The shields emblazoned with various crosses formed phalanxes that moved slowly.

In the center was Losa's main force, with the primary units being the Teutonic Order and the Saint Lazarus Order's foot soldiers, the Varangian Guard, veteran detachments, farmers conscripted by the Imperial Knights, and the town militia from Semanude and Damietta.

These armored soldiers formed three phalanxes, with intervals containing long-range projectile infantry, including woodland archers.

Richard the Lionheart, backed by a red lion banner, was surrounded by brightly armored imperial guard cavalry, accompanied by hundreds of heavily armored cavalry, armed to the teeth.

Though he was a battle-hardened veteran, a war of this scale was unprecedented in his life.

The number of participating troops, including logistics personnel, exceeded two hundred thousand. The last time Europe saw a battle of this magnitude, one would have to look back at the Battle of Poitiers between Charles the Hammer and the Saracen Expedition Army.

Not long ago, when Emperor Henry dispatched troops to subdue the Lombard League, he only sent twenty thousand troops, easily crushing the makeshift army of over ten thousand from the Lombard League.

"Look at our King Philip, he probably can't even hold onto the reins now."

Richard's breathing was somewhat rapid, his eyes glowing red under the crown helmet.

Born with a brave heart, the first time seeing such a grand scene, he felt no fear at all. Instead, he felt that he naturally belonged to the east, to the frontline of this battle against heretics.

"Fuller, I told you I belong here!"

He tapped his helmet, making a clanging sound: "It's a pity, I really would like to trade Albion's crown with him."

Beside him, Count Fuller rolled his eyes. You may be willing to trade, but the other side must be willing too.

Elsewhere, under the golden fleur-de-lis banner.

Wearing a blue robe and a golden crown, King Philip wasn't trembling as his younger friend slandered him, but he was very nervous, dry-mouthed, subconsciously gulping water from a flask.

He wasn't afraid of getting caught in a melee and falling at the hands of some nameless minor soldier, as the court witch beside him and the personal guard cavalry were more than capable. He was just worried about being incinerated by the dragon flame from the terrifying demon dragon descending from the sky.

"Alice, can you guarantee that I'll be taken away when the dragon flame descends?"

He mumbled quietly.

The faint sound was drowned by the chaotic battlefield upon output.

"Your Majesty, you've asked for the fourth time. If you don't trust my ability, you can always call Tros or Amanda."

Behind him, a witch wrapped in a black robe replied gloomily, but Philip heard it clearly, exhaling lightly, trying to reassure, "I'm not concerned about your ability, it's just... that's a legendary beast after all."

The witch didn't reply.

Philip fell into regret, thinking he shouldn't have been incited by that Richard fellow and personally entered the battlefield in a fit of anger, during this morning's war council.

What was his purpose for coming to the Holy Land?

Wasn't it to prevent Richard from reaping the greatest victory spoils against the Saracens and to grab a small share for himself?

How did he become, through a few casual words from Richard and Duke Nalosa, an essential famous general in defeating heretics?

What a miscalculation, such a miscalculation!

...

Losa and his Winged Cavalry walked at the forefront of the formation, forming three outposts in this gigantic military formation with the personal guards of the other two monarchs. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Opposite them, the Saracen army, clad in black or white robes, appeared as an endless ocean slowly surging forward. The flying Holy Fire Banner, under the sun, resembled clusters of burning bonfires.

Roar——

A thunderous roar erupted.

A giant dragon, resembling a floating island, spread its wings and glided slowly.

This colossal one-horned dragon, comparable in size to a Three-headed Demon Dragon, had a body covered in radiant scale armor, with three pairs of broad wings seemingly from different dragons attached to its heavyset body, appearing slightly discordant.

Yet to those unacquainted, aside from insiders like Losa, this dragon was undoubtedly an embodiment of Satan, capable of engaging head-on with the Heavenly Deputy Monarch Michael.

"Tiamat..."

Losa slowly chewed over the name returned by the Shadow of Darkness, belonging to this dragon.

In many legendary novels he read in a previous life, this was the name of the Mother of Evil Dragons.

As he drew closer, Losa felt even more strongly that this giant dragon was more bluster than substance. It appeared more daunting than a Three-headed Demon Dragon, but were the two to clash, the Demon Dragon might at most get slightly injured before tearing Tiamat into pieces.

The appearance of the demon dragon did not shake the Crusaders' morale; the enemy had the Dragon of Satan aiding them, but they likewise had the Knight of Radiance, an angelic champion.

On the contrary, the stronger the enemy, the more significant the battle, the greater the responsibility rested upon their shoulders — all of these were preached by Duke Losa during yesterday's pre-battle mobilization, and every faithful Crusader believed it deeply.

The phalanxes of the Saracen army continued to advance slowly, eventually stopping under the shadow cast by the hovering demon dragon.

Both armies stopped moving, opening their confrontation under the blazing sun.

...

"Sir, should we have the casters test these Frankish barbarians first?"

Adil's side, a Saracen nobleman inquired.

Adil shook his head and said, "We're not the only ones with casters; don't put all our hope on them. Pass my order, deploy the giant beast corps!"

Just as Ivan said, the giant beast corps had run out of food for several days now. If not expended soon, they would cause a mess.

Up front, the Saracens made a gap for the gargantuan beasts of various forms, these ravenous beasts being fed pieces of raw meat by the drivers atop them, only escalating their ferocity.

"Lord Adil."

The Black Robe Mage appeared almost out of nowhere in front of him: "Though they're merely expendable, they shouldn't be wasted like that; let Tiamat move, I want to see how Duke Losa handles its dragon flame."

Shemir evidently didn't regard Tiamat, this fusion beast, as a partner. It wasn't even a true dragon, merely a tool.

Adil didn't persist, placing a hand on his chest, bowing respectfully: "As you wish."

The demon dragon hovering in the sky soon received the command from Shemir, and atop it, Eliss, full of excitement, urged the giant dragon to flap its wings, flying towards the enemy's head.

"The breath of death, I love death the most."

Eliss murmured excitedly: "Lord Losa, I hope you'll love the gift I bring for you. Once you die, that damn pact should be nullified, right?"