Once these stone statues were encased in ice, they instantaneously lost all mobility, frozen in their tracks, completely immobile.

  What ensued was rather straightforward. The group dispatched each statue with a single strike, shattering them until they were utterly incapacitated and unable to rise again.

  "These despicable creatures! They even desecrate the remains of the deceased," Orphen exclaimed, his voice seething with indignation.

  Fess gave Orphen's shoulder a reassuring pat. "They will inevitably pay the price for their heinous deeds someday."

  However, shortly after the group had vanquished these animated stone statues, the rapid clatter of hooves echoed through the corridor.

  "Who goes there?!" Fess swiftly turned his gaze towards the source of the sound.

  In the wake of a sharp tug on the reins, a neighing of a horse resounded.

  A knight, clad entirely in ebony armor, emerged before the group. His towering and robust form stood at the far end of the corridor like a colossal hill. The heavy armor he wore reflected a chilling and menacing gleam, sending a shiver down one's spine. He sat astride his warhorse, coldly barring the path in the center, his presence as imposing as a mountain and impossible to overlook.

  "The Black Sheep Knight," Kenley intoned.

  "The Black Sheep Knight?" Daina furrowed her brow inquisitively.

  This knight was akin to a boss - level monster during the mid - game phase of the game. However, in the later stages of the game, he became a rather common elite - tier enemy.

  The Black Sheep Knight possessed an exceptionally high level of physical defense. Admittedly, he also had some resistance to magic, yet it paled in comparison to his formidable physical defense. Moreover, his health points were truly astonishing. Thanks to the leader enhancement, this Black Sheep Knight boasted over 20,000 hp even at the fourth rank, a truly formidable figure.

  Appraise!

  [Leader · The Black Sheep Knight · Erdo]

  [Level: 45]

  [Occupation: Knight]

  [hp: 37332/37332]

  [rp:???]

  [Description: An elite force of the Black Sheep Society. One could rightfully claim that this is the very backbone of the Black Sheep Society. On numerous occasions, the Black Sheep Society has relied on the Black Sheep Knights to accomplish one seemingly impossible task after another.]

  "I shall take on this adversary," Daina declared resolutely. With a single, fluid motion of her hand, she summoned a warhorse from the subspace.

  Daina was herself a knight, and moreover, one who wielded the illustrious Heritage King's Sword, Condemnation. With her prestigious title, her prowess was not to be trifled with. Kenley was particularly intrigued to see who would emerge victorious in a battle between her and the Black Sheep Knight.

  Daina was currently level 55. With the cumulative bonuses from an array of high - quality equipment, her health points had surpassed a significant threshold, edging close to half of the health points of the level 45 leader - class Black Sheep Knight.

  Kenley's equipment was, naturally, no match for Daina's. He was currently level 42, with his base health points just reaching 3116. Even with his equipment factored in, his health had only reached 3500 hp, a far cry from Daina's substantial health pool. (The previously stated health value of 1400 points was incorrect and has been rectified. At level 40, Kenley's health is 2575 points, and with his equipment, it amounts to 2942 points.)

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  Firstly, as a knight by profession, Daina received a substantial bonus to her vitality. In contrast, Kenley was a warrior, with half of his growth allocated to offensive output, resulting in his health growth being inherently lower than that of a knight.

  Despite Daina being 10 levels higher than the Black Sheep Knight and having the added advantage of her equipment, her health was merely approaching half of that of the leader - class Black Sheep Knight. One could thus infer that the combat prowess of the leader - class Black Sheep Knight was roughly equivalent to that of a level 70 ordinary monster.

  Kenley was well - aware that in the later stages of the game, Black Sheep Knights typically boasted the combat power of the Silver rank. However, this particular Black Sheep Knight leader that had emerged within the Abbey of Rest was something of an anomaly.

  Possessing a Bronze - rank physique yet boasting Silver - rank health points, while its combat power remained within the tolerable range for the Bronze rank. It was now evident why the first team had taken such a considerable amount of time to clear the Abbey of Rest. The Black Sheep Knight was indeed a formidable obstacle to overcome.

  For the six - person team to successfully navigate past the Black Sheep Knight, their magical damage output would be the first crucial test. Subsequently, their coordination and teamwork would be put to the test. When facing the Black Sheep Knight with its substantial health pool, if even one team member's physical stamina waned, a vulnerability would quickly emerge. The defeat of one individual would inevitably spell the defeat of the entire team.

  However, this time the situation was somewhat different. Kenley had, in a sense, joined a team of well - equipped and powerful individuals. Moreover, with an exceptional figure like Daina in the mix, it was by no means certain that the Black Sheep Knight would gain the upper hand against their group.

  Daina gave the reins of her horse a firm tug and addressed the Black Sheep Knight, "Daina, the Knight Commander of the Christophon family. I do not slay those without a name. Reveal your identity, knight of the darkness."

  "Erdo," came the terse reply from the other side, clearly audible even through the sheep - headed helmet.

  The Black Sheep Knight had evidently not anticipated the presence of a powerful knight on Kenley's side. Moreover, judging by the opponent's aura, she seemed to possess a strength that faintly surpassed his own. This was indeed an intriguing turn of events.

  The Black Sheep Knight wielded not a sword but a lance that measured a full eight meters in length. A lance was particularly well - suited for charging battles, and the corridor, with its elongated terrain, provided an ideal setting for a charge between two knights.

  "Sister, be cautious!" Watching Daina charge forward with unwavering determination, Guinevere felt a pang of anxiety for the first time.

  "Behold my heroic demeanor!" Daina declared with a confident smile, and then she initiated a knightly charge.

  Daina's gaze was as sharp as a finely honed dagger. With a tug on the reins, the warhorse beneath her accelerated rapidly, a powerful gust of wind swirling alongside it.

  Kenley immediately discerned that the horse gear equipped on this warhorse was no ordinary attire. It was inscribed with wind - element magic runes. Under the influence of these runes, the horse's body became more lithe, its speed increased significantly, and its lethality during a charge was enhanced.

  Magic runes... Truly a display of opulence... Then again, as the Knight Commander of the Christophon family, it was only fitting that she be equipped with such impressive gear to fulfill her duties.

  However, the Black Sheep Knight Erdo was no pushover. He seemed to be muttering incantations under his breath. With a sudden, forceful stomp of his horse's hooves, a scarlet hexagram formation materialized beneath his feet in an instant.

  A low hum resonated, as if an intangible force had been bestowed upon him. His armor and battle regalia glowed with a vibrant red radiance, fluttering behind him like a standard. One could faintly sense that his strength had increased substantially.

  This was the Black Sheep Knight's exclusive enhancement magic, [The Dark Battle Standard]. It was a group buff skill, yet with only him being the sole enemy present, he could only apply the buff to himself.

  Upon activation of The Dark Battle Standard, it enhanced the Black Sheep Knight's agility, strength, and physical defense. Although the boost was not as conspicuous as the speed enhancement provided by the wind - element magic, it rendered the seemingly cumbersome warhorse more agile.

  A streak of black light flashed past, and the pitch - black lance, trailing a long arc, stabbed directly at Daina from the front.

  However, Daina sustained minimal injury. This was due to the remarkable defensive enhancement of the Heritage King's Sword, Condemnation. When the user employed Condemnation for defense and successfully blocked an attack, they could reduce the incoming damage by 80%, a significant improvement over a mere 50% damage reduction.