Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 187 - 181: Iron Blood Luke’s Three Commands
The Final Battle!
Those three words were like a giant stone dropped into a calm lake, sending ripples spreading in every direction.
"A final battle? On what grounds?"
Count Barton of Giant Stone was the first to stand up.
"Who does he think he is? The Fiery Sun King? He says ’final battle,’ and we’re just supposed to go?"
"It’s a trap!"
Another, older Lord chimed in.
"The Wind Cry Plain is wide open, with no natural defenses. We hold Panshi Castle, where we can rest our troops and wait for them. Why would we give up our advantage to fight him in an open field?"
For a moment, the council hall was filled with heated discussion, the voices of opposition forming the majority.
Raylo said nothing. He simply watched Luke.
He knew the final decision rested in the hands of this "Iron Blood" Knight.
Luke ignored the bickering. He extended a finger and tapped the area on the sand table representing the Wind Cry Plain. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
"You all have valid points."
His voice wasn’t loud, yet it cut through all the noise with perfect clarity.
"If we defend Panshi Castle, our odds of victory are indeed higher. But have you considered how long this battle will last? A month? Or three?"
He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over every Lord present.
"We are deep in enemy territory. If we get trapped here, how long will our food supplies last? How long can our soldiers’ morale hold? By the time winter arrives, our provisions will be exhausted. At that point, we won’t need Karachi to attack; we’ll collapse on our own."
"Karachi has seen this. That’s why he extended this invitation, certain that we have no choice but to face him in a final battle."
Luke’s words silenced everyone.
As Lords, they all understood the importance of logistics and morale in a war.
"But..."
The older Lord was still hesitant.
"The risk is too great."
"Risk?"
A hard, cold smile touched the corners of Luke’s mouth.
"Since when has our Thunder Dragon Duchy ever feared risk?"
"When adversaries meet on a narrow path, the brave are victorious!"
He withdrew his gaze and looked back at the sand table. The immense aura of a Tier Five Domain Knight was released without reservation, enveloping the entire hall.
"If he wants a war, then a war he shall have!"
"Relay my orders! The entire army is to prepare for battle! In three days, we will have our final confrontation with the Fiery Sun Kingdom on the Wind Cry Plain!"
Once the order for the final battle was given, all the previous clamor, hesitation, and debate vanished in an instant.
Luke’s moniker, "Iron Blood," was no empty title; it had been forged in the crucible of one blood-soaked victory after another.
All present were battle-hardened Lords. They understood that when the Commander-in-Chief makes a decision, his subordinates have only one duty: to execute it.
Luke gave no one time to breathe or reflect. He turned to the sand table, his eyes sweeping over the flags representing the various Lords’ troops, and the first order was already on his lips.
"I hereby order the conscription of all Flying Knights from every Lord’s command in the Allied Army, excluding those for the Lords’ personal use, to form a provisional Sky Knight Order. Baron Raylo will serve as its temporary commander!"
Luke’s finger traced a lightning-fast trajectory in the air above the sand table.
"Baron Raylo, in three days, I want to see an aerial sword capable of tearing the enemy’s formation to shreds!"
At these words, several of the Lords who had just been doubtful about the final battle now showed looks of understanding.
Consolidating the scattered Aerial Cavalry and placing them under the command of Raylo, who had just recently proven his capabilities, was undoubtedly the best way to maximize the potential of this force.
Raylo did not hesitate, accepting the order crisply and cleanly.
He knew very well that the ten or twenty units of Aerial Cavalry scattered among the various Lords could only serve as scouts and harassers on a battlefield of tens of thousands. If targeted by a concentrated enemy force, they would be like scattered sand, easily swept away.
But when hundreds of Flying Magical Beasts gathered together to form a unified force, they would become a nightmare for any ground troops.
Luke’s second order followed immediately.
"Conscript all Mages from the various Lords’ troops to form a provisional Mage legion. Alina Great Mage of Amber Territory will serve as its legion commander!"
Alina Great Mage, Lillian’s teacher, was a powerful Caster with a considerable reputation in the Thunder Dragon Duchy.
This appointment also met with no objections.
In a large-scale war such as this, the role an organized unit of Mages could play was self-evident.
"Third."
Luke’s voice turned to the other side of the hall, where the bear-like figure of Count Barton of Giant Stone stood.
"Conscript the Giant Beast units from all the Lords’ troops. With the Mammoth Knights of Black Stone Territory and Amber Territory as the core, form a Giant Beast assault legion. Count Barton will serve as the legion’s commander!"
Luke’s voice was firm and powerful.
Count Barton’s eyes lit up instantly, and he puffed out his chest.
To be ordered to lead a legion of War Giant Beasts to smash the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s front lines head-on—this was a hundred times more thrilling than being told to defend the castle!
"As you command!"
He roared in response, the last of his doubts about the final battle dissolving in the face of this heavy trust and honor.
Three orders, like three claps of thunder, completely reshaped the Northern Alliance Army’s war formation.
In the most decisive manner possible, Luke had extracted the three most elite forces from this complex Allied Army.
Sky, Magic, and Giant Beasts.
The meeting ended quickly. The Lords departed with various expressions on their faces, but Panshi Castle itself stirred like an awakened giant. Countless soldiers began to rush about, the clang of weapons and armor echoing endlessly. A grim, murderous aura quickly enveloped the entire fortress.
「Day One.」
On a patch of open ground hastily packed firm outside Panshi Castle, over a hundred Knights had already gathered with their varied flying mounts.
Griffins, Horned Eagles, Giant Bats... there were even a few ferocious, winged lizards from some remote mountain territory.
These Sky Knights were normally the prized possessions of their respective Lords, and every one of them was proud and unruly.
Gathered together now, the neighing of the mounts and the chatter of the Knights created a chaotic scene.
The area only quieted down slightly when Raylo walked over.
All eyes focused on the absurdly young temporary commander.
There was scrutiny, curiosity, and also a hint of disdain.
Just then, a clear, sonorous cry, filled with a king’s majesty, echoed through the sky.
"SKREEE!"
A powerful gust of wind descended from the sky, kicking up dust on the training grounds.
Raylo’s mount, the Storm Griffin King "Baofeng," spread his massive wings, covered in brownish-yellow Iron Feathers, and landed steadily beside Raylo.
His enormous body and his gaze that looked down on all creation instantly silenced every Flying Magical Beast on the training grounds. They lowered their heads uneasily, letting out low rumbles.
The hint of contempt on the Knights’ faces also vanished, replaced by a more solemn respect as they looked at Raylo.
A Storm Griffin King that could suppress every other Magical Beast present was enough to speak volumes.
