[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-155":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1162381,1504,"Chapter 155: The Lionheart Knights","ember-dragon-chapter-155",155,"\u003Cp>Near Northwind Fortress, in the secluded Zeleya Hills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over twenty members of the Lionheart Knights concealed themselves, quietly waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wore heavy armor, with breastplates shaped like roaring lion heads, appearing imposing. Their red cloaks bore the Bosk family’s emblem of crossed swords and a lion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One knight, gazing uneasily at the flying wyverns overhead, asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain, we haven’t seen the signal Duke Leo mentioned. Could they have failed already?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep waiting, Jaden. We have time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was steady and calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker, unlike the others, had a ring of black mane encircling his neck and a vividly detailed lion’s head on his chest—he was Fried Orlb, the \"Black Lion Knight,\" one of the seven captains of the Lionheart Knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, only six captains remained. Fried's childhood companion and brother-in-arms, the \"White Lion Knight\" Tarik, had perished in the tragedy. This loss weighed heavily on Fried, driving him to volunteer for this mission against the Embe Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tarik, the evil dragon will soon fall, and your soul will rest in the divine realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fried stroked a pocket watch in his hand, silently making this vow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—A gift from Tarik ten years ago, the watch bore the emblem of Heironeous, the god of valor, constantly reminding Fried to be a brave and fearless warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaden remained uneasy, aware of the risks they faced deep in enemy territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But we’re near Northwind Fortress, where Ember Nest patrols are frequent. I’m afraid…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You fear we’ll perish here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then stay vigilant. Trust Duke Leo’s command—if the situation threatens our lives, we retreat immediately, whether the mission is complete or not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fried spoke calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an experienced Lionheart Knight, he understood the mission's peril—their foe was none other than the “Hellish calamity,” the dragon who destroyed thirty thousand allied troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Fried repeatedly reminded himself to hold firm, believing they could succeed—or at least escape unscathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—look! Is that the signal Duke Leo mentioned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the distance, golden ripples appeared in the air—a signal only paladins with divine perception could see. This ensured their communications remained hidden from Ember Nest spies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint dragon’s roar echoed, drawing the attention of nearby Emberkin patrols.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Success?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fried’s composure gave way to excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the unflappable Black Lion Knight felt exhilarated at the prospect—the red dragon had been bound or slain, and the shadow over the Northern Kingdoms had lifted!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the success signal! Quickly, let’s support those warriors!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Captain!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the cover of invisibility spells, the Lionheart Knights followed their prearranged route, shielded by terrain and magic, swiftly advancing to the signal’s source—a lush forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The journey was unexpectedly smooth, without the anticipated wyverns or ogre patrols barring their way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In mere minutes, the concealed knights reached the target area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Captain, is this the place?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It should be. The signal originated here, and the lingering holy energy in the air confirms it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it so quiet here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know. Stay alert and move closer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fried anticipated a fierce battle between the righteous warriors and Ember Nest’s forces, with swarms of wyverns in pursuit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps even feared figures like the \"Ogre Mage\" Langpu, \"Warlord\" Dolo, or \"Greed-Mad\" Gold-Fang would join the fray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lionheart Knights shared this expectation, gripping their silver swords and shields tightly, reciting oaths and spells in their minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were prepared for a hard-fought battle, even for heroic sacrifice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, contrary to their expectations, the forest was unnervingly tranquil, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind breaking the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So quiet, it felt ominous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no signs of the intense battle they had anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the battle-hardened Fried, this felt more like a trap, luring them deeper in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only Duke Leo and Shroud knew the signal’s meaning. What if it was genuine, and he failed his mission?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would make him a traitor, abandoning heroes to their fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Torn, Fried hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the seemingly safe and calm surroundings, sweat began to bead on his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing unknown danger, fear gripped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to be as fearless as his late companion Tarik, unflinching even in the face of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fried knew that, despite his achievements and title as Black Lion Knight, he harbored a deep-seated insecurity—he was never as brilliant as Tarik, and even his position owed much to Tarik’s years of goodwill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We need to retreat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, Fried trusted his instincts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To his lieutenants, he said, “Something’s wrong here. We must withdraw to our fallback position. Once there, I’ll activate the prepared teleportation gate for an immediate escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what about those we’re supposed to support?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Trust me. We can’t afford to stay. They may already be… gone, or sent the signal in desperation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood, Captain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Led by their cautious leader, the Lionheart Knights abandoned their mission and retreated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enclosed by a mage’s invisibility spell, the knights moved undetected by the patrolling wyverns and ogres.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as they advanced, a massive shadow descended from above, enveloping them—the invisibility spell had failed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fried, confused, looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*************************************************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you want to read more chapters, you can Read (297) chapters ahead on Patreon:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tier 1: $1\u002Fmonth for an additional 5 chapters. 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