The surrounding soldiers immediately shot him looks of contempt after hearing that.

"If I remember correctly, wasn’t he the first one to run during the battle?"

"Wrong. The tax officers were the first. They even ran away with a bunch of beautiful women. I saw it with my own eyes."

"I thought Baron Ram was the first one to flee."

"You’re remembering it wrong. Baron Ram surrendered outright and even handed over his wife and daughters."

The soldiers chatted enthusiastically among themselves.

"Anyone willing to fight alongside me, step forward now!"

Phield raised an arm and pointed toward the open space beside him.

"I’ll go. I want revenge for my family."

"You are a true knight, my lord. I am willing to become your soldier."

Although the responses sounded passionate, only fifty or sixty people actually stepped out of the crowd.

"These people aren’t bad."

Rather than feeling disappointed by the small number, Phield nodded approvingly.

"Those who can step forward in a hopeless situation are either intelligent or courageous."

He snapped his fingers.

"The reason I dare lead you into battle is because I’m confident. Ophelia, give them some courage."

"Understood."

Divine power surged from Ophelia.

"Sapphire Dragonification!"

In the next moment, dazzling dragon wings slowly unfurled like enormous sails.

The prisoners were completely stunned.

Fresing’s eyes widened to their limits as cold sweat instantly poured down his face.

"Holy shit! I knew it!"

"Anyone who could safely make it through the monster horde outside and reach us had to have something backing them up."

"Exactly. Food is running out anyway. If we don’t take a chance now, what are we waiting for?"

The soldiers who had stepped forward immediately held their heads high and looked at the others with disdain.

"My lord, take us too!"

"My legs just went weak earlier. I didn’t have time to step forward."

As though they had spotted a lighthouse in the darkness, the prisoners desperately pleaded with Phield.

"Those who stepped forward first will be promoted to squad leaders."

Phield made the announcement directly.

"As for everyone else, I’ll give you one final opportunity."

"If you don’t want to follow me, go stand beside Fresing."

This time, nearly a hundred people timidly ran over to Fresing’s side.

Everyone else accepted incorporation into Phield’s force.

After a quick glance around, more than seven hundred people remained after excluding the cowards.

"Good."

The result was already far better than Phield had expected.

Satisfied, he nodded before speaking coldly.

"Food should not be wasted on trash waiting to die."

"Take all their supplies."

"We’re heading to the armory immediately."

"No! You can’t! You can’t take our food! That’s military rations!"

Fresing’s face turned crimson.

He wanted to explode in anger but lacked the courage.

Deep down, he swore that once the rebellion was over, he would use every connection and ounce of influence he possessed to drag Phield into hell.

"Oh, we absolutely can."

Phield pointed at the food.

"And we absolutely will."

"It’s one of our traditions."

He then began issuing orders.

"Ophelia, organize the soldiers and lead them out of the dungeon first."

"Rosalia."

Phield drew a finger across his throat like a blade.

"Leave it to me."

Rosalia instantly understood.

She licked her lips and revealed an eager smile.

As soon as the soldiers left the dungeon, Phield turned toward Fresing with an unpleasant smile.

"You’ll regret this."

Fresing nearly shattered his teeth from grinding them so hard.

"The Golden Thorn Sword Family is not someone you can afford to offend."

"Heh."

Phield waved dismissively and turned away.

"Baron Fresing and his soldiers were devoured by Night Demons."

"And that’s entirely the Shadow World Sect’s fault."

"I’ll avenge you."

"You... what do you mean?"

Fresing couldn’t believe his ears.

"You’re going to lay hands on a noble?"

The next moment, countless chaotic sword flashes descended.

The people left behind in the dungeon never even had the chance to regret their choices or curse him.

Darkness swallowed them first.

"Phield, I’ve already mapped out the roads throughout Ram Territory."

Gherlos looked around.

"With this many people, traveling on the surface isn’t suitable."

"Where exactly is the hidden armory?"

"It’s in the eastern outskirts of the territory, inside an underground fortress."

"This information is reliable."

Both Egge and Baron Fierce Stallion had said the same thing, making it highly trustworthy.

"We only need to cross one street."

Gherlos grinned.

"There’s an entrance to the underground canal over there. The waterway connects directly to an underground river outside the city."

"I’ve already investigated most of the city."

"So, Lord Phield, don’t I deserve some praise?"

"Gherlos gets first place."

Phield gave her a thumbs-up.

"Of course I do~"

Under Rosalia’s protection, the group easily followed Gherlos’s route out of the city and eventually located the hidden bunker in the countryside.

"The Border Armory."

Phield sighed emotionally.

"After the Corruption Disaster erupted, the previous Empress swore she would reclaim the Northern Frontier Province and ordered the construction of frontline military stockpiles."

"I never expected it would be us Northerners who would end up reclaiming the territory within the border."

"Phield, something’s wrong."

Ophelia’s expression suddenly changed.

"What? What happened?"

Gherlos jumped in fright.

Clenching her fists, she nervously looked around.

"Are there traps here?"

Her Divine Artifact had not yet been repaired, leaving her temporarily without combat capability.

"Calm down."

Phield remained expressionless.

"Let’s talk over here."

He ordered the newly recruited soldiers to rest in place while he gathered the Divine Chosen for a discussion.

If even he appeared shaken, the unstable rabble he had just recruited would immediately lose confidence.

"It’s the border fortress."

"There’s a large-scale military operation underway!"

The moment everyone settled into a concealed spot, Ophelia impatiently took out the Sphere of the Abyss and displayed the frontline situation.

"These are the reports from the undead corpses under my control."

Divine power flowed.

Like a projector, the Sphere of the Abyss displayed scenes from the border.

Squads of heavily armored warriors marched from the direction of Bull Fortress.

The heavy cavalry wore thick steel plate armor, and even their horses were fully armored.

Under the sunlight, they shone with dazzling brilliance.

The knights themselves looked like oversized roosters, covered in elaborate feather decorations that drew attention wherever they went.

Mixed among them were mages from the Shadow World Sect, constantly chanting something.

There was no need to guess what it was.

They were undoubtedly praising their god.

As for the ordinary infantry, crossbowmen, and peasant laborers transporting supplies, their numbers were impossible to count.

A casual glance revealed four or five hundred people, and more continued gathering.

"What’s going on?"

Ophelia frowned.

"Even if Richard wanted to reinforce the Shadow World Sect’s frontline forces, he wouldn’t assemble troops right outside the fortress gates."

"Hmph. Whatever it is, it definitely isn’t good news."

Phield’s gaze shifted toward the proud figure among the crowd.

Fortunately, he had already ordered Ashina to station the army there.

When Ophelia’s army finally reached the astonishing number of 2,300 troops, the recruitment stopped.

Mounted atop a magical warhorse, Ophelia rode proudly through the ranks.

Her helmet was adorned with colorful feathers.

As she gazed upon the elite border soldiers before her, a feeling of invincibility naturally rose within her heart.

"Hahaha!"

"No wonder my father clung to his position and refused to die."

"This feeling is incredible!"