Root out the grass.

The gnoll cavalry, upon receiving their orders, swiftly disengaged from the battlefield, retreating towards the rear with all haste. The remaining desert coyotes, sensing their doom, fled with equal speed. This skirmish had proven disastrous for both the gnoll legion and the desert coyotes, with heavy casualties on both sides. They had grossly underestimated the might of the Royal Knights.

The gnolls had believed their numerical superiority would secure victory, their forces outnumbering the Royal Knights several times over. Yet, they had failed to recognize that each Royal Knight fought with a prowess that made slaughtering the gnolls as easy as slaughtering chickens.

"We are cavalry; those humans can't catch us," one gnoll declared. "Once we reach the woods, we'll rest until the effects of their potions wear off and they become weak. Then, we'll strike back immediately!"

The gnoll leader believed his plan was flawless. However, plans often fail to keep pace with unfolding events. Just as the gnoll cavalry neared the woods, a sudden blaze erupted in front of them, spanning over forty meters. Walls of fire cut off their retreat, leaving them no choice but to face the inferno. At the end of the flames, an elderly figure waved a staff, conjuring fire spells that quickly surrounded the gnoll cavalry in a sea of fire and walls of flame.

"Human mage!" one of the gnolls cried out. "Curse it! We've been tricked! These humans anticipated our attack on the Golden Oasis and set a trap!"

"Chief, what now?" another gnoll asked, panic evident in his voice.

Their leader glared at the approaching Royal Knights, determination hardening his features. The fiery barrier, nearly fifty meters in diameter, was impassable, even for him. It was high-level magic, deadly in its potency.

"We fight to the death!" he commanded. "Break through their formation and escape in another direction!"

Rallying his forces, the gnoll leader led a desperate charge towards the Royal Knights. But the outcome was predictable. The gnoll cavalry's charge was futile, failing to push the Royal Knights back even a step. They were trapped within the fire's embrace, leading to a one-sided massacre.

With the aid of the Luck Aura, which enhanced their combat effectiveness by fifty percent, the Royal Knights easily overpowered the disorganized gnoll cavalry. And when the elderly steward, Hodern, joined the fray after setting up the fire trap, the gnolls stood no chance. His high-level magic decimated them, each explosive fireball clearing enemies within a ten-meter radius.

The battle concluded in less than an hour. Every participating gnoll cavalry and desert coyote was slain, totaling over twelve hundred enemies, including the gnolls' tamed coyotes. About a hundred and thirty coyotes survived, intentionally spared to serve as temporary mounts for the Royal Knights. Though these tamed coyotes were less fierce than their wild counterparts, they were not ideal long-term mounts due to their limited potential.

One of the Royal Knights, having reached level seven during the battle, approached Haotian. "Lord, the battle is over. We have seven knights fallen, three severely injured, and over twenty lightly wounded, though still capable of fighting."

The bodies of the fallen knights were carefully gathered, their remains glowing with a radiant golden light as they vanished. Surrounding them, the Royal Knights paid their respects, not with sorrow but with pride. They knew their comrades were not truly dead but had ascended to a mysterious space, destined to revive in their lord's divine kingdom and achieve eternal life—a dream they all shared.

"Understood," Haotian acknowledged. Gathering the Royal Knights, he issued a new command, "Speed is crucial. Head to the Blackwind Tribe and eliminate all gnolls there."

The battle had depleted the Blackwind Tribe's main forces, making it the perfect time to launch a counterattack. Should the tribe learn of their defeat, they would undoubtedly flee with their resources, making them harder to eliminate later.

The elderly steward, Hodern, voiced his concern, "Young master, destroying the Blackwind Tribe might provoke a large-scale retaliation from the gnoll homeland."

Haotian smiled, "When you wake a dragon, you must be prepared for its wrath. The gnoll homeland may seem formidable now, but it won't be for long. Moreover, the fall of a minor tribe won't spur them into a massive response. Conversely, if we allow them to report back, it could lead to greater trouble for us."

Hodern nodded, realizing the wisdom in Haotian's words. The gnolls, known for their vengefulness, would certainly seek aid from their homeland if left unchecked. It was better to eliminate the threat now and gain time to strengthen their own forces.

"Set forth, and return swiftly!" Haotian addressed the level-seven Royal Knight.

Since advancing to level seven, the knight's equipment had markedly improved, a development that was indeed fortuitous. This upgrade meant there would be no need to trouble themselves with equipping the Royal Knights in the foreseeable future.

The elderly steward, Hodern, interjected, "Master, I wish to accompany them, to guard against any unforeseen mishaps!"

Haotian nodded in acknowledgment. It was evident that Hodern had not found the previous battle satisfying. Most of the enemies had fallen to the Royal Knights, leaving Hodern with few kills and scant "experience" to his name—insufficient to advance him to a level-nine mage.

"Take the gnoll, Agul, with you. He can guide your way," Haotian added, delegating further.

He then distributed portions of wolf meat and three red dragon fruits to each of the Royal Knights. The meat would sustain them, while the dragon fruits would replenish their mana to some extent—a necessary provision for those who had just endured a taxing battle.

Without delay, the Royal Knight regiment set off. Aside from the severely injured knights, the rest, along with Hodern, mounted the coyotes and surged out of the Golden Oasis, heading straight for the Blackwind Tribe like an unstoppable tide.

Meanwhile, Haotian stayed behind, meticulously clearing the battlefield and cataloging the spoils of their victory.