Intermission: The Holy Gauntlet

(Harb POV)

Author note: Harb is the only remaining Paladin lord on the continent of Haven because the others are in the Orclands. His weapons are the shield and the knuckles. His fighting style is that of a brawler. His moniker is the Holy Gauntlet.

In the gray and lifeless Deadlands, five legions of Paladins would stand out.

More than 5000 men were in the army because they had the "Dragons Wrath" fire mages with them and one holy knight battalion.

Harb's plan was set in motion already, and he was not in contact with the Paladin Lords in Orclands anymore.

I ordered the mages not to fire any of their spells until we meet the Ancient Trees.

Paladin Officer: "Lord Harb, we are about to cross the border going into the South Region."

Lord Harb: "I see. Press onwards! Make sure we have scouting parties to avoid ambushes."

The pathway their army is marching on now leads to a forest entrance, which then leads to the South Region.

Paladin Officer: "Roger that!"

The Paladin officer hurriedly ran back into formation and started relaying the orders.

Harb has every reason to be overconfident in this invasion, or you could say "clean-up." Even the average Paladin is considered to be a 6th-tier entity.

A Dreadknight can only be considered 4th or 5th tier. Sometimes even 3rd tier if they have no commanders.

Another reason is because of the limited intelligence they have on the undead force. The latest reports that they received say that the enemy consisted of a thousand or two undead monsters and a hundred ancient trees.

Surely, they have no more high-level undead because we destroyed them in the Great War for humanity.

Still, even after all this, he is maintaining his awareness because of his years of experience.

Harb was casually riding a horse just behind the vanguard of the army.

"Finally, once we finish this operation, I'll be getting the recognition I deserve," Harb mumbled to himself.

He also thought that he might be famous enough to create a unique faction and recruit Paladin Lords under him.

Harb looks at the small battalion of the Holy Knights. They number around 300, even though the Lord of the Holy Knights refused to participate in this war.

The reason this army has Holy Knights is because of bribery. Harb persuaded an ambitious Holy Knight-Captain to join his operation in exchange for a sizable payment. Maybe even a position in his future faction.

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Harb looks at the sky. He remembers the reason for his ambition. Even though his friends would hate him for it, his goal is more important.

Ten years ago,

Harb's Wife: "Please! Let us go! We are not armed, and we cannot fight!"

A woman's plea for mercy resounds in the large hall of her home. However, no one was coming to help.

That is because this town was under attack by the merciless legions of the Skeleton King.

And one of those minions is now in front of the woman.

The Skeleton Monster did not even flinch at this request. They are bent on killing everyone in town.

Without any hesitation, the skeleton swings down his weapon.

Holy Knight recruit: "Mother!"

A man dashes in front of the woman to block the skeleton's attack.

He came in from the window just in time.

Harb's Wife: "Son! Be careful."

The worried look on her mother's face hurt his heart because he believes that her mother should have never experienced this.

Harb's Son: "Don't worry, Mother! I got this under control."

He effortlessly swatted the Skeleton's attack and ended the battle by crushing the skull of the monster with his shield using

Harb's Wife: "Son!"

The mother hugs her son. She must have been terrified for herself and her son's safety.

However, something much more terrifying entered the house.

Lich: "Oh, there's a Holy Knight here. I thought you were all dead."

The lich gave them a sinister smile, and a ball of fire appeared on its bony hands.

Harb's Son: "No! Mother, run!"

Multiple thoughts ran inside the knight's mind: death, instant death. Regret, because he didn't get here earlier to evacuate with his mom.

Also, anger, because where was his father when he needed him?

He would die here, without a doubt. His only hope is that he can last a few seconds so that his mother can escape.

Sadly, his hopes were crushed.

Lich: "Die."

Only the burnt corpses of the mother and son remained.

(A few hours pass.)

A Paladin battalion was able to reinforce the down and push back the defenders.

Harb was part of this battalion. He dashed toward home.

This dash is the fastest he has run in his entire life.

When he arrived home, fear gripped him instantly. His house is in a terrible state.

This damage could only mean one thing. Someone entered Harb's home by force.

He quickly opened the doors and shouted the names of his wife and son.

His son just started training in the Holy Knights group, and he couldn't stand up against strong enemies yet.

Harb: "No, no! Ughhkk. Hahhhhh! (crying)"

His fear turned into despair when he saw the bodies. He hugged them tight and apologized again and again.

There was no response.

"..."

Or was there?

Suddenly, the burnt corpses of Harb's wife and son rose, grabbed Harb, and attacked him.

"Where... WHERE! H-HELP!"

"H-Harb..."

His family was turned into the undead.

He could not believe it. He couldn't move.

Not because their attacks were hurting him. It was because of what he would do next.

There are instances where the bodies of the slain rise and become undead on their own. Spells forcefully made others undead.

His family was an example of Lich's spell,

Their souls are corrupt, and they need to be destroyed. Forever.

Harb pulled out a scroll from his hand and released the spell

Harb: "I'm sorry... (crying)."

Holy flames enveloped his undead wife and son. In a few seconds, they were all ash.

Harb: "DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL! UNDEAD!"

Harb would then display extraordinary feats against the undead, which eventually led to his promotion as a Paladin Lord.

(Back to the present.)

Paladin: "We are under attack!"

Spells and arrows came from nowhere and took down a few of the Paladins.

If not for the spell shields (Anti-Magic Shell) cast on the vanguard, they would have taken severe casualties.

Harb: "Where are they coming from?"

Paladin Officer: "Scouting party one has spotted them! They are just a small group."

Harb: "Then there is no time to waste."

Harb quickly moves out with a few elite paladins. Bringing the whole army down would slow them down, and they might lose the ambushers in the forests.