Ep 23. THE DRAGON KNIGHT

Dai, Leona, and Popp continue their journey towards the Dark Army's castle. On the way there, they come across an old woman who tells them about the Dragon Knight, a legendary warrior capable of defeating the Dark Lord Hadlar. She also warns them about Crocodine, the Beast King, who is rumored to have allied with the Dark Army.

As they approach the castle, they are stopped by Crocodine and his army. Dai challenges Crocodine to a battle, but soon realizes that he is outmatched. Just when it seems like all hope is lost, the Dragon Knight appears and comes to their rescue.

The Dragon Knight turns out to be Avan, Dai's old mentor. He teaches Dai a new technique, the Fire Slash, and fights Crocodine on his own. The two warriors are evenly matched, but Crocodine is eventually overpowered and retreats.

With Crocodine gone, the group is able to reach the castle. However, they soon realize that it is heavily guarded and almost impossible to get in. Popp comes up with a plan to create a distraction by using a disguise, and the group is able to sneak into the castle undetected.

Inside, they come face-to-face with Hadlar himself. Dai challenges him to a one-on-one battle, and the two warriors engage in an intense fight. Just when it seems like Hadlar has the upper hand, Dai unleashes his new technique, the Fire Slash, and is able to defeat the Dark Lord.

The group celebrates their victory, but their joy is short-lived as they realize that there are still more battles to come. They vow to continue fighting until the Dark Army is defeated once and for all.

Overall, episode 23 of Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai is filled with thrilling battles, new techniques, and unexpected alliances. Fans of the series will not want to miss this exciting installment.