[Congratulations, you have two nightmare troops! The grey knights, though clad in thick armour are the best sprinters and can pass down memories from master knight to squire ensuring the next generation of grey knights would be stronger than the last!
[They are faster than light infantry yet as durable as heavy infantry and also as lethal as a swordsman! They are the ultimate predators!
[Organs gained: hippocrenium— it is responsible for the transfer and retrieval of memories.]
[The Scarlett Templar Knights are the extremity of heavy infantry. Each weighing a bit less or over a ton, they are the nemesis of mounted troops, nearly impervious to long ranged attacks and possess the stamina of the giants of old!
[The Scarlett Templar Knights have the ability to unleash lightning blasts from their left arms solely!
[Organs gained: A second heart and X ray vision!]
Asher’s golden eyes flickered. “Prepare. We will march for the borders at noon.”
This was his final preparation. He had prepared logistics for 10,000 men with strenuous effort since it was just under three days.
Everything was ready and the sooner they marched, the greater their chances of intercepting the orc horde.
“We hear and obey, Your Lordship!”
Asher nodded.
As they walked away, Nero couldn’t help but speak. “My Lord, I mean no disrespect but you should stop.”
Asher turned his head toward him. “Stop what?”
“Empowering us.”
With an eyebrow raised, Asher inquired curiously. “And why is that?”
“Because it’s weighing on you. At this rate, you’ll collapse.” Aquila’s words were filled with concern as she gazed at Asher’s unhealthy pale skin.
Even his muscle mass reduced somewhat.
The luster of his eyes grew dim. All these happened just after the transformation of the Edomites and the Dothanites causing his subordinates to be worried.
“I will be fine.”
“My lord, taking more blood from you will be counterproductive. I suggest we cease for now.”
James suggested.
“It’s alright. I’m at my limits already.”
“I suggest you rest and allow Moses to lead the troops in your stead. You are not fit, not in this state.”
Asher glanced at Nero. “I lead. That is all.”
Nero bowed and said no more.
…
At noon, the main street was filled with marching Gray Knights and the Scarlett Templar Knights.
Their aura alone froze the civilians. None could speak as they watched the frightening soldiers like nothing they’ve ever seen before march through the street.
“My goodness! What kind of knight can stand against that?!” A man pointed at the Scarlett Templar Knights marching behind the Gray knights.
“They should be the Duke’s secret force.”
“If so then why are they out here? Are we at war?”
“It’s winter. We’re always at war in winter.”
“His Lordship looks ill. Is it proper for him to go to fight the orcs in such a physical state?”
Behind the walls of the castle, Mia questioned Sapphira.
“He refuses to listen to anyone. Not even me. It felt like… he had foreseen the effect of the battle without his presence.”
Mia’s brows came together. “Did Baroness Katarina send him a secret message?”
“I doubt.” Sapphira replied firmly. “Send word to Count Alec Lyon. Inform him that I require a man who goes by the name Uriah.”
Mia’s eyes widened. “You want him to watch His Lordship?”
“Do as I have spoken.”
“Yes, Grand Priestess.”
Mia bowed and retreated from the balcony, leaving Sapphira staring at the departing troops.
…
Out in the open, moving across the plains in the midst of a winter blizzard was Asher seated on Sirius with Nero and a few paladins.
All of them were on mounts.
Asher donned a thick hood made of wool yet his snow white hair fluttered out sometimes. The fact that he could summon ice and cause blizzards didn’t make him impervious to the effects of a natural blizzard or cold.
He would freeze to death once his energy ran out.
Sirius feet sank into the thick snow as it took a couple steps forward and stopped at the cliff. Asher looked downward, at the large stretch of unstained white that stretched to the horizon.
“We arrived on time.”
Nero sighed in relief.
Eleazar, Moses, Simon and Levi also shared the same relief.
“What should we do now?” Moses inquired, tilting his head toward Asher.
“Build our tents and wait.”
With that, they rode back. The others were busy building tents, cutting trees from the snow covered forest behind to use as beams and fences.
“Stop. Gather up the snow for a demarcation. Building a fence will cost time and energy. A
a completely spent soldier is the last thing I want before battle.”
Asher’s voice echoed.
“Omar!” He turned to the 10 foot tall Templar in an armour that easily weighed over a ton. Omar, picked up his helmet and walked up to Asher.
He didn’t walk as one clad in an armour that weighed over a thousand kilograms, rather he walked as though it was ordinary heavy armour!
“You called for me, My Lord.”
“Have your men stand guard at the cliff. The horn should be blown at the sight of our foes.”
Omar nodded.
“I shall do as you have commanded.”
Asher responded with a slight nod, then spoke to Sirius through his mind and it began to walk into the camp.
The others followed.
With his tent already built, Asher walked in, took off his coat and sat on a wooden chair. It was carried along by the logistic department to make sure at least a war council table and chairs were in his tent.
He swiftly unbuckled his belt and laid it on the table. His eyes went from Euodias to Ithamar.
Euodias, a great sword that had been with him for a long time and served him in many battles, had slowly lost its edge.
Although it had not grown weaker or blunt by any means, his strength and foes slowly grew beyond it.
Ithamar would once again give him the edge but he was apprehensive. Especially in his weakened state.
His only delight in this state of his was that it would slow down the process of his body’s growth.
As crazy as it sounded, Asher for once wanted to hold back because he knew though the king’s body would grant him strength like no other man, it might make him like the first brothers.
Men so tall that humans sought to worship them, so majestic that giants, though bigger, bowed at their feet, so good looking that they were called gods.
Unfortunately, the king’s body might grow beyond that, since according to the mortal scroll, he was the first of his kind.
He was simply using the first men as an example.
As he caressed Ithamar’s scabbard, the reverberating blast of a horn fell into his ears heavily.
“Alas, the time has come.”