Chapter 287:

Chapter 287:

Kraxal hadn’t fully grasped the situation unfolding before him, but he understood what needed to be done immediately.

“Get the Holy Grail Knight! Capture the Holy Grail Knight!”

He had no idea how many reinforcements had arrived or how powerful they were. However, judging by Isaac’s demeanor, it was clear that he had anticipated this situation and deliberately involved the Olkan Code.

Isaac needed to be captured and used as a hostage.

The Keshiks had already reached a similar conclusion and attacked Isaac before Kraxal even gave the order. Their attacks were more intent on tearing him apart than taking him hostage, but Isaac moved just a bit faster than they did.

*Thunk! Crack!*

Isaac deflected the Keshik’s curved blade and thrust his left hand into the beast’s horse’s torso. His hand, wrapped in sword energy, easily penetrated the chest, and Isaac released a tentacle inside, shredding the Keshik from within.

“Guh...!”

Although the wound seemed small compared to the Keshik’s massive body, the internal damage was devastating. It was as if a blender had been thrust inside him. The Keshik collapsed helplessly after a single blow, leaving the other Keshiks stunned in shock. Taking advantage of this, Isaac quickly withdrew.

“You scum!”

The Keshik swiftly pursued Isaac.

With his back exposed, Isaac seemed like easy prey.

*Swish! Thunk! Rattle, rattle!*

But just then, arrows began to rain down from the monastery. The arrows showed no distinction between friend or foe.

Though both Isaac and the Keshiks had the skill to deflect blind arrows, it was enough to make them hesitate.

And that brief moment was all that was needed.

“Don’t chase him! Fall back!”

Kraxal’s frantic scream didn’t reach the Keshik, whose focus had narrowed. But even if it had, it was already too late.

If anyone in the world rode better than the Olkan Code’s light cavalry, it was the Knights of Elil.

Reyna Hilde, one of Elil’s knights, charged down the slope at an unbelievable speed, impaling a Keshik’s torso with her lance in a single thrust. *Boom.* The immense collision should have slowed her down, but Reyna showed an incredible feat. She lifted the Keshik, horse and all, and hurled him at another Keshik.

“Ha ha ha! Holy Grail Knight, here’s a gift for you!”

Reyna burst into a hearty laugh and charged again at the Keshiks. Behind her, the other Elil knights followed closely, shouting insults like “Are you mad?!” and “Have you lost it?!”

The Elil knights smoothly split into two groups around Isaac and surged toward the Keshiks.

*Crunch, snap.*

The stationary Keshiks couldn’t withstand the fierce momentum of the charging Elil knights. Like grains of sand swept away by a river, they were quickly slashed and trampled under the knights’ swords, lances, and hooves.

“Lord Isaac, it seems we’re not too late.”

The Swordmaster of Elil and Guardian of the Holy Land, Lianne Georg, appeared beside Isaac. Despite it having been a long time since they last met, Isaac hadn’t expected to be so relieved to see her face.

“No. You’ve arrived right on time.”

Isaac felt a sense of relief as their arrival matched the time he had anticipated.

Isaac had intentionally timed the arrival of Elil’s reinforcements at Norden Port and their advance to this location to coincide with the Olkan Code’s entry into the Issacrea estate. Whether Sahulan Khan intervened or not, Isaac had planned for them to arrive around this time.

However, the Olkan Code had arrived a bit earlier than expected, forcing Isaac to stall by deliberately walking slowly and pretending to negotiate with empty words.

Risking his life to buy time had somehow succeeded without a single cannonball striking him.

Once enemies, Lianne and Isaac now exchanged an awkward glance. Lianne chose the battlefield over staying by Isaac’s side.

“Emperor Edelred is approaching from the rear with the rest of the forces. I’ll take my leave.”

She immediately spurred her horse and charged toward the orc army.

As Isaac watched her join the ranks of Elil knights cutting through the retreating orcs, a chorus of cheers erupted.

“Holy Grail Knight! Holy Grail Knight! Holy Grail Knight!”

