The night was clear and bright. The Gem Lamp Fixtures cast light over a small area around the courtyard as two knight squads assembled.
One was led by Knight Captain Karis, and the other by Lord Stephen.
The Snow Demons' roars came from the south.
Gradually, the Snow Demons emerged from the darkness. They were two enormous humanoid creatures, one tall and one short, with nothing especially unusual about their appearance. The taller Snow Demon wielded an Ice Crystal Battle Axe, while the shorter one held two Ice Crystal Longswords.
"Karis, I'll lead my squad against the tall Snow Demon. You lead yours against the short one!" Lord Stephen's cold voice carried over.
Knight Captain Karis immediately replied, "No problem."
"Then charge!" Lord Stephen raised his Knight Captain's Spear high. The Nightmare Ghost Horse beneath him neighed and charged forward fearlessly.
More than a dozen squad knights behind him stirred their Battle Aura into resonance and followed Lord Stephen into the charge.
Knight Captain Karis did the same, swiftly leading his squad toward the shorter Snow Demon.
Russell stood atop an ice-and-snow watchtower beside the courtyard, watching the two charges with a grave expression.
There was nothing flashy or unfamiliar about the charge.
He had taken part in many such charges himself while clearing the trade routes, and the Knight Order had fought Snow Demons more than once.
Several other knights dressed as merchants stood on the courtyard watchtower. Some were caravan stewards, while others owned small businesses themselves. Many people who regularly traveled the trade routes had nurtured a Battle Qi Seed, and some had even awakened Battle Aura.
However, not every one of them could open all their meridians and cultivate Battle Aura smoothly.
Most knights were eliminated during cultivation. Only those with hopes of advancing to Great