Chapter 8: The Battle of Temperantia and the Black Knight

Party returns to Temperantia, learn that Gristonne is raising an army to attack the city and the Holy Empire is recruiting adventurers to help assist. They see a ceremony and see Empress Alice for the first time as she is teleported into the city. At the tavern, they meet a mysterious knight clad in pitch black armor. Sazu asks him how he got that armor to which his only response was "Adversity" before excusing himself and saying that they'll meet again in a better location.
The very next day, bells are ringing signaling an attack from Gristonne which is earlier than expected. They come out and see a large force of troops along with a fortress made of a living dragon called Fort Drakengard. The battle commences.
The fight is even as both sides are taking heavy hits. The main players of Gristonne are members of the Ten Elites, Raz'Lox and Darkness. Both are flanking each side leading a large portion of the army while the vanguard is headed by the Griffon Warriors lead by King Ashnard von Obsidia, the Supreme Ruler of Gristonne.
The fight is going well for the Holy Empire until some big hits from Gristonne wipes out a portion of the Empire's army in one fell swoop, except for one common footsoldier who is fighting off hoards of soldiers by his lonesome and winning in glorious fashion. This is just the beginnings of the great warrior known as Champ Ion.
Alice herself leads the fray, cleaving through groups of soldiers with her Mythical Weapon which was once wielded by the first king of the Holy Empire, the Holy Sword Excalibur. As she is making her way forward, the party is handling the job of rearguard.
However, as they are about to get a break, the same man clad in black armor shows up, his cape billowing in the wind as he reveals himself to be the Black Knight of the Ten Elites. A 1v1 duel occurs between Sazu and the Black Knight, and Sazu gets his asscheeks CLAPPED. Before disappearing into the wind, he tells him that the Armor he wears is blessed by the Goddess Astraea and only truly powerful weapons like his sword Alondite can even hurt him. However, he also reveals that a twin to Alondite called Ragnell exists somewhere in the Alberian Theocracy and he should go seek it out if he wishes to have a rematch.
As the battle is reaching it's climax and Gristonne is looking like they're about to launch a full scale assault, a group of Griffon Wyvers are flying from Temperantia to Drakengard. As they're doing so, Gristonne starts a retreat and leaves. Upon going back to the city, they discover that one of the sacred stones, the Heavenstone is no longer in the possession of the Holy Empire.