Chapter 151: Counterattack on a Rainy Night

Dennis swore, his statement clear and standard as he spoke.

"Tomorrow night? Will it rain?" Ryan's face looked somewhat puzzled. "Tell me why, soldier. It seems you come from Bastonne?"

"Yes, I'm from Bastonne, a hunter in the forests of Arden. Every year, as night falls on September 4th, it will rain without fail, Sir Knight of the Holy Grail. My words are the absolute truth. My family has hunted in the Arden forest for decades. Every year, on the night of September 4th, it definitely rains here!" Dennis added earnestly.

Ryan frowned, then asked, "Does it rain throughout the entire Arden forest? I haven't heard of this..."

"I would never dare to deceive a Knight of the Holy Grail, I swear, it's true. Every year, as night falls on September 4th, this entire forest experiences rain, followed by a long period of thunderstorms. Then, the rain spreads throughout the entire forest, usually stopping around September 6th. After that, the forest will enjoy a long period of sunny weather." Dennis knelt on the ground. "I swear to Sallya, everything I've said is true."

"What's your name?"

"I'm Dennis, Sir Knight of the Holy Grail."

"Tomorrow night, tomorrow night." Ryan patted Dennis on the shoulder, indicating the information was useful to him, then ordered the knights to take him away: "Get him something to eat; this message might be very useful to us."

"Yes!" A ranger knight immediately responded loudly, casting an envious glance at the serf. He didn't dare disobey the command of the Knight of the Holy Grail, and the serf received a bowl of meat soup and two barley loaves.

The scene shifted back to the four people, upon hearing Ryan continuously mentioning the heavy rain tomorrow night, Julius expressed his interest: "Do you believe what that serf said?"

Before Ryan could answer, Marquis Gabriel's eyes lit up, taking over the conversation: "Indeed, every September, Arden forest welcomes its delayed rainy season. I just wasn't aware of the exact timing, as knights don't usually pay attention to this."

Sulia stood up, walked beside Julius, and first looked at Ryan, then at her brother before speaking: "Rain is highly disadvantageous for us. Soldiers hate fighting in the rain, and knights fear their armor rusting and opt to cover it with oilcloth."

Ryan nodded vigorously, already envisioning the next scenes: "Then, due to the arrival of heavy rain, the army cannot advance through muddy and soft ground. We will choose to find shelter from the rain, knights will stow away their armor to prevent rust, and serf soldiers will seek trees and caves to avoid the downpour."

"You're right, Sir Ryan. If what the serf named Dennis said is true, then several hours of continuous heavy rain will make everyone restless. At our most vulnerable, the orc army will appear... Our army is not adept at fighting in the jungle and rain, but the orcs fear nothing." Sulia continued softly.

"Yes! Yes!" Ryan murmured to himself: "That's right, the orcs are waiting, they're waiting for the heavy rain. We were completely unaware of these circumstances. If it weren't for the serf named Dennis risking his life to tell us, who knew it would rain heavily tomorrow night?"

"This is an opportunity for the orcs, but also for us!"

"Order the three armies, everyone takes turns resting, with food provided according to pre-war standards!"

"Make sure that by tomorrow afternoon, everyone is in their best condition!"

"Yes!"

After confirming how the orcs would attack, the entire army began to rest urgently, aside from a small number of guards, everyone got enough rest time.

The next afternoon, the weather turned increasingly hot, with the air seemingly filled with the scent of gunpowder. Soldiers began to organize their weapons, while knights gathered around the camp, indulging in a feast of bread and smoked meat, along with various vegetables.

By dusk, all troops in the camp were ready, with soldiers lined up in rows and knights fully armored.

Inside the forest, the wind howled, and black clouds gradually covered the sky.

Ryan and others stood in the central army, the Knight of the Holy Grail leaning on his griffin war hammer, suddenly smiled at Julius beside him: "This battle will decide the fate of our army. Unexpected, isn't it? Perhaps the outcome of this war will be rewritten by a serf. If he hadn't reminded me, maybe we would be looking for a place to shelter from the rain?"

