- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 85
**Chapter 85: The Minotaurs Are Approaching**
In another part of the training grounds, the chill spread, and the surrounding temperature plummeted. The ground was already covered in a thick layer of frost, extending for over a hundred meters. In the center, Steve’s body was frozen solid.
Anna, startled, quickly dispelled the magic. The cold swiftly receded.
As the icy mist vanished, a soft crack echoed through the air, and the ice that encased Steve shattered. He emerged, looking disheveled and shaken.
“Steve, ha! You lost too!” Perlos’ loud laughter rang out, his tone gleeful, clearly relishing in Steve’s misfortune.
“Perlos!” Steve’s mouth twitched in frustration, but his gaze remained wary as he glanced at Anna. For a brief moment, he had no idea what had happened—he had been completely frozen in place. If she hadn’t quickly released the magic, he feared his very life force might have begun to fade.
“Not bad!” Thor’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he turned to Anna. “Anna, that ice magic of yours can even freeze a great knight!”
Anna blushed with embarrassment, lowering her head slightly. “Thank you, Master.”
Thor smiled and shook his head. His gaze shifted back to Steve and Perlos.
“Alright!” he said. “Steve, Perlos, prepare yourselves. Tomorrow, the three barons will bring their knights here. Make sure everything is ready for coordination.”
Then Thor turned to Steve. “Also, have you completed the preparations I asked for?”
“Yes!” Steve replied seriously. “Everything is ready. The western side of the Maine Valley can be opened at any time. Additionally, the wildfire oil has been fully deployed.”
“Good!” Thor nodded approvingly. “Remember, I expect everything to go smoothly this time, without any surprises.”
Thor knew that with the minotaurs approaching, he needed to be well-prepared. Selecting the right battlefield and maximizing his advantages would be crucial to surviving the upcoming crisis.
Steve and Perlos responded swiftly, “Understood!” With that, Thor began his final preparations, making sure everyone was in place.
The day passed quickly, and by the next morning, Baron Pape Lawrence, Baron Valmy, and Baron Glatton arrived with their knights as promised. The number of knights they brought exceeded Thor’s expectations.
Baron Pape Lawrence had gathered 13 full-fledged knights, over 70 trainee knights, and more than 300 squire knights. Baron Valmy brought 7 knights, 30 trainees, and 200 squires. Meanwhile, Baron Glatton arrived with 5 knights, over 20 trainees, and more than 300 squires.
It became clear that the three barons had been holding back some of their forces previously, but now, in the face of the imminent threat, they had mobilized everything they had.
It wasn’t just the barons’ forces gathering at the Hawk’s Ridge, either. Racios Assad and the two remaining pioneer lords who had stayed behind also brought some of their troops.
Racios had managed to build a small but formidable force during this time, and the other two lords had also contributed a significant number of knights. Together, their forces now consisted of over 70 full-fledged knights, 300 trainee knights, and 1,500 squires.
This combined force was powerful enough to rival the army of a viscount, and in the northern province, only Marquis Lehman and a few of the top pioneer lords had more power. They could potentially sweep through much of the province with such strength.
However, despite this impressive gathering, the three barons remained uneasy. When they realized that nearly all the other pioneer lords had fled, leaving only two behind, their anxiety deepened.
Their original plan had been to unite the entire Maine Valley against the minotaurs. But now, with so many pioneer lords gone, a large portion of their potential forces had vanished, leaving them even more nervous and uncertain.
Unfortunately, at this point, they had no other options.
The minotaurs were now just 20 to 30 miles from the Maine Valley and would arrive by morning. It was too late to flee.
And with such a large force of knights gathered, even if they wanted to run, Thor would not allow it.
“Damn those cowards for running away!” Baron Glatton cursed angrily, his face contorted with rage. “Do they think they can escape the consequences? They’ll lose their lands, and when they can’t pay the atonement fees, they’ll face the wrath of the kingdom!”
“That’s not what we should be worrying about right now,” Pape Lawrence sighed. “We need to focus on how to defend ourselves. Let’s hope Lord Thor has a plan.”
“Yes,” agreed Baron Valmy, nodding gravely. All three of them were filled with tension and worry. Their only hope now lay with Thor and Hawk’s Ridge.
As time slowly passed, preparations continued within the fortress. Thirty miles away, a horde of thousands of minotaurs marched steadily toward the Maine Valley.
“Praise be to the Titan God—we’re almost there!” roared a towering minotaur leader from atop a hill, his voice filled with fervor.
“Chief, once we cross the Maine Valley, we’ll be there!” added an elderly minotaur, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “There are plenty of human lands ahead, where we can birth more of our children.”
In the distance, the icy white expanse beckoned, and the minotaurs’ eyes burned with devotion. They believed that the Titan God had left a great gift for them in this land. If they could obtain it, their race would grow as powerful as the legendary Behemoths.
The temptation of such power was too great to resist, even if it meant crossing human territory at great risk. They had encountered little resistance so far, but they knew it was only because the human strongholds had not yet mobilized.
If the humans turned their attention toward them, their entire horde would be wiped out, even at its peak strength.
From the moment they entered human lands, destruction loomed over them. They had to cross as quickly as possible, at least before the humans could send their strongest warriors.
“Let’s move out!” the minotaur chief bellowed. “Remember, we need more children if we are to receive the Titan God’s blessing. The great Titan God will protect us!”
With the chief’s command, the horde of thousands of minotaurs surged forward, rapidly advancing toward the Maine Valley.
(End of Chapter)