Chapter 522 - 406: All the Realm’s Heroes Enter My Grasp
Chapter 522: Chapter 406: All the Realm’s Heroes Enter My Grasp
Raylo set down the document in his hands, took the report, and began to read it carefully.
"The total number of knights registered for this tournament has reached one thousand and thirty-seven."
Seeing this number, even Raylo couldn’t help but feel a stir.
Over a thousand knights!
This number already exceeded the standing forces of most Earl’s Domains in the Thunder Dragon Duchy.
"Of that number, twenty-six are Tier Three Earth Knights."
"Three hundred and twelve are Tier Two Great Knights."
"And seven hundred and one are Tier One Knights."
Raylo’s gaze lingered for a moment on that line in the report: "Tier Three Earth Knights, twenty-six."
Twenty-six Earth Knights!
A force of this magnitude would turn heads anywhere.
An average Baron’s Domain only has one or two Earth Knights protecting it.
"And those are just the ones who have registered so far," Evan added.
"According to the reports from the gate guards, large numbers of knights and their followers are still pouring into Black Stone Territory from all directions. I estimate that by the time the tournament officially begins, the number will be even higher."
Raylo nodded and set the report on the table.
He knew he had caused quite a stir this time.
Breakthrough Potions, Magical Beast mounts, positions in the Knight Order...
For Free Knights whose talents had gone unrecognized, and for the scions of minor noble families eager to make a name for themselves, these temptations were simply irresistible.
In a short amount of time, the news swept through the entire Thunder Dragon Duchy like a hurricane.
Countless knights packed their bags, mounted their warhorses, and converged on Black Stone Territory.
All at once, Black Stone Territory became the liveliest, most-watched place in the entire Duchy.
The streets of Black Stone Town were packed with knights from far and wide.
They spoke with different accents, wore armor of varying styles, and displayed a motley collection of crests.
The town’s taverns and inns had long been filled to capacity; even the homes of some locals were packed with knights seeking lodging.
Though the morning mist had yet to dissipate, the Knight Plaza in Black Stone Territory was already buzzing with a cacophony of voices.
Raylo stood on the castle terrace, looking down at the scene below.
His gaze passed over the sea of moving heads, settling on three massive, solid arenas in the center of the plaza, built from giant stones and thick timber.
Those were the arenas, specially prepared for this knight tournament.
They were divided according to the knights’ tiers: the Knight Arena, the Grand Knight Arena, and the Earth Knight Arena.
Tiered spectator stands, built from thick logs, surrounded each arena. By now, they were packed, without a single empty seat.
Over a thousand knights from all across the Duchy, along with the nobles and merchants who had come to watch, packed the entire plaza to the brim.
The air was thick with a complex mix of tension, excitement, and anticipation.
"My Lord, everything is ready."
Ed walked to Raylo’s side and said respectfully.
Raylo nodded, his gaze fixed on the boisterous crowd below.
For over a week, his system’s daily intelligence function had acted like a tireless, loyal scout, bringing him a sea of information.
He had taken special note of certain ’unique’ knights, recording their details one by one on a piece of parchment.
[1: Contestant Ron, a Tier Two Great Knight. He once ventured deep into the Black Stone Mountain Range and mistakenly consumed the Magic Core of a Tier Three Magical Beast, a Red Flame Lizard. Against all odds, he survived. His body mutated, converting all of his Fighting Spirit to the Fire Attribute and granting him immunity to most Flame-based attacks.]
[2: Contestant Kage, a Tier One Knight. His grandfather was a Court Assassin in the Storm Duchy. Kage inherited his family’s unique stealth and assassination skills. His movements are uncanny and his footwork is unpredictable, making him adept at finding an opponent’s weakness in battle and delivering a single, fatal strike.]
[3: Contestant Olaf, a Tier Two Great Knight. Hailing from a Northern Barbarian Tribe, he possesses the Frenzy Talent. When he goes Berserk, his Power and speed increase dramatically, but he temporarily loses all reason.]
[4: Contestant Lina, a Tier Two Great Knight. She possesses a Magic Artifact called the Eagle Eye Talisman. Wearing it greatly enhances her vision and ability to track moving targets, making her Archery exceptionally precise.]
[5: Contestant Grom, a Tier Three Earth Knight. He is a Magic Knight who can instinctively command Earth Elemental Energy. He excels at covering his body with the Earth Element to form a layer of Solid Rock Armor.]
[6: Contestant Bella, a Tier Two Great Knight. She is the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman and has trained in a bizarre form of Sword Skills for the sake of revenge. Her techniques are vicious, with every strike aimed at a vital point.]
...
[10: Contestant Tyrion, a Tier Three Earth Knight. During a past adventure, he obtained a small crystal formed from the condensed waters of the Spring of Life and fused it with his body. This has granted him regenerative abilities far beyond those of an ordinary person. As long as an injury is not fatal, he can heal from it in a short amount of time.]
[11: Contestant Alan, a Tier Two Great Knight. A Magic Knight who can communicate simply with the Wind Element, granting him speed and agility that far surpass other knights of the same tier.]
[12: Contestant Fenrir. A Wandering Knight from the northern snowfields, of the Earth Knight tier. He has a trace of Frost Giant blood flowing through his veins, which grants him Giant Strength and the innate power to control ice and snow.]
[13: Contestant Solite, a Tier One Knight. He has mastered a special ability called "Shadow Clone," which allows him to create duplicates of himself from shadows during combat to confuse his opponents.]