Lord: I can see loyalty.

Chapter 257 The Great Knights' Duel

The open space in front of the city gate had become the arena for the three to duel.

Malcolm's greatsword was as light as a stick in his hands. He chopped, slashed, parried, and thrust, each move carrying the sharpness and composure unique to the Golden Horse Sword Technique and breathing method.

His swordsmanship was not as cunning as Godfrey's, but his power was purer. His innate superhuman strength, combined with the enhancement of the second-level Golden Horse Breathing Technique, made each strike like a giant hammer.

Even so, he was ultimately facing two fourth-tier Grand Knights working together.

Alec's greatsword came crashing down from the front. Malcolm raised his sword to parry, and as sparks flew, his arm suddenly sank, and a tearing pain shot through his hand.

He gritted his teeth, pushed the greatsword upwards, forcing Alec back half a step, and at the same time dodged Vio's demonic feather sword that stabbed from the side.

The sword's edge grazed his ribs, tearing through the gaps in his armor and drawing a trickle of blood.

So fast!

Malcolm sighed inwardly; the speed of the sand breathing technique was indeed as good as its reputation suggested.

But before he could regain his footing, Alec's greatsword slashed down again, and Vio's sword thrust in from another direction.

The two worked together seamlessly, one fast and one heavy, one to the left and one to the right, blocking all his escape routes.

He could only raise his sword to parry, taking Alec's heavy blow head-on, while simultaneously dodging Vio's thrust.

"clang--!"

The greatswords clashed, and the enormous impact sent him staggering back several steps, creating a deep trench beneath his feet.

His hand was split open, and blood was dripping down the hilt of the sword.

His armor had several more scratches, the deepest one under his ribs, revealing his shirt underneath.

His breathing became rapid, and his legs felt weak. But he didn't fall or back down. He raised his head, looked at the two figures who were adjusting their breathing, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"Two fourth-tier knights fighting a second-tier knight, that's not very chivalrous, is it?" he muttered.

Vio didn't answer, but gave Alec a wink, and the two pounced on him again.

The sword flashed, and sparks flew.

Malcolm desperately parried, dodged, and tried to buy time. Although his swordsmanship was exquisite, any skill was futile in the face of such an absolute difference in strength.

In less than a minute, Malcolm was already covered in wounds.

His left arm was slashed by a sword, and blood dripped down his arm. His right leg was stabbed by a sword, and he began to stagger as he walked.

Even the fine armor was covered in cracks, and in some places the shirt underneath was showing.

He was panting heavily, his hand gripping the greatsword trembling, but his eyes remained bright, fixed intently on the enemy before him.

On the city wall, Earl August, the patriarch of the Golden Saddle Horse family, stood behind the crenellations, gazing at the golden figure.

He did not order reinforcements because he knew it would be useless.

Those ordinary soldiers would only be throwing their lives away if they rushed forward. It would be better to hold off the other Southern Border soldiers than to go and die.

He could only watch, watch Malcolm being attacked by the two men, watch Malcolm covered in wounds, watch Malcolm slowly walk towards death.

"My lord, please let us go!" The young knight responsible for guarding August knelt before him. "Lord Malcolm, he—"

"No." August's voice was calm, but his hands were trembling slightly. "Going down there will only be suicide."

"But----"

"No buts." August interrupted him, his gaze still fixed on the battlefield. "What we need to do is defend the city walls. As long as the walls stand, as long as Jinma City stands, we have hope."

The young knight gritted his teeth, stood up, and returned to his post. His eyes were red, but he gripped his sword even tighter.

In front of the city gate, Vio and Alec had cornered Malcolm against the wall.

He leaned against the city wall, his greatsword held horizontally in front of him, panting heavily, covered in blood, and exhausted, but he did not surrender or give up.

He simply looked at Vio quietly, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

"Lord of the South, you've won," he said, "but you can't win this war. The Black Serpent's reinforcements are almost here, and Cedric's Griffin Legion is almost here too. How can you win?"

Vio didn't answer, but simply raised the Demon Feather Sword. "Surrender, and I might spare your life."

Malcolm smiled, without fear or resentment, only a sense of relief and peace.

"I am a great knight of the Golden Saddle Horse family, and a knight of the Golden Saddle Horse family will not surrender."

He gripped his greatsword tightly, took a deep breath, and then charged towards Vio! This was his final charge, his last act of dignity.

Vio frowned slightly, about to raise his sword to block, but Alec had already taken the initiative, sweeping his greatsword horizontally and sending Malcolm flying, sword and all.

Malcolm crashed to the ground, his greatsword slipping from his grasp and landing a short distance away. He struggled to get up, but his body was covered in wounds, and he couldn't get up at all.

Alec walked up to him.

Malcolm looked up at Alec, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Kill me."

Alec didn't waste any more words and raised his greatsword.

"Stop!" a voice called from afar.

It wasn't Vio, nor Alec, but a strange, hoarse voice.

At the same time, several arrows shot towards Vio and his companion!

Everyone turned their heads at the same time.

In the north, on the horizon, a plume of black dust is rising.

That was an army, a massive army, with black flags fluttering in the wind, embroidered with a coiled black snake—the Black Snake Clan.

The Black Serpent's reinforcements have arrived.

A vast and imposing force, numbering at least ten thousand, with cavalry in front and infantry behind, their spears forming a forest and their banners obscuring the sun.

Leading the group was a middle-aged man riding a black warhorse, clad in black armor, with a stern face. He was none other than Cyril Black Serpent, the eldest son of the Black Serpent family and also a Grand Knight.

Vio and Alec had no choice but to swing their swords to block the arrows, which gave Malcolm a chance to escape.

Ignoring the arrows that were being shot at him, he leaped into the air and fled into the distance.

"Ugh!" An arrow pierced his leg. Although he was protected by breathing techniques, there were still a few arrows that pierced through his defenses due to the large number of arrows.

Blood gushed out of his body instantly.

But the knights on the golden saddle horse quickly stepped forward, helped the great knight up, and protected him behind them.

Vio frowned slightly, watching the approaching Black Serpent Clan army. After a moment, he shouted, "Prepare for battle!"

The Southern Army quickly adjusted its formation, the Azure Peak Knights turned north, the militia reorganized their shield wall, and the Grey Wolf Clan's giant wolf knights retreated to the flanks.

Vio gazed at the black tide to the north.

The Black Serpent Clan's reinforcements had already stopped two miles away and were forming ranks. They did not attack immediately, clearly observing the situation.

Vio's gaze fell on the man in black armor, the eldest son of the Black Serpent Clan, the Great Knight Cyril Black Serpent, who was said to be a ruthless character as well.

The Black Snake family has arrived.