The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic-Chapter 144:Monster Tide Surge

The knights stood in a tight formation, shields raised, swords gleaming under the firelit sky. The monsters crashed against them, but the knights held firm, their training evident in every precise strike. A knight swung his sword, slicing through a goblin’s neck, while another bashed a troll’s knee with his shield before driving a spear through its chest. The air was thick with the scent of blood and burning flesh.

The mercenaries fought with less discipline but brutal efficiency. A burly man wielding dual axes hacked through a beast’s limbs, dodging a swipe from a massive ogre before plunging a dagger into its throat. Another mercenary, armed with a spear, twirled it skillfully, piercing an ice wolf’s eye before twisting and impaling another oncoming beast. Their shouts mixed with the roars of dying monsters as they pushed forward, fighting for coin and survival.

In the distance, another group of monsters stormed through the ice field, massive brutes with thick, frozen hides. The knights quickly set up formations, bracing their spears and shields. When the creatures charged, they impaled themselves upon the waiting spears, roaring in agony as they were overwhelmed by the disciplined warriors.

One of the larger beasts, an Ice Titan, stomped through the battlefield, crushing men and monsters alike beneath its massive feet. A group of knights hurled fire-tipped harpoons at it, the flames licking at its icy skin. As the fire spread, the Titan roared, thrashing in pain before a final harpoon struck its chest, detonating in a fiery explosion. The monster collapsed, shaking the earth beneath it.

Nearby, a pack of frost hounds lunged at a group of mercenaries. The men fought fiercely, hacking and slashing as the hounds snapped at them. One mercenary was dragged down, screaming as the beasts tore into him. His comrades retaliated with fury, cutting down the creatures in a flurry of steel and fire.

"Push them back! Don’t let them regroup!" Albert’s voice rang out again, rallying the troops.

Baret and Chris, bloodied but still standing, exchanged a glance. They had fought many battles, but never against monsters like these.

"Think we’ll make it out of this one?" Chris panted, wiping blood from his face.

Baret grinned, raising his sword. "Only one way to find out."

Gare, Kassel, and Heru regrouped with them, weapons dripping with monster blood.

"We’re not done yet," Gare muttered. "Look."

Beyond the battlefield, more monsters emerged from the shadows, their glowing eyes piercing the darkness. The enemy forces weren’t slowing down. If anything, they were getting stronger.

Albert clenched his jaw and raised his sword high. "Everyone, prepare for the second wave! We fight until the last monster falls!"

The knights and mercenaries roared in response, raising their weapons as they braced for the next assault. The battle was far from over.

....

The dark-cloaked figures crouched in the shadows of the frozen hills, their eyes locked onto the battlefield below. The Red Knights of the North, who were expected to crumble under the weight of the monster tide, were fighting back with terrifying efficiency. The traps, the tactics, the brutal counterattacks—it was as if they had foreseen everything. One of the figures gritted his teeth, his voice barely a whisper as he cursed.

"What the hell?" He clenched his fists, watching a massive ice titan collapse under a fiery harpoon. "How are they so prepared?"

Another figure, his breath visible in the cold air, shook his head in disbelief. "This is the first time I’ve seen them use so many traps." His eyes darted between the burning monsters and the disciplined knights cutting through their ranks.

A third man slammed his fist into the frozen ground. "It’s as if they were warned beforehand... The fuck is this?"

"I also don’t understand," another one muttered, his eyes narrowing. He watched as a rolling avalanche of snow, triggered from the fortress wall, crushed a wave of incoming beasts. "They knew exactly how to use the terrain. This isn’t luck."

A tall figure at the back exhaled sharply, gripping the hilt of his dagger. "What should we do now?" His voice carried a hint of nervousness.

The leader turned his gaze towards the battlefield, where flaming arrows rained down, setting oil-soaked snow ablaze. The monsters shrieked in agony, their bodies unable to withstand the blistering heat. He cursed under his breath. "Damn it... We underestimated them."

A younger figure stepped forward hesitantly. "Maybe we should inform the higher-ups?"

The leader’s jaw tightened as he observed the carnage. The knights weren’t just defending,they were dominating.

His eyes flickered with frustration before he nodded.

One of the figures, a wiry man with sharp eyes, exhaled in frustration. "This isn’t a normal defense... They’re moving too smoothly. Even their weakest fighters are holding their ground." He pointed toward a group of knights locking shields and spears together, fending off a horde of ghouls with practiced precision.

Another figure, taller and clad in thick furs, ground his teeth. "They weren’t supposed to last this long. Our beasts should’ve overwhelmed them." His voice was laced with anger as he watched a team of knights use massive war hammers to shatter a frost ogre’s legs before driving spears through its skull.

A third man, older and more composed, rubbed his gloved fingers together. "Someone must have warned them." His tone was quiet but dangerous. "There’s no way they could’ve set up these traps without knowing what was coming."

The youngest among them hesitated before speaking. "If they were warned, then our entire plan is compromised." He glanced nervously at the others. "Should we retreat?"

As the battle raged on, the cloaked figures remained hidden, their expressions grim. The Red Knights of the North were pushing back harder than ever, their formations unbroken despite the waves of monsters. The battlefield was supposed to be a slaughter, but instead, it had turned into a calculated massacre of the creatures.

The leader narrowed his eyes, watching as yet another ice titan fell—this time brought down by a well-placed explosive charge hidden beneath the snow. The flaming wreckage left behind made his stomach turn.

"No," he growled. "Not yet."

Another monster, a towering, horned behemoth, roared and charged toward the fortress walls—only for a ballista bolt, tipped with enchanted fire, to impale its chest and send it crashing down.

The cloaked figures stiffened at the sight. "They’ve thought of everything," one of them muttered, his face pale. "If we stay any longer, we’ll be caught in this bloodbath."

The leader clicked his tongue, then motioned to the others. "Fall back into the shadows. We’ll watch for now, but if this turns worse..." He let the words hang in the air, eyes burning with frustration.

One of the others clenched his fists. "And if our forces lose?"

The leader’s voice was cold. "Then we report back and let the higher-ups decide how to deal with this mess."

Without another word, they disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind the battlefield filled with roaring flames, dying monsters, and the relentless charge of the Red Knights.