“Retreat! Retreat!”
Slark roared unwillingly, trying to escape with his remaining Magic Snake Claws.
“You want to leave? Have you asked me first?!” Aide snorted coldly, having already locked onto him.
Slark was startled and hastily waved his bone staff, a dark green energy arrow whizzing towards Aide.
Aide did not dodge, the battle qi on his sword flared brightly, and he struck out with one slash!
Chii!
The energy arrow was instantly shattered!
Aide’s sword momentum did not stop, carrying a sharp killing intent, directly piercing towards Slark’s throat!
A trace of despair flashed in Slark’s eyes; he was merely a priest, extremely weak in close combat, how could he be a match for a Third-tier Earth Knight!
Just at this moment, the Swamp Giant Crocodile suddenly let out a mournful shriek!
It turned out that after a long period of attrition and battle, the Swamp Giant Crocodile was already covered in wounds, and its movements gradually slowed down.
The enraged Ironclad Rhinoceros’s single horn gleamed with a cold light, actually flipping the Swamp Giant Crocodile over, its single horn deeply embedded in the crocodile’s chest.
The Swamp Giant Crocodile’s massive body twitched violently a few times, finally collapsing powerlessly to the ground, its yellow eyes slowly losing their luster.
Third-tier magical beast, Swamp Giant Crocodile, dead!
And almost at the same time, Aide’s longsword also precisely cut through Slark’s last defense, piercing his throat.
Slark clutched his neck, his eyes filled with unwillingness and venom, finally collapsing powerlessly.
With the deaths of Slark and the Swamp Giant Crocodile, the remaining Magic Snake Claws completely lost the will to resist and were quickly cleared out by the knights.
The battle ended.
The riverbank was a mess, littered with corpses, blood flowing like a river.
Only the female Ironclad Rhinoceros, though also covered in wounds and bleeding profusely, stood tall in the end, letting out a tired but victorious low roar.
She vigilantly glanced at Lei Luo and Aide and the others, not launching another attack.
The clamor of battle gradually subsided.
The knights and guards began to clear the battlefield, collecting spoils of war, piling the bodies of the Magic Snake Claws and the Swamp Giant Crocodile together, preparing for centralized disposal.
Lei Luo’s gaze turned towards the female Ironclad Rhinoceros that was limping away in the distance.
Her silhouette was stretched long under the Moonlight, and after walking dozens of meters, her severely injured body finally couldn't hold on, she fell sideways to the ground, falling into a coma.
“Aide, what do you think… how should we deal with her?” Lei Luo suddenly asked.
Aide followed Lei Luo’s gaze and was stunned for a moment.
According to custom, the best way to deal with such a highly threatening injured magical beast was to kill it while it was weak and obtain its magic core, hide, and horn, and other valuable materials.
The materials from a Third-tier magical beast were quite valuable, enough to equip several knights.
“Lord Lei Luo, she is severely injured. Although she defeated the Swamp Giant Crocodile, she is also close to dying.”
Aide thought for a moment and said, “If we act now, we should be able to deal with her relatively easily. Her magic core and materials…”
Bolin interjected: “Lord Lei Luo, Aide is right. This Ironclad Rhinoceros is too aggressive, and keeping her near the territory is always a hidden danger. Solving her now would be a permanent solution and would also yield a large amount of resources.”
Lei Luo remained silent, not answering immediately.
Killing the female beast and obtaining immediate benefits was a cold and rational choice for a lord.
But…
Lei Luo remembered the two rhinoceros calves, who were destined to become companions of the Blackstone Territory’s knights and guardians of the territory.
Perhaps there wasn't as strong a familial bond between these magical beasts as there was among humans, but even crows know to return kindness, so how could more intelligent magical beasts be entirely without emotion?
This was a difficult choice.
Lei Luo took a deep breath, his mind made up.
“No.”
Lei Luo slowly shook his head, his voice low but exceptionally firm.
“We won’t kill her.”
“Lord Lei Luo?” Aide was a little confused.
“Send people to follow her, keep your distance, do not disturb her, and observe her movements.”
Lei Luo ordered, “Additionally, immediately send someone back to the town to ask the physician to bring all usable potions and tools. We are going to… save her.”
“Save… save her?”
The knight captain thought he had misheard, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Spending precious potions to save a wild Third-tier magical beast that could turn on them at any moment?
This was simply unheard of!
However, Lei Luo had already established sufficient authority, so although Aide and Bolin had different opinions, they did not object but immediately carried out the order.
The sun set in the west.
Lei Luo returned to Blackstone Town with the knights, who were exhausted and reeking of blood.
The battle was a victory, but the Blackstone Territory still suffered considerable losses.
Several guards and a knight unfortunately sacrificed their lives, and more than ten people were injured.
For the Blackstone Territory, which had just experienced a beast tide and had a small population to begin with, this was undoubtedly a heartbreaking loss.
Lei Luo did not rest immediately; after a simple wash, he summoned Aide and Bolin, as well as several stewards responsible for administration in the town, for a meeting in the small conference room of the Lord’s Mansion.
“Although we won the battle last night, it also exposed many problems.”
Lei Luo sat at the head of the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone, “The threat of the Magic Snake Claws has been temporarily removed, but no one can guarantee when the Magic Snake Claws from the Emerald Marshes will attack again. In such a frontier land, our military strength is not enough to protect this territory.”
Aide deeply empathized: “Lord Lei Luo is right. If it weren’t for the Ironclad Rhinoceros interfering this time, even if we could win, our casualties would probably double. Relying solely on our existing knights and guards to protect such a large territory is indeed stretched thin.”
Bolin added: “Moreover, after the beast tide and this battle, our knights and guards have suffered significant losses and urgently need new blood.”
Lei Luo said: “Therefore, I have decided to immediately begin selecting a group of promising young people from across the entire Blackstone Territory to be trained as knight apprentices.”
This proposal was not unexpected, and everyone nodded in agreement.
This was an inevitable step for the development of the territory.
“For this selection,” Lei Luo changed the subject, his voice clear and firm, “the age will be set between fourteen and twenty years old. The most important point is…”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone again, ensuring that everyone was listening carefully.
“No gender restrictions. As long as they meet the age requirement, are healthy, and have potential, both boys and girls can participate in the selection.”
Lei Luo finally said: “You should quickly discuss and come up with a specific selection standard and process. Today, announce this news to all the residents of the territory.”
“Yes, Lord Lei Luo!” Everyone responded in unison.
That afternoon, a proclamation issued by the Lord’s Mansion was posted in the most conspicuous location in the central square of Blackstone Town.
The content of the proclamation was simple: In order to strengthen the Blackstone Territory’s defensive capabilities, Lord Lei Luo has decided to openly select the first batch of knight apprentices from across the entire territory. All males and females aged fourteen to twenty, who are in good health, may sign up to participate.
