I can evolve everything

Chapter 106 Return to Defense

Despite Rein's plan, two knights still died.

In the North, knights are powerful, but their lives are also quite fragile. Many times, they have to stand on the front line to fight against monsters.

"That's not what I came here to talk about."

Valen put down his glass, his expression turning serious.

He took a map out of his pocket and spread it out on the table.

"Raine, look."

His finger traced a line on the map, marking the defensive line of the northern city walls.

"The beast tide around us has collapsed. Even considering only the area within 50 kilometers of [Shattered Tooth Canyon], at least tens of thousands of monsters have died this time. This is almost the total number of monsters within a hundred miles of the Northern Wasteland."

"Logically speaking, no matter how much that dire wolf king can control monsters, it's impossible for him to organize a second attack of this scale in just a few days," Baron replied in a deep voice. "In other words, we are most likely quite safe now."

"So?" Ryan looked into Valen's eyes.

"So, the real threat isn't outside." Valen pointed heavily to the center of the map, where the Northern Fortress was located, "but rather to the Northern Fortress and the [Eternal Hearth] magic circle."

"Hughes Bloodhoof".

Ryan read the name aloud.

"That's right." Valen nodded. "The captain told us long ago that Hughes's target was the underground magic circle. This beast tide was meant to immobilize us."

"Now the beast tide has receded, and we're still alive. This means Hughes has completed his first move."

"If he's going to make a move, it will definitely be at the height of the beast tide's attack, which was four days ago." Valen's eyes sharpened. "There's absolutely no news from the Northern Fortress. Not a single messenger has come. It's too quiet; the situation is probably too urgent for them to send messengers."

"It's as quiet as a tomb," Ella interjected.

"We're going back." Ryan looked up and made his decision.

"That's my opinion too." Valen nodded. "The defenses here are solid, and the remaining monsters pose no threat. But if the Northern Fortress falls, there's no point in us staying here. We need to return to defend the core."

"That's what I meant too."

Valen exhaled a puff of white breath, the chill that had accumulated in his lungs. He breathed a sigh of relief and patted his frost-covered breastplate, making a dull metallic clang.

"But the northern fortresses are different."

Valen's voice turned somber, a tone only reserved for facing truly formidable adversaries.

"Hughes Bloodhoof is probably already making his move against the Northern Fortress. Although the fortress has the Grand Master and Karen in charge, along with several thousand soldiers, some mages, priests, and regular knights, it's probably not enough."

He looked at Ryan with a sharp gaze.

"I estimate that the Northern Fortress will need more elite forces to deal with monsters like Hughes and the War Wolf King."

"Elite?" Renn raised an eyebrow.

"That's right. Elite." Valen held up one finger. "I don't need many. I need formal knights like you, Ella, and Garrick."

Renn remained silent for a moment.

He looked down at his right arm, which was still throbbing, and then glanced at Ella, who was standing silently beside him.

"Understood."

Renn nodded without any hesitation.

"I'll make the arrangements. Give me ten minutes."

Inside the main hall on the first floor of the stone tower, Sergeant Hank sat at a table, waiting for the formal knights to finish their conversation and come down.

Hearing footsteps on the steps, the veteran looked up.

Hank paused for a moment when he saw Rein, who was carrying a two-handed greatsword, come down.

"Are you leaving?"

The veteran stood up and saluted Renn.

"Okay." Ryan walked to the table and patted Hank on the shoulder. "I'm leaving this to you."

"This is a difficult problem, Lord Renn." Hank glanced at Renn's injured right arm and chuckled wryly. "I'll do my best."

Raine continued, "Knight Valen said the final battle would take place at the fortress. I took Ella and a few soldiers with me. The remaining two hundred or so will stay here to garrison."

"As long as I live, the walls of [Shattered Tooth Canyon] will not fall." Hank straightened up. "But you—my lord, don't die over there."

Ten minutes later.

The gates of Shattered Tooth Canyon have reopened.

The wind and snow were still fierce.

Renn rode on rye.

Although this beast had just escaped from a large group of demons and suffered many injuries, it had regained some of its original majestic appearance under careful care and feeding.

It snorted loudly, as if it knew it was about to embark on an even more perilous journey.

Ella rode alongside him on his left, her red hood obscuring most of her face, revealing only a sliver of her chin and the ever-present slight upturn of her lips.

Behind them were three official knights: Valen, Garrick, and Baron, as well as twenty fully armed elite cavalrymen.

"Set off."

Valen gave a low shout.

This small cavalry unit, amidst the wind and snow, galloped along the city walls connecting the various encampments towards the northern fortress.

This journey is destined to be anything but peaceful.

Although the main force of the beast tide has been routed, not every encampment along this long defensive line knows that killing the special dire wolf that commands the beast tide will cause it to collapse.

Before they had traveled thirty miles, shouts of battle could be heard from the wind and snow ahead.

That was a certain encampment.

Beneath the city walls, hundreds of monsters, driven by a few dire wolves, were frantically attacking the crumbling city gate.

"It's John's zone."

Knight Garrick squinted, looking in that direction. "That old knight is probably not going to make it much longer."

"Then let's help him out."

Valen drew his longsword from his waist and turned to look at Raine.

"Do you still have the strength?"

"Killing this kind of scum doesn't require much effort," Renn replied casually.

This time, no complicated tactics are needed.

This team has three full-fledged knights, as well as apprentice knights like Renn and Ella.

Facing a single beast tide, charging in and killing the special dire wolves was not difficult for them.

Moreover, nearly half of these demons are now dead.

"charge!"

More than twenty elite riders swiftly cut into the flank of the battlefield, while the monsters still besieging the watchtower didn't even have time to react.

Without using his heavy two-handed greatsword, Raine wielded his usual longsword in one hand and, with the speed of his horse, easily sliced ​​off the head of a monster that was trying to pounce on him.

At the very front of the team, Valen displayed the true terrifying strength of a professional knight.