Soldiers and paladins, who had been waiting in the monastery, poured out. Hearing the trumpet of Elil and the drumming of the World’s Forge, they chanted the Holy Grail Knight’s name as if they couldn’t afford to lose in spirit.

Isaac locked eyes with Rottenhammer, who was leading the charge.

It seemed like Rottenhammer had rushed out in a fit of emotion, but it was actually under Isaac’s orders.

The vanguard that arrived with Lianne consisted of knights prioritizing offensive power and mobility. Their numbers weren’t large. The Issacrea forces needed to fill this gap.

“Exterminate the intruders!”

With Rottenhammer’s roar, the soldiers charged all at once.

All that remained in the area were several trees, blackened and charred.

Seeing the scene, symbolic of a particular being, the orcs screamed in terror.

“Tuhalin! Lightning Hammer Tuhalin has appeared! It’s the Soul Crusher Tuhalin!”

***

“It’s a mess.”

Sahulan could feel everything happening around him through the Netherworld.

The Khan’s eyes were everywhere. He saw the orcs crushed by Elil’s knights at the front, the orcs slaughtered by Issacrea’s rabble, and the ones collapsing under the sudden attack of the World’s Forge Sect in the rear.

These were all threats Sahulan had considered.

But he hadn’t expected to face all these threats simultaneously, especially in such a remote place. This land held no value other than being a key point to cross the Geliford Mountains.

‘Wasn’t it said that the original lord of this place had intended to rebel? We tried to turn him to our side by providing him with weapons, but we failed.’

At the time, this land was known as Hendrak. To Sahulan, it held no more significance than that.

He couldn’t understand why these fanatics were willing to risk their lives for this land.

Then, suddenly, Sahulan raised his eyes and looked at a man in the distance.

Whether by chance or because he had been under watch from the beginning, that man also met Sahulan’s gaze.

[It’s because of that one.]

The Netherworld clearly pointed out that the root cause of what was happening now was Isaac Issacrea, the Holy Grail Knight.

While Sahulan was stalling the Manseungja, Isaac had been executing this cunning scheme.

Of course, the fact that the Olkan Code also needed time to regroup their forces was conveniently ignored.

What mattered was one thing: at the very least, the Holy Grail Knight needed to be eliminated here.

“Khan, you must retreat! Elil’s rear guard is on its way!”

General Teherma, the shaman, advised, sweat dripping from his brow.

He wasn’t sure if Elil’s knights were incredibly fast or if they had been holding onto their souls in some special way. But through the countless souls continuously pouring in, Teherma knew that the army flanking from the left had suffered near-total annihilation.

Not only were Elil’s forces unusual, but they were also incredibly powerful.

The vanguard that had just arrived was merely the literal vanguard.

“Pull the soldiers back.”

Teherma sighed in relief. But Sahulan showed no intention of retreating. Instead, he drew the Netherworld and notched an arrow.

Before Teherma could react, Sahulan aimed the arrow directly at Isaac.

‘I heard you were injured quite badly in your fight with Atlan.’

As long as the direction was right, pinpoint accuracy wasn’t necessary.

Sahulan loosed the arrow as soon as he raised the Netherworld.

The iron arrowhead tore through the air with a terrifying force.

The ripping gale pierced through two of Elil’s knights, skewering them completely. Even then, the arrow, imbued with the wrath of the Khans of the past, continued its descent like a lightning bolt toward Isaac.

*Boom.*

But at that moment, someone leaped forward and decisively deflected the arrow. A crystal barrier appeared for a brief moment, shining brilliantly before shattering and dispersing into the air.

[Who dares to threaten the Great Warrior sent by Elil?!]

It was Lianne. But the presence within her was not Lianne.

Her golden eyes glowed as she pointed her sword at Sahulan.

Isaac smiled lazily as he watched.

‘Good, if the angels get involved, it gives other faiths a reason to bring out their angels too.’

Isaac was pleased with the situation.

There was no reason to feel bad when others stepped in and fought the battle for him, allowing him to win for free.

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