205: They all won

The defenders inside Thorn Castle all stared at Reyn, who was entering the city, and the knights under his command.

"Which family does that wolf banner belong to? Those Magic Wolf Knights look terrifying and powerful."

Some minor nobles and ordinary knights who hadn't seen Reyn or the Derrick Family's banners before were chattering amongst themselves after seeing the imposing and extraordinary Reyn.

"That's the banner of the Derrick Family from the Red River Valley in the northern border region. The leader is the master of the Red River Valley, Viscount Raine Derrick of the Red River Territory."

A viscount who recognized Reyn stepped forward to explain his origins to the crowd.

"That lord is only a viscount?"

"He was just a baron before. He was only just promoted to viscount at the beginning of the year for his great merits in the Dragon War. But after this, he'll likely be promoted in rank again."

This viscount's gaze fell upon the bound Earl Torrens behind Reyn; he recognized this captured earl.

Not only did he recognize him, but many nobles inside Thorn Castle also recognized the Earl Torrens that Reyn had captured. After observing him repeatedly and confirming Earl Torrens's identity, they were all greatly shocked.

"Is that really Earl Torrens from the Stag Territory?"

"I've looked over a dozen times; it's definitely him, no mistake. I've seen Earl Torrens before; I can't be wrong."

"My heavens!"

"Viscount Raine captured Earl Torrens alive?"

Some minor nobles couldn't believe their eyes. On one side was a newly promoted viscount they'd never heard of, and on the other was a widely renowned earl, a great noble.

These minor nobles had never imagined that one day they would see an unknown viscount capture a powerful earl alive.

"Earl Torrens's strength reached the Middle Gold rank, didn't it? To capture him alive, then Viscount Raine's strength must be..."

The look in everyone's eyes towards Reyn instantly gained a measure of awe, that respect reserved for the strong.

Porcupine Earl Zaradok laughed heartily as he came forward to greet them.

"Hahahahaha!"

"Reyn, I really underestimated you. I never expected you to capture this old geezer alive. Damn it, watching this old bastard lead his men to kill my Porcupine Territory's vassals and burn my villages these past few days nearly drove me mad with rage."

"You capturing this old fellow alive has really vented my anger for me."

Facing the enthusiastic Zaradok, Reyn was neither arrogant nor overly warm in his response. He first completed his mission.

"Lord Zaradok, I come by order of the Grand Duke to reinforce Thorn Castle. The Grand Duke will arrive shortly."

"Hahahahaha!"

"Thank His Highness the Grand Duke!"

Afterwards, Reyn was enthusiastically pulled by Zaradok into the castle to be received. The moniker 'White Wolf Reyn' also began to spread among the noble circles of the Rage Bear Territory and the Stag Territory as news of Reyn capturing Torrens and reinforcing Thorn Castle traveled.

Three days later, Karl arrived at Thorn Castle leading the Grizzly Bear Fief Allied Forces.

Grand Duke Heisenberg of the stag, who had kept a low profile, emerged from the military camp after Karl's arrival. He led his forces to array themselves on the plains outside Thorn Castle, waiting.

On the other side, after the Grizzly Bear Fief Allied Forces reached Thorn Castle, they did not rest but marched straight forward, forming ranks opposite the Stag Territory army.

Zaradok, Reyn, and others inside Thorn Castle also led their troops out, forming battle lines outside to face the enemy.

"His Highness the Grand Duke is as brave and fearless as ever. Victory is assured this time!"

Facing an enemy who had been resting and waiting while they themselves did not rest and directly chose a forceful engagement—a move Reyn saw as unwise—was strongly endorsed by Porcupine Earl Zaradok and the other grizzly bear fief nobles.

Looking at the high-spirited Rage Bear allied forces, Reyn fell into thought.

Grand Duke Karl's approach, while seemingly unreasonable, had a remarkably potent effect. This taught Reyn a great deal.

Karl came to the front of the ranks and suddenly took flight into the air, standing suspended in mid-air. From the Stag Territory army, another figure also flew out. The newcomer was none other than the Illegitimate Son Grand Duke Heisenberg, who had recently been the talk of the entire Northern Frontier.

Thus, the two Grand Dukes of the Northern Frontier met on this occasion.