"My father always taught us that serfs are an indispensable part of the country. I didn't understand before, but now I do." Julius said solemnly, nodding lightly. "Ryan, I understand why you win the ladies' favor now. Is this what being a Knight of the Holy Grail is? If it were me, I definitely wouldn't have the patience to listen to what a serf has to say."

"Knights have their strengths, and serfs have theirs. In this country, knights determine the nation's strength, but serfs determine the nation's foundation. Knights cannot exist without serfs, and serfs also need the protection of knights." Ryan felt the gusts from the forest almost blinding him, as branches and leaves whirled within the giant oak forest.

Thunder rumbled in the distant sky.

The sky gradually darkened, the sun disappearing into the clouds.

"Boom!" A white bolt of lightning struck from the clouds to the ground, and seconds later, the roaring thunder echoed throughout the valley.

Serf soldiers holding spears stood in place, their eyes filled with worry and fear. They were not professional soldiers; many were even concerned about their own fields being affected by the heavy rain.

Maybe their morale wasn't high, maybe they weren't skilled in combat, but they all knew this battle was for their lives, for the defense of their country.

The more elite soldiers formed tight formations, wearing chainmail and surcoats, helmets on their heads, most holding long swords, shields on their backs — pikes were difficult to use in the forest.

They were the more glorious freemen, their lands not subject to high taxes, their families enjoying houses and food supplies in towns or even castles, receiving double pay, and thus, they had to demonstrate sufficient combat strength.

Then, there were the knights.

In the forest, knights chose to dismount and fight on foot, wearing fine armor, holding long swords and shields, well-trained, and high-spirited, like those beautiful knight tales and mythical epics. All ranger knights hoped to achieve glory and honor in war.

Kingdom knights were different.

They had awakened from their dreams, witnessed harsh realities, and undergone transformations in blood and fire, but they still steadfastly followed the path of knights. They were the fighters of Britannia, the protectors of the country and its people, an elite force formed from dozens of brothers bonded by blood and determination.

The battle was imminent; they could feel the long-lost fervor within their hearts being rekindled in this tense atmosphere. The knights' inner flames burned once again, feeling the call of the Lady.

"Dripdrip" Raindrops fell like pearls onto the ground and onto the knights' armor.

"Clangclang" Amidst the thunderous roars, torrential rain poured from the heavens, the rain not falling on the ground as they wished, but on various armors, creating a series of crisp sounds.

That wasn't the sound of raindrops hitting the soil; that was the sound of rain striking metal.

"Clangclangclangdingdingding"

Hair wet, clothes soaked, in the dark forest, a deep sense of oppression filled everyone's hearts, cold, irritable, fearful, suppressing everyone's inner feelings.

The wind carried a bloody scent, the barely audible horn sounds of the orcs appearing in the far distance, shaking the morale of the troops.

Until Ryan's appearance.

The Knight of the Holy Grail, in silver-gray full plate armor, stepped in front of the army. Rain soaked his hair, streaming down his face, but it couldn't hide his radiant, hopeful expression, nor the shining Knight of the Holy Grail badge on his chest.

Even the waterfall-like rain couldn't obscure the eager gazes of the soldiers and knights.

Ryan put down his war hammer and drew his one-meter-three long sword. Under the fervent eyes of the soldiers and knights, Ryan spoke.

"Soldiers, my warriors, tell me, how do you feel?"

The army erupted, with many ranger knights shouting, "Not great, Sir Ryan."

"Hahaha!" A burst of laughter echoed through the ranks.

"Yes! Yes, I also feel not great. The forest, heavy rain, darkness, and those damned orcs." Ryan laughed loudly, unconcerned about the rain on his face. "But, my warriors, are you afraid? Are you timid? Have you succumbed to the darkness?"

"No! No!" All knights and soldiers shouted loudly.

"Tell me, does this little rain extinguish the flames in your hearts?"

"No! No!"

