways to evade the Dawn Church before.

The reason he stopped arguing with Ryan was that Grand Duke Meyers had finally realized what was happening.

"He is the founder of the Lane family, and while he is killing our noble allies, we are trying to undermine his reputation."

“This is not what Myers should be doing.”

Grand Duke Meyers no longer intended to continue the stalemate with Ryan. The ancient nobility had too much darkness behind their glory, while Ryan, as a newly emerging nobleman, could only have his dark history dug up if no one dug into him.

A comparison of the dark histories of Ryan and Meyers reveals that Ryan's past is remarkably clean.

"We shouldn't follow his lead."

"We should do what we are good at."

"Taking over the Northwind Province is just like it was thirty-five years ago. What Meyers has never lacked is the power to conquer."

"Let that young boy see the cruelty among nobles."

Myers no longer questioned Baron Ryan, which made Ryan somewhat uncomfortable.

"Is the Grand Duke planning to admit defeat? This isn't war, so there shouldn't be any reparations."

Baron Hatton was somewhat disappointed; he too had come to Zero Crossing City, lamenting that Ryan couldn't earn any gold coins.

"I did give Meyers a voucher, but it seems the Meyers family isn't interested in legendary weapons."

Ryan looked at the noble representatives who were still fiercely competing, oh, and the guild manager. They were trapped in Zero Crossing City, with nothing to do, and were planning to find a legendary weapon for their guild to serve as a symbol of prestige and prestige.

These merchants had a keen eye; they believed that this legendary longsword could attract the knights' desire to buy it, making them choose their shop more often.

As for those who truly want to use this sword as a weapon, there are none. Legendary weapons seek legendary knights, and legendary knights also seek legendary weapons. The relationship between the two is like that of a thoroughbred horse and its discerning owner, requiring time, experience, and opportunity.

Ryan didn't know who would end up with the sword. Its purpose for him was to break Meyers' trade blockade against him, so he sold it for a very low price.

"The dragon roars, who will inherit the legendary story? I'm looking forward to it, and I hope it won't disappoint the snow dragon's roar."

Ryan raised his glass to everyone in Zero Crossing City.

"Tonight, let's feast in Zero Crossing City! Let the southern lands see just how much food can be grown on the northern borders!!!"

Ryan's voice echoed throughout the city, and in an instant, thousands upon thousands of people were howling, praising the light, praising the dawn, praising Ryan, and praising this legendary city.

"The north wind belongs to us!"

"The north wind belongs to everyone!"

"Even in the ashes, the north wind will leave its mark, and we will witness the birth of a new era, born in our own hands!"

"We will be the pioneers of the world's future!"

Ryan shouted loudly, and everyone watched as this nobleman roared as if he had lost his mind. But recently, too many extraordinary beings had gathered in Zero Crossing City, and they felt a strange power.

"Legend is a gift from legend!"

Someone exclaimed and shouted, staring at the baron with fanatical eyes.

As more and more information about Ryan was revealed, and as everyone learned that there was a baron in the North who could stop the Grand Duke, his name was recorded in history.

Witnessing the emergence of a legend is not an easy thing to do, and noble lords who believe in legends are even rarer.

Ryan was unusually drunk. He saw a giant dragon lift him up. It was a transparent, illusory dragon that swam out of the spiritual panel and sent Ryan into the sky. All eyes in Zero Crossing City were drawn to the Baron who was bathed in the vast blessing.

"This world will also be mine."

Ryan murmured softly, his voice unheard by anyone, and he also felt his legendary gifts being intercepted by the spiritual panel.

It is still in its gestation stage and lacks a certain force.

Ryan believed that was the key to history, and he was going to do something that history would call a turning point, and the spiritual panel would grant him a legendary blessing.

Yes, it was the spiritual panel that gave him, not this extraordinary world.

"What should we do?"

Ryan looked down at Zero Crossing City and shouted:

"I will select thirty-two attendants from beneath the Eight Knights!!!"

"The eight squires will be chosen from all the slaves in the North!"

"Become followers of the Eight Knights, you slaves!"

(End of this chapter)