Reyn, observing from the rear, was startled to see Karl and the other suddenly take flight.

"What powerful auras! Grand Duke Karl has indeed been concealing his strength. But if he hasn't broken through to the Legendary rank, how can he possess such formidable power?"

Reyn couldn't understand how Karl could unleash combat power rivaling a Legendary. Facing the aura suppression of Heisenberg, a newly-advanced Legendary, Karl actually didn't fall behind.

"Son of Thunder, fearless and unafraid!"

Reyn only heard Karl's furious roar, then saw a massive phantom of a magic bear appear behind Karl, with wild lightning dancing chaotically in the sky.

"It's appeared! The Son of Thunder, and the familiar grizzly bear battle silhouette. The last time I saw His Highness use this move was decades ago."

Porcupine Earl, watching the powerful grizzly bear battle silhouette in the sky, was stirred with excitement. The morale of the Rage Bear allied forces also reached its peak at this moment.

Reyn quietly asked Zaradok, "What kind of power is His Highness the Grand Duke using? It's so powerful it can rival a Legendary?"

"That's a secret art unique to the Raging Bear Family. Only those with raging bear bloodline can use it. Those with the raging bear bloodline who gain the recognition of His Highness Volrigard and form a contract become special Professionals: Sons of Thunder."

"Sons of Thunder can, under specific circumstances, borrow power from His Highness Volrigard. Back in the day, during the Raging Bear's Blood Expansion War, His Highness Karl used this move frequently, killing many powerful enemies."

"Back then, the title 'Son of Thunder' shook the entire Northern Frontier. After so many years of disuse, many have already forgotten the fearsome reputation of the Son of Thunder."

Reyn suddenly understood.

"So this is His Highness the Grand Duke's trump card? A trump card that can rival a Legendary. Truly impressive!"

By now, Karl and Heisenberg in the sky had escalated from an aura clash to a real, full-blown battle. However, the two allied armies below, though the atmosphere was tense, did not move without orders from their respective Grand Dukes.

Both sides had armies of over a hundred thousand, with strength roughly equal. A fight would be a stalemate. For the nobles on both sides below, avoiding a fight now was preferable if possible.

The Stag Territory nobles came to seize advantages, not to fight a hard battle. With no advantages to be seized at this moment, naturally, they wouldn't act.

And among the Rage Bear Territory nobles, many were unwilling to go to war with the Stag Territory in the first place. Now that they could avoid fighting, they naturally didn't want to.

Reyn could sense the mindset of both sides' forces; it was basically an open secret.

"So what does this amount to? A large-scale game of make-believe?"

Watching Karl fighting in the air, Reyn felt for the first time the difficulties of being a Grand Duke.

"It's just hard on His Highness Karl!"

In mid-air, the grizzly bear battle silhouette constantly swung its massive claws wreathed in lightning, attacking Heisenberg. On the other side, Heisenberg's powerful attacks continuously damaged the body of the grizzly bear battle silhouette. Neither side could gain the upper hand over the other.

After over a hundred exchanges, the battle abruptly stopped. Just as the fight began unexpectedly, it ended just as suddenly.

Reyn only saw Grand Duke Karl and Heisenberg exchange a few words in the air after the battle ceased, then both sides withdrew to their own camps.

Upon his return, Grand Duke Karl announced that the Rage Bear Territory had won this war. The stag allied forces would subsequently retreat. The Rage Bear Territory nobles erupted in cheers, celebrating the victory.

On the other side, Reyn also saw cheers erupt from within the Stag Territory ranks, as if they too had achieved victory.

For a moment, Reyn couldn't tell who had actually won. But by then, no one cared about that anymore.

The Rage Bear Territory nobles held a celebratory banquet at Thorn Castle. The nobles drank heartily, and flattery for Grand Duke Karl permeated the entire victory feast.

Early the next morning, the Rage Bear allied forces began their withdrawal. On the other side, the Stag Territory army had already vanished; clearly, they had withdrawn the previous night.

The armies returned to their own territories, while the nobles gathered at Rage Bear Fortress, where another grand feast awaited them.

Reyn, having received a prior hint from Karl, also followed to Rage Bear Fortress.

This was his first time coming to Rage Bear Fortress, coming to the heart of the Rage Bear Territory.