Chapter 1168 - 185: Army at Marle Castle · Terrified Nobles

Chapter 1168: Chapter 185: Army at Marle Castle · Terrified Nobles

When the Hesse Territory’s unprecedentedly large convoy, equipped for sea, land, and air, emerged slowly on the horizon east of Marle Castle, bathed in sunlight that reflected brilliantly off their armor, this "City of Freedom" set by the Imperial Elector Council in the Border Prince’s Territory was engulfed in a turmoil like never before.

Without a doubt, the deepest panic did not come from ordinary citizens or merchants, but rather was rooted deep within the ancient, musty, and copper-stench-filled stone building of the Imperial Elector Council—specifically in the office of the Noble Assessment Committee, covered with heavy carpets yet permeated with a decadent atmosphere.

The entire city was alerted top to bottom by the slowly approaching army, and a multitude of gossipers spread the news.

The first thing that met the eyes of the Marle Castle garrison and the onlookers on the city walls was a flock of golden raptors that obscured a small part of the sky! Thirty-four well-equipped, sternly arrayed air cavalry—ten elegant and deadly flying horses, twenty-four griffins and horse vultures clad in perfect [Fiery Sun Horse Armor], exuding a fierce aura—conducted a compelling low-altitude formation flyby under Hilude’s command.

The low roar of the griffins, the piercing shrieks of the horse vultures, the sharp sounds of the flying horses’ wings slicing through the air, along with the knights who seemed like divine weapons descending from the heavens, cast a dead silence over the entire east city wall, followed by a chorus of suppressed gasps and whispered discussions fuelled by fear.

"Oh gods above... where did this army come from?!"

"Air cavalry! So many! So elite! When did the Border Prince’s Territory ever have such a force?"

"Look at the flag... Hesse Territory? The place that couldn’t even pass the Kingdom Knight application?!"

"Are you serious!!?? A place that couldn’t pass the Kingdom Knight application, and you call this level of armament a bunch of hillbillies?!"

"By Vier Goddess! This is just unbelievable. This level of military force could even ignore Marle Castle’s prohibition, brazenly flying over the city, while the city lord’s guard wouldn’t even dare lift off. Yet couldn’t even pass the Kingdom Knight assessment?"

"What level of power must nobles who passed the assessment possess then? Does every Count and Baron in the Border Prince’s Territory keep dozens of giant dragons?"

"You idiot! Was your head damaged by your aunt’s butt as thick as a water barrel?! How is that possible? Clearly, there’s a problem with the assessment. Those damned imperial bureaucrats, greedy as Skaven Ratmen, should all be hung at the gallows!"

In fact, not everything said by the crowd below was correct; the city lord’s guard did indeed take to the sky.

But under the dazzling golden light of the Hesse Territory’s army, they seemed utterly inconspicuous.

Especially since to demonstrate power, Su Li had painstakingly persuaded Aeliria to transform into a dragon and let him ride for a while, conducting a threatening flyby over the city.

Such an act is fundamentally unfeasible; dragons have their own dignity and limits, and except for dire battlefield necessity, wouldn’t allow to be ridden flamboyantly. It’s akin to letting a reptile ride on their head, trampling on the dragon’s majesty and pride.

But alas, facing Su Li, Aeliria found it hard to refuse.

So after Su Li "bribed" her with 3000 golden crowns, Aeliria reluctantly transformed into a dragon over sixty meters long, crouching on the ground, allowing Su Li to climb atop her head.

This immense sense of conquest filled her with a feeling of humiliation and submission.

This made her dragon might wildly oppressive and filled with murderous intent, her gigantic presence sweeping over the city, her terrifying will felt by all.

Including Aeliria, there were five Chosen Ones in the sky, and this enormous majesty couldn’t be ignored even by those at legendary level.

The few remaining flying horse knights in the city, upon taking to the air, couldn’t garner any momentum.

They didn’t even dare to block in front of the Hesse Territory’s army, instead urging their mounts to catch up, trailing behind Su Li and the others until completing a circuit of flyby with the Hesse Territory’s air cavalry before finally catching up due to the same direction of travel. Consequently, the city citizens and merchants below remained unaware that those few drab flying horse knights trailing behind were actually from the City Lord’s Mansion.

All of this was a result of stark contrast; in reality, the City Lord’s flying horse knights were also well-equipped and fully armed, but clad in silver armor, appeared very inconspicuous in front of the shining golden light of the followers of Vier Goddess.

They waited until Su Li halted his screeching flight, then four flying horse knights guided their mounts, struggling to steady themselves in the turbulent airflow, barely managing to catch up to that colossal and suffocating presence.

They hovered in mid-air, maintaining a respectful distance from the dragon’s tail, afraid to approach further. The scene before them filled these usually revered elite knights of the City Lord’s Mansion with a sense of insignificance and unease like never before.

Su Li seated atop the Dragon neck’s broad root, covered with dark golden hard scales, his position very high. The huge dragon body spanning over sixty meters stretched across the sky like an enormous living mountain—the height, with just the gap from belly to back, exceeding forty meters—creating a moving mountain.

Knights had to strain their necks, their armor almost rubbing as they turned, just to catch a glimpse of the seemingly small figure upon the dragon’s back. The dragon’s immense body blocked the sunlight casting a troubling shadow over them. Aeliria’s every long, burning breath carried a strong acidic scent and a low dragon chant, the expelled airflow causing the flying horses to paw the ground anxiously, emitting terrified whinnies.