"For our country, we've come this far, to protect our people, we've fought to this point. Now, let us shout together, for victory! For the Lady! For Britannia!" Ryan raised the Goddess of Vengeance.

Even in the heavy rain, the white flame on the Goddess of Vengeance's blade didn't diminish in the slightest. Instead, its pale blue light spread a pure glow in the dark rainy night, illuminating everyone's hearts.

"For victory! For the Lady! For Britannia!" Soldiers roared in unison, with the Knight of the Holy Grail with us, what's there to fear from those beasts?

"For victory! For the Lady! For Britannia!" Knights roared loudly, striking their shields with their swords, their courage undiminished by the heavy rain, ready for battle.

"Fight! Fight!" Ryan's subordinates, Olivier and Hux, were drenched, but their morale was high, ranger knights gripping their long swords, waiting for the moment to fight alongside their baron.

"For the Lady!" Julius drew his sword first, shouting loudly, and his sister Sulia also raised her long sword high: "For the Lady!"

The orc sounds grew closer, many already spotting sinister figures flashing in the dark depths.

"Now, soldiers, wield your weapons, show your courage, I, Knight of the Holy Grail, Ryan-Makado, am with you. Let's fight side by side to eradicate evil! Everyone! Follow my light!" The Goddess of Vengeance was raised among the ranks, its white flame, pale blue light, in the dark rainy night, all eyes fixed on this sword.

Then Ryan turned, stepping forward, charging into the darkness.

The army's morale surged, Marquis Gabriel de Bastonne, the third son of the Red Dragon Duke, swung his long sword forcefully, shouting, "Follow the Knight of the Holy Grail! Follow the Knight of the Holy Grail! Charge! Charge!"

"Charge!"

Britannia's army boiled.

"For the Lady!"

A massive wave swept over the orc ranks.

When the orc warband leader was still gathering troops, preparing to charge, Britannia's army had already rushed towards them, an unexpected situation that stunned them.

"Humans... attacking... us?"

"For the Lady!!!" Ryan, leading the charge, decapitated the orc warband leader with a single sword strike.

"For the Lady! For Britannia!" Knights followed Ryan into the orc ranks, long swords sweeping, blood everywhere, catching the orcs off guard. By the time they reacted, knights had already broken through the first line, their sharp long swords reaping orc heads.

This was the knights' revenge.

Over a kilometer-long front, human figures charged at orcs everywhere.

"Kill!" Serfs raised their spears, impaling horned beasts and lesser horned beasts together, causing chaos in the orc ranks. Orcs in the back wanted to charge forward, those in front wanted to retreat, trampling each other, countless dead and wounded.

In the orc center, the Beast King "Bloodhorn" Marlas and the Screaming Great Shaman "Heart Eater" Groz watched incredulously: "Ambush... discovered... humans... counterattacking!"

"Hold... I'll... restrict the humans!" The Screaming Great Shaman waved his bone staff, green energy surging, forming swarms of locusts.

Swarms of locusts appeared on the battlefield, many serfs with locusts clinging to their faces, screaming trying to rid themselves of the insects, but were immediately slain by nearby orcs. Knights also felt numerous locusts entering their armor, gnawing on their flesh, many knights bitten bloody.

"So many bugs!"

"Damn!"

Ryan cut a giant horned beast in two, seeing this, the Knight of the Holy Grail raised the Goddess of Vengeance: "Mass Dispel!"

Divine light covered the entire battlefield, all locusts touched by this light turned to ash.

"Long live Sir Ryan!" "Follow the Knight of the Holy Grail! Follow the Knight of the Holy Grail!" The army regained its momentum, charging towards the orc center.

The first line of giant horned beasts and horned beasts were broken through by knights, the remaining lesser horned beasts and chaos hounds also crushed by serfs. In the heavy rain, the orc army's front had begun to collapse.

The Beast King and the Great Shaman felt the situation turning dire, retreating slowly under the protection of giant horned beasts and minotaurs.

"The Holy Grail... powerful, unbeatable."

"Rainy season... find another... opportunity!"

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